2 . For almost every traveler, culture shock is unavoidable. But culture shock isn’t always a ________ thing. It can be an indication that you’re growing. The new ________ stretch your mind about the world—different languages, cultures, customs are just a few ways a travel culture shock can ________. If you’re able to ________ the culture shock, then you will be open to ________ these foreign experiences.

When I traveled to Egypt, I knew neither their language nor what to expect. All I ________ was it’s conservative. When I landed, I really felt as though I’d been ________ to another world. The biggest shock for me was the lack of ________ on the road, horses on the side transporting goods, three people ________ on a one-person motorcycle, four lanes but six cars crowding in—anything ________!

On the first night, something frightening happened. A very loud ________ voice went off at midnight. I felt ________ for the first few seconds until I realized it was the adhan(祷告). I then got used to it and admired the locals for the way they ________ their time to ensure they could complete the adhan.

As a woman, another ________ of mine was ensuring I followed the Egyptian dress styles and dressed ________. No matter how conservative my dress though, I couldn’t help but ________, especially with my bright red hair!

While I did get a bit of unwanted ________ (mostly by school girls wanting to take my picture), traveling definitely gave me a ________ cultural experience. I’ve since traveled several times and always managed to ________ things to be shocked about, but I love continually being surprised by the ________ of Egypt—the Nile and the mysterious pyramids!

3 . Are you looking for a ski or snowboarding music festival? There are many world-class events, from dance festivals to comedy shows. Here are our best ski festivals.

Tomorrowland Winter

Alpe d’Huez, France

19 — 26 March 2022

Tomorrowland Winter is the winter edition of the legendary dance festival, bringing Tomorrowland’s set design and epic lineups (阵容) to the town of Alpe d’Huez tor a whole week.

The spot lies in a sunny highland, giving a breathtaking sparkle to its variety of slopes that are suitable for beginners, experts and everyone in between.

Snowboxx

Avoriaz, France

19 — 26 March 2022

Snowboxx is a week-long music festival and snowsports holiday rolled into one in the French mountain spot of Avoirazx. Previous artists who have performed the festival’s various stages around the slopes have included the likes of Craig David's TS5, Fatboy Slim and more.

But it’s not just the lineup that makes Snowboxx one of the most popular winter music festivals. The skiing meets the demands of beginners and experts alike, with plenty of easy slopes and more challenging ones to discover.

Altitude Comedy Festival

Mayrhofen, Austria

28 March 2022 — 2 April 2022

Altitude Comedy Festival is the world’s No.1 alpine (高山的) comedy festival, created in 2007 by comedians Andrew Maxwell and Marcus Brigstocke.

Taking place at one of Europe’s most beautiful and best-loved ski spots, the organizers welcome comedy fans and lovers of winter sports to join them and “ski all day, laugh all night”.

Snowdaze

Candanchu, Spain

18 — 19 March 2022

After the first impressive performance, Spanish snowsports and electronic music festival Snowdaze returns to the Pyrenees for a second edition in Candanchu.

Across the weekend, music lovers will once again take to the slopes by day, exploring the best that the Aragonese Pyrenees have to offer, before going downhill as night falls and partying to the sound of a lineup of DJs.

Xiechi Lake, also known as Yuncheng Salt Lake in China’s Shanxi Province,     1     (become) popular on social media websites in the past few years.

Now, China wants to transform that online     2     (popular) into real-life tourism. “As the Chinese ‘Dead Sea’, floating here is     3     unforgettable experience, and one you can’t find anywhere else,” reads a tourism advertisement     4     (sponsor) by the Yuncheng Salt Lake Tourism Development Company. Yuncheng Salt Lake is a sulfate (硫酸盐) lake. “If the sulfate in your water is greater than the calcium (钙), all the calcium is used up,     5     leaves you with large amounts of sulfate and you have a sulfate lake,” explains geography professor Bernie Owen. Xiechi is also a “closed basin” lake,     6     (mean) it doesn’t flow out to a river or ocean, which explains how its salt content stays so high. It is possible for salt lakes to freeze over, although not as     7     (quick) as other lakes — after all, think about what happens when we spread salt over icy roads. Saltwater freezes at     8    (low) temperatures than fresh water.

In an effort     9     (boost) Xiechi Lake’s international profile, China is reportedly taking steps to get it recognized     10     a UNESCO World Heritage site.

6 . If you’re looking for some thrills, Britain’s theme parks are great places to spend a summer’s day. Here’s our guide to four best theme parks in the UK and the reasons you’ll love them.

Thorpe Park, Surrey

Thorpe Park is probably Britain’s scariest theme park. Built on an island in an artificial lake, it offers several aquatic-themed rides including Tidal Wave, Colossus and Nemesis Inferno. Another big attraction is Derren Brown’s Ghost Train, a high-tech version of the fairground rides that terrified generations of British children.

Cost: Tickets start from £30

Crealy Adventure Park, Devon

Beautiful English countryside and some fun rides: what’s not to like? Crealy Adventure Park is home to the 12-metre high Twister rollercoaster offering 310 metres of twists and turns. It also offers more wet and soft thrills in the form of the Tidal Wave log flume, which drops you and your fellow riders 40 feet into a pool of water.

Cost: Tickets start at £16

Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Blackpool

This theme park is home to the UK’s tallest rollercoaster, looping (环形) coaster and suspended looping coaster—so if you are an adrenaline junkie then this one is for you.

Cost: Tickets start at £27

Chessington World of Adventures, Chessington

You can combine a visit to this theme park with a visit to Chessington’s famous zoo (home to more than 1, 000 animals)—but the thing to do at Chessington is to challenge yourself to go on the Dragon’s Fury spinning coaster that has a vertical turn.

Cost: Tickets start at £28

7 . WELCOME TO NEW CITY ZOO

SCHEDULE FOR SUMMER 2021

ZOO HOURS: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Weather may affect some activities.

FOR HEALTH & SAFETY:

× Do not cross safety lines to take photos.

× Do not touch or feed any animals.

√ Keep children in sight at all times.

WARNING: It is against the law to feed or disturb any animals in the zoo. Violators will be required to leave the zoo, and could pay fines up to $300.

Thank you for treating animals and their ling space with respect!

For more information, please contact the visitor centre (825-202-1202) or visit newcityzoo.com.

8 . Golden sands and 300 days of sunshine each year mean Barcelona’s shoreline is filled with a heated atmosphere year-round. Here’s our guide to the city’s best beaches.

Bogatell

This beach used to be an industrial wasteland. Sand was imported from Egypt and a center of beach sports was born.

The easy access to two subway stops and the variety of activities make Bogatell a good option for vacationers looking for a more relaxed atmosphere than the packed beaches to the south. At the north end, the Nautica Base offers lessons for windsurfing, kitesurfing and sailing.

Mar Bella

With the cleanest sand and water area in the city, Mar Bella has been appointed as a blue-flag beach. It’s less obviously attached to the city, though still well served by public transport.

Mar Bella also exhibits (展示) another example of the city’s free attitude. On one end of the beach is a rope pyramid (金字塔) for kids and a small playground with a slide.

Sant Sebastia

Sant Sebastia is one of the oldest swimming areas in the city. Its quiet environment and convenience to the center of town draw an older crowd in the morning. By afternoon, the quite crowd gives way to a noisier gathering of younger people.

Llevant

Some special activities make the northernmost beach an ideal destination for a family to spend a full day. In the morning you could hit up the Bose Urba, an adventure park with bungee and rope bridges. A few blocks away, there’s the Museum Blau, a natural science museum where different species of dinosaurs are on show. And a sand-free swimming area called Banys Forum sits just to the north, with steps leading into the water.

10 . Whether you want a snowy or sunny winter getaway, these hotels are hot on our list of places to stay this winter.

Dive Motel &Swim Club: Nashville, TN

A former’50s motor inn, the new Dive Motel & Swim Club has been fully updated to look like the 70s. Choose to stay in one of 23 uniquely decorated rooms, each equipped with a disco ball and party switch. Book the Penthouse Suite for a private deck overlooking the pool, or become a Swim Club member and enjoy pool benefits anytime.

Hotel Joaquin: Orange Country, CA

A newcomer to coastal Orange County, Hotel Joaquin is a high-end hotel. This small-sized accommodation feels like a private beachside house, but with perfect service, well-prepared activities, fine dining and a relaxing pool. Restaurant Saline(for guests only)serves Mediterranean cuisine with a focus on fresh seafood. Even better, the hotel will pack a picnic to take to the beach—which is just steps away.

Hotel Orania: Berlin, Germany

Hotel Orania, located in the creative center of Kreuzberg, offers guests a five-star stay in recently-decorated rooms that are light and cheerful with warm wood accents and Asian influence. The restaurant specializes in a four-course meal featuring duck in each course. Catch a free concert in the hotel’s “salon” or sip（小口地喝）a hand-crafted cocktail at the bar.

Snowpine Lodge: Alta, UT

The ski-in/ski-out Snowpine Lodge, located on the slopes of Alta Ski Resort just 40 minutes south of Salt Lake City, offers an excellent, cozy retreat. Having undergone a $50-million dollar decoration, the lodge now offers incomparable luxury and impressive facilities such as ski boot warmers, a fully stocked game room, and farm-to-table dining featuring slope views.