Do you like running? Early in the morning, at noon, or in the evening in big cities and in the countryside, all over the United States, you can see {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (American) running—men and women, young and old. People run everywhere—along the beaches of California, through the Central Park in New York, down quiet streets in small towns or at gyms. Some people even run in {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (they) living rooms.

    Running was not so popular in the past. In the 1960s, runners were mostly athletes and {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (health) strong people. When people {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (see) a runner, they used to ask, "Hey, what's the hurry?" Or they might say to themselves, "Is he crazy?" At that time, women almost never ran. If they did, they might be {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (laugh) at. But today all these have changed. Men and women of all ages enjoy running.

    Doctors say many of the health problems come from these bad {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (habit): eating too much food, smoking cigarettes, and {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (take) little exercise. Doctors tell us," Eat less, exercise {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (much), and don't smoke." Running is a good exercise {#blank#}9{#/blank#} it helps build strong hearts and lungs. It {#blank#}10{#/blank#} helps most people lose weight.

   I'm having a great time on my student exchange program in France. I was a bit nervous before I arrived here but there wasn't {#blank#}1{#/blank#}reason to be. My host family is really nice. The grandmother always helps me practice {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(speak) French. You can't believe how quickly my French{#blank#}3{#/blank#} (improve) because of that. I'm very comfortable speaking French now. My {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(big) challenge is learning how to behave at the dinner table. As you can imagine, things here are very different {#blank#}5{#/blank#}the way they are at home. For example, you're not supposed to put your bread on your plate. You should put it on the table! At first I {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(think) that was pretty strange, but now I'm used to it. I find that it's{#blank#}7{#/blank#} (polite) to say that you're full. If you don't want any{#blank#}8{#/blank#}(much)food, you should just say, "That was delicious." I also find it difficult to remember everything, {#blank#}9{#/blank#}I'm gradually getting used to it. I don't find French customs so strange anymore. I'll write again soon and tell you {#blank#}10{#/blank#}is happening my daily life. Hope you're having a good school year.