I liked very much last weekend, because I was with my friends watching movies, playing games, swimming, I went to risk and also we went to University Mall. It was fun, because we visited all stores in the Mall, and we ate there too.

Last Friday I went to dance with my friends, and after we went to eat Mexican food. It was good.

Last Saturday we went to the Mall, and it was cool! Because we did shopping, and it was the best part. In the afternoon we ate in the mall, and in the night my friends came to my apartment, and we were watching movies.

Yesterday was my cousin’s birthday, so I went to his house, and I was there all day. In the morning we watched the General Conference, and in the afternoon some friends came to visit him, were eating, and playing some games.

Today I am so happy, because last Thursday I meet a boy in the Y. He is from Argentina, and he is so cute. He is a really nice person, and he is very friendly too. Today I was talking with him all break, and the best part of this story is that I guess that he likes me, but I like him too. I am so happy for that, and I am so lucky, because he studies here in the ELC, so I can talk with him all days, but it is top secret ok?

Right now I am stressed, because yesterday I couldn't sleep very well, I was thinking about my test and other problems that I have in my apartment. When I have something to do like a test or homework or something like that or when I can't do things that I need to do I fell stressed. When I am stressed I always have bad humor, and I am not hungry and some times I have headache, and it is so uncomfortable.

For me the best way to have less stress is doing exercise. When I am stressed I do tae-Bo or I swimm or dance or run or play basketball or whatever but I need to have my mind in another place far or my problems. Another way that I use to have less stress is being with my friends making jokes or watching a movie. When I am stressed I donít like that people make a lot of noise or that they make jokes about me. I like to be quiet when I am stressed or listening quiet music or sleep is good for me too.

I think that I have many weaknesses, and some times I fell bad for feeling this felling, because some times I have problems, and I fell uncomfortable. But is something strange because people donít like to fell this, but we do it.

Some of these weaknesses, in my case, are that I am not patient, and it is difficult for me, because some times you need to wait, and when I am waiting for a long time I an be able to be angry. Another weaknesses are that I canít sit still, and at the same time it funny, because people always stop me and they tell me: stop to do this or that or whatever. For example if I am talking with somebody I need to play with something or shake my foot or make any noise or when I am waiting for something I always do the same or when I am nervous too or in test.

Another weaknesses are that I am very nervous, and being nervous and inpatient is something really bad. When I am nervous I always make noise or crack my knuckles. But the funniest thing is that when I am doing any of these weaknesses I canít see it, and people always tell me: stop to do it, and I say: What? And they tell me that! stop to making noise or stop to shaking your foot or the most common: stop to cracking your knuckles.

Sometimes I don't like to have weaknesses, because sometimes people fell uncomfortable. Probably some day I will stop having weaknesses. I hope so!

These days I am thinking about how fast the year is passing. It is almost a New Year, and for me this year was so short and fast.

Five months ago I was in High School with my friends enjoying that time, going to parties with them, enjoying my family, and many things, and now I am here in the USA learning english, meeting new people, making friends, and having a lot of fun, living ìaloneî, cooking and shopping by myself, when in the beginning on the year I never imagined this.

Almost 1 year ago my brother was getting married, and now he has a baby. For me these things are unbelievable!. Now I have been living here for 4 moths living here, and I am almost 18 years old, and this year is finishing, all this is so fast, but I am happy, because I know that I did and that I am doing positive things, learning new thing, and being better each day. I hope that the New Year can be like this or better, and I hope to learn and make many positive things like this year.

This Friday I went to the Salt Lake City with 3 friends. There were 2 Chinese girls and 1 American. This is the first time I went to the city since I arrived in Utah. We spent 45 minutes taking the 811 bus to Sandy and then transferring to the Delta train. It was very interesting; I had never taken a train in America.

We visited Temple Square first. The temple was so huge and magnificent! There were many different language tour guides. We joined the Chinese group so that we could listen to the explanations clearly. It was easy for us to understand what the sister explained about the history. After visiting the temple, we got free tickets to go to see the new Church film. The movie’s name was The Testaments; it described the life of Jesus and his kind behaviors. I loved this movie, although I couldn’t understand all the details; some sentences were difficult for me to understand.

We went to a big mall to eat fast food for our lunch. You know that ordering the food was a little difficult for me. I was nervous, so I chose an easy way to get my food. I ordered a special meal and got a whole meal of food for myself. There was the main dish, dessert, and a cup of drink. I enjoyed this small trip; it gave me a good memory.

In this world there are many of music such as Salsa, Disco, Romantic, waltz, Merengue, Cumbia, Rock and roll, Heavy metal, Rap, Country, Opera, sensual music, etc. I believe that those people like to listen to music for different reasons, such as for relax of the nerves, dance, accompanied, sing, memory familiars and friends, memory his country and give more enthusiasm for work, play, and thinking.

The music is very important for me. Since I was a boy I have listened to different kinds of music. Those relax me, I feel very good, and it helps me to think best. I almost always listened to music for one or two hours every day. When I was younger listened such as Salsa, disco, Merengue, and Rock and Roll. Actually I like to listen still this music, but I prefer to listen music of the church, Indiaís music, Brazil's music, Romanticís music and a little of Rock in English. I almost always to listen Romantic music or slow, because I want to practice my English more.

I believe everybody would should listen well music, because it helps us to live best and find more peace in our heart and life.

I think that the most important class I have ever taken was my Peruvian architecture. This topic is very interesting to me. It brings back memories, because I had the opportunity of going to the Machuc Pichuc City. This place is incredible. I saw the huge work made by the natives. How they could build such big buildings of stones and rocks in a place where there were not rocks when I was there, I didn't know much of the history.

When my teacher started to explain, I had a clear idea of the things in this place. The teacher told us that in the Inca's empire lived more ten million natives.

My teacher was the Architect Jorge Cosmopolis. He taught this class. He spoke and showed a video about of the Inca's Architecture in Cusco City in the ruins of Machuc Pichuc. In this place there is much history and mysteries without solutions. There are some rocks that there arenít found in the world. Many countries such as Japan, Germany, The United States, Russia, Canada, England. They have many test for find their origin, but they canít find it. In that build the incas made many human sacrificies to offer worship to their sun god, in those places there are Archaelogists that are searching to know the truth of the history.

The human being is a sociable being and almost never to be alone. Also there is a popular expression that said ìthe together we are stringerî. Everything in this world has been done working in group.

I prefer spending my time with my friends. These friends are good, because itís very fun with my friends. I can practice different sports. I can achieve better results in my work. I can get many thins cheaper for my apartment. I can go dancing. Also I can get to know many new experiences and receive much advice. In-groups people can exchange ideas and do different things.

I have many beautiful experiences with my Peruvian friends. For example Camping, when we have traveled to others cities, Conference of the church, championship of Basketball and Volleyball, visit to museums, speak with my friends of the ward, when we go to the beach, and when we go to cinema.

Have many friends is very important for me, but there are some things that I need to do for myself, such as to study some courses for a test

Some years ago I didn’t consider that it will be important for me to learn English. My friends who live here every time told me, "Patricia, please learn English. Then, you will have many opportunities to progress. This is a very important time in your life." When I decided to study English so hard, I decided to take a course in this country. My friends recommended to me that the ELC is the best place. I feel that this time is the time for me to learn not only this language. There is so much to learn! When I finish my objective, I can work better on my topic: "Research in Maternity and Motherhood."

In this moment “I feel good” as say the popular song (but I don’t remember who is the singer). In the same way, in these days I was happy, because I received some letters from my dear friends from Argentina. I believe that the next 20th of July will be different for me, because I’ll celebrate "The Friendship Day” with my new friends. Some months ago I thought that I won’t have any friend for this day, but a big surprise was coming for me; and I’m happy about this.

Of course, I miss a lot my dear friends Wanda, Monica, Natalia, Liliana, and Oscar; but they are still my friends, never mind the distance. They are very important in my life. Now I have new friends here. Every one of them is a brother or sister of my soul. This is another blessing from my Heavenly Father.

In my family of blood, I'm an only child; but in my family of the feelings I feel that I have a lot of people who think about and love me. I feel good.

Last weekend my friends and I decided to rent a car to travel to the cities around Salt Lake. We knew that there are some beautiful places and them we went to know them.

Andrew, Gisela, Ariane, Daniel and I were very happy because we got together and we could know some different places in Utah. We really didn't want to stay in Provo last weekend.

There is a city very beautiful named Park City, the most beautiful place that we went, I listening many people talk well about this city so I made a suggestion to my friends."-How about to go to Park City?"They liked and we went. It's a very nice place.

When we arrived there we were very impressed with the "red" mountains. The reason that the mountains were "red" I think it's because the weather. We are in the fall.

We decided climb down the mountains through a way made to plastic by a little sled. This game is like snow boarding, but with no snow .It was so could in Park City, for this reason, the girls didn't play, just Andrew, Daniel and I got it.

We went to other cities but Park City is the best. We loved that weekend but it's expensive to do frequently. My friends and I want to do this again. I only hope it will be soon.

When I arrived here in USA I thought that would be very difficult to get here far from my family. It's very interesting because now I know that I'm be able to get in another country far from my family. It's hard but I'm felling better. I just cry a little bit but now It is very different. When I got here I cried every day. I fell my English is better and I'm enjoying Provo. Provo is a good place to study and to make friendship. It's a quit place but I like. I'm happy and I know is important to me get here. I feel good.

It's a good topic to talk about, I think that I have a weaknesses, I don't know how to say no, sometimes I feel so bad because I need to say no but I say yes. I like to help who needs but sometimes I am very busy and I can not say no when someone ask me help. In my mind when I say no, I think that I am a bad friend, a bad boy, unhelpful, I don't like to make other people to feel bad. It's crazy because sometimes I donít have time to me. I am always helping someone, sometimes when I am doing something to someone, I am so busy doing that but when other people ask me about help I say yes. I think that there are other weaknesses but this is the first one. I am always able to help but I need to be able to say no and don't fell bad about that. I hope that people understand me when I say no.

It's very nice to study in ELC, because I can meet other cultures and their language, It's funny when I am in Cultural Hall because there are many kinds of languages and different kinds of food. When I am talking with my classmates It's very interesting because there are some similar words in our language, mainly between Spanish, Portuguese, and English. We can talk and learn more about English and in my case sometimes I can learn a bit about Spanish. My first goal is to learn a very good English, but when I am in cultural Hall or out side I stay next the people who speaks Spanish is very similar sometimes I can understand very well but sometimes not. I think I can learn so fast and easy. I love to know different kinds of language, I want to Know one sentence in all of the languages that the people speaking in ELC, I know that there are many languages here but I think I would like to learn them.

In our life is very difficult to do all the things very well, sometimes we can make something rude to another person maybe this person can feel bad about that and then we need to apologize what we did. Always we need to apologize when we did something bad.

In my case, I think that I should to apologize to my Dad because after his accident, he was hit by a car and he was in coma in a hospital for many days, he changed his personality, sometimes he is very nervous and demanding about something that he think is wrong in home but I don’t agree and I don’t do what he ask me, but I tell him why, but he can’t understand and he feel bad about that.

I know that this is my fault, He wasn’t nervous or demanding, he was very calm, I need understand what is happing with him now. I love him very much I don’t want to make him to feel bad but sometimes this is impossible because he is a normal person and when we are talking and I don’t agree about something he feel bad and stop to talk and then I remember his accident.

I hope that he became better in the future than now, I know that he is very good but also I know that if you have faith in God everything can be better. I believe in God and I know that he will be better.

I have been thinking about the meaning of gratitude for a long time, and how it is important in our life. I looked it up in the dictionary to find the meaning of gratitude. I found more the one explanation for this world, so I chose one that I liked best. It says, “A feeling of thankful appreciation for favor or benefits received.” I really loved this definition, because it didn’t say that gratitude is just saying thanks for a favor, but it is what you have inside your heart.

I discovered the real meaning of gratitude not only in the dictionary, but also in my life. I can say that I have this feeling of thankful appreciation for a benefit that I am receiving now. It is a long story that started sixteen years ago when my family met Elder Bergeson and Elder Wesmman. They taught my family about the gospel, and then we got baptized. Elder Bergeson, now Brother Bruce, felt grateful for knowing my family, and he wanted to do something for us. Then he told me about the ELC at BYU, and invited me to come to the U.S.A. to live with his family and learn English. I had dreamed about coming to the U.S.A, but I know that would be impossible without Bergeson family helping me. I’m so grateful for this opportunity. I know the only way that I can pay back is by telling how much I love them and how much I appreciate their help.

I concluded that gratitude means much more than just saying thank you. It is the desire that you have in expressing how much you are thankful to someone that helped you without he or she expecting it from you.

I was baptized when I was four months old in the Catholic Church. I went to Mass every Sunday. I was a good Catholic. I studied in a Catholic school.

I learned about the LDS church when I was eleven years old. I didn't like it. I thought the members were very because when I went to church, they didn't talk to me very much. I was grateful for their friendship, but I didn't go back to the Mormon Church.

When I was 15 years old, I invited the missionaries to my home. I invited because I was learning English, and I needed to practice it with them. I was afraid because my parents didn't like the church. However, my parents received them warmly, and they made an appointment for the first discussion. I felt very well. I remember very well the missionaries' names. One of them was called Elder David Coons, and the other one was called Elder Daren Stroud. I would like to see them again. They continued with the discussions, and two months later my family and I got baptized. We liked the church because. We could learn more about the Jesus Christ life and his teachings. My family and I continued attending church, but I didn't have a big testimony about Mormon Church. I didn't have it before, because while my family attended church, I went to play soccer with my friends.

When I was 16 years old, My grandma was opposed to the fact that we joined the church. She was Catholic. She didn't like the Mormon Church. I was her favorite grandson. She loved me and I loved her, too. That year she died. I felt guilty for her death because I was not sincere with her. I continued going to mass with her. She thought I didn't continue in the Mormon Church, but it was a lie. I was very sad. I cried a lot during her funeral. I didn't want to continue in the Mormon Church, but the president, the missionaries, and the members helped me because my heart was empty. My president said to me, " You should listen your heart and read this scripture in D and C 136:31. I liked that scripture. I remember it when I was sad.

I started to read the scriptures. I learned about many things, such as baptism for the dead, the Lord, forgiveness of sins and blessings. Since then, I became more responsible, more organized and mature. I gained a stronger testimony of the Church because I feel the God's power when I pray, when I do correctly the things or when I had proofs such us my grandma's death, drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes. I feel really the power of God. I believe in my Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, The Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley, and the scriptures. They are true and are the ways of our salvation.

A Little Happiness in My Life
by Hideaki Higashi

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I’m going to write about one of my friends. I made friend with her two weeks ago. I was playing the Reversi by internet, and I sent a message to her during the game. When I asked her “Where are you from?” She answered “I from Ibaraki prefecture.” It was very surprising and pleasure for me. Because I from same prefecture. Also, she was almost same age as me.

We wanted to know each other very well, so we exchanged e-mail address. Of course, I won the game. She was good player, but I’m better than her. After the day, we are keeping in touch by e-mail. We also wanted to meet and hear each voice. Therefore, we will meet and talk when I back to Japan. We can’t meet now, so I write her every day. I’ m looking forward to checking my e-mail every day even though during the class! We don’ t know each face, each voice. We only know each pen name and character. It makes me interested about her.

I want to write to her many things. For example, my new experience in America, what am I doing these days. I also want to give her my advice about how to study for Japan’s university. She is junior and she want to go university in Tokyo; Japan’s capital. I passed many good universities in Japan, because I studied in very strict private high school. Therefore, I am good at study about Japan’s university and I still remember how to study for Japan’s university. Therefore, I want to give her some advice and I want to help her.

I have another friends made by internet. She is same age as me. She wanted to be overseas student, but she couldn’t. I heard many reasons she couldn’t come America. I sent a many messages to her. We talked many things with her. Finally, I noticed how happy I could come here. Therefore, I decided study hard instead of her. I don’t miss Japan, but Japanese people. Therefore, to make Japanese friend is good for me. If I can understand any other languages, I want to try to make a friend all over the world. The world became closer by internet, so I want to understand other cultures and people. I will be international person!

My name is Sun-Mi Hwang. My grandfather gave me this name, which means nice and beautiful. I was born in Seoul, Korea, in 1979. Now I am a student, I have 4 people in my family; my mother, my father and my younger sister. I like my family, my cats, and my friends.

First, I love my family. My parents are very nice. I have learned many things from them. Now I am learning English and my mother is learning Japanese. She wishes to work at the 2002 World Cup helping other people. My father works very hard for us. He is always quiet, but he thinks everyday about his family. My sister is a student. Her major is a computer. She loves it and she has a scholarship. I am proud of my family.

Second, I love cats, so we have two cats. They are very cute. Usually Koreans don't like cats, because Korea has lots of bad stories about them. As a result they like dogs more then cat, but I don't like dogs. Dogs are very pesky, but cats are very gentle, elegant and clean. My one cat's name is Neo and the other catís name is Mao. "Neo" means cat in Japanese. "Mao" is cat in Chinese. Neo is very friendly and fat. Sometimes he looks like a ball. He can play with an iron dumbbell, but Mao doesn't like people. He only likes my sister, but I love them. When I left home, at first I worried about them.

Third, I love my friends. Therefore I want to go back to my country, because I want to meet them. I write letter to them everyday, and they write to me too. My friends have a variety of talents. One is a singer, another is a philosopher, yet another is a doctor, and one is a novelist. When we met, we would talk all night. We met in high school, and we usually got together. We had lots of fun times. Now I miss my friends.

In fact, I didn't really know much about me, like what my favorite food is or what my favorite color is or what I will do in the future. For now my plan is to study very hard, because I Want to become great person, and then live very happily. That is my dream.

I like to listen to music, so I listen to music every day. When I listen to music I feel comfortable. I that that music has a spirited power, I listen to music to refresh myself, the music's power, and I can think about the past.

First, when I listen to music, I can refresh myself. In the morning, I have to get up early that is a very hard thing for me. Therefore, when I get up, at first I turn on the radio, and I listen to music while prepare for school. At that time, I listen to fast and light music. Therefore, my mind and body is light. On the other hand, at night usually I listen to slow and quiet music. Therefore, I follow the music, so I can arrange that day. Other reason is that music can change a behavior. In a good restaurant, usually we can listen to slow and quiet music. These reason is that if you listen when you eat, you can eat very slowly and peacefully. On the other hand, the fast food shop turn on fast music. Therefore, you follow that speed.

Second, the music has a power, so when I an depressed, I listen to music. I can get power. Sometimes when I listen to sad music, I become sad too. For example, I go to the music concert. I can feel that I think that the singerís power is transmitted to me. The singers practice long time for this concert. They do their best on the stage that tome. When I listen and see that, I get a courage.

Third I can look back on the past time when I listen to music. For example, when I watched the Titanic, that time was almost 12 a.m. That movie was very sad and fun, but we had to go to the home. Because we donít have a car, a bus, and a subway. After all we came by taxi to home. At that time I was very fearful, but I had good feeling, because Titanic was wonderful! Now I sometimes listen to the song "My heart will go on". I think about that time, 2 years ago and my situation; At that time, that day I ate Sushi, I walked on the road, I met my sister. Therefore, this is a reason that listen to music.

For those reasons, I love music. I think music gives us dreams, courage and good memories. I think the good music can leave us with good feeling for a long, long time.

People usually work everyday. Some people earn a lot of money and other people earn a little. Some love their work and their co-workers. Usually peopleís lives reveille around home and work. I think work is very important. I need to find work that I love that feeling will be significant for my development.

First, I must find a job I love. I'll live to work all my life. If I don't like my work or am bored, thatís a big problem to me. When I work, I want to be happy and interested. In my country, for example, there was an executive who retired and he went to work at a restaurant. He was a waiter, but he wasnít shy. Rather he makes rules for himself. Therefor he was very famous. He often appeared on TV, radio and the media. He has a professional mind. He now said, "I am happy." In another case there was a graduate at the best university in Korea, he was a doctor. He didn't like his job. He liked to cook so after he guilt working at the hospital, so he opened his own restaurant. In Korea, the doctor and the cook are very different. Usually people think a doctor is high work, but a cook is low work. He didn't care and he says, "I'm happy." Therefore I will work that I want to work.

Second, I want to feel satisfaction with my work. One year ago, when I work, I know how to be alive. There was a time in my life when I didnít study or work. That time was a terrible time. I didn't know why I shored get up early and eat food. Every day of my life was boring. After a few months passed, I came to Utah and I began to study. Now I am happy and look forward to the next morning. I often see a beggar and I feel that they are poor. I don't feel poor. The beggars just donít have any money, house and family. The reason is they donít work. I think that they don't know why they shored get up early and eat food. They just live to eat and sleep. That is like an animal. Therefore I have to work for myself.

Third, I work to develop myself. When I work I have questions and study to get an answer. I can develop and grow to be a better person, because I should know many things.

Finally, if I don't work, it is the same as being dead. That time is darkness in my life. Money isnít important. That is just a little part. If people have a lot of money, usually they donít want to work. Therefore we must find work to be beautiful.

I traveled to Las Vegas last holiday weekend. My friend has been studying in Las Vegas, so I met him. I was interested in the University of Nevada in Las Vegas, because I received an admission ticket from this school. I didn’t exactly know about this school, so I went to obtain information about this school from my friend. I had also been hoping to travel to Las Vegas for a long time. That was the reason I went Las Vegas.

Las Vegas is a wonderful city. Many of the largest resort hotels are located there. I heard its nickname is "The Entertainment Capital of the World". It offers fun and excitement as well as the natural beauty of the desert. Las Vegas is a desert, so actually it is arid land and very hot. However, America has made it the largest tourist attraction. I learned about the wisdom of Americans for the use of their country. They turned an impossibility into a possibility. We had thought we couldn’t sell air conditioners in Siberia or sell shoes in Africa. However, on the other hand, they are the largest markets for merchandise. I think nothing is impossible and we shouldn't look at things with prejudice.

The weather in Las Vegas is very hot, so during the day, I couldn’t go outside. The fun things usually started at night. I like to say, "Las Vegas is beautiful at night." I’m sure if you see the beautiful neon signs, they will fascinate you. There are many theme parks: a small Eiffel Tower, the Statue of Liberty, Egyptian Pyramid, and many others. Especially the water show in front of Bellagio hotel was very awesome. Many fountains played with music and colors. Hotels have their themes and show many things. I understood their planning and management ability and some tricks of the trade.

I went to a hotel casino. At first, I started out great. Fortunately, I made money, 20 dollars, by gambling. Then, I tried my luck again. I thought I could make much more money, but it was my mistake, because I lost much money gambling. However, I learned there is no such thing as a free lunch.

Las Vegas is a wonderful city. It offers fun and excitement as well as the natural beauty of the desert. On the other hand, there are in Las Vegas various temptations which lead people to ruin. It is easy to be swindled. My friend was swindled three times. It is easy to meet those kind of people. I think Las Vegas is a good place to travel to; however, it is a bad place to study. Therefore, I don’t want to attend the University of Nevada in Las Vegas. Utah is good place to study and live, so I’m going to study in Utah.

I like to say that "Las Vegas is another different America." Anyway I had a good time and learned many things.

I am specialist in spend money from my parents. I can’t keep money in my valet or credit card. All time I am buying many things. I give many gifts to my friends. I don’t care if it is expensive. I change the car every six months. When o going to shopping I become crazy I am running all time inside putting many thing into my bag. When I spent money I felt a sensation of climax in my body. I can’t tell you exactly this feeling in this paper. My friends told me that my face is different. They said that my eyes grew wide in amazement fear. But the problem is my father, because he wants to kill me.

I have many things on my mind. For example, if I think a word like mathematics I can picture in my mind many formulas and numbers with characters of the alphabet. If I think about love I can remember my girlfriend. If I think about farm I have on my mind a big list of things that I need to do in it. The mind has many things that it was charge in the past, and every day I charge my mind with new things. For this reason we can do spontaneous actions. We some time don’t need to think, because it is in our mind. Our mind has three sections conscious, unconscious, and subconscious. So we have many space in it to put things.

My Important thing is learning English. I want to study in BYU, but my English is not good. I must study English more and more. I am studying English in the ELC now, and I will take the TOEFL test. I want to pass the test and enter BYU next winter semester.

I will learn about linguistics in BYU. I will learn more English and other languages, and I will become a translator. I also want to become a writer for children. I will write many children's books with English and Japanese. I will also translate many good books, and I will contribute to society.

My other reason is to travel to many countries. I want to travel to many other countries. I think that English is very important for travel. I will travel and communicate with many people. I want to write many stories from my travels.

For those reasons, I must learn English more. I will study English for the realization of my dreams. As a result, learning English is very important for me.

My Unusual Talent
by Yumi Ogawa

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My unusual talent is brushing my teeth. I can do it very well. If I brush my teeth, I can do it over 30 minutes. It was a surprising thing for my family.

One day, my mother asked me “ why are you brushing your teeth for such a long time?” I said her “ Because I am a dental hygienist, so my teeth are like the sign of a dental office. I know how very painful a cavity is. I learned from my patients.” My mother said “ But if you brush your teeth too much, it will wear them down and melt them. You will lose your good teeth.” She was very worry about my teeth. I said to my mother “ Mom, I don’t get anything. In other words, I can get good oral health.

You don’t know how can we brush our teeth. There are a lot of techniques. We can move in an unusual way, and also I use a lot of different tools for my teeth. These are toothbrush, dental floss, and dyeing liquid (It helps us to find dental plaque. When we have a dental plaque, our teeth will be change to the color of the dye.), rubber chip (It help our gums for massage), dental rinse, small brush for between tooth and etc…. If I use it, I take long time for brushing my teeth. Sometimes I take my tartar by myself too!

I am proud of my unusual talent. It is useful talent. I want to do it for someone. If you are interested in my talent, you are welcome to ask me. I will take care of you.

I’m thinking about how can I lose weight. It is a source of anxiety now. Sometimes it gives a lot of pain to my mind, because before my mission I was a skinny girl as typical Japanese girls are. I ate too much on my mission. There is a reason.

First, I served a Temple Square mission, so you already know there were a lot of sister missionaries. We don’t have any Elder missionaries, so I didn’t care about my looks. It made this body now. Secondly, Temple Square missionaries have to stay in same place all day. It was so hard for us. Even though we met with guests, we couldn’t know about their lives after we met them. This is sad thing too. We had a lot of stress on our minds. I always ate a lot, because I thought that if I kept eating, I could have fun and lose my stress. Third, a Temple Square mission has a lot of different kinds of cultures, I wanted know their culture. We had a lot of parties, so I ate a lot of different country’s food. It was a very neat experience for me. However I didn’t care because everything was so exciting. The mission was awesome! However my mission changed me a lot including my looks. I gain my testimony like my weight.

I think that the consistency is most important in our lives. For example, consistent studying can make you get good grades. In other words, consistent exercise can cause you to lose weight. I should start exercising everyday, and I have to be careful about eating American food. American food is very sweet for Japanese. It also very soft food, so we don’t need chew a lot.

Why do I worry a lot about my weight? I want to find cute guys, so I need good to catch them. This is my goal now. I want to have a beautiful spirit too! I don’t know how much time I need. I just do my best!

I have an unusual talent about laughing. If I laugh at a really funny situation, I can’t cease my laughing. As a result, this has become misunderstanding for other people. For example, I laughed at my roommate’s snoring. She was very upset. As a result, she said to me “Stop laughing.” Maybe she was angry. I was really sorry. However, this talent can’t change. On the other hand, other people said to me “You are so cute, because you always look happy.” I know that my unusual talent is different in each situation. As a result, I like my unusual talent; laughing.

Since some years ago until now, to speak more than one language has become very important in society. Most of the schools around the world have different programs to help the children to start learning a new language when they are younger. Thus, when those children leave the elementary school they have a base in a different language. It may help them to get interest to continue studying deeply. I am in this situation right now. I have been studying English for seven months seriously. Even though I have had a lot of problems in the beginning I can feel more comfortable now about English. Moreover, one of my goals is to keep learning more and more English because I know how important it is to speak this language in our society. Sometimes it might be difficult nevertheless, it is amazing. To speak only one language may be compared to being in your own room without a window. It is safe and comfortable. Yet, it is small and dark. If you open the door and go out, you will see a new wonderful world. It will be brighter and bring you a lot of joy. Therefore, I shall do everything I can to improve my English everyday.

Tae Kwon do is Korean national sport and martial arts. People want to learn how to use other parts of their body to maximize fighting power. These eventually were developed into exercises to improve health of martial abilities.

These sports activities slowly led the people to develop more effective skills of their own in the use of their hands in fighting, thus creating a primitive form of Tae Kyun - the old name for Tae Kwon Do. Tae Kwon Do persisted in the spirit of the Korean people as a physical and spiritual training method.

Tea Kwon Do, traditional martial arts which passed on from generation to generation, finally because Korean national sport and shining its popularity to the world. So Tae Kwon Do is admitted as an official Olympic sport in 200 Sydney Olympic Games.

I like wolves. The wolf is a wild predator. Myth and the aura of power and evil associated with wolf have exaggerated its size. The largest on record weighed 172 pounds but males normally weigh 95 to 100 pounds, females 80 to 85 pounds. They are rangers, and thirty miles and more a day is not uncommon. Certain wolves are known to have roamed as far as six hundred miles from their home territory. That stamina, that stoical capacity to trot at a steady pace for hours and hours in a search for prey, was key to a my vision of the wolf as a animal fancier to be admired and emulated.

I used to go to the beach with my friend on my weekends in my country. Now I don’t do it, because I don’t have a car, and I don’t meet a friend who like goes to the beach. I didn’t do much on this weekend.

I went to watch a movie at Movies 8 located beside ShopKo department store. The movie was impressive to me very much. The movie's title was Eldorado. This movie was about a friendship. Two men who were close made a plan to take some gold from some place. They kept in touch the promise by themselves. One time, they had different opinions, but they could solve the problem. As a result, they came together again.

The other thing, I did my homework on the weekend. I had a lot of homework this week. For example, grammar, listening & speaking, writing, and reading. In conclusion, I spent most of my whole weekend at my apartment. Actually, I didn’t do much fun, but I was happy.

Vacation
by Mora Siregar

Read other essays by Mora Siregar

I was thinking about taking a vacation. Particulary, I am going to have a vacation on the break time of my school in August. Actually, I had two choices, and both of them were interesting for me. I should think about it, so that I won't regret it afterwards.

The first choice was visiting my sister's house in Missouri. I have never been there since I came to the United States. I think it will be interesting to be there in order to know other states in the U.S.A. Moreover, not only did my sister invite me to visit her house, but she also offered me to travel to some cities in Missouri with here and her husband. It sounded good to me.

Another choice was traveling to other cities with my friends. We planned on traveling in this vacation. We will rent a car and go around the United States. It is supposed to be more interesting than Missouri, because I will know many more things by visiting other states. In addition, I will be freer with my friends than with my sister, because my sister is a strict person.

Even though it was hard for me to make a decision, I decided to visit my sister in Missouri. I had two reasons for this matter. First, I decided to do it because I have never visited her house since I came here. Second, I think I need to save my money in order to be able to attend the enxt semester at the ELC. I believe that someday I will be able to travel around the United States. At this time, I had better consider about finishing my classes as well, because it was my goal to come here. I still have plenty of time to travel around the United States.

First I want to Las Vegas with my friends by my friend's car. Mainly we went sightseeing at Las Vegas. There were many casinos in there. But we didn't play that, because probably we would spend some money there, we thought. At night, Las Vegas city was lighted up; it was very beautiful. This visiting was two nights and three days.

This place was very hot, and always I was thirsty, but it was fun. There were many interesting buildings in Las Vegas, such as a pyramid and a sphinx in the city. There were many company character's shops there. I thought Coca-Cola's building was very funny, because that building was a big bottle of Coke. I took some pictures there.

On Memorial Day, I was practicing BMX (that is a small bicycle). I could jump a little by that. Today I had a Memorial Day presentation for the speaking/listing homework, so I prepared about that yesterday. During the vacation, there were many kinds of happenings for me, so I was so tired.

When I was a very little boy, I heard the story of the “Wolf Boy”. It is non-fiction story. The boy was raised by wolves so even though his body was a human being, he acted like a wolf. After he was found, he was brought to the society by people, but he died because he couldn’t adapt to new environment. From this story I could think that because Man is a social animal, one can be live without friends. Consequently, I love to be with my friends also I can learn from them.

As we know, we shouldn’t live alone by ourselves. Sometimes I ask myself, “Can I live alone?” I can’t do it, because I really like to be with friends most times. In addition I know there are none who has not only same face but also the same personality. I think God created all different things which have their own characters so that we can learn from each other. And I think that is the purpose of the creation of the human being.

However, we can see different things through our friends. We will improve by helping each other. Therefore, I love to get along with my friends.

Some people think that a college student should choose a major upon entering, and others think a student should take time in choosing a major. I think a student can decided his major after he enter a college.

First, I am thinking of entering the B.Y.U. And also, before I decide my major, I will think about myself: “Who am I? What will I become? What’s the easiest way to earn a lot of money for my future? What kind of life style do I want?” The answer of these questions will help me to decide my major. When I was a child, I wanted to be a scientist. I like to fix things and study them. I had fixed some machines like radio and T.V. So, I am thinking of studying Computer Science. But as I told you, I do not know yet. Above all, when I enter a college, I will take some G.E. classes before deciding the major. I may take some class about Computer because I have a lot of aptitude in it. And also, I will take some several classes and find my favorite one.

In my opinion, the most important thing in decision of the major is what your aptitude is. After taking some classes or studying about some majors that you are interested in, it will not be late to choose a major.

People talk about which came first, an egg or a hen. What do you think? I think the chicken is the first because I know God created the family first on the earth. And I know there is a purpose on it - to teach His children in their family.

When a baby is born, the first people he meets are his parents and his family. The first words he learn will be “daddy” or mommy”. The first people who teach him how to stand will be his family. He will learn how to act to older people from his parents or his brothers and sisters. Most basic things he learn as a human being will be from his parents or his family not from his friends. There is a say “ If you see a person, you can tell what kind of family he grew up in” in Korea. There is also a say “ The habit from 3years old goes to 80.” It means the first thing you learn will go to the end of your life.

As I grew up, I met some friends who have different points of view from mine. Sometimes their thoughts made me confused. But my confusion didn’t go long time because I knew what was the right thing to do. I learned what is the right and what is the wrong from my family when I was young.

I know both friends and family are important for us. But nothing can bit of the importance of a family.