Winter in NYC

 

On this vacation, we visited different places in NYC while learning English and doing various activities.  We first did a workshop where we made our own emojis.  On the other days, we went by subway or bus or on foot to visit other museums.  My favorite among all of the places was the street art museum showing and explaining all the artist's works, which were made in lots of countries.  Today is my last day, and we are going to MoMA. We will finish the day with a visit to a film museum.  I had a lot of fun and improved my English.  I hope to learn even more in the future.

P.S. The American coffee is bad (I am from Brazil).

This week was the last week of Hi-New-York.  It was a 2 week-long program visiting the city, going to touristic places and playing games.  I miss Brazil and my friends.  This trip showed me how much I love my country, culture, language, food, people and music. I am blessed to be Brazilian.  This course, however, helped my English, and I look forward to coming back to the US for the World Cup.

This week was fantastic.  I went to amazing places like the Natural History Museum.  It had beautiful gems.  We also visited the Intrepid Museum.  Tomorrow, we are going to the Brooklyn Bridge.  I made new friends, and I like New York.  I hope to return one day soon.

This week in NYC was cold but very fun. We went to the MET and saw musical instruments.  I like the MET because it has beautiful art and cool paintings!  I love the Egyptian art and the ancient carvings like the Sphinx.  We also went to Brooklyn to see street art and ate fried chicken in Harlem.  We made new friends and had a good time.  We can't wait to return.

My favorite season is fall.  I love the colorful trees; they are beautiful.  I love Halloween too because I like scary things and making jack-o-lanterns (carved pumpkins).

Edited for comprehension.

Our Summer Vacation

 

Edited for clarity.

During this summer, I went on a trip to Europe.  I went to Switzerland, France and Spain.  I didn't like Switzerland because the room was so tiny.  I didn't like Spain because it was hot, smelly and dangerous.  I liked France and Euro Disney.  My favorite ride weas the roller coaster, and I didn't like the Tower of Terror.  I don't think I would go back to Europe again.

In July, I went to summer school.  I played Minecraft and made new friends. I like Minecraft.  I have been playing Minecraft for at least 4 years.  I also made YouTube posts and have them on my USB.  I liked this summer school and would like to go back next summer.

Now, I am finishing my second week of Hi-New-York.  I like Hi-New-York because I get to eat a lot of chocolate.  There is nothing that I don't like.  This is my second summer with Hi-New-York, and I'm still not bored.  (T)

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I had a very busy summer.  I spent most of my time at home in New York City and went to Europe for a two-week vacation with my family.  I enjoyed everything I did but wish I had more time to play games and go to the playground.

In July, I went to summer school.  During the first week, I learned about AI.  I really liked the teacher because he was so funny.  During the second week, I learned about business .  I hated this week because it was boring and my partner was younger than me but very bossy.  During the third week, I did Minecraft .  Sometimes it was boring, but most of the time, it was ok.  I don't know if I would like to go back to this summer school.

In August, I went to Europe with my family.  We went to Switzerland, Spain and France.  In Switzerland, we stayed in a hotel in Zurich and saw beautiful mountains and lakes.  In Spain, we saw a famous church of Gaudi.  In France, we went to Euro Disney.  I liked France best because of Euro Disney.

On our next school vacation, we are going back to Japan.  We haven't been in Japan for a year and a half, and I am really looking forward to it.  (E)

AI - Good or Bad?

Edited for clarity.

Artificial Intelligence or better known as AI is a technological phenomenon that has existed since the first line of code was written. During the Cold War, NASA, to reach the moon, had to make hundreds of thousands of calculations that would have taken years to do by hand.  NASA, to beat the Soviets to space, didn't have time to do this; so, they built the first supercomputer, and with that, the first artificial intelligence code.

Since that moment, 56 years have passed, and now everyone has access to humanity's greatest and worst creation.  Nowadays, we use AI for personal things like schoolwork and emails, and some companies lay off workers to replace them with AI. You might think that it's fine to make AI do stuff for you, but would you trust a random person with your emails, schoolwork or even bank details?  Of course not!  AI is just like a normal person, and it's only a matter of time until it understands everything.

In my opinion, we have to limit AI's reach and get prepared for a potential uprising.  I know that an AI uprising sounds like the plot of a cliche sci-fi movie, but it can happen.  It's only a matter of time.  (P)

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AI can be dangerous.  It might take away people's jobs.  It can spread fake news that trick people into believing lies.  It is still helpful sometimes in doing school tasks, but it collects a lot of personal information, which means we lose privacy.  Overall, I think AI is not good for our world.  (M)

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I think artificial intelligence is good for humans. These days, AI is improving so fast, and AI users are increasing too like my parents.  There are so many AI tools on the internet, and they are useful for programming or just searching.  If we can use them efficiently and completely, we can decrease our tedious tasks.  

AI can be used for not only tasks at school or work but also our personal lives.  For example, there is an AI platform called Alexa which allows us to control furnishings in our homes by voice only.  So, for these reasons, I believe AI can make our lives great.  (H)

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Artificial Intelligence is a revolutionary development in technology.  It's being used for a lot of things now - for good things and bad things.  

In some hospitals, AI is used to discover bad things in the body with images from a camera.  It can help some people discover bad things before they become worse.

Some companies like OpenAI offer the possibility to use AI.  The most popular one is ChatGPT, and children of now (and the future) can use it for their tasks without thinking about them.  AI can make children think less and not progress at school.

Like all technology-related products, we need to use AI carefully.  It is important to take the good and not the bad.  (K1)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------AI is bad because you can use it for class and to do homework without thinking. AI can make mistakes too.  AI is bad, but you can use it if your teacher says "yes".  (K2)

Dear Mom and Dad

Dear Mom & Dad,

I am actually in a New York City Museum with one of my teachers and a German girl.  Here, everything is good except the food.  So far, I have been to the World Trade Center, Times Square, Empire State Building and various museums.  I met a lot of people, and I had a lot of fun in this city.

And you?  How are you doing?  Is Morocco a nice destination too?

R

Dear Mom,

I want to thank you for this nice trip.  I saw so many cool things, and I ate so many tasty things.  When I think back to the first day, it feels like we have been here already for a year.  Do you remember getting lost in Times Square on the first day or the frog on the sidewalk in upstate NY?  I'm very happy to be here, and I'm very thankful for this nice trip.

Your A

Edited for clarity.

Showing Off Our Creativity

 

A Cookie to be Remembered

Today, we went to a cafe, and Lux ordered a cookie.  Lux and her sister tasted the cookie, and they said it tasted bad.  I was very curious and asked to taste it.  The cookie tasted like overburnt cement.  It had grainy bitter raisins and seemed to be sprinkled with salt and pepper.  It was so bad I almost puked.  My friend Eisuke tasted the cookie, and it was so bad that he puked into the trash bag.  Lux's cookie looked good, but it tasted so bad!!!  Next time we come here, we will not order this cookie!

The Life of a Sailor on an Aircraft Carrier

It was 5:00am, and like every day, the alarm clock rang.  I woke up, and everything was dark.  I said hello to the other sailor who was in the bed above, and very slowly, I stood up and went to the line for the showers.  I waited about 10 minutes in line, and when I arrived at the shower, I took off my clothes and went in the shower.  As always, the water was freezing.  It burned my arms, and even though I did it every day, I never got used to it.  Then I went to have breakfast.

A Fairy Tale

Once upon a time, there was a girl who lived in the country with her family.  Every member of the family got his/her own unicorn at the age of 11 if he/she completed 3 tasks on their 11th birthday.  So, the girl started with the first task of eating the bean burrito from Taco Bell.  The next task was for her to do a backflip.  The last task was for her to eat 3 big cotton candies. At the end of the day, her unicorn was waiting for her, and they became best friends.

Edited for brevity and clarity.

Why You Should Come to...

 

Hong Kong

You should visit Hong Kong.  Hong Kong is an international city.  There are restaurants from different countries, shops that would be suitable for everyone, and weather that is not extremely hot or cold.  So, every visitor will not feel unhappy when they visit.

Hong Kong has many amazing views and attractions.  For example, there is Victoria Harbor.  I would recommend that you hike to the Peak at night and look down to see the greatest view of Hong Kong and the lights from the tall buildings.  You can also enjoy the comfortable weather at night in Hong Kong.  In my point of view, I don't think Hong Kong's gorgeous night view is any worse than New York's.

Hong Kong has been called the 'shopping heaven' or the 'travel heaven' for decades. It is because Hong Kong's products are not very expensive.  It is often much cheaper compared to other countries. In addition, there are no taxes on products, which is quite unique compared to other foreign countries.

Also, Hong Kong's cuisine is really delicious.  There are quite a lot of Michelin-starred restaurants in Hong Kong.

In conclusion, Hong Kong is a place that can fulfill every visitor's needs.  So, I highly recommend that you visit Hong Kong at least once in your lifetime.

The Chamonix Region

Chamonix, located at the foot of Mont Blanc, is a dream destination for winter sports and mountaineering.  Its stunning landscapes and diverse slopes attract visitors from around the world.  However, the high cost of accommodations, ski passes, and dining make Chamonix an expensive choice.

What many people don't know is that there are affordable ways to enjoy the Chamonix region.  Smaller, nearby resorts such as Vallorcine and Avoriaz offer more reasonable rates while maintaining the charm and beauty of the Alps.  These smaller resorts are less crowded as well.

Visiting these resorts outside of the peak season has its perks too.  Snow conditions are typically excellent, and prices are lower outside the peak holiday periods.  This allows the visitors to enjoy the typical winter sports, hiking and cultural activities without crowds.  

Chamonix is a popular and costly destination, but there are many ways to experience its surroundings more affordably, You will end up coming back every year!

Edited for brevity and clarity.

Battle of the Doughnuts: Dunkin Donuts vs. Krispy Kreme

 

Which is better?  Here are the viewpoints of our students from the Spring 2024 session.  

Edited for length and clarity.

Antoine

Before eating lunch, I tasted for the first time Dunkin Donuts and Krispy Kreme doughnuts. Dunkin Donuts, which has a worse box than Krispy Kreme doughnuts was cheaper and sweeter.  I prefer the taste of Krispy Kreme doughnuts although it is more expensive.  Krispy Kreme doughnuts have become my favorite American snack.  

Artur

Which doughnut was more delicious?  Dunkin Donuts or Krispy Kreme?  I tasted for the first time Dunkin Donuts and Krispy Kreme doughnuts, and I found that they are different!  Krispy Kreme doughnuts are more beautiful, and Dunkin Donuts are sweeter and bigger.  I prefer Krispy Kreme doughnuts because I don't like food that is too sweet.

Pauline

I tasted real doughnuts, Dunkin Donuts and Krispy Kreme doughnuts, for the first time in NYC.  I first looked at Dunkin Donuts.  I love big and sweet snacks and thought that Dunkin Donuts would be better than Krispy Kreme doughnuts.  I was wrong.  Dunkin Donuts was too sweet.  I prefer Krispy Kreme doughnuts.

If I Were Rich and Famous...

I would live in a Hanok in the middle of Seoul.  A Hanok is a traditional Korean House.  It is cool in the summer and warm in the winter.  I like "ondol", which is a special feature of an Hanok house.  "Ondol" is used in the winter.  It is placed under the floor, and it can heat a room very fast.  I would also like to see beautiful plants and trees in the garden.  I would like to adopt a dog with white hair too.  I have an allergy to dog hair, but I would like to have the allergy disappear in the future.  It may take a long time to reach my every wish, but I will never give up.

I would live in a log cabin in a forest in the US.  The house would be made of wood and have 3 floors and 5 rooms - a living room, kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and my secret room!  The secret room would be on the third floor, and in the room, I could play games, play with my animals and feed them.  In front of my house, there would be a pool and grass.  On the grass, I could play.  I think my house would be real some day.

I would live in a big house in Florida.  The house would have a big game room and kitchen because I love to play games and cook.  I would like to have a PS5 computer, TV, LED lights etc.  I would like to have a gym room too, with all the machines.  Very cool.  I would also like to have a dog and live with my girlfriend or best friend.  I could go to parties, work out in the gym and eat ramen with them.  I would like a car (Supra Toyota) or a motorbike (Z1000), big pool and a tree house where I could watch movies with my friends.  I can't wait!

I would live in a big house with a swimming pool and a huge garden.  My house will have a big, cozy bedroom and an exciting game room.  I would have a very cute cat and a dog.  Also, my little lizard Sand would live in a very big cage.  My house would have three floors, and on the third floor, there would be very big windows on all four walls.  The garden would be very colorful.  My house would be the nicest in Seoul, Korea.

Rockefeller Center

Many people are familiar with the iconic Rockefeller Center in the heart of New York City, but have you ever spent time at this famous landmark? Hi-New-York is based at Rockefeller Center, and this summer, our students spent some time exploring the art and history of this venue and wrote about their experiences and what they learned.

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Rockefeller Center has been giving New Yorkers joy ever since it was built.  During the Great Depression, J.D.Rockefeller Jr. wanted to create something with his money that other people could enjoy. He also created jobs by financing the building. J.D. Rockefeller Jr. was never interested in spending his money on himself. He wanted to spend it on others. He built Rockefeller Center so that New Yorkers can enjoy the cultural richness of their city.

….....

Rockefeller Center is a really cool place with a lot of things to see and do. When the weather is good, you can go up the skyscrapers and take a look at New York from above. Rockefeller Center has a big underground system with cafes and shops where you can go when the weather is bad. On the outside of many buildings, there is art, and you can ask the receptionists of the buildings about the art. There are many interesting shops you can visit, and in the middle of Rockefeller Center, you have an ice-skating rink which opens every Christmas. During Christmas, they also put up a very big Christmas tree. Rockefeller Center has been giving New Yorkers joy ever since it was built. 

…….

In New York, there is an important and famous place called Rockefeller Center. If you go there, you will have a lot of fun. You can skate, and you can see a lot of art. During the winter, it is even more amazing! You should definitely go there and enjoy it. There is a huge Christmas tree full of different colored lights and a lot of beautiful shops;  so, you won’t be bored!

..........

Rockefeller Center is a group of buildings in Midtown. Every building is decorated with art and colors. There is everything in those buildings like restaurants, shops and snack stands. The subway is connected to the Center too. We can also go to the Top of the Rock, an observatory at Rockefeller Center. There, we can see a lot of skyscrapers like the Empire State building. We can visit the Center when it's sunny and when it's raining. Rockefeller Center is a very good place to visit.

Using Technology to Learn English

 

When it comes to learning English, there are many resources out there that can help you, and with advances in technology, there are now more resources available online than ever before. Armed with smart phones, ipads, laptops and gaming devices, our students have access to so much that it can be overwhelming at times. Therefore, we have summarized below some of the online resources that are available to young learners today.

We always encourage our students to watch movies or shows in English with English subtitles. Streaming services like Netflix offer this capability. This can be a great way to improve listening comprehension and speaking skills for everyday situations. Quite often, our European students don't realize that we are using vocabulary they already know because the words are pronounced differently in English. Many also find it challenging to know where to place the stress on an English word. Listening to the English being spoken while reading the English subtitles will help bridge these gaps. Watching and listening in another language requires a lot of focus and attention; so, watching episodes or movies in short parts can help to take in more of the language. Noting new words and pronunciation as they appear can also help with the learning process.

YouTube also offers a lot of content that is fun and accessible for all language levels, including music and videos on various topics of special interest. Adding on a brower extension like the ‘language reactor’ can help to sift through the content and enhance the learning experience through subtitles and a pop-up dictionary.

Language app's such as Duolingo, Babbel, Rosetta stone and Memrise to name a few can also be a great way to learn new vocabulary and basic grammatical structures. Many of the app’s have ways to keep track of one's progress to help maintain motivation.

A bit more controversial are online games because of the amount of time being spent in front of a screen. The important thing here is to find those games with high educational value like the recently released Minecraft ‘adventures in English with Cambridge’. There are also many other video games that can be switched to English in the settings, and some video games have characters who speak in English or features that allow for communication in English with other players from around the world

Accessing online content on topics of interest can help to maintain motivation and ensure continued learning. National Geographics, for example, offers interactive games, activities and videos on animals, science and history. These topics might interest some students. PBS is another organization that offers video and game content through which younger children can learn and practice English.

Although technology can be very useful in learning English, it’s important to remember that it can't replace everyday human interactions and should be used alongside real-life experiences. Immersing oneself in the English language and practicing it in situ is required for mastery. Communicating fully with other English-speaking people should be the goal and not the acquisition of vocabulary or knowledge of grammar rules.

Emails from NY

Dear Martina,

How are you?  Are you fine?  In New York, the weather is terrible!  It's rainy!!  

I like New York.  This week, I visited the Empire State Building, Natural History Museum and a botanical garden.  Two days before yesterday, I saw Lion King.  It was very beautiful.

Love,

G

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Dear Best Friend,

How are you?  I am well.  Yesterday, we went to a museum and saw many pictures.  They were beautiful.  I also played with water in a park with my friend.  We then went to buy some ice cream.  It was cold but very delicious.  Yesterday was very hot, but I made some good memories with a new friend.  Now, I want to do something with you!

S

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Dear Dad,

Is everything ok?  I'm in NY, and it's amazing.  The city is a bit crowded, but it has some spectacular buildings with very creative shapes.  I've been to visit the Statue of Liberty, and the view from the island is beautiful.  We are planning to visit the Empire State Building next.  I have seen it from the outside, and it is especially beautiful at night.

I hope you can write back soon and tell me how you are doing.  I miss you.

Love,

T

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Dear Grandma,

How are you?  I'm doing fine.  I ate ice cream yesterday.  I watched Aladdin on Broadway on Wednesday,  It was very powerful and amazing. I'll be home soon.

R

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Dear Grandma,

How are you?  I am fine.  In New York City, I am doing many things, but I want to go back to Russia.  Write back to me, and tell me what's new in Moscow.  I miss you a lot.

Love,

V

Learning English with Hi-New-York

With Hi-New York, we do many activities like going to the museums, zoos and parks and doing arts and crafts. Some people might say that museums are boring, but I enjoy them

because I discover new things and new words. On the first day of school, we went to juggle, and it was really fun.

We also have English lessons in a classroom. There two levels of English: Beginners and Advanced. I  remember better the vocabulary that we learned in our lessons because we can use them on our field trips. In these lessons, we also learn 

grammar. In France, we do not learn such advanced English.  This school has children of different nationalities, and we can speak English together because we have almost the same level of English.

At noon, for lunch, we go to a restaurant. The Japanese restaurant is my favorite.  Some people do not like some of the food and are picky-eaters, but I liked all the food we ate at the restaurant.

At Hi-New-York, we do fun activities, and this makes learning English easier.  I love hanging out, having fun and learning English at the same time.

Our NYC Story

Characters

Narrator

Superheroine Lady Ice

Lady Ice’s Dog Ice Cube

Villain Mr. Fire

Mr. Fire’s Cat Heat

Old Man

Old Man’s Dog

Narrator:  Lady Ice is walking by the lake in Central Park on a warm, summer morning when

an old man falls into the lake.  The old man’s dog comes running up to Ice Cube to ask for help.

Old Man’s Dog:  Oof oof oof

Ice Cube:  Oof oof oof

Narrator:  Lady Ice rushes to the rescue by freezing the surface of the lake.  The old man grabs onto a piece of floating ice and starts swimming to the shore.  Mr. Fire, who was burning some bushes nearby, notices what is going on and decides to melt all the ice.

Mr. Fire:  Take that!  And that!

Heat:  Meow, meow (happily)

Narrator:  The old man starts to flounder again.

Lady Ice:  Hang on!  I’ll be right there.  

Narrator:  Lady Ice makes stepping stones of ice on the lake to go rescue the old man.  Mr. Fire shoots fire at her path to melt everything.  Ice Cube and the old man’s dog leap to the rescue.  They tie down Mr. Fire’s arms with their leashes so that he can’t throw any more fire.  Lady Ice rescues the old man and then covers Mr. Fire with ice.  Heat slinks away silently, abandoning his master.

 

Writers in the Making

This summer, a few of our students created their own stories from a gap-fill exercise.  Since we teach our students not to be afraid of making mistakes, we present to you their story before corrections are made. Making mistakes is cool!  It’s an important part of the learning process.  Please sit back, relax and enjoy!  

Mermaid-Ville 

Our submarine speeds along at 15 (large number) miles an hour, and we spot something cloudy (adjective) in the distance. Underwater skyscrapers! Or are they called seascrapers here? “Welcome to Mermaid-ville,” says a woman with blue (color) legs (animal body part, plural). “My name is Mikasa (Celebrity’s name). Would you like a ride?” Of course we do! We ran (verb) onto the stingray she is riding and take off. First, we go to see the school where the principal is a scarf (clothing item)-wearing rabbit (animal)! At the library we see mermaids reading blue skye (favorite book) and sipping tomato (vegetable)-flavored coffee. Our tour guide hears our hands (body part, plural) jumping (verb ending in -ing). It’s been a while since we last ate. She takes us to a diner called ears (animal body part)’s place. We park the stingray outside and follow a police (type of job) to our sky (noun), where we order lots of sea salt-covered hamburgers (favorite food, plural). Our new mermaid friend even treats us to apple pie (favorite dessert). What a great city! 

Florida Everglades 

My next adventure is in the swampy Florida Everglades! Our boat skims across the cold (adjective) water. Mosquitoes as big as sky (noun, plural) zoom by our heads. Suddenly, a big (adjective) alligator pops out of the water! I think he is going to running (verb) me. Instead, he sobs like a sea (noun) and points to his mouth with his legs (body part). Fortunately, I’ve seen every episode of rabbits (animal) Whisperer on channel 5 (number); so, I know his tooth hurts. But when I get close with my chocolate (ice-cream favor) flavored dental floss, he jumping (verb) his mouth shut. Just then, Anne (friend’s name) slips on liver (something gross), shrieks like a dragon (mythical creature), then falls into some water (liquid). The alligator laughs so hard his mouth opens wider than a sky (noun). Here’s my chance! I quickly (adverb ending in -ly) lasso the tooth. It pops right out. Just then, the alligator’s mom jumping (verb) through the water toward Anne (same friend). That’s how I discovered my friend is faster than a boat! 

The End 

The Influence of Rock Stars on Us

Today, young people are strongly influenced by rock stars.  They follow the behavior, clothes and beliefs of their favorite rockers without much thought.  If you ask a fan why he or she painted his or her room black, he or she will probably tell you something like "Because I love rock!  And black is a rock color!"  Or why he or she has piercings, he or she would tell you "Because I am a rocker, and rockers have piercings!"

Young people like to dress like their favorite rock stars.  It's common to see them wearing ripped clothes or T-shirts with the name of a band.  Another thing is that all their clothes are black, blue, violet or gray.  Their clothes are really informal too.  Only a T-shirt, jeans and boots.  That's all.  They also have black lipstick or black nail polish.  You can't forget the piercings.  They have a lot of them.

The rock stars influence the behavior of the young people too.  There are two different types of fans, and they are very different from each other.  On the one hand, there are the excited, loud and screaming fans who look like they can run a marathon without sweating.  On the other hand, there are the sad, depressed and lonely fans who look like vampires.

There are a lot of types of fans like there are a lot of types of music.  The fans of rock, however, stand out from the crowd.

My Life at Home

My Morning Routine

I'm going to talk about my morning routine.  My mornings start at 6:00am.  If I could, I would wake up later, but I can't.  "Why" you might ask.  Because of my siblings!  I live really close to my school, but I always arrive late at school.

I wake up, get dressed, have a bath and brush my teeth.  I do this all really quickly, but then, just when I am finished, my sister wakes up.  She is really lazy.  I have to help my little brother get ready too.

I have to make breakfast, and my sister eats really slowly, which makes us leave the house at 7:45am.  I still have to get my little brother to school.  OMG!  I'm going to be so late for school.  I think to myself "Why do I think that?"  Well, because my class starts at 8:00am!  That's the time I arrive at the school.  I run with all my life, but oh no!  I have to go up the stairs because my class is on the third floor!  At 8:05am, I am in front of the door.  I am not allowed to be later than that.  I knock on the door.  "At this time?!" my teacher says - again.

Rowing

I started rowing two years ago, and I like it so much.  I train every day to be a good athlete.  I have many friends who train too; so, I want to go train.

When I train on a still lake, I'm so happy and relaxed because when you move the oars, the boat goes fast.  Without waves, I am at one with the lake.

I train on the lake of Como 3 times a week, 2 hours each time.  Sometimes, I train on the rowing machine.  I hate this because we do it when it rains, and it is boring.  The machine also makes an ugly sound!

My NYC Experience

My trip from Spain to New York was long. Last Tuesday, I took a plane from Spain to New York. It was an eight-hour trip in which you were served two meals, and each person had a TV on their seat with movies, games, and more stuff to entertain themselves. Although it was a long journey, it didn’t feel that long to me. I was given a seat next to the window, and I was lucky since I didn’t have anyone next to me.  When I arrived, my uncle, who lives in New York, picked me up, and I went to bed because I was very tired. It was a long and tiring trip, but the in-flight entertainment made the journey feel shorter than it actually was.

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On Monday (my first day at Hi-New York), we went to a museum about New York.  When we arrived, we did an activity that I liked because it consisted of constructing a building with people, plants, and different floors. When we finished with this activity, we saw a video on the evolution of the city. It was very interesting because I could see how the city was before and how it is now. To finish the trip, we did one last activity where we read some texts and wrote some ideas for another activity. In conclusion, the trip was very interesting, and I learned a lot of new things about the city.

We also visited an island this week. The ecologist there told us interesting things about the environment and what destroys it. We also went outside.  However, when we went outside, it started to rain. Even though the weather was bad, we still enjoyed the visit. We also tried new berries– juneberries– and we saw something very uncommon for New York- a cactus!

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In New York, there are a lot of big stores. My favorite store is the Apple Store and the Nintendo Store because they have a lot of games. To get to the stores, you can take the subway. I would like to go by car, but I can't because it  expensive. My favorite game is Brawl Stars of Supercell. I have many trophies in this game; I am so good at this game. My sister is so bad at this game. I like these stores because they have iPads, iPhones, 3Ds, and Nintendo Switch.

Last week, I went to Times Square. It is full of stores, and at night, the buildings are decorated with many colored lights. There are many yellow taxis and tour buses. In the streets, you can find dancers or people who sell tickets for Broadway shows. I think that it is a very good place, and it makes New York a better city.

In New York, there are a lot of places where we can go - for example, Broadway. Broadway is a very popular avenue in New York City. It is famous for musicals. Close to Broadway, there is another famous area in New York: Times Square. I hope while I am in New York, I can go to see a show.

In New York, there is a place on the coast called Coney Island. At Coney Island, you can find an arcade, a Wheel of Fortune, roller coasters, and carnival games. There is a beach where you can swim, and you can get french fries at the original Nathan's restaurant.

Some Thoughts on Food

I think that the food in New York is a lot different from the food in Italy.  First of all, in Italy there aren't as many variety of restaurants as there are here.  I think that also in Italy, you can eat healthier because they don't use as much sauce and the quantity is about half of the American one.

I was very surprised at the pizza restaurants here in New York.  The menu always says that the pizza is just like the Italian one, but I think they're just saying it to attract more people.

I was also surprised by the huge number of Chinese restaurants.  There are about five of them in only one block!

As a conclusion, I would say that both types of food are really good, and I think it's good to sometimes try new things.

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New York City is a huge city where the number of immigrants and so the kinds of food they brought to it is unbelievable.  Like in Paris.

In Paris, like in New York, there are a lot of restaurants and different kinds of food like Chinese food, Japanese food and Italian food.  These two cities are the gastronomical capitals of the world.  Therefore, there are luxury restaurants but also restaurants that are less expensive like Five Guys and Toasties in New York and Tunisian restaurants in Paris.

Differences in the food between these two cities arise from the immigrant groups that live in these cities.  In Paris, many immigrants are from North Africa, China and Portugal.  In the suburbs, there is an area called St. Denis.  Its international market is very famous because we can find everything from all over the world like Portuguese food, Tunisian food, Algerian food or Turkish food.  A specialty of this place and many restaurants in Paris and its suburbs is a sandwich called "kebob".  It's a sandwich composed of meat, tomato, lettuce and onion.  Generally, it's eaten with fries.  I love this sandwich because it's composed of basic ingredients but makes for an original meal.

In New York, there are immigrants from many places, and all kinds of food are from the different ethnic groups.  The pastrami and the bagel are from the Jewish population, and the hamburger is from Hamburg in Germany.  But sometimes, this food which has travelled a lot changed like the Chicago deep dish pizza.  The best food that I have eaten in New York is soul food which is from the south of the USA.  It's composed of fried chicken, corn bread and waffles.

One big difference between the food in New York and the food in Paris is portion size.  Portions are bigger in New York and generally in the USA.  For example, the deep dish pizza at Uno's Pizzeria can feed more than 5 people!

So, the food in Paris and the food in New York are similar and yet different.

Learning about Different Cultures

At the beginning of my Hi-New-York program, I was quite sensitive to everything here. It was strange here and I didn’t know my teacher. I nervously sat on the sofa with my father and looked around.

I was surprised with my teacher Heather. She looked as young as a college student. I didn’t think she was older than me. Then, we had a private lesson. I wasn’t accustomed to the questions in the book, so I didn’t do well at first. After that, it was a group lesson with three sweet guys. I didn’t talk too much that day, but I liked the group.

In the following days, I became active, but continued to speak Chinese. After a week’s practice, I would understand what others said, and I began expressing my opinions in English. I made great progress every day with Hi-New-York. I always had Chinese food with my father, but I had a different and new type of food every day here. I learned about different cultures through the food. Finally, I had the courage to overcome my English difficulties and talked with Americans.

Thanks a lot Hi-New-York!

Stars: Their Influence on Us

There are many ways in which young people are influenced by stars. For example, a star’s choices of clothes can become a fashion craze. Young people are eager to own all the things stars have—the sweater, coat, shoes, earrings, and even socks. That’s why so many advertisers find stars to promote their brands.

Young people may copy the behaviors of stars, whether they are right or not. Drinking, staying up late, and saying curse words become the usual among teenagers before they know whether or not these behaviors are correct. They want to copy them because they are curious about things they haven’t tried. When you idolize a star, you think that all the things they do must be the best.

Stars also give young people positive energy to help themselves, their families, and the world.

           

I was personally influenced by Emma Watson, an actress from Hollywood. I still remember the emotion when she said “both men and women should feel free to be sensitive. It is time that we all perceive gender on a spectrum, not as two opposing sets of ideals.” It was seriously from the bottom from her heart. I have tried doing everything by myself, and I will never become a woman who just wants to depend on her husband.

In life, stars may influence us in a positive or negative way. Follow the right answer from your heart and make your life more successful and meaningful.