【推荐1】There are different possibilities open to you when developing your journal theme. Some ideas for themed journals include:

●A gratitude (感激) journal

In this journal you record all the things for which you feel grateful each day, week, etc.     1    

●A vacation journal

    2     You also record your feelings, impressions, and emotions as they are challenged, changed, and illuminated (阐明) by your travels.

●An idea journal

In this journal you record all the ideas and inspirations (灵感) that flash into your mind at any time without warning, which you can take as an idea — storming resource when you have time.     3    

●     4    

In this journal you record all the things that you think are special, wonderful, lovable, and memorable about your kids at different ages and stages. This is a great way to keep a record of those funny words, phrases, and comments made by kids.

●A transition (转型; 变迁) journal

In this journal you record the transition you’re going through. This type of journal can document changing patterns in your life, and it is useful to ask yourself such questions as “What do I enjoy and not enjoy?”, “     5     ”, “Which people can help me as I am in transition?”, etc.

【推荐3】It’s practically a scene on American television. A baby is born. Friends and family offer their congratulations. But then, in the car from the hospital, a deep worry falls over the parents. “How in the world are we going to pay for college?”

It’s true that going to university abroad is a very expensive option. Tuition is much higher than at Chinese universities, and then there are the expenses for room and board.

Tuition at Harvard this year is around $46,000(¥318,700), but when you include student service fees, room, and board, that figure jumps to over S65, 000 a year.

Schools outside the US are a little bit less expensive on average, but they can still empty your wallet. Tuition at Oxford University is at least ¥136,500. The cost of Australia’s University of Melbourne varies a great deal depending on the discipline, but tuition alone will likely set students back ¥148, 500 a year.

These numbers can be really shocking, but don’t worry. Most universities have systems in place to help students pay for their education.

The first thing you should look into is whether or not you are fit for financial aid. While some universities don’t allow international students to apply for aid, many make no distinction.

While most financial aid is “need-based”, meaning that you have to demonstrate that your parents cannot afford to pay the full amount, there are also scholarships based on merit. If you are a math talent or a promising basketball player you might end up going to college free of charge.

Then, there are some scholarships that are designed specifically for Chinese students. The famous Freeman Scholarship at Wesleyan University, for example, is awarded to two Chinese students from Hong Kong and two from the mainland each year.