1 . On these dark winter evenings, I find myself daydreaming of summer. I think of the one activity and place that quiets my mind: clamming (挖蛤) on Cape Cod.

Before I had kids, it was a much-needed active outing after days of vacation-level eating. But when I went with kids, the experience took a turn from relaxation to devotion. The bay became part of the world I was trying to build for my children. The act of clamming became an unexpected escape,a moment when I wasn't thinking about 20 different things, when I wasn’t really thinking at all.

This year, for the first time, my children joined in the clamming. I kept yelping (尖叫) when my children almost raked (用耙子耙) my feet. But there was joy in having something to teach them, to connect them not only to a generational tradition but also to the history of the land. And when they raised their basket and it wasn’t a rock for the hundredth time, but rather a shining clam, it was a richer moment than if they had struck gold. Seeing a child holding up a clam with an expression of success on his face does more for the heart than any meditation (冥想) ever could.

I hope that one day my children will view clamming as the relaxation that I do. They are not there yet.At this point, it is more adventure than getaway. At the end of our clamming morning, my 6-year-old refused to leave, insisting she needed one more clam. When she finally caught one more clam, she laughed, pride written all over her face. To be fair, perhaps what she needed to get from clamming was not what I needed. Perhaps what she needed was to have a tiny bit of control over this wild world, one in which she has little say. In that moment, she was victorious, if not in calm, then in clam.

4 . Deanna Jump made headlines when it was announced she’d brought in a million dollars selling her lesson plans online. Despite the windfall, Jump, has no plans to quit the work she considers her calling. She spoke with us about her secrets for creating units that kids and fellow teachers can’t resist.

How did you get the idea of selling your work online?

Deanna Jump: I’ve always created my own activities and units, and I’ve always shared them with my fellow teachers. A few years ago, one of my team members said, “Your stuff is so good. You’ve got to put it on Teachers Pay Teachers.” I got started. The first year, my sales were really slow with about $300. But I thought that was great.

How has the income changed your life?

DJ: Teachers in America don’t make a lot of money, so I really consider it a blessing. I have a brother who’s a quadriplegic (四肢瘫痪的人). For about 13 years, he was stuck at home unless he had a doctor’s appointment. With my first big check, we bought a van so our mother could take him around. I also give some to my community. But I still drive a Kia. I still live in the same house.

What advice would you give fellow teachers who might want to sell their lessons?

DJ: Stay true to yourself. My teaching style is reflected in my units. I don’t try to say, “Okay, how would this teacher over here do it?” and try to create something for her. Also, be a teacher first, and a seller second. Be careful to make sure that you don’t say, “Oh, my goodness, I haven’t put anything out for two months. I need to get something out.” I never think like that. I create things with my students in mind.

5 . I wanted to buy something today — until I figured out the cost versus the benefit. At that point I knew it was a completely stupid idea.

What I wanted to buy was an older car to have in addition to my four-year-old Smart Car that I absolutely like. So you wonder, why would I want to have another car as well? The reason is ... grandkids. I have several and in the Smart Car I can only have one passenger (It’s a two-seater). Besides, one of my daughters-in-law does not trust the Smart Car as a vehicle for her daughter Lily to ride in, so that’s one little girl I can’t take anywhere at all. My husband also has a car -- and a truck.

So that’s why I had the stupid idea to buy an old Toyota I found on the lot of an honest used car salesman. Thank heavens I came to my senses before I spent $ 8000 to buy it, $ 80 or so to license it and probably $ 500 to insure it for a year. It would be senseless to buy that car.

My grandkids just have to continue to come with me one by one. I can’t take two girls out to lunch or two girls shopping or pick up the brother and sister that live in the same house. As for the little one that’s not allowed to ride with me ... well, Grandpa will have to pick her up. As for me, I didn’t get money in my savings account by being totally stupid. Sure, doing things with the kids is fun, but spending that kind of money to put two or more of them in a group — which would probably drive me crazy anyway — is really dumb. Sometimes temptation can prove that you still have a little sense.

6 . Jerry, 81 years old, set out from Big Pine, California, on February 24th to return to his home in Gardnerville, Nevada. _________, he was trapped alone in his car in a heavy snow for nearly a _________.

The temperatures dropped from 35F to15F overnight, and many areas saw _________amounts of snow — an unusual occurrence for a state that’s not used to _________ winters.

Jerry survived by _________ the few snacks he had in his car. He _________ his window occasionally to eat snow. A hotel bath towel was the only thing Jerry had to keep himself   _________

On February 28, the Inyo County Search and Rescue team received “a call for a _________person”. Then, on March 2, they succeeded in locating Jerry’s car partially buried in _________. The crew loaded Jerry onboard and transported him directly to __________ care.

Jerry was only in the hospital for a few hours and afterward was returned to his __________ in Gardnerville. According to his grandson Christian, he was __________ well.

Christian hopes his grandfather’s miraculous (奇迹般的) rescue can serve as a warning to others about just how __________ winter travel can be. But above all, “if someone gets __________, don’t give up hope,” said Christian. “The human body is   __________   for what it can endure (忍耐).”

7 . Being bored is no fun, especially at work. But new research out of the Research School of Management at Australian National University argues that while boredom is certainly boring, it isn’t all bad. The disliked mental state can actually spark precious creativity.

The study asked 52 subjects to do a pretty boring job: sort apart a bowl of red and green beans with just one hand for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, 49 other subjects — the control group — were instructed to create art projects with paper, beans and glue. Once the 30 minutes was over, each group was instructed to spend five minutes on a creative task: they had to come up with reasons why a hypothetical (假定的) person was two hours late for a meeting.

The bored group came up with not just more ideas than the control group, but more creative ideas than the control group, too. The quality and quantity of production was higher for people who were bored than those who were not. Creativity itself was measured under a standard that balanced novelty and practicality. Ideas had to fit both criteria to be considered creative.

Guiyun Park, the study’s lead author, readily admits that not every type of job permits the fun of boredom, and it can really be harmful to some important work. But for designers and anyone in a creative field, boredom is not something to fear, but to embrace. Sometimes, the best way to be productive is to expect nothing of yourself at all.

8 . In Oak Ridge, Texas, there lived a man named Samuel who was known for his _________ to embrace change. However, one day a serious of events happened that _________ him to face his fears and embark on a journey to turn over a new leaf.

Samuel worked in the town’s bookstore. His life had been _________ and dull. But one sunny morning, the bookstore owner _________ that the shop would be closing for good. Samuel’s heart sank, and he found himself _________ an uncertain future. Yet a glimmer of hope emerged—an opportunity to start anew.

With a newfound determination, Samuel decided to _________ his dream of becoming a novelist. With pen _________ and a blank page before him, Samuel poured his soul out onto the paper. He _________ tales of adventure, love and self-discovery. As he wrote, he gave life to the _________ that danced across the page.

__________, an unexpected opportunity presented itself. A local publishing house, __________ by Samuel’s stories, offered him a chance to share his work. He __________ took a leap of faith and said yes! The once-shy clerk __________ into a confident author. His books found their way into the hands of readers near and far, touching hearts and igniting passions.

And so, in the little town of Oak Ridge, Samuel became a beacon of light, whose life was __________ the lives of others by proving that starting anew was not just surrendering to the unknown, it was an invitation to create a life filled with __________ and fulfillment.

9 . Every afternoon for the past 11 years, 83-year-old AI Merritt has been a reliable and cheery presence in his southeast Carlsbad neighbourhood, California.

His wife, Penny Merritt said her husband’s doctor suggested he get more exercise after he had some heart trouble about 12 years ago. When their son, Kevin brought a bike to his parents’ house, AI started to pedal around the local road and hills. At first, his rides were about five miles long, then 10 to 12 miles, and gradually the length of his outings grew due to all the social stops — from an hour to two hours.

Since 2010, Merritt has been on a personal pursuit to cycle the circumference (周长) of the earth — 24,901 miles without even leaving his own neighbourhood. As a result, over the years, he got to know many of his neighbours and send them message of love and kindness. Judy Keene, one of his neighbours, has been waving to Merritt on his daily rides for the past five years.

“He is so reliable, like clockwork. Every day I see him flying by on his bike. He is totally cheerful and takes time with everybody,” Keene said. “He inspires so many people and shows everyone how you can be in your 80s and still have a good time.”

It was not until October 24 that the old man finally realized his daily bicycle trips were as important to them as they were to him. At 3 p.m. that Sunday afternoon, nearly 200 people gathered near his home to surprise and congratulate him on the completion of his “round-the-world” adventure. As he pedaled down the hill towards his house, a roar erupted from the crowd waving international flags, hand-painted signs and Earth-shaped balloons. The outpouring of love stunned and overwhelmed Merritt.

“It’s just unbelievable. I couldn’t have imagined anything like this ever happening,” he said. Although Merritt has now accomplished his cycling goal, he has no plans to change the routine that has become the highlight of his daily life.

10 . Summer Trip Programs

Are you looking for a fun and exciting way to spend your summer vacation? Do you want to learn new skills, make new friends, and explore new places? If your answer is yes, then you should join one of our summer trip programs!

We offer a variety of programs for different ages, interests, and budgets. You can choose from:

●Adventure Camp: This program is for thrill-seekers who want to try outdoor activities like hiking, camping, rafting, zip-lining, and more. You will visit beautiful natural sites and learn how to survive in the wild. This program is for ages 12 to 18 and costs $1,500 for two weeks.

●Cultural Exchange: This program is for curious learners who want to experience different cultures and languages. You will travel to a foreign country and stay with a host family. You will attend a local school, visit cultural attractions, and participate in community service. This program is for ages 15 to 21 and costs $3,000 for four weeks.

●Creative Workshop: This program is for artistic souls who want to express themselves through various forms of art. You will join a group of talented instructors and students who share your passion. You will learn how to paint, draw, sculpt, write, sing, dance, and more. You will also showcase your work at the end of the program. This program is for ages 10 to 16 and costs $1,000 for one week.

If you are interested in any of these programs, please visit our website or contact us for more information. Hurry up and sign up before the spots fill up! We hope to see you soon!