I was lucky enough to have a chance to study in the United States as an international student from the Ukraine when I was fourteen years old. I went to a wonderful school,West Catholic High School, for my freshman year.

I remember my first day at that school as if it were yesterday. I was very nervous, and I could feel my heartbeat on the tips of my toes. My main fear was that I would not be able to express myself due to the language barrier. I was trying to have as little communication as I possibly could. And I almost succeeded, until we had to introduce ourselves in front of the class.

And the moment the word “international”flew out of my mouth, i was surrounded by thirty people who were asking questions one after another. I remember some of the questions were “Where is the Ukraine? Is it a kingdom?”“Do you have McDonald’s? Does it taste the same?”and “Say something in your language.” It turned out to be the opposite of less communication, but it was so much fun.

During the first three months, I certainly experienced a bit of cultural shock. I think Americans are the nicest people I have ever met in my entire life. They always smile and say, “Hi, how are you?”

One day, I noticed the students looking at me suspiciously. Finally , my classmate came up to my locker and whispered, “Is that true that you are a princess(公主)and that you came to study here so that nobody would recognize you?” At one point, I even had an image of myself wearing a gown and waving at the crowd. What ? People do have a wild imagination!

During my study abroad experience, I saw a totally new world, experienced great culture, met a lot of incredible(不可思议的)people and improved my language. This trip inspired me to learn foreign languages. That is one of the reasons why I speak five different languages today.

Many people think a telephone is a necessity (必需品). But I think it is a pest (有害的事物) and a time waste. Very often you find it impossible to escape from it. If you have a telephone in your own house, you will admit that it always rings when you don’t want it to ring; when you are asleep, or in the middle of a meal or a conversation, or when you are just going out, or when you are taking your bath. Are you strong-minded enough to ignore it, to say to yourself, “Ah, well, it will all be the same in a hundred years’ time” You are not. You think there may be some important news or messages for you. I can assure you that if a message is really important it will reach you sooner or later. Have you ever rushedfrom the bathroom, only to be told that you are a wrong number?

But you will say, you need not have your name printed in the telephone directory, and you can have a telephone which is only usable for outgoing calls. Besides, you will say, isn’t it important to have a telephone in case of sudden emergency—illness, accident, or fire? Of course, you are right, but here in a country with a large population like England one is seldom far from a telephone in case of emergency.

I think perhaps I had better try to prove that what I like is good. I admit that in different cases—if I were a wealthy and powerful business person, for instance, or badly ill and had to lie in bed, I might find a telephone a necessity. But then if I were a taxi-driver I should find a car necessity. Let me put it another way: there are two things for which the English seem to show particular talent; one is mechanical (机器的) invention, the other is literature. My own business happens to be with the use of words but I see I must now stop using them. For I have just been handed a piece of paper to say that somebody is waiting to speak to me on the telephone. I think I had better answer it. After all, one never knows, it may be something important.

It's about time somebody destroyed that old myth(神话)about childhood being the happiest period of your life. Childhood may certainly be fairly happy, but its greatest moments can't compare with the joy of being an adult. 【小题1】 Adults choose the clothes their children will wear, the books they will read and the friends they will play with. This is an adult world.

【小题2】 But which adult would honestly change places with a child? Every movement you make, every thought you think is watched by some adult, Remember how gentle pressure was given to you with words like “if you don't do as I say, I will...”. I'm sure you will never forget!

Even so, these are only part of child's trouble. No matter how kind and loving parents may be, children often suffer from terrible and illogical fears since they can't understand the world around them. 【小题3】 Adults can share their fears with other adults while children have to face their fears alone.

But the most painful part of childhood is a period when you begin to go out of it, the period when you go into adolescence. 【小题4】 Adolescents pay much attention to their appearance and the impression they make on others. They feel shy, awkward and clumsy. Feelings are sensitive and hearts easily broken. Teenagers experience moments of great happiness or black despair.

What a happy time it is to grow up. Suddenly you get your balance; the world opens up before you. You are free to choose; you have your own place to live in and your own money to spend. You do not have to ask approval for everything you do. 【小题5】