It is awkward（令人尴尬的）when everyone around you bursts out laughing at a joke that you do not find funny, especially if it's a joke told in a foreign language.

While Chinese students find it easy to adapt to a foreign lifestyle, socializing with locals is much harder, according to a recent study. Researchers looked at how well Chinese students made themselves a part of communities across the world. Of all the activities they struggled with, understanding jokes was considered the toughest.

Most of the time, jokes are funny only for people who share a common cultural background or are aware of humor in the same way.

Being able to understand local jokes can help students feel a sense of belonging. But even without the ability to understand jokes, students should not feel any less confident about themselves.

"It's OK if you don't get the jokes. Don't doubt yourself because in most time, it is not a problem of language ability but a matter of the known and unknown, "said Christine Han, who was once an overseas student and is now an Australian permanent resident.

Australia is ready-made for jokes, thanks to its history as a colony for prisoners, its unusual accent, the inner bush country and its strange food. However, to most Chinese overseas students, understanding jokes about sports is the biggest headache. Sport is an important part of Australian national identity.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 16percent（3. 3 million）of the population aged 15 years and over watched Australian football in 2010. About 9 percent（1. 9 million）attended a rugby league game.

British actor and comedian Simon Pegg discussed the differences between British and American sense of humor in a column of The Guardian. He believes that while Brits use irony（反语）on a daily basis, the Americans do not see the point of using it so frequently . He wrote, "British jokes, on the other hand, tend to be more subtle with a dark or sarcastic（讽刺的）undertone while the American jokes are more obvious and forward, a bit like Americans themselves. "

Yours,

Li Hua

Chinese idioms are rich and they are still 【小题1】（wide）used in Chinese people's daily life. 【小题2】 these idioms there are often interesting stories. For example，the idiom，“plucking（拔）up a crop 【小题3】（help）it grow”，is based on the following story.

It is said that a short-tempered man was very anxious to help 【小题4】（he）rice crops grow up quickly. He was thinking about it day and night. But the crops were growing much slower than he expected.

One day，he came up with an idea 【小题5】 he would pluck up all of his crops a few inches. He did so the next day.

He was very tired after doing this for a whole day，【小题6】 he felt very happy since the crops did“grow”higher.

His son heard about this and 【小题7】（go）to see the crops. Unfortunately the 【小题8】（leaf）of the crops began to wither.

This idiom is saying we have to let things go in their 【小题9】（nature）course. Being too anxious to help an event develop often 【小题10】（result）in something contrary to our intention.

   For most kids, a typical school day includes lessons in math, science, and English language arts. But for Callista Grant, 11, a typical day might also include instruction in American Indian drumming and dancing. She studies the Ojibwe and Lakota languages, too, and enjoys school powwows（帕瓦仪式）.

Callista goes to the American Indian Magnet School（AIMS）, in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It is open to kids from pre-K to grade 8.

Although other U. S. schools teach American Indian culture, the teachers at AlMS say their school is unique. They connect lessons to American Indian culture . When students learn about plant life cycles in science, they also learn about how native people used herbs for ceremonies and healing. A language arts class may include a reading about the meaning of the jingle dress. Callista says the focus on American Indian culture helps everyone know that "the culture is still alive".

Callista is Cherokee and Ojibwe. Of the 680 students at AlMS, about one-quarter are American Indians. It is a public school that is open to all kids in the community. All students gain from the school's focus. "It's important for everyone to know about the people who were here first and that they still live here today, "says teacher Tamara Goggleye. Lessons give all students a chance to explore their heritage.

Callista represents the school at powwows and other events. She is proud to teach others about their history. "We might lose our culture if we don't show it to our kids," Callista says. "Kids need to help pass down our culture, or it could go away. " AIMS and Callista are working to make sure that won't happen.

The summer solstice (夏至) has been widely recognized as a festival throughout the world.

The word solstice originates (起源) from the Latin sol and sistere, 【小题1】 (mean) “sun-standing”. 【小题2】 the days lengthen, the sun rises higher and higher until it seems to stand still in the sky. It is one of the great turning points of the year, when the sun is at its 【小题3】 (high) point in the sky during a year.

Today, the day is celebrated around the world. In England thousands gather to welcome the sunrise on the summer solstice. Throughout Europe groups light a fire and stay up all night to welcome the dawn. In Paris, the day 【小题4】 (mark) with free concerts during the every year’s Fête de la Musique. When it comes 【小题5】 the U. S., the city of Santa Barbara in California holds the county’s biggest 【小题6】 (celebrate) that lasts a full three-day time. On the East Coast, New York City 【小题7】 (tradition) welcomes the summer solstice with a music concert at the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine.

In the southern part of China, eating lychees (荔枝) during the summer solstice 【小题8】 (be) a long tradition because eating lychees will cause less “heat” to the body. There is a saying in Shandong province 【小题9】 goes, “eating dumplings on the winter solstice day and eating 【小题10】 (noodle) on the summer solstice day.”