Have you or your friends ever talked about studying abroad？ It's becoming a common topic of discussion in China． More students are studying abroad than ever before．

Last year， 662，100 Chinese went abroad to study， a growth of 8.83 percent from 2017． For parents who send their children abroad to study， 43 percent of them hold regular jobs． With quick economic （经济的） growth and rising income levels （收入水平）， China's people have more chances to open their eyes and have more life experiences．

Seventy years ago， however， the picture was different． Thousands of students and science and technology experts（专家） had to have a competition with each other to win a chance to study abroad． It was a valuable and unusual experience for people back then．

In 1984， Wang Huiyao， who later built a non-governmental think tank （智库） that mainly pays attention to Chinese public policy and globalization （全球化）， went to study at the University of Windsor in Canada． He found that while Chinese people knew little about the outside world， Westerners also knew little about Chinese people． "They even asked to touch my head to see if anything was different，" he said．

But today， there are fewer of these misunderstandings． With more exchange programs， Chinese students get more chances to share their life stories with people from different cultures． Ma Ying， a15-year-old Beijinger， took a short 7-day study trip to the UK． Attracted by the culture there， she decided to stay and study in the country． "I talked to my parents， and they supported my decison． I'm happy to study more English， understand their humor， and slowly go the local lifestyle，" she said．

The campus convenience store (小卖部) is a place where many students enjoy a snack and a chat. However, it may become a thing of the past.

China’s educational and health authorities (当局) have announced to close convenience stores in all schools across the country. The regulation (规定) has taken effect since April 1, 2019. It requires that schools should record each meal and solve any food problem as soon as possible. Parents can also eat with students at school and give suggestions to the school on food safety and nutrition (营养).

The regulation raised heated discussions. Many students were sad. They thought that without convenience stores, their campus life will be less interesting. However, many parents expressed support for the regulation. The father of a junior school student said that cheap, low-quality snacks sold at these stores were harmful to children’s health. A teacher said that students rushed to shops to buy snacks as soon as a class was over, which influenced the normal teaching order.

The regulation also requires schools to monitor students who may be too fat, and try to make sure they follow a healthy diet.

And in fact many foreign countries have their own ways to make students eat healthily. For example, many parents in Australia volunteer in schools. They, at least, do their best to see that their children are served nutritious food. In Japan, there is food and nutrition education. Students eat lunch in their classrooms, where they learn about diet and nutrition, and Japan’s food culture. They also take turns serving meals to each other, cleaning up, and recycling. This helps children get “a sense of gratitude (感恩)” and “appreciate (欣赏、尊重) foods and social manners”.

Bullying (霸凌) is a common problem in many schools around the world. It happens when someone makes you feel bad or hurts you over and over again.

Bullying can come in many forms. Some bullies might physically hurt others by pushing, tripping, or hitting them. Others might hurt their feelings by calling people mean names, making fun of them, or spreading rumors (谣言) about them. Nowadays, with the rise of social media (媒体) and texting, cyberbullying (bullying on the Internet) has also become a big problem. People send hurtful messages or spread rumors online.

Why do some people bully others at school? Sometimes, bullies feel great force or in control when they hurt others. They may have spent hard times at home or seen bullying in their community.

What should you do if you’re being bullied at school? Here are some tips to help you:

Talk to someone: Tell a trusted teacher, parent, or friend about what’s happening. They can offer advice and help you find ways to solve.

Stay with friends: Bullies choose people who are alone. Staying with your friends can make you feel safer.

Ignore the bully: Sometimes, bullies just want to see your reaction. If you do not mind them, they might lose interest and stop bullying you.

Keep a record: Record when, where, and how you’re being bullied. This can help you report it to the school and protect yourself.

Remember, bullying is never okay. You have the right to feel safe and happy at school. If you’re being bullied, don’t be afraid to speak up and ask for help.