I never thought I would have a life-changing experience at Wal-Mart.

      Although my thoughts were only on speed, the checkout line I was standing in wasn't moving as quickly as I wanted, and I glanced toward the cashier.

      There stood a man in his seventies, wearing glasses and a nice smile. I thought, well, he's an old guy! For the next few minutes I watched him. He greeted every customer before scanning the items. Sure, his words were the usual, “How's it going?” But he did something different-he actually listened to people. Then he would respond to what they had said and engage them in brief conversation.

      I thought it was odd. I have grown accustomed to people asking me how I was doing simply out of robotic conversation habit. After a while, you don't give any thought to the question and just mumble something back. I could say, “I just found out I have six months to live,” and someone would reply, “Have a great day!”

      But that wasn't the end.

      He gave them the change, walked around the counter, and extended his right hand in an act of friendship. He looked at the customers in the eyes. “I sure want to thank you for shopping here today,” he told them. “Wish you have a great day. Bye-bye.”

      The looks on the faces of the customers were priceless. There were smiles and some sheepish grins. All had been touched by his simple gesture-and in a place they expected. They would gather their things and walk out, smiling.

      Of course, he did the same to me and I got to know his name, Marty.

      Who was the guy? It was as if Sam Walton had come back from the dead and invaded this old guy's body.

      I had never walked away from that shop feeling like that.

    Indonesia is my mother's homeland and one of my favorite countries. Since I was young, I had learned a lot about the country and become interested in it. For a long time I had wanted to do something for the country and people there, and I thought volunteering（做志愿者） would be a good and fun way to do so.

    I received the greatest pleasure from being with the children.

    Teaching my first English class in Aceh was exciting, but I was rather nervous. As time went by, I learned how to be a better teacher. Teaching was actually the most enjoyable of my many responsibilities(责任).

    Many children were shy at first. But when they relaxed, they would start talking and telling you a lot of funny things. I believed we were helping them build up their confidence.

    For the children who are more in need. The Education Program（TEP） will collect donations(募捐) to help them.

    As a volunteer, I had to visit the TEP children at home once a month and help them write a thank-you letter to their sponsors. This was a way for the children to communicate with their sponsors. Sometimes the sponsors would write back to the children. Seeing the children's happy faces, I had a great sense of pleasure.

    Little Mike's grandma died weeks ago. He missed her very much. One afternoon Mike went to the city park where his grandma used to go. There he saw an old lady. She looked very kind. She was sitting there, watching pigeons(鸽子). Little Mike went up and sat next to her. He took out his food and drinks and gave some to her. She smiled at him. Her smile was so sweet that Mike wanted to see it again. She seemed to understand him, so once again she smiled. Mike was very glad.

    They sat there all the afternoon, eating and talking. As it grew dark, Mike got up to leave. Before he left, he hugged(拥抱) the old lady and she gave him her sweetest smile.

    When Mike got home, his mother was surprised by the look of joy on his face. "I met a granny in the park. Her smile was like the kind of smile I had seen on Grandma's face."

    The old lady also returned to her home happily. She told her son that she had food and drinks with a little boy. "He was as lovely as Brittany." she said. Her son was surprised, because he had never seen her so happy since Brittany, her grandson, died weeks ago.

    I'm not much of a crier most of the time. But {#blank#}1{#/blank#} when I was reading a book on a plane, I started crying. Of course, it came as a big surprise when tears came up, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't {#blank#}2{#/blank#} myself.

    Oh no, not this now. I thought to myself. But even as the thought entered my brain. I felt the {#blank#}3{#/blank#} hot drop of salty water coming down my face. I put my head down, hoping that I could go on reading.

    In fact, the harder I tried, the more tears pushed their way out of my eyes. You could guess how surprised the man next to me looked.

    My head {#blank#}4{#/blank#} in shame. He must think I was crazy. Maybe I could turn towards him, hold up the cover of the book and say in my crying voice. "I'm sorry, sir. It's just a really good book!" But I didn't, say anything. Instead, I just put my head back against the {#blank#}5{#/blank#} and let the tears run. Do you know what decision I made while I was crying? My decision was that it was OK if he thought I was crazy. I preferred to be crazy instead of being the kind of person who wouldn't cry when the situation called for it, or who wouldn't let {#blank#}6{#/blank#} feel anything at all.

    I've been that girl who has spent so much time trying to make sure people didn't think f was crazy. But now I don't want to be that girl any more —that bored and {#blank#}7{#/blank#} girl. I'd rather {#blank#}8{#/blank#} this girl who is able to forgive (原谅), love and act, even if it means being disappointed or being hurt again and again.

Gina is a new teacher in a middle school in the US. She lives in San Diego, just fifteen minutes' walk from the beach. So she always 1 along the beach after work.

Last week was busy but happy for Gina. She had a lot of work from Monday to Friday. When the weekend came, she hoped 2 a good rest. Her weekend began when she met her friends at Sam's Chinese Restaurant on Friday night." My friends and I all like Chinese food, so we often eat together at that restaurant." said Gina 3 .

On Saturday morning, Gina helped a friend move to a new house. In the afternoon, she went to her tennis class. She was new to the sport, 4 she played well. After dinner, Gina went to the Red Onion and danced there until 10:00 p. m. She really enjoyed 5 .

On Sunday, Gina got up at 8:00 a. m. and she went to 6 expensive restaurant near her home for breakfast. She 7 the food there was delicious. Then she spent the whole morning reading books. In the afternoon, she went swimming 8 her cousin. For lunch, they had9 special— seafood noodles. In the evening, she went to the San Diego Folk Festival. She thought it was 10 of all the festivals. And Gina had great fun there.

What a busy but wonderful weekend Gina had!