Reading and Writing Process Essay Magazine

Learn how to: Take advantage of Guava Navigate the open market Make Mexican Eggs Buy Tacos like a real Mexican Take a Microbus Shop like a Pro

The Benefits of Guajava Guava is a tropical fruit that grows in Mexico, mostly in the southern states like: Veracruz, Guerrero, Michoacan, Tabasco, Guerrero, Chiapas, and Yucatan. It is not only from Mexico but it is also grown in Central and South America.

Guavas have a sour taste, a strong aroma and it has many hard seeds in the in the center. You can eat it by itself, natural, make a sweet flavored water out of it, or prepare a “Guava Punch”, a common beverage in Mexico specially in Winter time.

Guavas are known for having a high percentage of vitamin C, antioxidants as well as the benefits of an antibiotic.

There are two types of guavas that have been studied, the Myrtaceae family and the Psidium genus; The first, consist of at least 133 genera and more than 3800 species. “Many fruits of this family have a history of being used in traditional medicines in ethnobotanical practices in the tropical and subtropical regions” (Martin et al., 2008) The later is represented by the Psidium genus, by approximately 120-150 species found in the tropical and subtropical regions of America and Australia. “World production of guavas is estimated at approximately 500,000 metric tons, with Brazil, Colombia, Mexico and Venezuela producing significant quantities from the South American regions.

The major producers of guava products are South Africa, India, Hawaii, Colombia, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Brazil and Israel” (Mercadante et al., 1999).

Searchers confirm that “guava contains a high percentage of vitamin C, calcium, protein, natural antioxidant and polyphenolic compounds” (Saura, Calixto, 1998). Other properties of the guava is the antimicrobial activity. “The methanol extract of P. cattleianum possessed intermediate activity against B.subtilis and S aureus is a Gram-positive bacterium responsible for diseases such as pneumonia and meningitis.

It was found according to the authors claim that for the most part, P cattleianum was found to be a better source of nutrients tan P guajava. It showed greater antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, as well as higher vitamin C content. Psidium guajava however, presents greater anti-inflammatory activity tan P. cattleianum.

With the support of this studies and the experience obtained in the last 5 years guajava is an outstanding fruit to treat different kinds of influence illnesses, from a cold to a very bad flue.

Guajava used for a known beverage in Mexico, “Ponche de Guayava”, is drank specially in the winter season, but this time I would like to recommend it not only in Winter but in the summer also or at any time you would like to drink it or you would need to drink it. As it maintains your immunological system ready to defend you from any influence bacteria that would want to attack your body.

The process to prepare “Guajava Punch” is as follows: These are only suggested amounts of the compounds but you are free to use your own amounts as you consider it, normal and healthy. Also you can use as many other fruits as you like.

Process

Gallon of water (or as required) 

5 washed guajavas (not peeled)



2 or 3 apples



5 prunes



1 Stick Cinnamon



¼ Cup or Brown Sugar



1 Orange peel if desired (if desired)



First put the water in a pot, big enough to fit the fruit and the water.



Second put the water to boil and add the cinnamon stick and the brown sugar.



Third prepare your fruit by chopping it in slides, squares or rounded slices, as you wish.



After that you put the fruit in the pot and leave it until the water starts boiling, leave it 5 min or less after boiling and turn off the fire.



Finally let it stand for 10 min and its ready to drink. You can drink it hot specially in Winter or cold in the summer.



Eat the fruit either apart or together with the tea.

If you drink this beverage in a regular basis you will find out that you will hardly ever get sick from your respiratory system, on the other hand, in case you caught the flue it will take away any of the symptoms you might have either a headache, temperature, or pain. The flue may not disappear immediately, but the bad symptoms will. And you will also have no problems when sleeping at night.

Hoping that this information will help you out in any kind of situation either being ill or not, I courage trying it as a natural remedy; A lot better than using antibiotics, unless they are really necessary.

Having the experience of this remedy in my own family and in my daughters Ronit and Orit excites me to share with you this knowledge and experience I have received several years ago. Hope you enjoy it and like it.

References: Scholasticgoogle.edu K.P. McCook-Russell et at. / Food Chemistry 134 (2012) 1069-1073

ly,

Buying at the Open market By:Veronica Rodriguez Ambrocio Going shopping is one activity that most of the people enjoy doing. People can buy different kind of products in small and big stores, fancy malls and at the open market. It is important to describe what an “open market” is because not all the countries have this kind of place. In Mexico, an “open market” is a market that is located in the streets. For this market, there are many stalls that are placed in lines. At the stalls the sellers offer a variety of products and the clients have the chance to negotiate with them.

In Mexico City, many people prefer to go to the open market to buy their products because it is a place where they can choose what they want in a cheaper price. In San Martin Texmelucan, which is a town of Puebla city, there is a huge open market on Tuesdays. It is very famous because it is considered the biggest open market in Latin America. This place has four different areas in which people can find diverse products. The first area has all kind of clothes, shoes, tennis shoes, purses, bags, backpacks, and wallets. In the second area, people can find not only different kinds of traditional food, but also vegetables and fruits from the region. The third area is formed by different sellers who offer farm animals like pigs, horses, cows, chicks, turkeys, and rabbits. The fourth area is a place where people can buy or exchange used cars.

If Americans had the opportunity to go to San Martin Texmelucan, they would go to the open market for shopping. At this place, they can buy for a cheaper price whatever they want or need. In order to purchase their products, they need to follow several steps. First of all, they have to think about the products they want to buy in order to know the area where they will go. When they are ready with their

shopping list, they need to start walking along the open market in order to have a general view. After that, they have to identify the different stalls where they can buy their products. While they are walking, they can ask for the prices in the stalls and get an idea of the cheapest one. It is important to mention as an advice not to buy anything until they have already seen most of the places. Once they have identified the places with the best products and the lowest prices, they can start negotiating with the sellers. Clients need to ask for the price and they haggle in a very polite way. They offer a lower quantity of money.

They continue negotiating the final price until both parts agree with the best option. This is like a habit: the sellers use to low the prices when the clients ask for that. Then, the clients need to make the decision about what they want to buy and in which stall they will buy it. Finally, they go to the stalls and buy the products.

They pay and feel happy or satisfied about their purchase.

After people have done all their shopping, they feel tired and hungry. Consequently, they can rest while they are eating some food in a specific area. At the open market, there is always a variety of food and people enjoy eating the traditional dishes of the town such as tacos, cemitas, quesadillas, tostadas, milanezas, and different stews. Later, people can go back to their hotels and rest for a while. There are good hotels in the region; for example, Posada San Jose, Hotel San Miguel, and Bugambilias Inn. Going shopping is an exciting activity but it makes people feel tired.

Buying products at the open market is a good option for me. At this place people can choose the products and they can also decide the stall where they prefer to buy. The quality of the things is good and the prices are lower than in other stores or malls. People can take their time to see everything and then make their decision. Nobody is in a rush. The sellers are very kind and polite and they attend people in the best way. In my opinion, when Americans go to Mexico city, they cannot lose the opportunity to go shopping at the open market in San Martin Texmelucan. It will be an unforgettable memory and a nice experience to share with other people back in their country.

How to Prepare “Mexican Eggs” The Mexican Style Monica Anaya Knowing how to prepare Mexican eggs the Mexican way can become a pleasure for the visitors who do not want to leave this country with empty hands. Learning how to cook something typical from Mexico, whose food is considered by the UNESCO as World Heritage, can be that special souvenir to take with you back home, so the following are the steps to prepare the famous Mexican eggs, some special tips are added and it is added to make them even more enjoyable.

Step 1: Choose the ingredients Almost all Mexican grandmothers around eighty years old use to say “food needs to be prepared with love”, and preparation starts from the moment you go to the open market to choose the right ingredients for that special dish you are going to cook.

Open markets in Mexico are always crowded, so be prepared to see a lot, smell a lot and taste a lot.

All the sellers will want you to stop at their stands and buy something, so you will receive a lot of samples of different kind of fruits, and vegetables. While you accept all this treats look for the ingredients you will need for this dish: white onion, tomato, one or two green chili peppers and eggs. Oil and salt are also added and they are available at any supermarket. The tomatoes and the onion need to be medium size and round, they need to be bright, shiny and smell good, and then you will know the product is fresh. Do not buy at the first place you see the ingredients. Enjoy the stroll, check the prices, and decide at the end, when your stomach is full and nothing can interfere with your judgment to choose the right and perfect products.

Step 2: Prepare the eggs After buying all the ingredients you can start the preparation of this delicious dish. First chop in small pieces half an onion, a big tomato and of course the green chili peppers, this last ingredient cannot be missed because it is the heart of the entire dish. If you like one of these ingredients a lot you can add more.

Next scramble the eggs, four for two people, and add a hint of salt. While scrambling you can stir the other ingredients until they are all mixed. After, you have to preheat some oil in a frying pan, whenever it is hot turn down the heat a little bit. Then it is time to pour the mixture into the pan. Once the eggs are cooked it is time to serve your dish.

Step 3: The sides you can add to your eggs In Mexico, the morning dishes, like Mexican eggs, are not complete without some traditional sides. For breakfast, Mexicans enjoy eating fried beans. These are usually topped with sour cream, fresh cheese and totopos, beans always help spicy dishes to diminish the taste of the spiciness from the green peppers. Another typical dish that can be added is “chilaquiles� this is made with corn tortilla and a special spicy salsa, very famous among people who get up with a hangover.

But the thing that makes this dish stand out is the combination with the hot chocolate. Foamy hot chocolate to enjoy with Mexican eggs for a Sunday breakfast can put anyone in a good mood. combined, the taste of all the flavors, and the sight of the colors on the table will smooth the environment.

Step 4: Enjoy your eggs The moment your eggs are served with the sides and the hot chocolate the time to enjoy has arrived.

Sunday mornings are the perfect time to enjoy yourself with this delicious dish. The smell of all the ingredients Eating is never a fast experience in Mexico; Mexicans really take their time to prepare, enjoy and share their dishes with their love ones, when Mexicans eat they like to do it with pleasure. Therefore, the best souvenir you can take home if you are visiting Mexico is the way people cook, but also how they appreciate the food, it is not only a matter of knowing how to prepare the dishes, but the way you delight all the senses with them, and the people you share them with. Enjoying Mexican food is always a unique experience, and you can make it yours experimenting with some of the easy dishes to prepare, like the traditional Mexican eggs.

ity?

xico C e M o t g n Goi

How

to

eat

tacos

like

By Griselda Gunther

Mexicans

do

If you are going to visit Mexico City there

fire in one side, turning it by whiles. Once

are lots of things you can’t miss, like going

the meat is cooked they cut little pieces from

to some museums, visiting de Zocalo and, of

the machine with a big knife, from up to down.

course, eating tacos. There are different im-

They are called “tacos al pastor” (see image

ages in United States about Mexican food, es-

1). Another kind of pork tacos that are very

pecially about the “taco culture”. It is

traditional are the ones called “tacos de car-

very common to find Mexican style food, but

nitas” and are cooked in a different way,

there are some myths about them. The taco in

fried.

Mexico is very different from the ones you are used to eating in the U.S. So, that is why the purpose of this article is to explain and give some tips to eat tacos like Mexicans does when you go there. All an experience!

Image 1: Tacos al pastor.

In the U.S. you are used to eating Mexican

The first thing you should know before choosing

food, but what you eat here does not have the

the tacos to eat is to choose the place. You can

same flavour and the ingredients you use are

not eat tacos in any place. It is not recommenda-

not mixed as they should be. Real Mexican tacos

ble to eat in the street, for example. There are

can be made of two kinds of tortillas: flour or

lots of places in the street where you can eat

corn. The most traditional are made of corn

very cheaply, but it can bring you a stomach

tortilla. If you have a tortilla and something

problem if you are not used to eating“street

to put on it, you can be eating a taco without

food”… We do not want you to get sick and ruin

realizing it. But traditional tacos are the

your trip. You need to choose taco shop, called

ones made with meat (called “tacos de bis-

“taquería”. The next problem is to choose be-

teck”) or the ones made with pork that is put

tween hundreds in the city.

in a kind of vertical turning machine full of slices of pork meat that are cooked by a soft

To choose the “taqueria” you must think of some details like distance (remember that Mexico City

is big!) and price. You can use Trip Advisor,

at your table, you must choose the sauce. You

ask people from where you are staying or you can

should put a little on your hand and try it to

try this ones: “El rey del taco” at the south

see if you are going to be able to tolerate the

of the city, located on Av. División del Norte

spicy flavour. You can eat with the least spicy

and Miguel Hidalgo St. This taqueria is cheap

one, but you must put sauce because a taco with-

and the tacos are delicious. “Taquería Los Par-

out sauce is not a taco! I recommend for pastor

ados”, sited on Av. Universidad and Av. Angel

tacos the green sauce. It is usually done with

Urraza, is very famous because you can find a

green tomatoes and not so spicy.

variety and good prices, although usually it is full of people and you will not find a seat.

Probably you

should eat standing, it is a tra-

ditional way of eating tacos too. In the center of the city, you can try with “La Flamita, sited on Av. Eje Central between 16 de septiembre St. and Madero St., it is a very traditional and cheap place or the “Salón Corona” where you can also drink a good handmade beer. There are 3 branchs near to the Zocalo, but the oldest one is the one sited on Bolivar St. In the Salón

The next step is to eat your tacos one by one, holding them properly. You should be able to hold one with only one hand. Start putting together the opposite sides of the tortilla with both hands and then, with the other hand, you should try to hold it closed. Once you get it closed in one hand the challenge is to try to eat the taco without loosing the filling. I recommend you not put this down the taco on your plate at any moment, you should eat it completely. And that is all, just enjoy!

Corona you can eat other traditional fast MexiAfter eating your first tacos, you can start to can food too, like “tortas de pulpo”, a kind visit different taquerias and ask for different of big octopus sandwich. types of taco like ones made with tongue (“tacos Once in the taquería the new challenge is to choose the type of taco. I recommend starting with

one

“bisteck”

and

one

or

two

of

“pastor”. For the pastor ones they are going to ask you if you want them with “everything”.

It means with onion, coriander and, of course, pineapple, should you? Once you have your tacos

de lengua”, delicious! My favorites!) or head (“tacos de cabeza” that are very traditional too). To end the myth of Mexican tacos that you are used Ealing in the U.S. you should eat tacos like Mexicans do in Mexico City!

M

exico City is an important place that receives a lot of tourists from many countries,

but the tourists do not realize the problems that may result of traveling in this city, especially if they have the necessity to take public transportation. The purpose of this essay is to explain some particularities about public transportation in this city, but it is not about all the public transportation, in particular common and small buses that you could find in any place around the city, we are talking about the microbuses.

The microbuses are small busses that usually are deteriorated and are in bad conditions. If you are expecting to travel fancy, you must pay for a limousine because clearly this kind of transportation is not for you. Their price is around four “pesos�, something like a quarter; for a tourist it could be cheap, and it really is, especially if you are paid in dollars. Besides this you can take the microbuses in any part of the route; you can even get off the bus at any place you decide (obviously on the route). If you take the microbuses during the rush hour, are between 7-9AM and between 6-8:30PM, you must be prepared to suffer the inconvenience of a crowded bus and their inherent inconvenient.

If you need to take a microbus, you should ask for the place you are looking for, you could ask to a family or a local pedestrian, if you see a policeman it would be better to ask him how to get to your destination. In addition, if you do not know where you have to get off the bus, you can ask to the driver if he could tell you when you were in the place you are looking for; there are a few embittered people but it is for sure that most people will help you, so do not be afraid to ask if you feel lost.

Then, when you have already taken the bus, we can talk more closely about the experience.

First, you have to be prepared to twist your body during some travel hours and in some routes, not necessarily at rush hours, because the drivers usually only thinks of earning more money and they will do everything possible to get more and more people onto their bus. The armpit of the passenger next to you might not be a pleasant smell, so try to be patient, do not get desperate and explode!

The second thing to consider and one of the most dangerous is the thieves They are really common in Mexico City, maybe also in almost all big cities, but there are people that have never seen a theft, or an assault, or anything like it; however it is really common and you should be on the alert. Subsequently, when the bus is overcrowded, you must close your bag zippers; next you have to be careful with your wallet trying to put it in your front pocket or if you are a women and you do not have pockets in your trousers, you might be alert of your bag. On some routes there are thieves that assault you on the bus with weapons or knives. If it happens to you, I suggest giving them your cell phone and money because those people are really violent. If you have the chance, try to carry money in a different place that is not the wallet because they usually require you to give them your wallet.

Finally, if you are a lady and you do not look ugly, it is almost for sure that eventually you will have an encounter with jerks and suckers that will be repugnant to you. When it happens I recommend screaming, maybe denouncing in high speech what he is doing or, you could enjoy hitting his balls.

Despite all the drawbacks, the microbus is not hellish; they are a useful and cheap way to travel around the city. Almost all the local people travel one or two times per week in microbus. Above are some recommendations and descriptions about what a tourist could find in the public transportation. It is really similar to other kinds of transportation like the subway and metrobus, there only changes some advertisements and specific problems, but it is always the same things: how to get to this place, the overcrowded travels and the jerks, there are always jerks.

Important Tips for Americans going Shopping in Mexico

By Tere Sierra Not knowing how people bargain when shopping at touristic places can result really expensive for foreign people visiting Mexico.

In Mexico we have a tradition when we go shopping to certain places as markets, street stands, and touristic places like the pyramids or other important monuments. This is negotiating the price of the product you want to buy.

It is very common that outside of these landmarks you can find itinerant stands with a great variety of colorful merchandise as vases, pots, tableware or beautiful handcrafts made by native artisans that could be considered as work of art. Other items also handmade and amazingly designed, are tablecloths, napkins, curtains, bedspreads and others. Most of them are beautiful needlework that take long hours of hand work. It is true that this hard work worth a lot, however sometimes there are some sellers that try to increase the price of the merchandise. Therefore it is important to follow these simple practical suggestions.

To begin with, nothing could be more true that when a seller in Mexico sees that you are foreign and especially if it is the first time you visit Mexico, and you are not used to bargaining, they usually starts asking you for a bigger price for the item you are interested in. In fact, they will insist on that.

Therefore, the first step any American should follow, is try not to look like a typical tourist. This means, getting astonished while looking at everything in the store. Instead, pretend you know the Mexican rule of bargaining, that is fighting for the price and not accepting the first one is given to you.

So the next step should be to ask for the price without showing too much interest in the item you want to purchase. After doing this, it is likely that you feel harassed by the seller unless you do demonstrate an appropriate reaction and this is moving from that place as if you addressed somewhere else.

After that, probably you would hear the seller shouting loudly “Hey guerita, I have a special sale for you, listen if you take two of these products it will be much less�. This time he wants to persuade you to buy not one, but two that in the end will result an excessive expense that probably you did not expect to do. If he just call you trying to negotiate with you and you think it is what the item really worth, you can be sure that the seller is not inflating the price excessively and that you are being given a fair price.

Do not forget to follow these simple steps if you want to get a fair purchase. Do not feel embarrassed to negotiate the price if you feel the seller is

Discover: Shanghai Xinjiang

How to spend a perfect day in Shanghai

Traveling to an unfamiliar and new city is usually refreshing and exciting. Shanghai is my hometown. It is a place which is full of my memories and happiness. If you have never been to Shanghai before, it is a good chance for you to know and perceive Shanghai. If you have already been to Shanghai, you can always see new things because it is being developed and changing constantly. As a local person in Shanghai, I will show the traditional snacks and charm of Shanghai for those who do not know a lot about Shanghai.

Having a nice sleep and getting up late are relaxing on a day off, but if you miss breakfast in the beginning, it will be a great pity. Hence, go downstairs and buy some conventional Chinese food to eat, such as fried baked scallion pancakes and deep fried dough sticks, which are both made from flour and have puff pastry. Eat them with a cup of hot soybean milk. Don’t wait for them to cool down. Eat them as soon as possible. It will be the best beginning of your day.

After having breakfast, it is time to have a trip. You had better not miss the Oriental Pearl TV Tower and Jinmao Building, which are acknowledged as landmark constructions in Shanghai. Then, go to the river bank and go a sightseeing. You can watch the Huangpu River, which is called the ‘mother river’ of Shanghai

Shanghai. Then, go to the river bank and go a sightseeing. You can watch the Huangpu River, which is called the ‘mother river’ of Shanghai because she is the source of water for local residents.

After appreciating the various ancient buildings on the water, it is time for lunch. I strongly suggest that you eat a bowl of small wontons and several spring rolls in Shen Da Cheng, an old and well-known restaurant, instead of having dinner. Small wonton and spring rolls are both the traditional snacks. The wonton skin is made from flour and there is some meat wrapped in it. The spring rolls have two flavors. One is juicy Chinese cabbage and meat inside, and another is sweet red bean paste. You may try both flavors, but do not miss them.

After that, go to Hengshan Road. It is not as famous as the places discussed before, but you should not miss it. While it is in the downtown, it has a kind of quiet beauty. The street is a masterpiece. It is covered with flaming maple leaves in autumn. There are not too many cars in the street. You can also find a few former residences of celebrities in the street and spend a whole afternoon there.

Finally, it approaches the end of day. The night scene is highly recommended. You had better not miss the lighting show near the river bank. It is applied 3D technology to lighting show. Explain the reason why there are lots of local citizens are keen on the show. Being fascinated by the cool lighting show is also a good choice.

To sum up, several feature spots and sufficient delicate snacks are enough for one day. However, you cannot experience all of the interesting things in Shanghai. One thing needing attention is never buy a ticket from someone who offers to ask you to buy it when you go to see shows. They will give you a surprising high price and make benefit from it. Have a nice trip!

Good Weekend In My Hometown

By Angelica Zhang Do you know the place called Xinjiang? If not let me longer daytime so the fruit in here can get more lights, bring you to this mysterious and beautiful place. Xinjiang

meanwhile we have less rain so fruit in here can store sug-

is located in the northwest of China, and here is vital com- ar. This is why people call my city “the hometown of fruit”. munication line between China and Europe called the Silk in ancient times Road. In here you can find a lot delicious food, succulent fruit, traditional clothes and so much fun!

Please follow me to spend your wonderful weekend in my pretty hometown.

Come with me to the Bazaar first. The Bazaar is a

After we buy fresh fruit, I must buy dried fruits for you. As I just said we have dry air, thus we have large number of dried fruits. We need buy grapes again, but it is dry grapes now. The dry grapes were produced in Turpan.

People who live there build a kind of house for dry grapes, called a cold house. People hang fresh grapes on a small

place you could find anything you need. It is really cheap-

hole in the cold house then wait for a time. After a few

er than other places. At the beginning, we go to a booth,

days the dry grapes will be done, all the juice will be

which sells grapes. This is one popular fruit in my

locked and good for storage. After we buy fruit, I will bring

hometown in the summer. We have so many different

you to the final place where you must to go.

kinds of grapes, for example, Thompson seedless grapes，horse milk grapes，black grapes and over ten varieties. Next, we need watermelons and muskmelon.

I prefer watermelons because it is good for summer and you will not get ulcers Then If you want, we could buy some pears, particularly Kuche pear that is the most famous for local people. Summer is a good time for you to come to my hometown because all the fruits are ripe. My hometown is located in Asia Center; we have

Finally, we drive for an hour to go into the

smell, which is mutton soup. After you come out of

mountain. I book a Ger. This is one traditional build-

Ger you will be surprised by this pretty view. You

ing for Kazak. We will have dinner there; we will

will see an eagle fly in the clean and blue sky and

drink Manaizi first, which is made by mare's milk

the far across mountain will gradually show after

with a little bit wine ball. Be careful, don’t drink too

the mist fades away. Maybe you will see a big rain-

much, it will let you get drunk. Following will be

bow across the grassland. Meanwhile you will see

Nang and roasted whole lamb that means welcome

all green in your eyes and hear the running water,

honored guest. After that we will see shelf meat and

and with the birdcalls the trip comes to the end.

roast mutton. I’m so sorry we have all lamb, but

When we drive back to the city, I hope you

those are the most important food for us. We will

could have lovely memories for long time. I am so

eat baked potatoes a cooked in Nang pit; it is so

happy to introduce to spending a good weekend in

good after you eat a lot meat. We will eat until night

my hometown. I hope you could love there and find

so we will live in the Ger, and it will be so cold in the

something you like. My hometown have a lot stories

mountain without a heater. Therefore, we need to

and places to go, I hope could have time to visit and

drink; the people who live here will wear traditional

spend happy time here.

clothes and sing a song to toast with an exquisite horn cup. You can’t put down your cup until she finishes singing or we finish the wine. Feel relieved after you are drunk. I will bring you back to Ger where you will live tonight. Also I will make sure gave you two quilts to keep warm in the super cold mountain. You should get up early and see beautiful view.

The next morning you will wake up to a good

Explore Harajuku and Tokyo

In 2004, an American pop singer, Gwen Stefani, hired Japanese dancers named “Harajuku Girls” as backup dancers for her album. They became famous among American people with their unique features such as their fashion. They put “Harajuku” in the name of the group, and Harajuku is known as the frontier of Japanese unique cultures. You can learn a lot about Japan from the unique fashion, Anime culture, and history of the exciting town Harajuku.

HOW TO FEEL JAPAN IN HARAJUKU Kei Inaba

First of all, you can see uniqueness of fashion called “Kawaii”.

Harajuku is known as a mecca for “Kawaii” fashion, and there are a lot of places for shopping. What is remarkable is the big shopping mall in Harajuku, “Laforet Mall”. There are over 100 name-brand boutiques there. As well, Takeshita Street has about 200 unique small boutiques. You can see animal shaped earrings, pink colored hair wigs, and platform sandals that Lady Gaga may like. In addition, you can try “Gothic and Punk Lolita” fashion at the shop named PUTUMAYO. You might hesitate to enter the shop, but some sales staffs wearing frilled and laced antique dresses will help you to choose the best dress, very kindly.

Although Japanese “Kawaii” fashion that you can see in Harajuku might be strange for you at first, you will become addicted to its uniqueness.

Furthermore, Japanese “Anime” culture will fascinate you in Harajuku. Anime is the catch-all term for animation from Japan.

At first, you must visit KIDDY LAND which offers a huge amount of toys and items from Japanese Anime. It is a huge building which has six floors, and every floor is divided by kinds of Anime, such as NARUTO, Dragon Ball, and HELLO KITTY. Then, after taking 4 minutes walk from KIDDY LAND, there is the official shop for Anime Evangelion. You can buy many kinds of goods only available there, and also, you can learn screen technology used in Anime. Additionally, you can enjoy singing Anime songs in KARAOKE, if you have any favorite one.

Japanese KARAOKE offers a clean private room to you, and the characters from Anime appear in the screen. You can see Japanese unique technology through enjoying Anime in Harajuku.

In the end, visiting Meiji Shrine will take you into Japanese history. To begin with, you can see Japanese traditional architecture there. Even though Harajuku is located in central Tokyo, Meiji Shrine is one of the few places remain a classic kind of feel. Most of the buildings were built 100 years ago, but they had big impacts even on modern architecture. If you go there on Sunday, you can see a traditional wedding procession in the courtyard. A bride dresses in white and puts on white makeup, and a groom puts Japanese formal skirt “Hakama”. Besides, at the end of the trip, you should go to Kiyomasa Well that was named after a distinguished SAMURAI. It is well known as a “spiritual power spot”, and is believed to bring good fortune to you. Visiting Meiji Shrine will get you interested in Japanese tradition and history more.

In summary, you can feel uniqueness of Japan through enjoying the latest fashion, Anime culture, and a historical place in Harajuku. According to Trip Adviser, which is one of the biggest travel website, Harajuku was selected as the coolest spot in Japan by foreign tourists last year. When you come to Tokyo, I strongly recommend to go to Harajuku. It is because Harajuku is one of the few places you can see both new and old culture in Japan.

HOW TO SPEND A PERFECT DAY IN TOKYO Have you ever been to Tokyo? This is the capital of Japan, and there are many places where you should go.

If you have only one day to stay in Japan, I recommend you to visit Akihabara, Kaminarimon, and To-

kyo-Skytree, because you will see a lot of Japanese culture through these places. If you have a camera and money, you can enjoy your day. However, these are very popular places, so it will be crowded on the weekend or holiday. Therefore, you had better go there on weekdays. I’ll guide you to Akihabara, Kami-

First, you should go to the Akihabara in the morning. After I came to New York, I noticed that Japanese Anime like Naruto, One Piece, and Bleach are very famous and popular in foreign countries. Akihabara is called Akiba by Japanese. Akiba is the center place of Japanese Anime, so I think you will like Akiba. Animate is very famous Anime shop, and Animate in Akiba is very huge. It is easy to get there because it takes you four minutes to go from Akihabara station on foot. At Animate, you can buy many Anime goods like games, comics, posters, and T-shirts. After having fun at Animate, you can eat lunch at

Meido Cafe. Meido is a girl wearing a black dress and a white apron. At Meido cafe, Meido will serve you drinks and foods. Meido cafe is a unique part of Japanese culture, so it will be a good experience.

Second, you should go to the Kaminarimon in the afternoon. Kaminarimon means thunder gate, and it is located in Asakusa. It takes you sixteen minutes to get there from Akihabara station by train. Kaminarimon is a gate of Asakusa temple. There is a huge paper lantern, and the word “Kaminari Mon� is written on it. And,

Fu-jin, god of wind, and Rai-jin, god of thunder, are standing beside of lantern. You should take a picture with them. Kaminarimon is one of the places Japan can be proud of. There are also many street stalls on the way to Asakusa temple. The foods and sweets are inexpensive, so you can buy many things and eat them while walking.

Ningyo-yaki is the most famous food in Asakusa. Ningyo-yaki means doll cake, so it looks like a small doll. It is made of sponge cake and red bean paste. It is so delicious, so you should buy it.

Last of all, you should go to the Tokyo-Skytree in the evening. It takes you about fifteen minutes to get there from Kaminarimon on foot. Tokyo-Skytree is a radio tower, and the highest building in Japan. The tower is lit up at 7:00. Also, you can be in the tower, and see a night view from inside.

Thus, you can see a very nice view not only when you are in inside of tower, but also when you are in the outside of tower. You will be fascinated because of the beautiful view. In addition, there are many

restaurants in Tokyo-Skytree, so you can eat dinner there. However, the entrance fee of TokyoSkytree is about 30 dollars. It is a little bit high, so if you don’t have enough money, you had better not enter it. Also, there are many souvenir shops around Tokyo-Skytree, so you can buy many gifts for your friends and for yourself.

Tokyo is a good place to go because you can learn about Japanese culture, enjoy shopping, and see beautiful scenery in just one day. We can spend a great day without any special materials. I hope that you will come to Japan someday.

FIND OUT ABOUT: Carnival

Steak Houses

June Parties

Public Universities

Joao Pessoa

Ouro Preto

Sao Paulo

Cultural Closeness

Salvador, Bahai

How to Enjoy a Typical June Party in Brazil

By Eduardo Nunes First background

you of

need the

to

know

celebration.

It

the is

originally a catholic celebration, with 3 main dates. San Antonio 13th of June, Saint John 24th of June and Saint Peter 29th of June. The

T traditions

in

celebration occurs at the night before the here is a very traditional

real date. Through the course of time, the

and

party became not only a religious thing but a

typical

party

in

Brazil`s northeast known as one of the biggest

Brazil,

the

June

cultural party.

One of the most famous June parties

Party.

is the one that happens in Campina Grande,

Traditionally, families make their own party,

a city from the interior of ParaĂ­ba. There is a

but also there are the public parties that the

big organization behind the event, like a

state government sponsors. These are big

huge square built only for the it, at the town

and attract thousands of people, and they

square they build a fictitious city that

show famous bands at the big squares. The

symbolizes the cities from the interior of

best way to enjoy it fully is get information

Brazil`s northeast that is mostly poor cities

from people that are used to this kind of

if you think about money, but very rich in

party. This is the purpose of this text, show

terms of culture. At one of the extremities of

what to do in a day at a big June Party.

the square there is a big stage where happen

the biggest presentation of bands, mostly

beer (since this region is the hottest of

regional bands, happen. The rhythm of

Brazil, you will probably feel the heat).

music is original from the region, it is different but great and very danceable.

After lunch take some time to rest, because the sun is very strong at this time

You can start the day with a typical

and you won`t want to walk in this kind of

lunch, which you can find at many places.

heat. After taking a rest, around 4:00 a.m.

Two of them are highly recommended, they

you should take advantage of the fact that

are “O espetao” and “Bar do Cuscuz”. There

the square is almost empty, so you can walk

you can order a great northeastern lunch

by the fictitious city as long as you want and

with delicious foods like green bean,

take a lot of photos, this can be difficult by at night when the square is crowded. This walk will help you get to know the place as well, so at night you will be more comfortable with it.

The next attraction is probably the best, the shows that happen in the big stage.

There you will find places to dance to

macaxeira, cuscus, sun meat (a kind of

regional music. Arrive at the square around

jerked beef) prepared with milk cream or

8:00 p.m. so you can eat and drink before

cheese and onion, or just roast beef grilled,

the shows begin. This is the hour to taste

which is great too. To drink you can have a

some regional foods and drinks. There is a

natural and fresh fruit juice, or a very cold

lot of places to buy food in the square, that are not expensive and you should try corn

meals that are mostly made for this time,

end of the last show, so it will be easier to

like “canjica”, “munguza”, cooked corn,

take a cab to go home, because if you drank

corn cake and others, they are great and you

you must not drive.

must taste them. We have the most famous

Then you can come home and sleep

drink in Brazil, the cachaça that is a distilled

well after all this day’s journey. Where you

drink made from sugar cane. There you will

met one of the most beautiful cultures of

find a lot of kinds of cachaça, with honey,

Brazil. It endures year after and year and is a

“rapadura” (another derivative from sugar cane), with fruits like pineapple, banana, guava and others. These drinks taste so good but be careful, because it is very strong and you don’t want to have a hangover the next day, so appreciate it but don’t drink too much.

By 10:00 p.m. the shows must begin, so choose a good place to watch it. A clever choice is to stay near the police officers, so you will be safe. Since you have eaten and drunk, be near your friends and finish the night listening to good songs and dancing.

At the end, try get out a little before of the

big source of pride for us who experience it since we were children.

NO MONEY? NO PROBLEM IN SAO PAULO

By Caio Nogueira Chaves

A

re you making plans

to Central Park for the size and relevance

to travel to Sao Pau-

to the city. In this stunning place you can

lo and you do not

jog, walk or ride a bike while delighting in

want to spend a lot

all the plants and animals next to you.

of money with expensive tickets and tour

Are you missing New York City?

guides? In this article you can read about

Well, in Sao Paulo there is a building that

amazing places to visit in Sao Paulo for

can help you too feel at home free of cost.

free.

Considered for two decades (until 1965) If you are a fan of art, you came to

the tallest skyscraper of the city, the Altino

the right city. Situated in the main avenue,

Arantes Building was constructed to be the

Paulista Avenue, the Sao Paulo Museum of

headquarters of a bank in addiction to be-

Art (MASP) is the best place to visit. With

ing inspired by the Empire State Building.

impressive architectures and a wonderful

This building is also used in artistic and

collection of paintings from historical art-

cultural activities, besides the commercial

ists (e.g. Rafael and Botticelli), the en-

utility.

trance of the most relevant museum of modern art is free from Monday through

This mini guide listed to you three suggestions of places for enjoying your

Friday, because of it the MASP must be

time in Sao Paulo paying absolutely nothing

part of your tour.

for the attractions, so the next time you

In Sao Paulo, there is one of the most

visit there you can bring some friends and

fascinating places to enjoy nature: Ibirapu-

show them how to have good time in these

era Park. This urban park can be compared

amazing places without paying one cent.

Joao Pessoa Magical Mystery Tour Rodrigo Augusto Vasconcelos Sarmento

D

formation because now the place is a kind of o you want to have fun in one of the culture center.

most beautiful cities in Brazil? Surrounded by the green of nature and in the edge of our

Continuing the tour in the old town, you can find one of the most memora-

continent, your next place to visit is Jo達o Pes- ble building of the city, the "Hotel Globo", soa. I will explain step by step, how can you

the first hotel of the town and famous for its

enjoy a full day in this city!

view of the river Para鱈ba, I'll talk more about

The first step is what to do by

this big river later.

the morning? There are a lot of different possible experiences, I recommend a historical one. The old town of Jo達o Pessoa is a kind of magical place, you will get in touch with a lot of historical buildings like churches, houses, and museums. The beginning of the journey can be at the incredible church of "S達o Francisco", located exactly in the old town, and built in 1589, you can find a lot of curious in-

After the first step, you probably will be hungry, so it's time to find a nice restau-

rant, there are a lot of good ones with the best the view and listen to a good and calm "Bolero of the Paraíba state cookery. They will have

de Ravel", kind of jazz played by some musi-

acclaimed dishes like "buchada de bode" made cians. with billy-goat meat, "arrumadinho" made of beans and rice, or maybe a good "rubacão"

Finally, time to appreciate a night on the town, again you can find some places

made of "charque"(kind of meat), lard, cheese, on the old part, some pubs that play different sour cream, coriander, and tomato.

styles of music, ranging between international

The second step is things to do by one, and Brazilian, like "samba", "forró", and the afternoon! After that one, you will proba-

others. The Brazilian places are the best ones

bly fall in love with the city. Time to go to

for you if you want to learn how to dance as

"Estação Cabo Branco" a great architectural

one of us, and amazing to share cultural expe-

monument made by Oscar Niemeyer, one of

riences with the local people.

the best architect in the world, during your

After all these steps, I hope that

stay at that place you can see a beautiful view you have had a great time! João Pessoa is like of João Pessoa border, many cultural exposi-

a treasure in Brazil, almost no one knows the

tions, and a full experience in a modern thea-

amazing things that this city own! All the

ter. Enjoy the sunset close to the famous

things explained are cheap is an amazing op-

"Paraíba" river, is your next task, by the 5 PM portunity to get in touch with the Brazilian you can find a lot of different places around the river to watch this special moment, one of these is called "Praia do Jacaré" you will enjoy

culture, without spending a lot of money.

How to order in a Brazilian Steak House

S

BY Phelipe ﾃ」ila teak houses are very popular in Brazil and it is a great place to hanging out with friends or having lunch with family. In fact, even if you do not eat meat it is a good place to hangout. Since they also have salad and a lot of vegan food, everybody can have fun. And this experience might become even better if you know to place your order properly.

It is not difficult to find a good steak house in Brazil, therefore you may spend some time choosing one. They basically offer the same food and differ mostly by price. Also, they usually charge per person but the price does not include beverages, so remember to consider it when to compare prices. The most expensive ones are fancier, but it does not mean that their food is better. If you do not demand a fancy restaurant or do not want to spend too much money, there are still many great options.

Regardless of which place you choose to go, you will notice that steak houses are not quiet places. There are always dozens of waiters walking all over the place with barbecue sticks serving the

customers and people talking loudly. Beyond the steaks, there is a big table of salad and vegetables to follow the steaks.

There is no menu to choose the items. Instead, you pay for caster service and the waiters offer you all the options available. Which waiter comes with a different dish, so you can accept whatever you want and eat as much as you can. Sometimes, the item you want might take some time to come. If you ask for it to a waiter, he might get to you.

It is a good idea to know some cuts of the meat. When a waiter comes to you, he offers the steak by the name of the cut. The most common are the rump cap, the rump, the bottom sirloin and the sirloin. If you do not know the cuts of meat that is not a problem: the assistants will help you with that.

Remember that you are paying the same price regardless of how much you eat, so make sure to enjoy the meal. After you eat, ask some waiter for the bill and

HOW TO APPLY TO A BRAZILIAN UNIVERSITY Beatriz Queiroz

In Brazil, the goal of many high school

second choice. The assignment process is online,

students is to conquer such a disputed place at a

and you can check online the cutoff point to each

public university. That is because public institu-

course you applied. Finally, on the beginning of the

tions are the most renowned in Brazil. Fur-

year the results come out, and if you managed to

themore, the diference between public and pri-

pass the next step is your enrollment at the universi-

vate institutions is because ona is free and anoth-

ty. If you didn’t pass, you can do the exam again or

er is payed.

go to a private institution.

To apply to a Brazilian university there is

Basically the difference between a private

only one-way: Exame Nacional do Ensino médio

and a public university it is the quality. The profes-

(ENEM). ENEM it’s a high school national exam,

sors are qualified such as the teaching skill and full

is a gateway to all of the Brazilian public universi-

time immersion on the course. In addition, there are

ties. The exam consists in two-day tests, covering

also some other reasons for choosing public univer-

areas such Humanistic and Technological areas -

sity such as the status. A Federal university degree

Portuguese,

geography,

means a lot in Brazil and helps on the labor market.

chemistry, philosophy, Portuguese literature, and

for the student. Another key point, money is another

English or Spanish. Continuing, on the second day

reason, because sometimes there are some students

of the applications candidates still have to do an es-

that cannot afford to pay a university.

mathematics,

history,

say.

With this in mind, to “earn” a spot on After the ENEM, now you have to apply

the federal institutions, you have to study a lot

to the course and university you want. Usually, you

and beat your opponents, when the result day

can choose two options, so the first choice is the

comes and you see the name “approved” there

busiest and the less crowded option you leave to the

you see that you study hard hours worth it.

How to Spend a Perfect Carnival in a Small Town Thais Guarize

It is challenging to find new

First, you have to choose the

things to do in a small town in order

small city you would like to go to to

to avoid boredom. It is always the

start a house search. After deciding

same people, doing the same things

on the city, look at Brazilian sites

and sometimes they just need to do

(Google it) to find a house to rent that

something new. In Brazil, once a

is in your budget. If you pick one that

year, people from small towns get

comes with furniture and appliances,

very excited for Carnival: it repre-

you will save a lot of money from eat-

sents a break in their routines. When

ing in restaurants every day. You

Carnival is approaching, they prepare

should start the house search a few

great street festivities - decorating

months before the carnival to find the

the cities and choosing concerts -

cheaper ones available.

and the people from big cities travel

When the week of carnival is

to the small ones to have fun and

approaching, gather your friends and

spend a little money. The best part is

family that will share the house with

to enjoy street carnivals you do not

you and make a list of everything you

need to be single or young, there are

will need to buy to cook and drink.

countless families and couples in it.

Make sure to put beer, water, snacks

If you like the idea you can learn how

and aspirin on the list and go to the

to truly enjoy a street carnival like a

supermarket. You should choose a

Brazilian with this guide.

costume: you can dress like a woman

if you are a man and vice versa, you

most comfortable place to be during

can be a clown, a super hero, and

the night: a place next to a bar and

even an object. Be creative about it.

the stage would be great. Feel free to

After preparing all your stuff

bring a bag of ice and beer if you do

and packing, you should check your

not want to buy at the local bar next

car and fill the tank. Set your GPS to

to you. It is legal and very common.

help you in case something goes

When the night comes, go to

wrong unexpectedly. Carnival starts

your perfect spot and enjoy it with

on a Friday night and goes until

your friends. The music is going to

Wednesday of the next week, you

be awesome and you will definitely

better start driving on Friday morning

dance, drink and spend the entire

if you don’t want to get caught in traf-

night standing on the street and get-

fic.

ting to know people from everywhere.

After arriving at the city and

Carnivals in small cities are

leaving everything at the house you

very popular because it has the best

are renting, ask someone on the

of both worlds: good parties and af-

street for directions to the central

fordable prices. You can spend as

square (you probably already saw it

much money as you want and have

because the city is very small). At the

the same fun as everybody in the big

square, you have to ask where is the

cities by making smart choices.

What to do in Ouro Preto

I

CAMILA TEÓFILO

f you are going to visit Brazil and attempt to gain independence from Portugal. In this want to see beautiful buildings and square you are going to see the Tiradentes’s statue in know about interesting facts of the his- the middle of it, where it is possible to take nice pic-

tory of this country, you should go to the city called tures.

Ouro Preto (meaning Black Gold). Because of its phe-

After taking photos, you can visit two famous

nomenal baroque characteristics, this city is designat- museums in Tiradentes Square, the Inconfidência’s ed a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. You can ap- Museum and the Museum of Science and Technology. preciate these baroque characteristics walking around The first one used to be the city hall and jail in the the city. It is interesting to go there because, while past, but today it traces the Inconfidência independyou are visiting the tourist spots, you can also learn ence movement. The second one served as the Goverabout Brazil’s history.

nor’s house when Ouro Preto was the capital of the

The first place to start your journey in Ouro state until 1898. Nowadays, it is noted for its collecPreto is the Tiradentes Square, the most famous tion of beautiful mineral specimens. Besides the musquare of the city. The name of this place is a refer- seums, in the square there are a lot of stores selling ence to the leader of Inconfidência Mineira in 1789, a jewelry and many kinds of arts.

Brazilian independence movement which failed in its

you can visit the place called Casa dos Contos, which is an interesting place to visit because it is one of the most preserved houses of the city. In the past, this local served as the Mint, where gold was cast and weighed. Furthermore, it was there that were imprisoned Inconfidência’s rebels. Also, the lower part of this local was slave quarters.

Tiradentes Square

Even though there is no more gold, the mines

Just off the Tiradentes Square, next to the Inconfidência’s Museum, you can visit the church called Nossa Senhora do Carmo and the theatre called Teatro Municipal. This church, standing on a promontory that affords a view over the area surrounding Ouro Preto, is a good example of the baroque architecture. The interesting about the theatre is that it was open in 1770, being the oldest working theatre in Latin Ameri- still exist and areView of the open to city visitation. You should visit ca.

the mine called Chico Rei (meaning King Chico), the After visiting these places, you can walk

through two famous streets of the city, street Direita

most famous of the city.

As you can see, Ouro Preto is a wonderful city

and street São José, that have interesting tourist spots

with a lot of history and influence in Brazil’s history.

to go. First, you need to come back to the square and

There you can visit a lot of beautiful places and learn

down the street Direita, where you will see beautiful

about history. It is a safe city and has friendly people

and old houses. It is necessary to go down this street

who can help you to find the places that you want to

and turn the second right, where the street São José is. go. So, if you are going to visit Brazil, don’t think There you can find the Municipal Theater, the oldest theater still open in Brazil. Still on the street São José

twice. Go to Ouro Preto and enjoy it.

C

hoosing a new place

in the sea, make sure to bring your swim-

to travel can be very

suit and sunscreen. The sun can burn

difficult

your skin.

because

there are a lot of interesting places

After, you must get a cab to go to

around the world. For example, the Bra-

the “Pelourinho” at the Historic Center.

zil is one of these interesting places to

It would cost you like 20 reais (Brazilian

visit. It is a diversified country which the

money). Otherwise, you can take a bus, it

cities have their own characteristics and

costs 3 reais. But the cab is more com-

stories. Once you choose to go to Brazil,

fortable and safe. The “Pelourinho” is a

Salvador must be a part of your road

historic part of Salvador. As you walk on

trip. It is a beautiful city and will sur-

the street, you can see a lot of houses

prise you. While you are in Salvador,

painted in different colors. Also, it is a

these are the following places you should

very famous place. For example, Michael

go to have a perfect day.

Jackson went there and recorded his mu-

The first place to go is the light-

sic video “They Don’t Care About Us”. A

house called “Farol da Barra”, located at

local band was featuring and it is called

the “Barra” neighborhood. That is one of

Olodum, with black people playing

the Carnaval’s routes. It is a good place

drums. You can probably see this band

to go with the family, play around or

playing there, it is very exciting.

walk with the dog. You can go swimming

Following you must walk to the fa-

mous elevator called “Elevador Lacerda” which connects the “high city” to the “low city”. Up there, you can appreciate a great view of the sunset on the part of the ocean called “Baia de Todos os Santos”. After sunset, take the elevator and walk to the market called “Mercado Modelo”. This market has only souvenirs like key chains, picture frames, fridge magnets, paintings. There you can find gifts to your family and friends, or just something for you to remember your trip and how intense was your experience.

At the end of the day, you might be really hungry! There is a local food called “acaraje” that most of the soteropolitanos (people from Salvador) love. It is typical to see the women selling acaraje dressed very specifically. We call them “baianas”, they wear all white dresses, turbans and a lot of colorful necklaces. Order your “acaraje”, if you do not want a fried option, you can choose a baked one, it is called “abara”. Then you choose what you want inside it. Be careful and let the baiana know if you want it spicy or not.

How To Be Comfortable in Brazil

B

Delmiro Daladier Sampaio Neto efore the arrival at Brazil you

not prepared for too many touches.

must know some singular hab-

Another action that can be a huge problem

its of the people there. These

is our constant hugs. Hug each other is inherent to

habits can cause some shock in

Brazilians, but not to other people. We use to

people who do not have a lot of physical contact in

hug special people for us, at any time for

common situations. In Brazil, the simple conversa-

any reason (and that is awesome) but can

tions and interaction between people, frequently, are warmer than in other places. It can cause a lot of confusion in some tourists. By following some steps, you can avoid some mistakes and problems.

It is a fact, which Brazilians use to talk very close to one another. The first thing you should know that it is a habit engrained in our culture, we

make other people uncomfortable. If you don't like it, at any meeting you should search for a handshake, as fast as you can!

It indicate that you are not ready for hugs.

But I think you should try some hugs.

At last, in Brazil people love to talk.

learn to talk this way since the childhood. ThereWe can talk at any situation, at the bus, the subway fore, if the proximity bothers you, try to keep a or even in a line to a restroom. It is inevitable, in comfortable distance at conversations or try to every place someone is in a conversation. Somedemonstrate clearly your nuisance. times these conversations are too long or boring.

Another fact about conversations is the peFor this, you only have to put your earphones and culiar way we talk, doing a lot of gestures and enjoy your music, no one will bother you. touching arms or this kind of contact. The visitor Thus, the Brazilians habits are very particumay be frightened or understand the gesture as inlar. They can be very compelling to people from vasion of personal space. Again, you should keep a another nations. I suggest you take a little time to comfortable distance during the conversation or understand and be comfortable with them, it is a cross your arms, it shows to the others that you are good way to enjoy your time there.

Read about: Arepas

Colombian Arepas

By Juan Manuel Castillo

You can’t talk about Colombian food without mentioning arepas. They are one of the most important dishes in Colombian cuisine, and also one of the tastiest. If you are interested in trying new things or interested in eating new food in general, you should try arepas. They are easy to make, delicious and a perfect side dish for many occasions. In addition, eating arepas will give you great insight into the beautifully diverse Colombian cuisine, which will encourage you to try new dishes from Colombia or other countries, and who knows, maybe you will find your new favorite food.

Arepa is a dish created by aborigines of Colombia and Venezuela, and you would find many versions of arepas throughout different regions of both countries. In Colombia, for example, some of the most popular are “arepa de choclo”, which is made with sweet corn and white cheese, “arepa de huevo” (Caribbean Coast), which is fried with an egg inside, “arepa antioqueña” (Western Colombia), which is large, flat, and made with white corn, “arepa rellena” (Western Colombia), which is stuffed with ham, cheese, meat, chicken or other ingredients, and “arepa de queso”, the one that I am going to talk about here.

The ingredients you will need to make 4 to 5 medium sized arepas de queso are 1 cup (150 g) of pre-cooked white corn meal for arepas, 1 cup (236 ml) of water, ½ teaspoon of salt, 1 tablespoon (14 g) of butter and 1 cup (100 g) of shredded mozzarella cheese. As you can see, the ingredients are easy to find or you already have them in your kitchen, except for the corn meal which you would, almost certainly, find in a Latin grocery store. If you don’t seem to find the corn meal, you can look for it online.

The procedures to make arepas de queso are pretty straight forward. First, you

want to warm and pour the water into the container in which you will be doing all the mixing.

Then, add the corn meal to the water. Once you have completely mixed the

water and corn

meal, you can continue by adding the butter. Next, mix the cheese, and finally, add the salt and knead the dough until you get a smooth, soft texture. If the mixture is too moist, add more corn meal and if it is too dry, add some water.

Once you have the soft dough, you can start forming the arepas. First thing you want to do is to make dough balls the size of an orange. Then, flatten the dough balls to the thickness of your choice, forming the flat and circular shape characteristic of arepas. If you want to do a perfect circle and you cannot do it with your bare hands, you can cut the seal and sides of a Ziploc bag, so that it resembles an open notebook, and place it unfolded over a surface. Afterwards, make a dough ball and place it over one side of the plastic, flatten it and then cover it with the other side of the plastic so that the dough is between the two plastic sheets. Now, you want to take a bowl, a glass or whichever container you want, place it over the covered dough and push it downwards, cutting the imperfections. Finally you should reuse the imperfections by adding them into the original mixture.

When you are finished forming the arepas, you can start cooking them. Turn on the stove to medium-high and spread some butter over the griddle or pan. Wait until the griddle is hot, put the arepas, and grill each side for about 5 minutes or until golden brown. Serve immediately!

Arepas de queso are perfect companions for many foods. You can eat them for breakfast, lunch or dinner, with meat, hot chocolate, eggs, butter, avocado or many other different combinations. There are also many ways of making arepas de queso, with different kinds of cheese, with milk instead of water, without butter and other possible variations. This great diversity in the uses and the different ways of cooking them contribute to the great importance of this delicious dish in the traditional Colombian cuisine.

Extra Tips for While You’re Travelling

HOW TO RELAX MEDITATION

Have you ever struggled with a tired body that you can not release. People always

feel so much pressure after one day of working. You must say that if is unnecessary

to find some methods to get rid of pressure. Because almost everyone would be get

in trouble with “stress” in daily life, people can gradually eliminate stress by time

passing. There are several ways to make you relax.

You have heard about “yoga”, but here I will introducing is the way seems like

yoga, called “sit in meditation”. I remembered two years ago, I have a chance to

learn the Buddhists in a mountain of TaiWan. Buddhism is one of the main religion

in the world, but the purpose of this activity is to know about the Buddhism and

get the benefit of it rather than being a religious. By practicing, we becoming peaceful

and free. During at that time, I learned how to sit in meditation, which is a expression of

practicing Buddhists. I remembered every morning, I have to get up around 5

mountain, I soon saw a stream like a blue silk across the hill, big stone surrounded the zigzagging stream. Some birds singing skimmed over the stream jumping into my eyes.

Everyone pick a smooth big stone as a seat. Then slowly bend both knees and squat, at the same time cross one’s legs on another, known as “meditation seat”.

After that, put your both hands on the knees with palms up. Close your ring finger and the thumb together like a Buddha.

Furthermore, gently close your eyes. Try to stop your thinking and imagination although you can not thinking without any distracting thoughts during the meditation.

Then take a deep breath. Do not move and keep this state for twenty minutes. When you finish, slowly open your eyes. You will feel your whole body from bottom to the top are totally melting into the nature.

Finally, after you are finished, you will find that the things and people around you are so bright and fresh. You don’t worry about the environment, choose any quiet place in the morning, like a couch, bed or ground if you like.

By meditating, you will definitely ease your tension and inhibitions. Meditation is a state of being emotionally and mentally at peace, without restlessness or disturbing thoughts, and being in control of your mind gradually. Everyone should try to have a deep thought in the morning, you will find something different in the rest of the day.

How to Read Faster in Few Steps

to read faster when I was reading "A Song of Ice and Fire" and I had to read this book in a small amount of time. It was borrowed from a friend and he really needed this book back. I was reading as fast as I could to know my limits. At this point, I figured out that my limit was 100 to 200 pages a days, but when I read 200 pages I was exhausted at the end of the night. After you know how much you can read, you should take your book and see how many pages the book has, so you can have an idea of how many days you’ll need to read the entire book.

By: Matthews Goes

Now that you know how far you can go and how much time you need to finish your book, you have to work on your tactics to concentrate. If

We live in a world where you have to do everything faster than ever. The time that we have to do our duties is too short, and, as we are gaining responsibility, we are getting very busy. Reading is very important to make you think faster, have concentration and also it is very entertaining. However, in these days with almost no time for entertainment, how can we read faster so we can read more books?

To read faster, the first thing you have to do is calculate how much you can read a day. I started

you’re focused in the words in your book, you’re able to read it faster, and, you’ll be without any distraction to keep your eyes out of the book. One of the

Before you start reading, you should organize your time. It’s crucial to do the important things you have to do before reading, so, in your extra time

About the writer:

you could try to put your reading goal in the rest of your day. For example: since your limits are between 50 to 150 pages, you can read at least 50 pages when you have many things to do, but, if you have a lot of free time, you should read at least 150 pages. Finally, you can read and reach the limit of pages according to your extra time. If you finish your goal early and you’re not tired, you can try read some more.

Now, you’re more than ready to enjoy your reading and feel the differences in you routine. Probably you’ll be able to think faster, solve your problems in a better way, if you have to read something fast for college or work, it won’t be a problem for you. Mainly you’ll have a lot of fun reading.

Matthews Goes is a 22 years old student having a wonderful experience in SUNY New Paltz. He is passionate for books and his favorite author is Stephen King. Besides reading, he also loves drawing, painting and watch horror movies. One day, he will write a book.

How to cheat in an examination Harris Chow Since the exam has been invented, cheating started to emerge in different kinds of tests. Because it is negative and having many bad effects. It is forbidden in every examination. However, in China, there are 1.4 billion people, 250 million students, and only 742 universities (Good University) Not only in China, the world’s competition among students is very drastic as well. Nowadays, we have already clearly seen that students must take exams and achieve good marks in order to be admitted to colleges which they want to enter. So, some little help while you are taking an exam can be had.

Cheating is a skill, it contains psychological quality, physical quality, and reaction capacity. Cheating make us be prudent and smart. First thing you should remember is that, never be late or early. Why? Because if you go to the classroom so early that even the teacher does not come, he or she will think why is this guy coming so early? And because of this psychology, the teacher will pay more attention to you. If you come too late, you will not able to leave a good impression with him or her. So, whatever you do, the teacher will focus on watching you. After you have a seat, don’t gaze round! This behavior can attract the teacher. Please remember, we are good cheaters, we do not use technology to help us.

Why? We all know cell phones and smart watches are the best tools to copy the important data.The pictures which you have copied must be clear in the phones or watches, and it’s convenient to take a look. But once you are being discovered, the evidence will expose you all.

Next, figure out the subject which you are going to take. It can be easy to copy some vital data on your body. Yes, your body! You can copy it on your hands, arms, and legs. They are like a blackboard which can let you write smoothly. Please Write the information with pens, because when the teacher come towards you, you can erase them quickly and cleanly. I know it may hurt your skin, but do not forget the famous saying, NO PAIN, NO GAIN.

Your neighbor can become a big help, when you find that some examples you cannot deal with. Looking at the teacher before you looking at someone’s paper, if the teacher is focusing on other things, you can stare at your neighbor’s paper for a long time. Then, it’s time to test your eyesight, make sure that you have a normal eyesight, if you don’t have a good one, please bring a pair of glasses in case you can’t see others clearly. Do not bring sun glasses, it will make you look ridiculous.

Finally, the most exciting part is coming. Once you are being found that you are cheating by the teacher. Relax, tell yourself, I am innocent, I am innocent. I did nothing. Quickly dispose of your evidence as soon as possible. If the teacher has the evidence, and is sure you are a cheater. OK. Admit your fault sincerely.

In conclusion, I think the best way to cheat is to review carefully, and write the information which will

How to keep peace with a roommate

by Juvenal Bisneto

Living with someone is always some-

mate. Don’t be curious, even if your roommate

thing complicated, because each one has a

is trying to hide something from you. What is

particular way to live and organize their things.

yours is yours and what belongs to him, be-

Living together can bring several fights and dis-

longs just to him. So, if you have pets of any

agreements such as where to put the dirty

kind, do not expect your roommates to take

clothes, to store cleaning products, when and

care of it, take care of it by yourself. Put food

who will do the cleaning. Living together is al-

or water for your pet is your role. Clean up

ways an adventure, especially if you do not

poop and walk with your pet is also up to you.

know who you will live with, like the first year

Thus, if you need the help of your roommate

students of some universities. However, it is

to take care of your pet, talk with him first.

possible to maintain peace and harmony in the

Never plan a trip and only ask for help on the

dormitory following a few basic rules.

eve of the trip. Always act sensibly.

First, never invade the space of your roommate. Surely he will not like to see you sleeping in his bed instead of your bed, especially if you drool all over his pillow. Your roommate will also not like to see your belongings on his desk. Only use your space. And obviously, use only what is yours or ask permission. Never snoop the things of your room-

!

Another point that causes a huge discord between roommates is the bathroom.

it must be done and it should be done by all roommates.

Personal products should not be shared. But if

Next, always respect your roommate’s

you really need to use it, ask before, even if he

schedule. If you your roommate has to get up

has already authorized you to use sometime.

early, be polite and keep noise down late at

To act like that is more polite and will help

night. Always talk to your roommates about

keep peace in your room. Also, try not to wet

parties and skip it if a roommate asks you to

everything when you get out of the bath, but if

throw the party a different weekend, because

your roommate looks like a duck out of the

in the future you may need a weekend of

lake, talk to him. Talk is primary key to good

study.

relations with your roommate. That way, whenever you get bothered with something that your roommate did, talk to him/her. This will help your roommate correct his/her mistakes and will make your cohabitation easier.

Also, make sure to share the bathroom cleaning. No one wants

to

clean

the

toilet, but

In conclusion, make sure to treat your roommates as you want to be treated. When something is bothering you, tell them in a clear but polite way, rather than letting bad feelings appear. And remember that nice gestures can captivate your roommate and can help you to maintain peace, gesture such as buy a dinner or give some unexpected gift.

How to spend a perfect day in New York?

Leonam Araujo If you are a tourist or a North American citizen from another city than New York, you will realize that New York City is a big, marvelous and outrageous place which everyone must visit. There are so many beautiful places to know and visit which doing all this in just a day could be impossible. However, you can give a try by following a few directions on how to spend a simple day in New York that will be worth, while this guide will use the entire day and start from airport to midnight on Manhattan Island.

First of all, you should know at which airport you will arrive. There are three different airports in the city: JFK, LaGuardia and Newark. It is advisable that you should know about it before taking off. Also, it is a good idea to spend three days in New York. The first day is only for arriving in the city and resting because you might be tired from travelling. The next day is about enjoying the city. Finally, the third day for departing from the city calmly.

Before spending the day in NY City, it is highly recommend that you should know how to use the subway system. You can take a map of it on paper, cell phone (Citymapper app, for example), or ask for the map in the token booth, it is free. However, the map might be very confusing for first time, even the local people get confused, too, but the best way to use the subway is asking the local people.

Now that you are in the city, how about spending your morning going to drink some coffee? For foreign people, the coffee in New York could be very different from their home place, but it is a just a matter of how you order your coffee and which place you should go. A good place to go is Zibeto Espresso Bar, which is on 501 5Th and 1385 6th avenues, but it is for quick drinks. However, if you are interested in relaxing for a while, the Ground (28 Jane Street) is a good choice. After the breakfast, the first place to visit is the New York Public Library, which is on 42nd Street and Fifth Avenue. The building, from 1911, is a marvel where you could learn more about the history of the city. Furthermore, there are many places at it which you could spend all your entire day by seeing old maps of the city, reading newspapers from around the world, attending free

Also, there is free access to the Internet. Next, the second place to go, which is very famous by everyone, is Times Square. If you are interested in buying new clothes, it is a good place because there are many stores, like Forever 21 and H&M. Also, it could be great if you want to buy a gift for someone. However, there are old and cool places that you should go. For example, Jimmy`s Corner is a good bar to have drinks, the Margon restaurant is Cuban cuisine.

Also, there might be some people playing music on their drums, saxophones and others on the streets.

New York food is not only about pizza, sandwiches and food trucks. There are so many different options that you could have for a lunch. Even better, you could also find a restaurant that cooks your home food.

All you need to do is to search the appropriate place. For example, NY has a lot of Latin people, and rice and beans are very common for lunch for these people. If you are Latin, you could try the Margot restaurant by taking the 1 train to 157th street. But also, there are El Malecon, on the Upper West Side, La Taza de Oro, in Chelsea, and El Castillo de Jagua, in the Lower East Side.

After lunch, another good option to visit is the statue of the Liberty. Nevertheless, you have to visit this tourist point accordingly. First, you have to buy the ticket from the TicketBar website. The transportation is available only on boats and you have to choose between two departing options: Battery Park (it is in New York) or Liberty State Park (which is in New Jersey), but choosing to departing from New Jersey might be good option, because it takes less time and there are fewer people. You have to check the hours of operation of the transport in the reason that they might vary according to the seasons along the year. Another place to go and might be very interesting is the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It has millions of art works that covers five thousand years of history and receives a huge amount of people every year. There is a lot of exhibitions that could be impossible to watch all them in the afternoon. Then, try to look for few of them. The museum is on the Fifth Avenue and in an area which is called ``Museum Mile``. For the end of the afternoon, another famous point is the Brooklyn Bridge. You can have a beautiful view of the city and take some wonderful pictures during the sunset. To go there, you just have to take a subway heading to Brooklyn and take the High Street or the Clark Street.

In the evening, it is a good idea to listen music. There are lot of places for different kinds of music: rock, jazz, blues and others. For jazz, as an example, you could go to West Village where there are good jazz clubs, but many tourists go to that place. Maybe you could visit a more local club, like Paris Blues in which you could take 2 or 3 train to 125th Street. For rock music listeners, there are Rockwood Music and Bowery Ballroom where are in the Lower East Side, but the first is on 196 Allen Street and the second is on 6 Delancey Street. New York is called the city that does not sleep, then you could to go to different clubs during the entire night. However, it is recommend

There are many other places to visit and know about New York in which could be impossible to do in a single day. However, I presented to you some places that you should go when you arrive in New York City. You might feel very tired visiting the city for one day, but it is worth it and gives you the feeling to come back, invite your family and friends and tell them how wonderful New York City is.

How to relax Sometimes people would like to choose some ways to relax themselves, including me ,but the issue we face is how do we relax?

You know, every week we have to do lots of work and thus we always feel very tired. We will imagine a majority of wonderful things in our brain to relax, such as, hanging out with friends, eating BBQ with buddies, watching a movie with family or having a trip with them

your family, you will feel uncomfortable with them, because friends know more about you in your life and you have the same topics and hobbies. You can share everything with them and you do not need to worry about how daring the thing is or how ridiculous the thing is. In return, they will also do that. Just like this, you will chat all the time, even all night long. That is why you should go to have a trip with your friends. In life, you can find similar things between them and you. You will prefer to travel with be more relaxed if you travel with friends. It isn`t like that with famsome friends rather than family. Although there is no ilies. generation gap between you and RELAXATION

I

If you want to choose another way, I think it will also be able for you. Not all people like to have a trip with friends, because some private things they could not get help from friends.

So, the person in our mind is family when we get into trouble. Some people will choose to hang out with their family or eat BBQ at their house and backyard. Maybe they have been working all week, and they have no time to accompany the family rather than workmates and friends. They will feel apologetic to family.

However, their family will come up with some methods to relax them and tell them not to be sorry about that, because families understand you. They know how hard you worked and how much you did for the family and your company. They are proud of you, and you can get from them what you could not get from your friends. You will be more confident and more re-

laxed. Thus, maybe you can get rid off some annoyance or some upset mood when you stay with your gentle family.

Actually, how to relax is depends on you, don’t work during your weekend and only relaxtion. Time waits for no man, taking full use of spare time to r e l a x y o u r s e l f .

ENJOYMENT

HOW TO LEARN A NEW LANGUAGE Nowadays, learning new

You will be able to practice. You

use the words that you memorized

language is so popular all around

have learn new vocabulary. It is the in your daily life.

the world and also it is really im-

most important thing. You can pre-

Secondly, you will be able

portant for people who want to get pare vocabulary cards. You have to to improve your language in your a good job. At the same time learn- review. You can try to make sening new language enable people to tences by using vocabulary. You meet new people who have a

can play Scrabble and do cross-

daily life. For instance, you can watch movies in theatre. If you want to watch movies without sub-

different life perspective. There are word puzzles. You will be able to

titles, you should get an account

a lot of things to do to learn a new

practice by using applications or

from Netflix. You will be able to

language, but there is a problem

websites, such as Schoology,

watch movies whenever you want.

which is the biggest mistake is

Quizlet and other. You can use

You can listen to music by reading

made by almost all of the people

sticky notes by writing words each

lyrics. And also you can read news-

who try to learn a new language.

on it and then you can stick them

papers. It is great way to learn. For

We are thinking about language

on all of your stuff. You can easily

instance, New York Times and Wall

means just language but unfortu-

using your stuff. You should try to

Street Journal have a lot of articles

nately it does not. Language have their own culture, so language also means culture.

Firstly, 覺f you want to learn a new language, you have to get an education about it. For example, you can go to a language school.

for improve your reading skills. You the United States of America. Liscan read books. This is not makes it tening to people who speak in lan-

when you speak.

To sum up, everybody

easier to understand, but you are

guage that you want to learn can

should learn a foreign language in

also more likely to remember the

improve your listening skills. You

order to live a good life. Especially

language on it. You can change the should not waver to speak the for-

English, Spanish, French and Ger-

language of your phone and social

eign language in public. It will be

man because they are the most

media accounts.

beneficial in improving your lan-

common languages in all around

Thirdly,

the word. You

one of the

should get an

best way of

education,

learning for-

find out new

eign language

vocabulary,

is to travel.

practice a lot,

Language has

watch movies,

their own cul-

listen to mu-

ture. You know we have some spe- guage. I think 覺f you find a native cial things in our language like idi-

girlfriend or boyfriend, you can

oms, and we have some special

adopt new language easily. You

jokes which can be understand just should make friends with native by native people. You should think

people. Speaking with a real, live

like a native speaker and you

person will help you to feel much

should do whatever they do when

more motivated about learning lan-

they speak. For example, 覺f you

guage than staring at a book. Do

want to learn English, you can go to

not be afraid of making mistakes

sic, read newspapers or magazines, think like native people to learn a

How to Tweet

by Akın Ege Yılmaz No one can deny that technology has been developing day by day.

Naturally, it changes our lives. Especially, there was a tremendous change in our communication methods thanks to social media. Social media is one of the most significant part of our lives now. It includes a variety of applications such as Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter and others.

If you want to catch up with today’s life, you have to learn how to use social media, especially you need to learn how to use Twitter because, according to surveys, it is the most popular application now.

Firstly, you ought to sign up for a Twitter account. You can sign up by using smartphone or computer. Actually, I recommended that you sign up by using smartphone, because its easier than the computer. Then, you have to find a password so that no one can hack your Twitter account.

When it comes to a profile picture, indeed you should choose an attractive one in order to enable your friends to recognize you. At the end of creating a Twitter account, there is one more thing that you have to do.

You should find a nickname that includes your personality.

The next step is how can we use Twitter effectively. At the beginning of this step, you ought to follow twitter phenomenon’s account, famous people, your friends and whoever you want. If you want to get information by using Twitter, you can follow news channels accounts such as BBC, CNN, or you can follow newspapers profiles like New York Times and Wall Street Journal. These profiles which you want to follow can change in terms of your hobbies, thoughts and political views. After you follow a variety of accounts, you should wait for your first tweet. Because by following twitter regularly you will learn twitter language and shortcuts. Then, your first tweet may be more effective and attractive.

There is one more step to finish our Twitter class, let’s tweet. A Tweet is any message posted to Twitter which may contain photos, videos, links and up to 140 characters of text. You can tweet whatever you want such as current events, politics, sports or art. In twitter you will see a few icons under the other tweets. These are retweet icon, favorite icon and mention icon, and you have to learn how to retweet, favorite and mention. As you use twitter, you will learn these twitter terms. Retweet means tweet again. If you retweet another tweet, this tweet will be shown on your profile. You can retweet another tweets as the accounts who posted these be allowed to retweet. You can favorite a tweet by clicking favorite icon. Then, this tweet will be shown in your favorites part. Click to mention icon to start talking to other user. At the end of the class, ıf you want to really be a true twitter user, you also follow trends included in twitter. They are always changing according to order of the day. It ıs a little difficult to follow them, but not impossible with practice.

To sum up, using Twitter helps you in a lot of situations. Today, many big companies, many serious corporations and even presidents use Twitter constantly. Furthermore, ıt makes your life more social and makes you a more sophisticated individual. Also, the world is developing rapidly, if you absolutely want to catch up today’s, life you have to learn new technological developments in order to evolve yourself.

How to Tackle Being Overweight

by Mehmet Ali Sari It ıs well-known fact that number of overweight people are increasing vastly day by day. There are a lot of reasons that affect people’s life adversely. So we should pay more attention to our lives. Local communities and officials should take steps in order to address this issue. By using some methods we can prevent people from gaining weight. Otherwise some problems turns out to be unsolvable.

First of all, people should avoid processed food that are mainly composed of sugar and fat. They should eat meat, fish and vegetables to maintain their body level. On the other hand, officials should encourage people to eat healthy food by using advertisements. These advertisements should introduce healthy foods. Besides that governments should introduce stronger regulation to help people lose weight. For example, we can see a lot of fast food companies in New York and we can protect people from expansion of fast food companies.

In addition to this, by increasing tax rate cost of process food will be expensive and many people cannot afford these foods. İn this way, people become more aware of their eating habits. They avoid unhealthy foods as much as they can. Another important point is being vegetarian it is clear that raising animals in factory farm conditions is dangerous. Eating a hamburger a day can increase our risk of dying by a third. Also vegetarian diet offers people sufficient protein. In this way, people can tackle overweight. Relatedly, vegetarian diet is more affordable and sometimes meat production causes more emission than transportation.

As a result of this, people can contribute to their life standard.

Finally, some subject criteria should be integrated into schools and we need to look over daily routine gym programs, doctor advises and magazines. These factors enable people to be aware of their health.

Secondly, lack of exercise is another important factor for being overweight. Many people prefer using time saving machines like elevators and cars instead of walking or using staircases. This sedentary lifestyle has led people to gain weight gradually and they finally have obesity problems that have negative effects on a human body. As a result of this these adverse effects of such foods will be diminished. Consequently, excessive usage of technological devices give rise to gaining weight.

Parents should be informed about that by nongovernmental organization, children should be engaged in social and sportive activities.Following this officials should design public parks that include a track and gym machines. Apart from these factors, intensive diet program In conclusion, although there are various reasons for gaining weight several important measures should be taken to prevent people from getting heavier. We should create a healthy life in the future.

N

owadays, everybody is faced with different challenges and stress, like job

stress, study stress and so on. If you don’t release your own stress in time, it will do harm to your mental health and physical health just like a terrible disease. Learning to relax is the key to release your daily stress and let you show your best side of life. In order to get your anxiety under control and make sure your states of psychology and body will be good , you should learn how to relax.

F

irst，you should relax your mind. Whatever you meet with during the day,

you should just forget them. Robert J. Sawyer said that “Learning to ignore things is one of the great paths to inner peace.” Always thinking about negative things or how to deal with different difficulties you have everyday is just like a process of heaping pressure on yourself. You can imagine a place which you like, like a beautiful beach and a majestic mountain while listening to peaceful music so that you can relax your mind and enjoy your own time. What’s more, you can read a book which you love or can attract your attention entirely, and you will become absorbed in the plot of the book to let you forget troubles. Relaxing your mind is the first step and the key factor

Furthermore, you should relax your body.

Finally, you should have a good sleep and

When you work for long hours, you always sit

when necessary, take a nap in the afternoon,

on a chair all day long, and almost have no

which is a main factor to relax. Sleep better and

time for some exercise. Sitting is a main reason you will be full of energy throughout the day. to cause muscle soreness. Some people may

Take a nap in the afternoon and your mood,

think a good sleep will fix muscle soreness to-

efficiency, and alertness level will improve

tally, but actually if you ignore it, it may cause a greatly. Compared to all ways, there is nothing more serious problem. Therefore, it is neces-

better than a quality sleep. You can eat some

sary to draw up a plan to do exercise regularly. food high in calcium and protein, which can This is the best-known, scientifically-proven

promote sleep. And also stop working at least

way to significantly reduce stress. You'll be

an hour before bed and perform soothing, quiet

amazed at how much easier it is to overcome

activities that will help you relax so that you can

stress if you exercise regularly. You can do

have a good sleep.

whatever you love to do, like walking in the park or riding a bike.

Thirdly, you should form a healthy and bal-

In brief, learning to relax can improve a person’s physical and mental health. Although in life there are always unpleasant things hap-

anced diet. Eating well can prevent from dis-

pened, in order to feel better you need to look

ease, and create a good mood. So you should

at life from another direction. And the most im-

stay away from fatty food and caffeine as well

portant thing is learn to how to relax.

as avoid smoking and drinking .In addition, you should often drink water and eat more fruit and vegetables so that you can have better physical health. A good mood is always based on a healthy body.