1 . Back to School Supplies for Savvy Students

Getting your kids ready for the school year can keep you busy. Today’s savvy kids known what they want. Check out these four popular back-to-school must-haves.

Small but Mighty Backpacks

LL Bean is the preferred brand (品牌) for high quality. But did you know that they make strong and durable (耐用的) backpacks too? It is a bag for young students, a small famous original schoolbag. There are five colors to choose from: pink, green, blue, purple, and red. Or check out some of the other styles and patterns.

Eco-friendly Reusable Water Bottles

The must-have reusable water bottle is a Stanley Thirst Quencher. This eco-friendly water bottle is made from used steel and offers benefits of drinking water. Your water will stay ice-cold for hours. The advanced cover has a turning cap with three positions that include a reusable straw (吸管). It’s a must-have for a student who loves the environment.

Colors of Kindness Crayons

Every primary school kid must have a new box of crayons and Crayola’s Colors of Kindness Crayons is sure to bring a smile. This special box of 24 crayons has words of kindness printed on each color that encourages everyone to create with love. The crayons are safe and harmless and can be used by promising artists aged three and up.

Reusable Notebooks

For a school student who understands technology and also wants to save trees, reusable notebooks are a must. The Rocketbook Core allows students to take notes in class and combines (结合) handwritten notes with digital technology. It can also connect to any cloud service you use. While it looks like an ordinary notebook, the Core can be reused over and over again.

4 . A 25-year-old young man from Guinea biked across Africa, reached Cairo on September 5 and received a full scholarship to Al-Azhar University, one of the world’s oldest and most respected Sunni Muslim learning centers.

Mamadou Safaiou Barry lives in the West African nation of Guinea. He wanted to study Islamic theology (伊斯兰教神学) at a top school in Cairo, Egypt. Without money to pay for transport, Barry drew a map of Africa and headed out on a used bicycle for the trip across the continent, carrying only a change of clothes, a flashlight and a small tool.

Barry rode about 100 kilometers each day. He rode through Mali, Burkina Faso, Togo, Benin and Niger. He had to stop in N’Djamena, the Chadian capital, because of the ongoing Conflict in Sudan. He said he had already been detained three times-twice in Burkina Faso and once in Togo. There, security forces held him for nine days without charge before releasing him for $56. That was all of his money for the rest of the trip, he said.

Thousands of West Africans like Barry take risky journeys across the Sahara desert each year, searching for a better life. But many never make it. Nearly 500 people died or disappeared on West African migration routes last year, data from the International Organization for Migration shows.

Barry thought the risk was worth it. “If you have a dream, stay with it and be strong.” he said, “God will help you.”

Barry’s luck changed again in Chad. There, a local philanthropist (慈善家), who had read about his trip online, offered to fly him directly to Egypt and avoid the fighting in Sudan. After four months and travelling through 7 countries, he is in Cairo now and has received a full scholarship to Al-Azhar.

Barry intends to return to Guinea when his studies are complete, to spread the faith that has taken him so far. “When I return to my country, I would like to be someone who teaches Islam and tells people how to do good things,” he said.

5 . A trans-Canada train trip is an adventure that will stay with you for a very long time. Here are some must-see places to visit along the way:

Vancouver

There’s a reason why Vancouver never fails to impress. It is really stunning, with plenty of green open spaces, mountains and ocean views. Plus, this west coast city also has a diverse live music and art scene, world-class museums and plenty of locally owned coffeehouses and creative restaurants.

Jasper

Jasper National Park is twice the size of Banff National Park, yet draws only around half the visitors, which means you’ll encounter fewer crowds on the stunning hiking paths through valleys, mountain passes and grasslands. Keep an eye out for elk, bighorn sheep and other wild local residents.

Québec City

Considered the crown jewel of French Canada, Quebec City is one of North America’s oldest and most remarkable settlements. The Old Town is like a living museum of narrow cobblestone streets, 17^th and 18th century houses and churches. There’s more than a glimmer of old Europe in its classic pubs, sidewalk cafes and tidy square.

Montreal

Montreal is where all the fun happens. The city lives for the arts, with more than 90 festivals throughout the year and an impressive collection of museums, galleries and performance spaces. Add in architecture that will make you think you’re in Europe and one of the most diverse food scenes in North America, and you will have a recipe for a good time.

African students who participated in a Chinese agricultural development program have returned to their home countries, aiming to use     1     they’ve learned to help local farmers increase grain yields.

In the Science and Technology Backyard program, which     2     (launch) in 2009 at China Agricultural University in Beijing, students conducted research in experimental fields in rural areas while using their     3     (acquire) knowledge to help Chinese farmers. Phiri, one student from Malawi in Africa, expected hopefully, “We are well on our way to establishing successful STBs,     4     purpose is to empower the farmers of Malawi with the knowledge and tools they need     5     (shape) their agricultural futures.” Due to poor soil quality and a lack of modern agricultural technologies, the yield for Malawi’s main crop, maize, is     6     (relative) low. Many farmers are not growing enough food to sustain     7     (they).

Phiri and other African students, together with their teachers often engaged in conversations with farmers in the fields. Jiao Xiaoqiang,     8     associate professor in charge of the program, said such     9     (engage) is very necessary. “The core of the project lies     10     bringing technicians and farmers together. Only by truly participating in this process and understanding how to spread technology to farmers can they make a real impact when they return to Africa.”

10 . Picking the right hotel for your trip is very important for tourists in Athens as it’s a fairly sprawling city with a lot of different neighborhoods to choose from. To help you choose, here’s my list of the best hotels in Athens:

A. Athens Center Square Hotel

In Plaka, this hotel has a minimalist design with welcoming pastel colors throughout, and most rooms have a view of the Acropolis (雅典卫城). Rooms are simple but decently sized, with flat-screen TVs, desks, mini fridges, air conditioning. The delicious buffet breakfast is complimentary and quite expansive, featuring Greek and American cuisine. There’s also free coffee and tea in the lobby all day long.

B. Athensdot

This newer property is in Psyrri, has a cool, pop-art design throughout, with large scale drawings on the walls and bright bursts of red everywhere. Rooms vary from internal rooms with no window to rooms with a balcony and views of the Acropolis. While there’s no breakfast served at the property, there’s a cute 24-hour café just a few doors down that serves food at all hours.

C. Coco-Mat Hotel

This design-forward 4-star hotel, run by the mattress company Coco-Mat, is in the heart of Kolonaki, a quiet neighborhood renowned for its upscale boutiques and art galleries. All rooms are equipped with high-quality mattresses, and you can even choose your pillow from a menu with 12 different pillow types. There’s a fantastic Greek breakfast buffet in the mornings.

D. Plaka Hotel

Comfortable and friendly, Plaka Hotel is (you guessed it) in the heart of Plaka. You’ll find the majority of ruins and tourist attractions here. This simply decorated hotel boasts the starry scenery of the Acropolis from both in-room balconies and the rooftop terrace bar/restaurant. There’s also a complimentary (and huge) buffet breakfast featuring local specialties.