A Dream for the Future

I don’t often dream about my future because I feel so busy in my present, but someday I would like to travel with my family. There are many places I want to travel to—Greece, Turkey, Egypt, just to name three. I also would like to travel to countries where my students come from so that I can understand a little more about their cultures. :) I would like my children to be able to experience differences from what they are accustomed to. It is so amazing to see the common bond all people share no matter their cultural background or race—and by travelling abroad, my children would be able to see that. I think I have learned more about myself and my own heritage when I have travelled—and I think that would be a good lesson for my children as well. To make my dream come true, I will have to wait until my children are older and I save a lot of money!

Thanksgiving Holiday

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite American holidays. The first Thanksgiving meal occurred when early European settlers, called Pilgrims, and Native Americans ate together to celebrate a harvest. The Pilgrims and the Native Americans shared their traditional foods. One reason why I like Thanksgiving is that it is a family holiday. Most Americans get together with their extended families—aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents. Some Americans get together with close friends if they can’t visit their families. I love getting together with my extended family. Traditionally, we eat a lot of good food, play games, and watch football on TV. Another reason I like Thanksgiving is that it is a time to reflect on the good things in my life. Sometimes I hurry around and forget to appreciate the blessings in my life. I am thankful for my husband, my children, and many more things that I don’t have room to list. The last reason I like Thanksgiving is that it is not a “commercial” holiday. Unlike Christmas or Easter or Halloween, stores aren’t filled with all kinds of things to buy to celebrate the holiday. Thanksgiving is based on food and thankfulness, which are simple pleasures. In conclusion, Thanksgiving for me is a wonderful holiday.

Home is where your heart is

I might be a little boring, but my favorite place in the Iowa City area is my home. :) I like my home because that is where I spend most of my time with my family. I like to paint the walls and decorate my house. I have a lot of ideas for my house, but my time and money are limited for what I can do. I also like my neighborhood. We moved into our house in 2000, and our house was the only one finished on our street. In a short time, however, many more houses were built and more families moved in. My kids have a lot of friends to play with. Also, many of my neighbors are from around the world—China, Russia, Korea, India, and Nigeria. I think I live in a great place!