Fifteen hours is a long time to be on a plane, but you know, Africa is a long way from America. Finally, we're in Namibia, a country in southwest Africa. Namibia is about one size of California. However, it is home to just over two million people. And the country's main airport is 45 kilometers east of its capital, Windhoek.

    Now we are in a wildlife park. We will spend five days finding ways to protect this area's wildlife. At the moment, my wife and our two kids are enjoying some local dishes. I'm talking with workers in this park. I'm so much looking forward to the following days!

—Thomas

    Yesterday morning, I had nothing to do. So I went to visit the Eiffel Tower, a symbol of Paris. It was my first time there, so I took a lot of photos.

    Finally, the big moment came! A lot of artists came to watch my show. It was a great success. After the show, I attended a big party. It was great, but I felt so sleepy after it.

    When I got back to my hotel, it was already1:15 am. I went to bed without washing. I just needed a good rest before my two—hour journey home by plane.

—Jessica

    When I was 13 years old, the doctor said that I had a kind of attention disorder. So when everyone else in the class was focusing on tasks, I couldn't.

    In my first class, Mrs Green asked us to read a story and then write on it within 45 minutes. I raised my hand right away and said, "Mrs Green, you see, I have attention problems. I might not be able to do that."

    She looked at me and said, "You are no different from your classmates, young man." I tried, but I didn't finish the reading. So I took it home.

    In my bedroom, it was so quiet and the story suddenly became clear to me. It was about a blind person, Louis Braille. He lived in a time when the blind couldn't get much education. But Louis didn't give up. Instead, he invented a reading system which opened up a new world to the blind. Wasn't I the "blind" in my class, being made to learn like the "sighted (有视力的)" students? My thoughts spilled out and my pen started to dance. I completed the task within 40 minutes. Indeed, I was no different from others. If Louis could find his way out of his problems, why should I ever give up? I didn't expect anything when I handed in my paper to Mrs Green, so when it came back to me the next day with an "A" on it, I couldn't believe my eyes. At the bottom of the paper were these words, "See what you can do when you keep trying."

Pack Up and Fly Away

    Hainan Island

Hainan Island is a wonderful place of sun, sand and sea. It is in the south of China. It's famous for its underwater beauty. Tianyahaijiao is also very famous. It attracts lots of tourists around the world every year.

    Thailand

Thailand is in the heart of Southeast Asia. Its capital Bangkok has some of Thailand's greatest buildings, like the Grand Palace(大皇宫). Chiang Mai(清迈) is a big city in Thailand. There are many historic temples(寺庙)there, such as Wat Phra Singh. The temple has a history of over 650 years.

Australia

This country is the land of beauty and diversity(多样性). It is famous for the Sydney Opera House and Ayers Rock(艾尔斯岩). Ayers Rock is 3, 600 meters long and 348 meters high. What's more, children can also see many animals here like koalas, kangaroos and sheep.

    South Korea's Jeju Island(韩国济州岛)

As a volcanic(火山) island, Jeju once was chosen as one of the New Seven Wonders(奇迹)of Nature. Besides that Jeju attracts children with its Teddy Bear Museum. There, people show historical events with teddy bears.

One day, our teacher, Mr. Sims, announced that the seventh grade field trip would be to a theme park. The classroom was filled with excitement as the girls discussed what they would wear and what they should bring with them. I sat back and listened, knowing that my parents did not have the money to send me. It made me 1 to feel so left out. But not Danny. He simply told everyone that he wouldn't be going. When Mr. Sims asked him 2 , Danny stood up and said, "It's too much money for me. My dad hurt his back and has been out of 3 for a while. I'm not asking my parents for money."

Sitting back down in his seat, Danny held his head up 4 , even though whispering had already begun. I could only sit quietly in my seat, knowing those 5 could be about me when they found out I would not be going either. 

"Dan, I'm very proud of you for 6 the situation that your parents are in," Mr. Sims replied. 

Seeing the students whispering in the back, Mr. Sims spoke again, only 7 . 

"This year, we're going to do things differently. The trip is not until the end of the month, so there's plenty of time for money 8 . Each student must bring in at least one idea for that. If a student doesn't want to help, then he or she will be staying here that day. Any 9 ?"

Of course, Shelly, the most popular girl in the class, spoke up. 

"Well, Mr. Sims, my parents can 10 it. Do I still have to help?"

"Shelly, this is not a matter of being rich or poor. Money is not just something that is handed to you when you get older. This will be a great learning experience for everyone, whether you have the money or not."

As the powerful singing voice of 71-year-old Liu Aibang echoes( 回 荡 ) across the classroom, students control shadow puppets (皮影木偶) with thin straight pieces of wood, making them step onto the "stage"—a cloth screen provided with light from behind. Those sitting in front of the stage play music on drums, suona and other instruments. 

This is a Daoqing Shadow Puppetry class at Longdong University. Besides Liu. the other performers of the show are all college students. Starting in the Han Dynasty, Daoqing Shadow Puppetry has been included in the national intangible cultural heritage list(非物质文化遗产名单) since 2006. 

However, with technologies becoming more and more popular, many performers moved on to other jobs. Faced with the choice between protecting this art and making a good living, Liu chose to stay on. 

One day in 2020, Liu got a phone call from Zhao Zhixue, the director of the music school at Longdong University. Zhao told him that the school planned to introduce Daoqing Shadow Puppetry into college classrooms. "We want to develop young students'long-term interest in intangible cultural heritage, "said Zhao. 

Excited by the news, Liu became a part-time teacher at the college. He came to school twice a week, teaching a two-hour class each time. Liu hopes to train more young people. "Just as true love is not a one-man show, the inheritance(传承) of cultural heritage needs efforts from both the old and the young, "Liu said. 

Once there was a village. The people there only cared about themselves. One day, a traveler arrived. Hungry and tired, he wished to find something to eat. Then he stopped at a house and knocked at the door. A woman opened the door. The traveler asked, "May I have something to eat?" The woman shook her head and closed the door without thinking. 

Then the traveler picked up a stone and knocked at the door again. 

"Perhaps you would be interested in my special stone soup!" the traveler said with a smile. The woman was surprised by this unusual suggestion. "Stone soup?" she doubted, wondering what that would be. 

"Yes. I just need to borrow a pot of hot water, please, " the traveler added. Though she didn't want to, the woman still gave him some water. Then the traveler put his stone in it. "It already tastes good, " he said. "But if you had a little salt and butter, the soup would taste a lot better!"

The woman brought him what he asked for, but she was not patient. Soon the word spread through the village and many people came, wanting to see what this stranger would do. "It's almost finished, " the traveler said. "But it would be even nicer if there were some carrots and potatoes. "

"I have potatoes, " said an old lady. 

"I have some carrots, " a young man answered. 

A few minutes later, these were added in. Soon, the air was filled with the nice smell. "Is it ready?" the first woman asked. "Yes, but if we can add some meat to the stone soup, it will taste more delicious, " he replied. "I have beef, " shouted a man who was watching from a window. 

Having everything he wanted in the pot, the traveler tasted a spoon of the soup. "Perfect!" he laughed. Then, he gave everyone a bowl of his special stone soup. "It's delicious!" said the villagers happily. At that moment, all of them finally realized the importance of sharing and supporting each other.