As a general rule, all forms of activity lead to boredom when they are performed on a routine(常规) basis. As a matter of fact, we can see this 1 at work in people of all 2. For example, on Christmas morning, children are excited about 3 with their new toys. But their 4 soon wears off and by January those 5 toys can be found put away in the basement. The world is full of   6 stamp albums and unfinished models, each standing as a monument(纪念碑) to someone's 7 interest. When parents bring home a pet, their child 8 bathes it and brushes its fur. Within a short time, however, the 9 of caring for the animal is handed over to the parents. Adolescents(青少年) enter high school with great 10 but are soon looking forward to 11. The same is true of the young adults going to college. And then, how many 12, who now complain about the long drives to work, 13 drove for hours at a time when they first 14 their driver's licenses? Before people retire, they usually 15 to do a lot of 16 things, which they never had 17 to do while working. But 18 after retirement, the golfing, the fishing, the reading and all of the other pastimes(消遣) become as boring as the jobs they 19. And, like the child in January, they go searching for new 20.

    “The Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program was definitely a life changing experience,” says Alaa. “I had lots of 1 and expectations when I left Jordan and headed to Chicago to become a YES program particpant."

    During it, Alaa had the chance to be a part of two wonderful host families. “I 2a lot by living with my host families,” says Alaa “The first one was a single older person that 3me to most of American cultures. My second family was kind enough to have me stay at their house and 4 me like one of their own kids. I am 5 both host families forever.”

    6Alaa learned a lot from her host families, she realized that 7 a new culture and new family comes with its own growing pains.

    “There was a huge 8 between me and my first host mom,” says Alaa. “She worked all the time,9 I was expecting her to interact with more peole. But that was too 10She goes her own way”

    “The education system we have in Jordan is quite different from here, so the 11 to the education system was hard too. I went to Schaumburg High School, where everything was so organized and the teachers were so nice. I started an Arabic program12the gifted students in the school,” states Alaa. With my assistance, they13to know the beauty of my language. By the end of the year, I received Christmas card from the students with their names and 14 in Arabic. To my 15in no time they 16 were able to talk to me in Arabic without difficulty.”

    “My YES program was soon17” Alaa said. “But it had a deep18on me.” Thanks to the YES program, Alaa had conquered fears.19 new skills, and finally changed the course of her life forever. “I don't let anything get in the20of achieving my dreams.” says Alaa.

    A little girl lived in a simple and poor house on a hill. Usually she 1play in the small garden. She could see over the garden fence and across the valley a wonderful house with shining golden windows high on another hill.  2she loved her parents and her family, she desired to live in such a house and 3all day about how wonderful and exciting 4must feel to live there.

    At the age when she gained some 5skill and sensibility (识别力), she 6her mother for a bike ride 7the garden. Her mother finally allowed her to go, 8her keeping close to the house and not 9too far. The day was beautiful. The little girl knew  10where she was heading!  11the hill and across the valley, she rode to the 12of the golden house.

    13she got off her bike and put it against the gate post, she focused on the path 14to the house and then on the house itself. She was very disappointed when she 15that all the windows were 16and rather dirty.

    So 17and heart-broken, she didn't go any further. She 18and all of a sudden she saw an amazing 19. There on the other side of the valley was a little house and its windows were golden. Looking at her little home, she 20that she had been living in her golden house filled with love and care. Everything she dreamed was right there in front of her nose!

    When I look at myself in the mirror, I see a person that has not only changed physically, but mentally as well. In the three years of high school， my second year was the most1one because I had to do what most teenagers would never want to do.

    It all2 in the middle of my second year in high school. One day， my dad asked me if I had ever3going to Holy Family Catholic High School which was good at preparing students for4. After many nights of careful thinking, I5to go to Holy Family. Transferring schools in the6of high school was the hardest thing for me to do,7 , it was the best decision I could have ever made.

    I was one of the8 people at my school who had had to 9transferring to a new high school as a junior. On my 10day of school at Holy Family, I didn't know what to expect. My 11kept thinking about finding all my classes, making new friends, and wondering if people could like me. To be honest, I hated uncomfortable situations, and12I would just sit there and be quiet. But this time was13for me. I thought that now that I was in a place where no one14 me， I could be whoever I wanted to be. I decided to15the schools' soccer and track teams to try to meet more people.

    The experience of transferring schools has 16affected my life in a dramatic way. It has shaped me into a more outgoing person and a harder worker,17me to achieve more than I could have imagined. The18I have gained by attending Holy Family will 19 me throughout my life. I will have to use these skills in the next couple of years while I try to further my20by going to college.

    Many families usually take their children to travel during school breaks. But Julie and Tim Rivenbark planned a(n)1vacation with their two children―a one-year trip around the world. They plan to230 countries in all.

    Right now, the four travellers are about halfway through their 3. Ms. Rivenbark says they are trying to see as much of the4as they can.

    Mr. Rivenbark says the family has5on ostrich (鸵鸟) birds, elephants, and camels. But, he says, one of the most6experiences of the trip has been meeting new people.

    “People have been7friendly and welcoming and love our kids―and it's lovely to see them interacting (互动) with new people and their8to see our kids enjoying themselves in their country.”

    Eleven-year-old Tyler says he has enjoyed9about the people they have met. “I learned in Africa that people have very10lifestyles to those in America.” His sister Kara11that she liked Thai food.

    Ms. Rivenbark says that the trip is12the children a lot more than short visits would have. “I think that the longer we travel, the more13it has on how they see the world. I can see them14more than they can see themselves,” she said.

    It took the family a year to15for the trip. They had to sell their house and cars. Ms. Rivenbark16her job and her husband is using unpaid leave. They carry small bags17lightweight clothing and whatever else they need. Ms. Rivenbark says she18being able to carry everything she needs on her back.

    Tyler and Kara each have iPads so they can communicate with teachers to stay19with their schoolwork. Tyler is also20a 365-day video blog.

    I always preferred to take on more than I should when I was a young man. At times, it was to prove to myself that I could1it. At other times, it was to please someone and gain2for my efforts. This sometimes led to3or frustration.

    When I was an IT manager after college graduation I was4to work with a wealth customer and be a go-between(中间人) for my company. I took on the assignment(任务)5, thinking that this might be my time to shine.6, the customer's demands proved to be more than I could do with. And the company chose to7the customer and try to meet his unreasonable requirements rather than stick to what we had8offered in the agreement. As you can imagine, this led to a lot of unexpected9and arguing with some of the staff who10to do anything outside their own work. I remember walking into my office one morning, opening my laptop and11the blank screen for long, thinking to myself: What should I do? That was a (n)12time in my life and then I finally had to give up my first job and13that company sadly.

    Perhaps, I thought then, I could find the14 that didn't involve dealing with difficult people and difficult situations. But later I realized: Is this15in our modem world? No, of course not. Now, I know, I shouldn't run away from the16I faced in life: I had to learn how to deal with them. I17not persevering(坚持) in my job. We should train ourselves to look at things from a18point of view, because that is far better than being19in the bad circle depression. I've come to20 that when faced with difficulties, I should not give up, but persevere.