My stay in America was a unique opportunity for me to expose myself to the American culture and see the diversity of people’s lives there.

Blacks, whites, Latinos, and Asians all are in one country, all are equal, and all know it is their home, where they have found or are still seeking for their American Dream. It was amazing to be part of the culture though for one year. It was interesting to learn that the North of America is different from the South and that the West varies from the East, such as the difference in people, in their perception of life and in their attitude toward each other, the respect for the family and their roots, and of course the history of their lands. Being in about nine states in the US, from the East to the West, I could see and learn the difference first-hand.

Before going to the US, I didn’t know much about the difference between the northern states and the southern ones. I didn’t know that the majority of the population living in California are Latinos, and that every second person that one sees speaks Spanish. I didn’t know that understanding the native speaker in New York is going to be harder than understanding someone from Atlanta, Georgia, either.

When people ask me about the US, I say, “You wouldn’t know. My America is different from that in the Hollywood movies. The America I was in is quiet, small, peaceful, supportive, and unique. ”

I have made a lot of friends in America, not only from the country itself, but also from many other countries. I never had a chance to be bored and never lacked an opportunity to learn about people’s cultures.

America unites a variety of people on its land. It is like music bringing people together on the dance floor.

   Dragging a sleigh loaded with enough presents for the world’s children can be no easy skill. But, since ancient times, the Christmas Eve duty has been performed by a team of beloved reindeer.

Soon, however, Santa Claus may have to start looking around for a stronger type of animal, as newresearch shows the species is becoming increasingly puny. A 16-year survey on the arctic Norwegian islands, Svalbard, found the reindeer there have declined in weight by an alarming 12 percent.

The reduction in average body weight is being blamed on global warming. In the research presented lately at a meeting of the British Ecological Society in Liverpool, scientists have explained how upward temperatures are robbing female reindeer of nutrients during important periods of pregnancy.

Snow in Svalbard typically covers the ground for eight months of a year, which, combined with low temperatures, limits grass growth to June and July. But as summer temperatures increase by around 1. 5℃, grass has become more productive, allowing female reindeer to gain more weight by autumn and therefore to have more babies. However, winters have brought with them greater rainfall which freezes when it settles on the snow. Reindeer can often access the poor food sources beneath the snow by clearing it away with their antlers (鹿角) , but they cannot break through the hard ice. As a result, female reindeer are becoming starved, causing them to lose their babies or give birth to the much lighter young.

Despite the findings, reindeer appear to be suffering less from the effect of climate change than some other arctic species. Last week the scientists warned that a third of the world’s polar bears could disappear in the next 40 years.

Four Ways to Make Your Shoes Feel Better

According to the American Podiatric Medical Association, the vast majority of people experience foot pain at some point in their lives. The reason for most foot pain is that shoes fit poorly or force the feet into unnatural shapes. 【小题1】 . Aside from carefully selecting the right shoes, there are some easy measures you can take to keep foot pain at bay.

1. Stretch Your Shoes

If your feet are rubbing against your shoes, this could indicate that you need more width, length or both. However, sometimes going to the next larger size is not an option, as the next size may be too large. 【小题2】 .

2. Using Shoe Inserts

Both podiatrists (足病医生) and those in the shoe repair industry often recommend inserts to increase shoe comfort. 【小题3】 . Determining the best insert for your shoes depends on what hurts.

3. 【小题4】

The way you lace (用带子系紧) your shoes can make a world of difference in their comfort. Lacing them too tightly or incorrectly can make your feet hurt. Cramped toes, rubbing on the top of the foot, and pressure on the big toe can likely be relieved if you place your shoes differently.

4. Wearing Socks

【小题5】 . They are usually made of cotton or nylon. Not only do they add an extra layer of cushion to your shoes but they also keep your feet from sweating. This prevents moisture (水汽) from forming in the shoes. Moisture in your shoes can cause blisters and calluses on your feet.

I left home at 18 and pay my own way through college. In the past 20 years, I have worked for everything I needed. So it shocks me what some people in their 20s, still get their life supported by our parents. Some of these parents have difficult supporting their families.

It’s true that the job market is much more harder these days. Therefore, there are certainly some ways to make living on our own. Even if our parents is nice enough to pay for our college, we shouldn’t burden them at our problems. We should be financially responsible adults, made our parents proud of us.