①When it comes to Chinese students thinking about studying in foreign countries, many of them usually believe that life will be easy and enjoyable. Unluckily, it seems that students with those beliefs will be disappointed very soon after landing at the airport.

    ②So, what are the problems you may have, and how can you deal with them?

    ③Teaching and learning styles in America are very different from those in China, in need of more critical thinking（批判性思维）and teamwork. In most American classrooms, they do activities in a study group in which every person has their own responsibility(责任).

    ④So don't worry about your language or any grammar mistakes. Just watch what other students do, and don't be afraid to ask any questions. The discussions, or sometimes even arguments, that your group members and you hold, are probably to be the beginning of a friendship.

    ⑤Besides schoolwork, another important thing faced by overseas students is homesickness or loneliness. You may miss your parents cooking, your pets, or even your old bed. Being away from home can create bad feelings, especially when faced with the problems of getting used to a new environment.

    ⑥What I strongly suggest is to try hard to deal with these feelings. Be open to new friend-ships. Be active in school activities, and allow yourself to enjoy life at school, even if you miss home a lot. Keep a diary to check your progress. Write down three new things that you're thankful for every evening, as well as three things you're looking forward to every morning.

    ⑦Studying aboard is never simple. In fact, there will be many difficulties every day. But I'm sure you will overcome your difficulties and make your time overseas a success.

    AAAGH! The Generation 90s is coming! Wearing earphones, using complex Net language and constantly text messaging friends, the Gen-90s following the Gen-80s begin to make their world debut (初次登台).

    Each generation or age group has its own symbols and lifestyle. Read on and judge for yourselves if you fit the Gen-90s group.

Earphones—These little devices seem to grow on the heads of the Gen-90s. They might lead to MP3, MP4 or MP101 players, giving these young people a plugged-in, cool and perhaps self-addicted look, of course, life is not always music to the ears.

Martian language—They have created their own code-like online language. It's a mixture of English, Japanese and Chinese that perhaps only Martians can understand. This is an imaginative generation, though they need to be careful to keep it out of their term papers.

Self-Portrait— Saying "cheese" to their own digital cameras is usual for this generation. A little bit of narcissism (自恋) never hurts anyone. It helps them reflect a little on their own lives．But be aware of the risks of posting private photos online.

Text-messaging —They can type their mobile phones as fast as they can speak. This is a generation that respects efficiency. However, oral communication is important and will never go out of style.

I stood by the window, looking at the gray sky and snowy ground. A woman crossed the street, with a thick scarf, looking cold and unhappy.

The morning was ideal for reading, so I turned on the light and lay in bed with a book. The phone rang, and I heard my mum agree to something, mentioning my name. Curious, I wondered what was happening.

Mum entered and told me Uncle Sam was taking me to Sparrow Hills. Unwilling to leave on such a cold day, I hesitated(犹豫) but didn't want to disappoint Mum, so I put on my blue sweater. The doorbell rang, and Uncle Sam asked if I was ready.

"I suppose," I replied, grabbing a warm wool hat. We headed to the station, catching the train to Sparrow Hills. The train was warm, and my body started to relax.

" Can we just stay on the train?" I said as the train stopped. Uncle Sam softly pulled me up and said," You will miss all the fun."

Outside, the wind was blowing strongly. The trees were shining and they s wung in the wind.

"I don't know how long I can stay out here," I said as we started to walk uphill. He pulled me closer to the trees and said," Listen!"

At first, I heard only the wind. Then came a jingling and chiming(叮叮当当)." That's the music in winter," my uncle said. I pulled my hat up to free my ears. The branches(树枝) sounded like hundreds of bells ringing, jingling and chiming. I was surprised and I stood still, looking at the icy branches hitting each other and leaves swinging in the wind. Then we climbed to the top of Sparrow Hills and looked down. The snow- covered trees made buildings appear brighter. Then the sun broke through the clouds.

" The sun is shining!" I shouted. Uncle Sam smiled and said," The sun is always shining. You just need to climb high enough to see it."