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Mon 6/28/10 10:59 PM

World Cup Games

Hot summer days are coming and outdoor sports become popular again amongst different age groups. Every year at the end of spring after final exams, students have more time to spend on sports. This year, however, with the coincidence of summer and World Cup games, the atmosphere of the globe has changed by this universal sport event. During these games, millions of people around the world follow these competitions live via satellite programs.

Every 4 years soccer representatives of different continents gather in a pre-selected country and start these competitions. This time, these games are held in South Africa. Although South Africa is not famous for its football teams, the hardworking sportsmen of these countries have shown their abilities not only as strong competitors but also as a capable host for managing these games.

Many fans cannot participate in these games directly and they have to follow these games on television .TV networks compete with each other for coverage of these events .Networks earn a lot of money by the advertisements between these games but the viewers are not happy about these interferences during the games . As English is the most popular language around the world and most international satellite networks report these games in English, many local networks broadcast these games in local languages so the coverage is wide and international.

The international sport organizations like the international football association FIFA should spend a part of their earnings from these games on social problems of poor countries .One of the most important problems of developing countries is ignorance and lack of hygiene in these countries.

In conclusion, these huge attractive events are the best opportunity for unity of different nations, and are the best time for expression of ideas between them .The financial benefits of these games should be spent on major problems of developing countries and promotion of sports among young people. The motto of the following World Cup games is “Education for all”. This expectation for people who live in Africa can change their future dramatically.

Masih Evrahimy-Dehkordy (M)Level 6Ana R’s studentLondon region


Fri 6/25/10 12:09 PM

My favourite Soccer Team

Everybody has different hobbies that they like to do for fun. They can be either physical activities like football, swimming and skateboarding, or mental activities like reading, watching movies, and playing chess. The hobbies are different from person to person depending on each personality. For me, soccer is my hobby because soccer is the king of sports in the Middle East. It is not surprising that I grew up with a soccer ball.

Playing soccer is still my favourite sport and it is my hobby whenever I have free time. It is interesting and amazing, especially the feeling when I or my teammates score a goal. That feeling fulfills me like I have just achieved something very important. Playing soccer also helps me to relax and be confident when I have stress and frustration. Moreover, soccer is not only about passing and kicking the ball, but also requires a lot of thought and some basic skills. So, I often practice it and obviously, I feel healthy and stronger. Besides that, soccer has also taught me the spirit of teamwork. However, I not only like playing soccer but also enjoy watching soccer on TV.

Soccer is very popular all over the world nowadays, especially with the World Cup in South Africa. I am so excited to watch the games which have many famous teams playing such as Brazil, Germany, England, Spain, Holland, etc. My favourite team is Brazil. Brazilian soccer is more than just a game, it is a national pastime; in Brazil, the sport would be considered by some to be a part of their heritage. Many of the young boys start learning the fundamentals of the game at a very young age just like Ronaldo, Zico, and others. I am so happy whenever Brazil wins but I will get angry and do not sleep well that night if they lose. That is maybe the only disadvantage of my lovely hobby.

By: Mohammed Alhawamdeh Level 5Lesley H’s student London region


The story - Soccer

June 22, 2010

Soccer - the most popular sport in the world!I think that is true. Everyone who played or plays soccer knows what kindTof sport it is.

I love soccer. I was a soccer player in an amateur league in my home townZambrow in Poland. I was a founder of my team. I rented an indoor soccer halland organized the players. Where did I find them? Most players were my friends. It was ten years ago. When I was in Poland one year ago, we played together and I got a special T-shirt of my team. So we are still friends and teammates! My team now has two sponsors and they have won two tournaments. In "XII VivaCup" they ranked the first and in "I Orlik Cup" they took the second place.My team had the tenth anniversary one month ago. They invited me to a party, but it was too far.

Now we have the World Cup in South Africa.Polish team isn't playing in that World Cup. If Polish team had qualified for the World Cup, I would be in South Africa now!

I have a cousin in South Africa. Her name is Iza. Iza's husband Thomas is a designer. He was working on Royal Bafakeng Stadium project in Rustenburg. He offered me tickets for all matches for free, but.... I stay inMississauga.

I must watch action replay on TV because I'm working when they areplaying. Hmm...

Next occasion for a big soccer spectacle will be in 2012. Poland andUkraine are hosting Euro Cup.I must be over there...

Arkadiusz GoskLevel 3Ludmila Stella B’s studentPeel region


Date: Monday, June 14, 2010

Subject: Canada Day

Canada Day celebrates the event that occurred on July 1, 1867, when the British North American Act created the Canadian federal government and allowed Canada to become an independent country with its own government.

Canada Day is considered a Family Day with outings, picnics, and celebrations of the birth of our nation. We wave flags, sing songs, and enjoy the day. This day unifies all Canadians who go outside to celebrate the day in different ways and show their love and their pride for their country.

For me, as a new Canadian, I feel that it is very important for me to celebrate the day with my family, to share the love Canadians have for their country, a country that gave us a lot and welcomed us from the very moment we became members of this wonderful country. My family and I usually go to the park where there is a big picnic with different kinds of activities for kids and a barbecue. We finish our enjoyable day by watching the fireworks at night.

My kids love and enjoy celebrating Canada Day and so do I. It is a wonderful day that gives you a feeling of belonging to the great country of Canada.

Fania Jaoudat,Level 6Rachel Barbour studentNewfoundland and Labrador region


Submitted: May 6/10

Swimming

People started to swim ages ago. If you look in history books, you can find early records of swimming; some are around 7000 years old. Swimming is different from other sports because you don’t have to buy any equipment to do it. You just need a few lessons about how to be safe in the water, and how to do the different strokes, e.g. front crawl, back crawl, and the butterfly stroke.

Most schools try to involve kids in extracurricular activities such as swimming. Swimming teaches kids how to be active, and how not to be afraid in the water. I used to be a part of that process in Ukraine. I was born near the Azov Sea, Ukraine and used to go to the school over there. We took swimming lessons in second grade, and had swimming tests every year until the end of the school year. It is very important to be able to swim, especially when you live near a pool.

I remember the day at summer camp when one girl tried to teach me how to swim on my back. I was so proud of myself at the end of that day when I was able to lie on my back on the top of the water and didn't go underwater. It was an amazing feeling. Today, I still like to swim in summertime, and go to the lake. Even in wintertime, I am able to go to the swimming pool in Melford. When I’m in the water, I feel relaxed. I can play with my kids. My daughter is only a year old, so she hasn’t gone swimming yet, but I hope she learns. We are going to Ukraine this summer, so we’ll try and introduce her to water before we go.

Larysa ShramkoLevel 5Andrew Vance studentSaskatchewan region


Date: May 27, 2010

Writing Assignment HOW I KNEW ABOUT AND STARTED HOME STUDY I was going to an English school, and then my daughter broke her leg and got surgery for it. She had to stay at home one month. Then, she started her school with a wheelchair. At that time, I quit my English school, and when I quit my school, my teacher told me about Home Study. She said "Would you like to study at home??", and I said to her “Why not?” So I started Home Study at home. Before I took this course, I wasn't able to talk on the phone, but now I feel more comfortable. My Home Study teacher is nice, polite, and patient and he helps me a lot.

Fadime AvciLevel 3Andrew Vance studentRegion: Nova Scotia


Submission Date : May 31, 2010

Montreal is a nice island where you can live in French or in English. There are many places to visit so you will never be bored. Also you can taste many international dishes and find out different cultures in this city. So let’s visit Montreal! If you live in Montreal, I suggest that you have coffee at a different place every day, such as at Le plateau Mont-Royal, an area that seems a little like France, Le Vieux Port, the old city where you can be informed about the history of Quebec, or La petite Italie, a little area designed like Italy where you can visit the market, Jean Talon. In Montreal you can taste dishes from everywhere in the world. You can eat Chinese food in China Town, very delicious pasta in « Little Italy », French dishes in the area of Outremont and Mexican or African dishes in the area of Quartier latin. In winter you can see the beauty of the city under the ice and you can do many winter activities like skiing and skating at Royal Mount which is located on the west side of the island, just in the heart of the city. In summer, you can get away from the city to visit the north of Montreal where you can camp beside one of the beautiful lakes of the area. French people like camping and they live all summer in nature because they can’t forget how hard winter was for them. Montreal is an inexpensive multicultural city where French people struggle for their rights to make life in Montreal better, and in the province of Quebec, easier. That’s why Quebec is the least expensive and the most populated province in Canada. So don’t forget to come to Montreal and visit these fabulous places!

Lamia SaadaLINC Level : 7Samuel Morrison studentRegion : Nova Scotia


Mon 6/21/10 12:07 PM

Rene Higuita

Rene Higuita was a goalkeeper with the Colombian Football League. He was born on August 27, 1966 in Medellin, Colombia. Rene was a famous Colombian Football goalkeeper. He played for the Colombian side Atletico Nacional in Medellin. He played for this club for most of his career. His Club won many cups in Colombian and South America; one cup they won was the Libertadores Cup of America in August 1993. Rene Higuita became a famous goalkeeper in the football world because his team played against many of the most important football teams in world. He made many great saves and was a very active member of his team. He invented the Scorpion Kick.

One of his best and most important games was against Diego Maradona, a very famous star from Argentina. In this game, Rene Higuita’s team won 5 to 0 against Argentina. That game became famous all over world. Rene Higuita demonstrated great skill and ability for the game. After that game Higuita become a huge star and he had many offers to work in Colombia for different clubs and he also received offers from around the world. Rene Higuita retired from playing football in 2007.In January 2008 he started to teach the Second Division team Deportivo Rionegro. He retired from teaching in January 2010.

He is married to Magnolia. He has three children. Rene has a son and daughter with Magnolia, and one daughter from a previous marriage. Rene Higuita’s son plays with the Juvenile Football Division, Deportivo Cali and represented Columbia at the South American U-15.

In 2005 Higuita participated in the reality TV program The Island of the Famous: A Pirate Adventure. This TV show is similar to the Survivor reality TV show.

By: Paula S.Level 3Michelle C’s class


Peel region


Sun 6/20/10 8:07 PM

The article, “Sorry Mommy” written by Suely R., is a story about the author’s grandfather when he was a small child. His mom taught him that “sorry” is not a magic word which makes everything fine. When he spilled coffee on a beautiful tablecloth he couldn’t make the spot of coffee disappear by just saying “sorry”. I like this article because it reminds me of my son who is ten years old. He always says “sorry” very easily. In my opinion, I think many people use this word too quickly. It’s not a magic word to use when you hurt someone’s feelings or to fix mistakes. This word can’t solve any problems. We should say “sorry” with more responsibility and take action where it’s possible to fix what we did wrong. Adriana TLevel 5Susan M’s classKitchener Region

StudentCOMMENTS


Fri 6/18/10 9:15 PM

Learn more about Kimchi

The oldest references to kimchi can be found from 2600 to 3000 years ago.

Early kimchi was made of cabbage and beef stock only.

Red chili, a New World vegetable not found in Korea before European contact with the Americas, was added to kimchi recipes some time after 1500.

Different types of kimchi were traditionally made at different times of year, based on when various vegetables were in season and also taking advantage of hot and cold seasons before the era of refrigeration.

Nowadays there are specifically designed Kimchi refrigerators which control fermentation processes.

Kimchi is made of various vegetables and contains a high concentration of dietary fiber, while being low in calories. One serving also provides up to 80% of the daily recommended amount of vitamin C and carotene. Most types of kimchi contain onions, garlic, and peppers, all of which are salutary. The vegetables being made into kimchi also contribute to the overall nutritional value. Kimchi is rich in vitamin A, thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), calcium, and iron and contains a number of lactic acid bacteria, among those the typical species Lactobacillus kimchii.The magazine Health named kimchi in its list of top five "World's Healthiest Foods" for being rich in vitamins, aiding digestion, and even possibly reducing cancer growth.

In 2001, the conflict between the Korean government and Japan government about the quality of imported kimchi was resolved. The Korean government submitted a standard bill to Codex clearly stating, "Kimchi is a fermented food that uses salted napa cabbages as its main ingredient mixed with seasonings, and goes through a lactic acid production process at a low temperature." This bill was accepted by Codex in July 2001.

Kimchi RecipeIngredients1 cup plus 1 tablespoon coarse sea salt or kosher saltWater2 heads Napa cabbage, cut into quarters or 2-inch wedges, depending on size of cabbage1 bulb garlic, cloves separated and peeled1 (2-inch) piece of ginger root1/4 cup fish sauce or Korean salted shrimp1 Asian radish, peeled and grated


1 bunch of green onions, cut into 1-inch lengths1/2 cup Korean chili powder1 teaspoon sugar (optional)Sesame oil (optional)Sesame seeds (optional)

Preparation

1. Dissolve 1 cup salt in 1/2 gallon water. Soak cabbage in the salt water for 3 to 4 hours.

2. Combine garlic, ginger, and fish sauce or shrimp in food processor or blender until finely minced.

3. In large bowl, combine radish, green onions, mustard greens, garlic mixture, chili powder, 1 tablespoon salt and optional sugar. Toss gently but thoroughly. (If mixing with your hands, be sure to wear rubber gloves to avoid chili burn.)

4. Remove cabbage from water and rinse thoroughly. Drain cabbage in colander, squeezing as much water from the leaves as possible. Take cabbage and stuff radish mixture between leaves, working from outside in, starting with largest leaf to smallest. Do not overstuff, but make sure radish mixture adequately fills leaves. When entire cabbage is stuffed, take one of the larger leaves and wrap tightly around the rest of the cabbage. Divide cabbage among 4 (1-quart) jars or 1-gallon jar, pressing down firmly to remove any air bubbles.

5. Let sit for 2 to 3 days in a cool place before serving. Remove kimchi from jar and slice into 1-inch-length pieces. If serving before kimchi is fermented, sprinkle with a little bit of sesame oil and sesame seeds. Refrigerate after opening.**Makes 1 gallon jar of kimchi

==========================================================================

Kimchi Nabe Recipe

Kimchi (You can used Gyukaku Kimchi.) Sesame Oil Sugar Kimuchi Nabe Tsuyu (if available, otherwise miso and maybe soup stock) KojichanChinese Cabbage (hakusai)Leaks (naga negi)Chives (nira)


One bunch enoki mushrooms (not necessary)Thinly sliced pork (the quantity and type are flexible. for example Berkshire Pork, known as kurobuta in Japan.)TofuAbura age tofuPreparation points:Put the kimchi in a large pot and fry it for a minute or two with sesame oil. This is really essential. It brings out a much richer flavor. I actually add a bit of sugar here as well. I find that it reduces the fermented sour bite of the kimchi.Add the pork and fry until it is cooked.Add water, bring it to a boil.Add other vegetable ingredients. (Garlic might be a good idea as well, though I think it’s in the kimchi already.)Add kimchi nabe broth if you have it, kochijan spicy Korean miso, etc.Taste the broth and adjust the strength and flavor with more kochijan or weaken with water.Add the tofu and enoki mushrooms at the end and only boil them briefly.(the e

Ela Malara-WieczorekLevel 4Marjan B’s studentPeel region


PLEASE ASK LISA TO INCORPORATE CORRECTIONS IN THE DOCUMENT AND SEND US THE ARTICLE AGAIN

Wed 6/16/10 11:32 PM

Father’s Day

While my husband was looking for something to repair our water faucet, I was strolling at gardening section of Home Depot deposit. Suddenly, something brightened my eyes. It That was a yellow mini rose with a little bit of fragrance. Petals, tiers upon tiers, top of petals, until it became a little red. Just the first sight, I loved it immediately. I wanted to have it, I must own it. Well I thought, ‘I bought too much flowers recently. I'd already bought some today, besides, I just made a promise to myself, no more flowers buying this year’. No, no, no, forget that promise, if I couldn't have it, the result will be very serious. I surely couldn't sleep well tonight. It could also drive me crazy and that will affect my whole family. For that reason, I could postpone my promise to take effect at a later date/time. But I didn't bring any money with me and if I ask my husband to buy it for me, he would say "you've already run out of your budget this year."

What should I do? I walked around the rose several (times) rounds and was thinking how I could have it."Buy me it for Daddy" This AD. This sentence rushed before into my eyes. Great, let me try this way. When my husband came to find me, I started our conversation."Can I buy something for you as a present for of father's day?" "Of course, what are you going to buy?""I want to buy that rose for you." "But I don't need a rose." "If you don't like it, you can give me as a gift, and then I will be very happy”, I cleverly said. ‘Haven't you heard that people say once a wife is happy, the whole family will be happy? Don't you want to be happy? Don't you want everyone to be happy?’So I have to buy it for you. But I don't have money with me. Can you buy it for yourself?" Who is speaking here! .......Well, I'm super happy now, I put my little rose on our table and glance it one a while. I will have a good sleeping tonight, and I'm sure my husband will have a happy Father's Day.

May WuLevel 6Lisa Gayle R. student


Kitchener region


June 15, 2010

Chick peas Salad

Ingredients

Chick peas 1 canOnion 1 large size (fine sliced)Tomato 2 medium size (chopped)Green chilly 1 tea spoon (chopped)Cumin powder 1 table spoon Salt 1 tea spoonRed crush pepper 1 tea spoonOil 2 table spoonCoriander & mint ¼ cup chopped

Directions

1- Put oil in a pan with chick peas and chopped tomatoes then toss them well.2- Add Cumin powder, salt, red pepper and onion and mixed it well.3- When onion become soft, add mint, coriander and green chills.4- Let the salad stand for 20 minutes and serve.

Hina,Baber. Level 4, Kitchener regionEsther’s student


Tue 6/15/10 6:54 PMFrom: "T M" <[email protected]>To: "Home Study" <[email protected]>Sent: Saturday, June 12, 2010 10:36 PMSubject: Thank you Mark

Hi Mark,

How are you doing? Do you remember me? I have been your student for one year.

I just want to thank you again for all your help in improving my language skills. Recently, I got a job and I believe that has become possible because of you.

Wish you all the best.

Sincerely,Tatiana ManukyanPeel regionMark N’s ex-student


Mon 6/14/10 9:54 PM

How Cooking is Important for Children I believe children should be little chefs sometimes. They can make something whenever they are hungry. Instead of calling Mom, they should go into the kitchen and fulfill their hunger. Between the ages of 6 and 12, children should learn some easy recipes like making jam sandwiches, salad sandwiches, smoothies, shakes, et cetera.Children love cooking or making snacks on their own. Whatever they cook, for sure they will enjoy too. If parents or adults get a chance to share the snacks, they should appreciate the kids' efforts and encourage them that they can do it.

Cooking is not hard and adults can help them by cutting and chopping fruits and vegetables and keeping them in the refrigerator or teaching children some simple recipes. How can children have safe fun with cooking? Children can use a butter knife for peeling or cutting, and the easiest way to cook popcorn is in the microwave. Eat healthy to stay healthy. If children eat healthy food, they will have a happy and healthy life. If children are happy, parents are happy. If families are happy, communities are happy.================================================================= Recipe for:

Potato KebabsBoiling Potatoes 4-6Onion one (chopped)Green chillies 2-3Ginger 1 tablespoonGreen coriander 4 tablespoonsSalt according to taste MethodMash boiled potatoes and mix all ingredients.Heat oil.Grease your hands and make balls with the mixture.Stick a popsicle stick in each ball.Deep fry these kebabs.Serve with ketchup. ___________________________________________________________________________


Did you know that along with 13 other essential nutrients, eggs contain Choline? Choline stimulates brain development and functions. Eggs are inexpensive and great for any meal of the day. Eggs are also packed with protein. Recipe for Masala Egg

Boiled eggs 6-8Onion 2 big, slicedTomato 2 big, choppedTurmeric powder 1/2 tbsblack pepper 1/2 tbsGreen coriander choppedSalt according to tasteOlive Oil 1 serving spoonGreen chllies 2-3(own choice)Grated cheese 2-3 tbs

Method

Heat oil in the pan and put onion and ginger in it.Fry for 5 minutes, then mix in all ingredients except eggs.Cook for 10 minutes and then switch the gas off. Place the sliced pieces of eggs in a shallow plate and pour masala mixture on them.Spread corriander leaves on it and grated cheese on the top.If you want you can squeeze some lemon juice on them before serving.

By: Neeru M. Level 6Lesley's classToronto region


Mon 14/06/2010 3:10 PM

Coming to Canada

I came from India. I came to Canada in 2004 with my family .We came by air and

we landed in Canada at the Toronto Pearson Airport. My sister and her

family received us at the airport and we went to my sister's home, but I was

scared because I came to

Canada for the first time. My first year was very hard, because everything was

new for us. After two weeks my husband got a job and my children went to school.

After two years we started our own business. Now we are happy here. We like

Canada because Canada is a good country for living and the living standard is

good and there is a bright future for our children. Also, the rules and regulations

are good. Canada is becoming my home.

Santos Parmar KumariLevel 4Carla’s ClassPeel region


Mon 14/06/2010 3:30 PMBanking in Africa

I come from West Africa, the Ivory Coast. My country is beautiful and plays an important role in the economy of the neighboring countries because of its’ agriculture (producer of coffee, cocoa, pineapple, wood, cotton, etc.), logistics (bearing, an international airport, roads, etc.), mining, industry, commerce and potential.

The banking sector is very important in the economic system of my country. The bank began in the Ivory Coast in 1939, initiated by France, the colonizing country. After independence, the banking system was organized into four big groups: the commercial banks, the deposit banks, the merchant banks and the development banks. Today, we speak about credit institutions including banks and financial institutions.

This system is just like banks in most non-developed countries. It is weak and still doesn't meet the needs of the population. There are several commercial banks who work in reality as deposit banks. It is partially the fault of the population which is not used to repaying their loans.

There is, in reality, no database containing all the information about the customers - so the risks of fraud and the loans not being reimbursement can be reduced. Besides, the electronic system is still not very reliable. The debit card is used but the credit card is almost non-existent.

When I was in Africa, I had a bank account. I notified my bank of my departure from my country. I couldn’t close my account before leaving because some money would be paid to me at the end of the month. I left the country with my debit card. When I arrived in Canada, I couldn’t get the balance from my account using my card so I continued to withdraw money until it was not possible any more. It meant I didn’t have money anymore in the account. Sometime later, I received notification that I had withdrawn from my account more money than I had. I owed money so I had to pay it back. How was it possible? How could I withdraw more money than I had? I understood that it was one of the weaknesses of the banking system in Africa.

In Canada, according to my reading, three reasons explain the population’s trust in the Canadian banking system: the caution of banks in loans and investments, a better management of the Canadian banks and the regulation of the banking sector by the government.

The proof was that the USA financial crisis in 2009, which caused several bankruptcies, did not affect the Canadian banking system. The banking sector in


Canada is healthy and helps to support its’ economy.

The using of debit cards, credit cards and online banking in Canada are current and secure.

In conclusion, the banking system in Africa is still weak but many efforts are being made to make it more competitive and secure. By Ida Duiespe Djedje Level 4 Rose D’s studentToronto region


Thu 6/10/10 7:39 PM

The article “One For All and All For One“ by Zornitsa B. is a description of a relationship between nine friends. The story’s author tells us about preparations for a celebration party after “university entrance exams”. She describes to us how she changed during four years of school. She gives us a picture of her teachers and emotional-ties to nine friends. At the end of article, she tells us about the promise which the nine friends made to each other: “no matter where they will be, every five years at that time, they would gather together in the restaurant”. The restaurant is in Shumen, Bulgaria, a town near,the Black Sea. Zornitsa says that the nine friends have called each other every year, since that time.

I like that story. It is very interesting, how strong young-relationships are. It is very important for a person to have good friends. She also is a very lucky person, because she could finish from such a good school and she could meet such good friends. Good for her and her friends too!!

Violetta Dudek (F)LINC 4Susan M’s ClassKingston Region

StudentCOMMENTS


Thu 6/10/10 9:33 PM CONTRIBUTION TO THE JULY NEWSLETTER June 10, 2010Submitted by Anne F. (Fitterer) with permission from my student GUI FENG LI

(Level 3) -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PROFILE: GUI FENG LI – LINC HOME STUDY STUDENT (LEVEL 3)

A MOVING EXPERIENCE

WHAT DOES ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNING AND MOVING TO ALBERTA

HAVE IN COMMON FOR GUI FENG LI? BOTH ARE MOVING EXPERIENCES.

[Teacher’s Note: From Anne F.]

Gui Feng and his family came to Canada

from China on May 1, 2008. He came to

LINC Home Study in September 2009 and

has been my student for about nine

months. When I first spoke with him, it

was very hard for him to speak. He

couldn’t find the words. He couldn’t

connect his sentences. At first, he stayed at home and cared for his little daughter

while his wife worked. Later, he worked at a factory from very early in the morning

to the evening. But Gui Feng wouldn’t give up! He still worked on his English

assignments every day. He is a determined and hard-working student. Today, Gui

Feng speaks in whole sentences and can carry a basic conversation. His

vocabulary has also improved a lot! Now, Gui Feng and his family have decided to

leave Toronto. His wife has accepted a job as a SAP computer specialist with a

company in Calgary. They will be moving in two weeks. We would like to wish the


Li family much success and

prosperity in Canada’s western

province of Alberta. In late Spring, Gui Feng and his

family visited Ontario Place by Lake

Ontario. This is his story.

Our Family Trip to Ontario Place

We went by TTC to Ontario Place and paid $15 dollars for entrance tickets.

These tickets were bought from my daughter’s school. Inside, we decided to look

at all the games. Because there were lots of people, my daughter played only one

game project. Then we stood in line for half an hour to play one slide game. We

began to feel bored because my daughter played many of the games before, so

she wasn’t too interested in games like freefall and rowing. In China, our daughter

played games like this every weekend. After we finished the games, we decided to leave Ontario Place and walk along

the lake. We were thinking about watching a movie at Ontario Place, but my

daughter didn’t want to stay. The weather was sunny and hot. My little daughter

felt happy. She likes the water and sand. She likes to throw stones into water.

Because my home in China is located near a beach, my daughter played there all

the time. We took some photos by the lake. After we had dinner out, we went back

home.

By: Gui Feng Li (M)Level 3Anne F’s studentToronto region


From: Rania Nessem [mailto:[email protected]]Sent: Thu 6/10/2010 12:37 PMTo: John WaringSubject: Re: Themes for July 2010 Newsletter Submissions

This recipe is great grill party Garlic-Thyme Ultimate Angus Top Sirloin steaks

Preparation time: 15 minutesCooking time: 8 to 12 minutes Makes 6 servings 6 thick-cut (2 inch/5-cm) Ultimate Red Grill Angus Top Sirloin Steaks ¼ cup (50ml) Extra Virgin Olive Oil4 large cloves garlic, minced1 tbsp (15 ml) chopped fresh thyme 1 tbsp (15 ml) Butter, melted 1 tsp (5 ml) black pepper ¼ tsp (1ml) salt Fresh herbs for garnish Thirty minutes before cooking the steaks, remove them from the refrigerator. Pat the steaks dry with paper towels.

In a small bowl, stir together the olive oil, garlic, thyme, butter, pepper and salt.Preheat barbecue to medium-high, then oil the grill. Grill the steaks on one side for 5 minutes. Turn steaks. Quickly spoon half of the garlic mixture over cooked sides of steaks. Cook steaks for a further 5 minutes.

Leaving one burner on medium-high, turn off other burner(s). Slide steaks to cooler part of grill. Grill for 6 to 8 minutes, without turning, for medium-rare.Remove steaks to a warm platter, garlic side down. Spoon remaining garlic mixture over steaks. Cover with foil and let stand for 10 minutes. Garnish with herbs.

Rania Nessem (F)Level 5John W’s studentHamilton region


Wed 6/09/10 9:59 AM

This student is not only a skilled cook or baker but is also a prospective restauranteur. Yudy desires to open a homestyle cooking restaurant which will fill the void created by the closure of latin/Columbian diners in her city. No need for fancy dinner plates and a wide array of forks, spoons and knives. Her recipes and desire is to serve food that nutures the body and soul. I wish her the best and look forward to the day I can visit her restaurant, eat hearty ethnic food and listen to great latin bands!

CHICKEN RICE

INGREDIENTS: PREPARATION: 2 cups of rice Cook 2 cup of rice with 2 cups of water and 1 cup of chicken stock,then cook the chicken Brest and added no 2 chicken Brest to much water,but put salt and spices,when the chicken is ready,cut it in small pieces and leave separate,1 Red pepper take all vegetable and cut in Juliana,put in a big pan and sate with butter,color and spices,whatever you l 1 Green pepper like,after added the chicken pieces and added soy sauce,1 tsp of mustard,Then mix everything together and 1/4 of celery the last ingredient we put is the green olives.1 cup of green onions1/2 cup of green olives you can server with any salad.1/4 cup of soy sauce1 tsp of mustard Lisa I hope you like this recipe.1/2 cup of white onions1 cup of chicken stocksalt and spicesall11

Yudy Albarracin Suescun (F)Level 4Lisa R’s studentLondon region


Wed 6/09/10 9:59 AM

From: yudy albarracin [mailto:[email protected]]Sent: Mon 17/05/2010 7:46 PMTo: Lisa Gayle RoseSubject: RE: Send Exercise 2 here

Hi lisa,this is one of the Colombian recipe:

SHRIMP COCKTAIL INGREDIENTS: Cook Shrimps 1 poundDiced white onions 60 grCilantro 20 grKeptchu 4 spoonsMayonnaise 3 tsp PREPARATION: Take a big bowl and put all ingredients and mix together, then server in a big cup glass and garnish with lettuce a round if you like.You can eat with soda crackers.

Yudy Albarracin Suescun (F)Level 4Lisa R’s studentLondon region


Tue 6/08/10 9:24 AM

Encouragement

In the long journey of learning English, there are plenty of variables affecting our study. Experts have already suggested many, like initiative, practise, insistence, memorization and conversation. But, just recently, I realized that encouragement plays an important role in learning a language.

I was inspired by a small event. I phoned my friend and the phone automatically directed me to leave a voice message, so l left a short message. After many years of learning English, I was confident to leave a short message. Unfortunately, my friend called me back the next day and told me he listened to my message three times to figure out the meaning. He enhanced his tone when he said, “three.” I felt uncomfortable immediately and felt depressed for a couple of days. I asked myself many times if I was as bad as he said. As a result of this experience, I fear speaking with this friend in case he laughs at me again. I shorten my conversation with others in case they give me negative comments that bring me down. I hesitate in a conversation if I need to repeat myself in case I am not understood. I have totally lost my confidence. I believe many learners whose English is their second language have the same feeling.

In a class or in a working place, some people don’t know how important encouragement is when someone is learning a language. Maybe just a small recognition of my efforts, a positive word, even a greeting or gesture can light the fire of confidence, and initiate talk with others and the sharing of opinions. What’s more, if someone points out your positive actions when you make mistakes, you will get rid of depression quickly and engages in figuring out the solution from the mistake. That’s exactly what our teachers or our bosses expect as an outcome.

I like talking with my teacher through the phone as she indicated that our conversation is more like friends talking instead of teaching, which encourages me to talk a lot and makes me confident talking in an open conversation. Therefore, encouragement looks like a dose of medicine not only to stimulate a learner persisting in their studying, but also to enhance their efforts.

by Tao ZhangLevel 7Brenda V’s studentToronto region


June 7, 2010

Food and Health

“You are what you eat”- this is the most important sentence to guide you in life. If you want to have a healthy life style you need to eat right. You must include all the right nutrients in your diet. Everyone needs to eat right and to give the body the things that we need to be healthy, and active. You need to take a blood test once every half a year to check if you need any extra vitamins, or if you have low iron, or high sugar. If so we need to eat more foods that have high iron, or we need to have more foods with low sugar. The hardest part is to give the kids healthy food. Young kids are still growing, and that’s why they have to eat healthy food that helps the body grow. For example, if you eat eggs, vegetables, fruits, and less junk food you are living a healthy life style. We are the guidance to our kids’ life, and we need to educate them. It is not good enough just to eat healthy food; we need to include physical activities. We need to eat healthy while still doing exercise. Physical activities are good for staying shape, looking good, and to stay healthy young and full of life. It is better to eat homemade food and stay far away from processed food. We must eat vegetables and fruits, and less snacks that have a lot of calories, and sugars, which are bad for us. We need to take good care of ourselves and the people around us. We should eat healthy food for a better life and a better future.

Tami KatzotiLevel 3Carla M’s studentYork region


Mon 6/07/10 1:45 PM

Bruce Peninsula National Park

Which parks, gardens or picnic areas you can recommend for the readers to visit and why?

It is summer again, and everybody is thinking of doing some outdoor activities. As the cold season in Canada is so long, people try to use summer in a maximum capacity. Therefore, to save time, it is really important to know more about the potential places to visit beforehand. Bruce Peninsula National Park of Canada is the place that I recommend to all the Londoners to visit this summer. We went camping there in the summer 2008, and it was one of our most memorable camping ever. There are three main reasons for my recommendation: short distance, diverse nature, and nice weather.

First of all, this national park is located on the Bruce Peninsula surrounded by

Georgian Bay and Lake Huron. It is around 300 km from London which takes less than 5 hours by car to get there. So, it is a great opportunity to have this fantastic place with so different nature than London this close to our city.

Secondly, Bruce Peninsula Park has varied landscape and rich nature. It features limestone cliffs, beach and forest scenery. So, you can go for a hike in different trails which pass through forests and along the lake. Or, you

can go swimming or canoeing under caves. You can also go for rock climbing if you like more adventure. As you see, this place covers different interests of different people.

Finally, although this natural park is not far from London, it is much colder than London. When the hot and humid weather in London is unbearable, you can


enjoy the mild weather in Bruce Park with nice breeze that cuddle your face skin.

Therefore, for the above reasons, Bruce Peninsula National Park of Canada is a great place to be visited in the summer. It is close to London, yet it has a rich natural scenery and mild climate which makes it a must see place. I am sure that everybody enjoys being there as there is something to fulfill different interests.

Mehrnaz Zuoqi, Level 7Art R’s studentLondon region


Sun 6/06/10 11:57 PM

Father's Day

Every year around the world, many families celebrate Father's Day. Some people are especially sad if they have lost their father, who had been such an important member of the family.

My dad, passed away 19 years ago, I felt very sad for many years. I would like to have my dad alive and by my side to enjoy with him this remarkable day.

For eight years he fought with cancer and he never stopped working until 12 days just before he died. He was a strong man, who woke up every day early in the morning, to go about his daily routine. I don't feel sad any more. I have my dad in my mind and I think of him every day because he was an exceptional man, a father, husband, a loyal friend and a good neighbor. He taught me many things, how to be patient, persistent and work hard. He raised his family in struggling financial circumstances, in Cuba. In the early years during the last century, life in Cuba was hard and a real struggle.

The best celebration I can give to my father is to cherish his memory every day, remember his good attitude, his respect for people even for a child, and what he taught me, to study, to work hard and learn how be a better person every day. He was my hero.

In some countries many fathers’ lives are in danger every day, due to constant war or working in the hardest conditions, fighting against nature and struggling or fighting for freedom. Every father in this world deserves a good day every day of his life, not only on Father's Day. On this special day in June when we celebrate Father’s Day with families and friends it is a good time to give a card or a special gift to your daddy. I wish a Happy Father's Day to everyone who is a father.

Written by Millie Perez Level 6Jonathan B’s studentLondon region


Sun 6/06/10 4:52 PMFather’s Day

Father’s Day is a holiday which honours fathers around the world. It is celebrated in Canada on the third Sunday of June. This year it will fall on June 20 th. Father’s Day is not a public holiday because it falls on a Sunday each year. Most of the countries celebrate Father’s Day on the same day as in Canada except Thailand. They celebrate it in December on the same day as their King’s Birthday. Father’s Day has different origins. For example, the pagans related this day to the Sun. In paganism, the Sun is the father of the Universe. The first time Father’s Day was celebrated was in 1910, in the 20th Century, in United States. It was the idea of Sonora Smart Dodd who was inspired by the Mother’s Day celebrations in the United States. It soon became very popular in the US and around the rest of the world.On June 19th 1910, young members of the YMCA went to church wearing a different coloured rose to honour their fathers. If they wore a red colored rose, it meant that their father was alive. If they wore a white coloured rose, it meant that their father had passed away. Although the name of this day is Father’s Day, it is related to all the paternal figures such as Step Father, Godfather or other ‘father’ figures. Everyone celebrates this day with their loved ones. People give their fathers cards and gifts. Children celebrate with their fathers by taking him out to dinner and playing games. My children are planning to buy a tool kit for their father.

By Sajida S.Level 4Jonathan B’s studentPeel region


June 5, 2010Ice Milk

It is very easy to make and tastes cool. I hope you like it. Ingredients:Milk: 400 mlCardamom powder: 1/2 tspSugar: 3 tbspGrated coconut: 1 tbspTooth picks: 16 Nos. Directions:First, boil the milk, and add the sugar, and cardamom powder. Stir well until the milk becomes a little thick. Second, let the milk cool for a while. Then, put the milk on an ice tray and add grated coconut in each cube. Put the ice tray into the fridge for 1 hour and put the toothpicks in each milk ice cube. Finally, put it into the fridge for an hour.

Now the Ice Milk is ready to enjoy. Ninan ShresthaLevel 4Carla's ClassPeterborough region


Sat 6/05/10 10:39 AM

A Way to Improve your English – Join a Toastmasters Club

Do you know that public speaking is the number 1 Top Ten Fear for most North American adults? Do you know how to overcome this fear, and at the same time, improve your English skills ?

The answer is to join a Toastmasters club.

Toastmasters is a non-profit educational organization where members at all levels learn how to communicate more effectively through speaking and listening. The organization also helps members to develop their leadership skills. There are thousands of Toastmasters clubs across Canada. Each club is comprised of a group of enthusiastic people dedicated to the art of public speaking.

My experience with Toastmasters started in February this year. As a member, I can participate in my club meetings every Tuesday from 7 to 9 p.m. When a meeting is conducted, members volunteer for or are assigned different roles. You can choose to be a speaker delivering your prepared speech whereby the audience will give you an evaluation. This is a great way to sharpen your English and speaking skills. You may also be asked to “speak on your feet” when a Table Topic Session is held. Table Topic is a creative and fun format designed for members to think of and deliver an impromptu speech simultaneously. Since it is like giving an instant speech, it doesn’t take long. The time assigned for each speaker is about 1 or 2 minutes. The other roles you can play with during each meeting are: The grammarian, the joke master, the ah counter, the timer, the evaluator and even the chairperson.

Toastmasters clubs are all over the place in Canada, so you can easily find one whose meeting location is closest to your home or your workplace. I certainly recommend everyone google the Toastmasters Club and find one club near you. You can visit the club a couple of times as a guest before you make a yes or no decision to become a member.

Submitted by Liang L. (Jason)Level 7Marjorie F’s studentToronto region


Wed 6/02/10 4:55 PM

Summer recipe - Mango Orange Smoothie Recipe

Makes 2 servings

1/2 ripe mango, peeled and cut into chunks1 cup orange juice1 cup ice cubes, about 5 regular sized cubes1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract2 Tablespoons vanilla yogurt

Place all the ingredients into the blender, cover and blend until thick and creamy with no chunks of ice. Serve in two tall glasses.

Enjoy!

Lina ArafehLevel 5Carla M’s studentPeel region


Wed 6/02/10 2:36 PMCarassauga

Carassauga is the name of Mississauga’s annual festival of cultures; it is a huge celebration of multiculturalism. It is Ontario’s largest multicultural festival and Mississauga’s largest cultural indoor festival. The origin of the word Carassauga is a combination of Greek - Cara means “friend” in Greek, and the name of city of Mississauga.

Carassauga is an incorporated non-profit volunteer community organization, celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2010. It operated for the first time in 1985 with 10 pavilions. The Festival was developed in response to a challenge put out by Mayor Hazel McCallion to all ethno cultural groups at a meeting of her calling in the old City Hall in the fall of 1985. So the first Carassauga was held in May 1986. That year, it attracted approximately 10,000 visitors. This year, the organizers expect approximately 250,000 visitors over three days.

At Carassauaga we can take a trip around the world without leaving Mississauga. We swing around the world, spend the morning in North America the afternoon in China, and more. It opens the doors to a festive showcase of foods, arts, cultures, performances, and merchandise. There are thirty-one pavilions, and sixty-eight countries are participating in this year’s event.

I enjoyed the presentations of this event. We celebrated with people from all around the world, got to know their culture, what they eat, how they do their cultural celebrations, and what their traditional dress is like. It is a great idea to gather people together to let them know about each other, to appreciate their similarities and their differences. I think it is a very important event for each community because it opens up the eyes of all residents to the cultural diversity and mentalities that we must learn to love and accept.

Ammal HassnLevel 6Angela R’s studentPeel region


Wed 6/02/10 11:15 AM

Mother’s Day

Thank you to the entire student writers for writing nice articles about Mother’s day. I enjoyed reading all the articles on this topic. They are very informative and well written. This is a nice gift to all the mothers to remember the contribution made by them to their family and ultimately to the whole society.

The concept of celebrating Mothers Day on the second Sunday of May is very new in India and has happened in a time span of less than a decade. Though Mother's Day is not an entirely novel concept in India, people have been celebrating Durga Puja - honoring the divine Mother Durga, Luxmi and the Great Mother - Kali Ma. The festival of Pâthâre Prabhu is celebrated on the same day only in Bombay (now called Mombai) and the Southern part of India (especially Konkan and the districts below the Western Ghats). The Pathare prabhu caste always celebrates this holiday. It is based on a legend about a mother whose children kept dying after only one year of living and it has a very old origin and is celebrated in the more remote areas. Although it's also called "Mother's Day", it is unrelated to the modern celebration. The Indian culture taught us to respect the mother every day. Even in these modern days, children start their day by bowing to their parents to get their blessing and to pay them respect. A day dedicated to a person's own mother was something new. In the presence of a number of existing festivals, Mother’s Day has been a great success in India.

Paramjit B.Level Terese C’s student region

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pathare_prabhu

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Ghats

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Konkan


Wed 6/02/10 10:39 AM

Lemon riceIngredients: I cup Basmati rice

3 Lemons (juiced)1 teaspoon of mustard2 green peppers (chopped)4 stems of coriander (cut it small pieces)3 teaspoons of ghee or butterA pinch of salt

Method: Cook the Basmati rice. When you have cooked it, add a pinch of salt (1/2 tsp). Cut the green pepper into small pieces. Place the frying pan on the stove, and add the butter or ghee. When it is melted, put the mustard into the pan. Then add the chopped peppers. Mix it with a wooden spoon and add the cooked rice little by little. Mix until combined Sprinkle the balance of the salt (1/2 tsp) into the rice. Add the lemon juice and coriander leaves and mix it well.

Fish Cutlet Ingredients: 2 small tuna fish tins Mazola oil for frying. 2 or 3 potatoes (medium size)1 big onion 1 green pepper 3 egg whites Ginger (small piece)½ teaspoon of pepper powder Biscuit crumbs1 lemon or lime (juiced)Curry leaves (small bunch)Salt to your tasteMethod: Boil the potatoes, then peel the skin and cut them into small pieces. Cut onions and pepper into small pieces. Grate the ginger and keep it aside. Put the tuna into a bowl (pour the water out). Add potato, onion, green pepper, ginger, salt, curry leaves (chopped into small pieces), and mix it well. Add the lime juice also. Then form the mixture into small balls and dip them into the egg white; then cover with biscuit crumbs. Place the frying pan on the stove, and pour in the oil. When the oil is heated (heat to medium), fry the balls until they are golden brown in colour.Sriranganayaky Srisatgurunathan

Level 7

Joanne P’s student

Toronto


June 2, 2010 10:39 AM

Mississauga is a city in Southern Ontario and is located in the western part of the Greater Toronto Area. At the south end of this city is Lake Ontario. There are a lot of gardens and parks along the lakeshore of Mississauga.Jack Darling Memorial Park is my favourite park where I frequently go with my family. It is a good place for everyone to visit. There is no entrance or parking fee to enter this park. You do not need to spend a penny, and you can spend a whole day at this park alone or with your family or friends. Canada is a garden-like country. We can breathe in the fresh air and drink unpolluted water. There are lots of trees and a variety of plants are all around us. When I came to Canada three years ago, I did not have a lot of money. My husband is the only one who earned a living for the whole family. Although watching movies is also a good family activity, unfortunately, we couldn’t afford the expensive movie tickets. Also, walking around a shopping mall is a good activity, but the kids get bored if we spend a day at the shopping mall. As a result, spending a day at the park is good idea, especially Jack Darling Memorial Park. We can have good quality family time at this park.This is a public waterfront park. Lake Ontario is just at the side of the park. There are a lot of facilities within this park. It has two picnic areas, two tennis courts, walking trails, bicycle trails and splash pads. No matter what age you are, you can have fun there.If you want to get some exercise, you can jog along the walking trails or ride the bicycle along the trails. Jogging or bicycling on the trails of this park is not only useful for toning your body, but it also lets you enjoy the beautiful view of Lake Ontario.Kids can run, play and jump at the splash pad area. The sound of laughing can be heard all around this area. As all we know, water is one of the favourite things that kids love to play with. There are a lot of tables and benches at the picnic area. You can either bring sandwiches or prepare your meal there. Barbequing is a good suggestion too. Forget about the calories; just enjoy the delicious barbequed food! Not only people can have fun at this park, but also dogs. At the north-west corner of this park is an off- leash dog park. Dogs can walk or run freely there.Now, you might want to know the location of Jack Darling Memorial Park. It is located at 1180 Lakeshore Road West, Mississauga. You can get to this park either by Mississauga Transit or by your own vehicle. The park is accessible from Lake Shore Road West. The entrance is on the south side. There are two entrances off of Lakeshore Road - take the second one as the first one doesn't give you access to the park.Now, go ahead to spend a day with your family or your friends at Jack Darling Memorial Park during the summer time.

Sonia Leung Level 7 Joanne P’s studentPeel region


Tue 6/01/10 11:34 PM

My First Garden

I did my garden two weeks ago, and enjoyed planting a lot. It was my first time that I did a garden, and I had to do it two times, because I grew shade flowers and I had to plant full sun plants. Well, I am very happy because today I have mini roses, geraniums, pansies and violets in my garden.

Clara CardonaLevel 3Carla M's studentLondon region


Mon 5/31/10 5:50 PM

Critical writing

In the April edition of Linc News, Miriam T, a student of the Linc Home Study Program wrote an article entitled “On my way to success”. She provided readers with her experience in Canada since her arrival; the difficulties she had faced and how she overcame them.

The writer’s experience is the experience of the majority of newcomers in Canada. Learning English, finding a job and getting used to the Canadians way of doing things are challenges almost all immigrants have to face. It can last one year, two or even more years to adapt and be integrated in our new country.

When they arrive in Canada, people who move from Africa, South America and east Europe say that Canadians are cold, but it is because they are homesick and they are missing their friends and family. Moreover, in their country, people seem to be warmer; that makes things even worse for them.

On the other hand, it is difficult to find a job because employers ask for Canadian experience. When your communication skills are not good enough, you can’t be convincing at any interview.

Although the writer gave us some good ideas, she forgot to talk about the good aspects of her experience. To that end, as a new immigrant, I can say that people are not always that cold. Many times, I meet people who are amazingly warm and kind. One of advantages of being in Canada is the bilingualism. You have the choice to live in an English or a French area. Personally, I find it exciting to learn a new language and grateful that it’s free.

As far as I am concern, the writer of the article should change her dream into a goal and set objectives to achieve her aim. For example, after three years in Canada, she is at level 4 in English; I think she would have been better to study English full-time to improve her English as fast as possible to increase her chances to find a job. She didn’t have to work for more than four hours per week as a volunteer, especially when she is looking for a job. I suppose that, like everybody, she needs money to solve her financial issues. So, in my opinion, she ought to devote her time to job research and English courses.

In the end, I will say that I appreciated reading about her experience as it reminded me of mine. I learned that I am not alone in facing barriers to my integration into Canada. My situation even seems to be better after two years. Although I find the idea of working like a volunteer good, I wouldn’t have accepted

StudentCOMMENTS


spending many hours by working without being paid. I would have preferred spending two or four hours as a volunteer, applying for jobs and studying English as a full-time student to improve my communication skills as fast as possible to increase my chances of finding a job in my field.

Nathalie M.Level 6 Terese C’s studentPeterborough region


Mon 5/31/10 7:46 AM

A Summer Sunset

I was standing in the middle of a beach where I could see the most beautiful sunset I have ever laid my eyes on. I was bathing with its orange glow, and I closed my eyes, and felt the warmth enveloping me as the wind caressed my skin.

As I deeply inhaled, I felt like something was coming out of me, as if the sun was absorbing all the heavy feelings in my heart.

I just stood there, my eyes closed, and felt the moment until the sun set and the warm feeling faded. Then, I opened my eyes and felt anew.

Ghanwa HritaniLevel 5Carla’s ClassPeel region


Sun 5/30/10 11:05 PM

Montreal

Montreal is a nice island where you can live in French or in English. There are many places to visit so you will never be bored. Also you can taste many international dishes and find out different cultures in this city. So let’s visit Montreal ! If you live in Montreal, I suggest that you have coffee at a different place every day, such as at« Le plateau Mont-Royal », an area that seems a little like France, « Le Vieux Port », the old city where you can be informed about the history of Quebec, « La petite Italie », a little area designed like Italy where you can visit the market « Jean Talon ». In Montreal you can taste dishes from everywhere in the world. You can eat chinese food in China Town, very delicious pasta in « Little Italy », French dishes in the area of « Outremont » and Mexican or African dishes in the area of « Quartier latin ». In winter you can see the beauty of the city under the ice and you can do many winter activities like skiing and skating at the Royal Mount which is located on the west side of the island, just in the heart of the city. In summer, you can get awaMay from the city to visit the north of Montreal where you can camp beside one of the beautiful lakes of the area. French people like camping and they live all summer in nature because they can’t forget how hard winter was for them. Montreal is an inexpensive multicultural city where French people struggle for their rights to make life in Montreal better, and in the province of Quebec, easier. That’s why Quebec is the least expensive and the most populated province in Canada. So don’t forget to come to Montreal and visit these fabulous places !

Lamia SaadaLevel Samuel M’s student region


Sun 5/30/10 6:54 PM

FATHERS DAY

People celebrate Father’s day on the 3rd Sunday in June every year. The idea of creating a day for children to honour their fathers began in Spokane, Washington by a woman named Sonora Smart Dodd. Her Father was a civil war veteran, and his wife died when Sonora was only 16, so he had to take care of six children. The first observance of Father’s day is believed to have been held on June 19, 1910.

In Sri Lanka,Tamils celebrate Father’s Day too, but not everyone. We have reasons for why all of us do not celebrate Father’s Day. We are Hindus and have so many festivals like New Year, Deepavali, and Thaipongal. Every month we donate some money also. This is our part of responsibilities.

When our Father is no more, we have special day for them in July every year. This day we call “Aadi Amavasai Thethi’. Aadi means July in Tamil. Amavasai means crescent. On this day, we bathe our head, wear clean and washed clothes, and go to the temple to donate new clothes, which we call “pooja”. Rice and vegetables are given as a small donation to the priest. Then we light the oil or ghee lamp. This oil lamp is called a “Motsha lamp”. This lamp signifies that our dearest father’s soul has eternal peace and light in heaven. After that we cook lunch (vegetable rice and curry) and invite immediate relatives. We have the lunch with them to remember our fathers.

“Any man can be a father but it takes a special person to be called Dad.” According to this statement, my dearest father is not alive, but his precious advice, thoughtful guidance and his eternal love and kindness are lively in my heart always.

Sriranganayaky Srisatgurunathan (Rathy)Level 7Joanne P’s studentToronto region


Thu 5/27/10 9:29 AM

COMPUTER ADDICTION

Nowadays computer plays a really important part in our social life. You can get a lot of information from all over the world. You can buy everything you want or need over the internet. You can watch movies, listen to music, you can play different games and you can get in contact with other people. But, there is a downside to it.

People spend a lot of time at the computer and some of them overuse the computer and might get addicted to it. They are losing social contacts and are placing more time in meeting chat room friends than real friends. They live more in a fake reality than in their own real life. If somebody we know is overusing the computer and gets addicted to it, they might need our help and support. You can try to cut back on computer time, but it is probably better to give some alternatives in spending their time like inviting some friends, cooking a good meal, going shopping, going on a canoe trip or spending a weekend outside camping. There are so many things we can do. It is only really important to show somebody who is addicted to the computer that there are a lot of things that are more interesting than the computer. How much fun it is to meet a real person, how good you are feeling if you do some physical activities and how relaxed you can be if you don’t spend all of your time at the computer.

Miriam Scheu Level 5Cathy D’s studentThunder Bay region


Thu 5/27/10 5:30 PMReview of “SPRING TIME”

In the May edition of the LINC Home Study Newsletter, Martha Z wrote an article whose title is Spring Time. It was good. It said that the spring has smells, sounds and colours. That is so true.

In the article, the author wrote that the spring is the happy prognosis for the entire year. Yes, I agree with this. For me, the spring means a brighter and more agile time compared with the depressive winter. People go out more and more in the spring to hug the sunlight. People wear less and less so they will feel freer and freer. We can see people in parks, lakeshores and other outdoors areas. They are happy, amused and jubilant. They will live like this all the way through until next winter.

Trees and grasses sprout in spring and they bring delicate natural smells to us. Birds happily sing on trees and their songs comfort people. The flowers bloom in the spring, emit fragrant smells and produce different coloured blooms. I think nature is most beautiful in the spring.However, the author did not mention that the spring is also a working season. In my home country of China, people, especially the farmer, work hard in the spring for a good harvest in the fall. After the whole winter off, farmers in particular have recovered from their work of last year. They step into a new working part of the year.I like spring. I like to work in the warm temperatures. People work more efficiently in the spring than the winter. You know there is no heating system in the houses in my hometown because it is a variable zone. Therefore, it is cold in the winter due to almost no temperature difference between inside and outside the house. In modern society, most people in my hometown have installed an air-conditioner in their rooms. Nevertheless, because of budget problems they do not run the machine all day, so the people like the spring more.

Enjoy the spring.

Luoning DLevel 6Terese C’s studentPeel region

StudentCOMMENTS


Fri 5/28/10 8:45 AMThe Secret Garden

A year ago, taking pictures of trees on the Camilla Road in Mississauga, I discovered the wonderful, fairy-tale like secret garden. Because it was a private ground, I called the owner and got a permission to shoot some pictures in the garden. Through these photographs I was able to paint some oil paintings for my first exhibition in Canada. Living right in the city center, where we spent most of our time at home, at work, or in the car, it felt wonderful to have a great opportunity to have a beautiful, lush garden in walking distance from my house.

It felt great spending a moment in the garden, stepping on the soil, not the sidewalk, hearing the birds singing, not the sounds of the street, and seeing so many species of plants and colors. I saw a wild rabbit running and it was an unforgettable moment for me.

I was very sad when the spring garden was closed, and I could no longer see the high rhododendron, which was my inspiration to paint a

picture I named ”Spring in the Garden”. I could not see the beautiful magnolia with white satin petals anymore.

Charmed by the area, I wish to share my thoughts about a metaphore for the garden, which is still a hidden treasure: a quiet heart of the city and its lungs. This beautiful spot, as I feel, should continue to serve the people and animals.

I imagine that this is a small botanical garden, where children from nearby schools and homes can see the changes associated with the passing seasons. It is an ideal place where you can stroll and relax in silence, where you could see a herb garden simmilar to what was made by the first settlers near their homes.


I imagine photography classes, lessons in drawing and painting landscapes happening in the garden. I see the competitions and educational exhibitions. I can see how a garden is alive, and meets the needs of the general public. I see a summer theater, recitation competitions, which can be ogranised on the opposite side of the street in a park near a river.

I see the joy of children and their parents. I can see how a garden grows. I see its impact on the minds of people who become responsible for the environment in which they live.

I feel that 70 years of love and work done in the garden should continue to serve the public.

ELZBIETA MALARA-WIECZOREKLevel 4Marjan B’s studentPeel region


From: ghadeer attari [mailto:[email protected]]Sent: Thu 5/27/2010 5:40 PMTo: Gailene ForbesSubject: victoria day

Reflections on Victoria Day

On Victoria Day, I spent the whole day with family and friends. We started off the dayby inviting our family friends from London, Ontario over to our house. We had a BBQ and invited some more friends later on to introduce them to our friends from London. We ate and ate and had a great time together. At night, we went outside in the neighbourhood to watch fireworks. They began at 9:00 pm and went on until about 10:00. A lot of people gathered around to watch the fireworks, they were of many different colours and looked very beautiful. We also had bought our own fireworks and we watched them to end the day. Victoria Day was an amazing experience for me.

Ghadeer AttariLevel 5Gailene F’s studentPeel region


Date: May 26, 2010

Cold soup "Okroshka"

Ingredients:

1 peeled potato3 eggs1 carrot1/2 fresh cucumber1/4 cup chopped green onions1 cup canned green peas1-2 cooked sausages1 bottle of kvass or 1/2 packet of Kefir or sour cream

Directions:

Boil the potato, carrot, and eggs. Chop them into medium-sized pieces.Cook sausages and cut into pieces.Cut green onions and cucumber into pieces.Mix all the ingredients together and put in a bowl in the fridge.

Serving:

Get a plate and fill it with kvass.Add ingredients from the fridge.Optional:Boil water and add kefir. Use instead of kvass.Use sour cream instead of kvass or kefir

Enjoy!

Svetlana KogasLevel 3Teacher: Rachel BarbourNova Scotia


Wed 5/26/10 2:16 PM

Stuffed Grape Leaves Recipe

2 parsely sprigs2 mint sprigs1 onion finely chopped1 large tin of diced tomatoes¾ cup short rice¼ cup olive oil (or melted butter if you prefer) salt to taste spices (black and white pepper) ¼ tsp each2 lbs ground beef1 lemons

Collect 20 to 30 leaves. Boil 4 cups of water and put the leaves in the water for 2 to3 minutes. Remove when the leaves change colour and become soft and easy to roll. You can stuff it with many different types of meat, vegetables, herbs and spices. This is what I use.

Stuffing:

First, mix beef, onions, olive oil and rice togther and season with salt and peppper. Next place one teaspoon of mixture onto leaf, fold the left and right side of leaf toward the middle, and roll up the grape leaf and place in a large deep pan on the stove top.

Crush the mint and add it to the diced tomatoes. Pour tomatoe mixture over all the rolls. Bring to a boil then reduce heat, cook slowly for one hour. Squeeze lemon halves over leaves when finished cooking.

Variations: You could put a layer of meat or chicken on the bottom of the pot first then the stuffed leafs on the top.

Rasha MohammedLevel 5Elizabeth C’s studentPeterborough region


Wed 5/26/10 9:23 PM

WEBSTER'S FALLS

Hamilton has 100 waterfalls. I will describe Webster's Falls at Spencer's gorge. This falls is the biggest in Hamilton. This falls height is 22m and the width is 30m. This falls is very beautiful and there are not too many people like in Niagara Falls. Also, it has a good view. Many couples have their wedding there.

I was there three years ago. I was very tired and lonely because immigrant life is not easy and I was working very hard but after I saw the waterfalls, my mind and my feelings changed. It brought only hope and positive thinking.

We took some pictures and won a photo contest with them at our church. Now when I remember that time, I smile.

Directions from Hwy 403: From Hwy 403 take the Hwy 6 N (Guelph) exit and travel approximately 3 km to Hwy 5 E. (Dundas St. E.). Turn left on Hwy 5 E. and then turn left onto Ofield Rd. S. Turn right onto Harvest Rd. and then turn left onto Short Rd. Short Rd. will turn into Fallsview Rd. Park at the Spencer Gorge / Webster’s Falls CA. Follow the Bruce Trail to the waterfall. www.waterfalls.Hamilton.ca

By: Bosook ParkLevel 5Monica L’s studentHalton region

http://www.waterfalls.Hamilton.ca/


Wed 5/26/10 8:31 PM

Fishing at Chemong Lake Chemong Lake is a very good fishing place. It is northeast of Toronto , the drive is about a half hour. At Chemong Lake , you can stand on the shore and go fishing or, if you are rich, you can rent a small boat with some friends, and go to the center of the lake to go fishing. Usually, in the center of the lake, the fish are bigger than the fish you catch by standing on the shore. If you have your own boat it is so much better. You can put your boat in to the water at the boat dock. Sitting in a boat with a few friends, while fishing and enjoying the scenery on both sides of the lake, is a good way to spend a long weekend. At Chemong Lake there are many different species of fish, there are Bass, Yellow Perch, Crappie, Sunfish, etc.. However, different fish are open at different season, such as Yellow Perch, Crappie, Sunfish can be caught the whole year, but Bass can only be caught on the 4th Saturday in June until December. You can still go fishing, but if during this time you catch a Bass, the law says you must put it back into the lake. My friends and I went to Chemong Lake fishing during the long weekend. We rented a boat, and while we were fishing we enjoyed the scenery on both sides of the lake. When we felt tired, we parked the boat in the bank under the shade and had a picnic. We each enjoy fishing very much. Chemong Lake is a good fishing place. By: Jie Yi (Zoey) LiangLevel: 4Diane N’s studentToronto region


Wed 5/26/10 8:57 PMThe best place to have picnic

Milliken Park is the best place to a have picnic because of its convenience,

comfort, and abundance of active resources. First, Milliken Park is at the east

corner of the McCowan Road and Steeles Avenue, so people can get to the park

easily. For example, there are four bus stops around the park for people don’t

drive and plenty of free parking spots for drivers. Second, people feel comfortable

when they have a picnic in the park because there are lots of trees, as a result,

the air in the park is rich with oxygen.

Furthermore, in the centre of the park, a nice lake shows the perfect ecology.

People can sit beside the bank of the lake and quietly look at the birds, turtles,

fishes, geese, and different kind of plants that are in and around the lake, also

people feel relaxed while doing these things. The last thing is the active resources

in the park is fitted to every age group. There are two large playgrounds for

children, trails around the whole park allowing people to walk and ride their

bicycle, and a big area for kite playing. To sum up, if people want to have a

comfortable, convenient, and varied and graceful picnic, Milliken Park is the best

choice to make. Ke Qing XieLevel 5Christopher S.Toronto region


Wed 5/26/10 10:33 PMPenne with Ground Meat in Tomato Coulis Sauce

1 package (450g) of penne pasta or any pasta1 lb lean ground beef/chicken/turkey (optional)cheese - mozzarella, cheddar or any cheese you like

• First of all, prepare the following

tomato coulis sauce.

Tomato Coulis:

1 liter canned tomatoes 50 g onion, diced

50 g carrot, diced

50 g celery, diced

15 g garlic, mashed

50 ml olive oil

15 g flour

1/2 liter chicken stock

3 sprig thyme

1/4 bunch basil, pick leafs and slice very thin

(chiffonade)

1 bay leaf

salt, black pepper, sugar

1. Saute the vegetables in the olive oil until translucent; add the garlic, the thyme

andthe bay leaf.2. Dust with flour, stir well until the flour is absorbed and free of lumps.3. Add the canned tomatoes (slightly crushed) and the chicken stock and bring it

to boiland simmer for 45 minutes.4. Season with salt, black pepper and sugar.5. After that, remove the thyme sprigs and the bay leaf and puree the sauce in a

food


processor until smooth.6. Return the sauce to the pot, bring it back to a simmer and adjust the seasoning.7. Optional: Remove from heat and finish the sauce with the thinly sliced basil“chiffonade.

• While the sauce is simmering, cook pasta according to the package instructions. When it is done, drain it well and transfer it to the casserole dish.• Preheat the oven to 350 F.• Meanwhile, also heat a little oil in a frying pan and brown the ground meat. When the meat is brown, add cooked sauce to it and cook it together for several minutes.• Pour the meat mixture over pasta and mix it well.• Grate some cheese over it.• Bake at 350F for 20-30 minutes or until the dish is nicely bubbling.• Serve it hot with a side dish of vegetables, salad and more cheese on top if you like .

Submitted by: Alena StranilovaLHS Teacher


Maybe we can have this article saved to be published next year?

Thu 6/25/09 5:33 PM

Benefits of Summer Reading for Children

Researchers have found that students generally score lower on standardized tests at the end of the summer than they do at the beginning. What can we do to prevent this? One way is to prevent this is to provide kids with a fun way to maintain their skills. Check out your library to see if they don’t have a summer reading club. Summer reading clubs have been in libraries for a few years now and are a popular pastime for children of all ages. Most teachers would agree there are many advantages to encouraging kids to enjoy summer reading.Here are a few reasons why you should consider enrolling your child in a summer reading club:

1. Maintaining Performance. Reading just six books during the summer has the potential to keep a struggling reader from regressing, or going back. Parents should be mindful of their child's reading level when choosing books.Libraries often run summer reading programs that provide guidance, such as the award-winning TD Summer Reading Club that has more than 250,000 children participants each year.

2. Improving Performance. Summer reading can help improve literacy levels, giving children the opportunity to return to school in September with further advanced reading skills. The majority of reading club participants, librarians, and parents believe summer reading programs result in improved reading' performance.

3. Learning Confidence. It makes sense that a child with good reading skills will have higher confidence to continue with reading activities, both at school and at home. Participation in group reading clubs not only improves reading confidence, it can increase a child's social confidence as a result of enjoying entertaining interaction with others.

You can obtain more information and get a booklist online at: http://www.td-club-td.ca/. (Canada News)

Submitted by: Susan MiddlesworthLINC Home Study teacherOttawa region


Submitted: May 6/10

Newsletter Contribution –

There are many games that are popular in Lebanon, for example, volleyball, basketball, and soccer. Some other games are not so popular, such as ping-pong, tennis, and baseball.In addition, some people like to go skiing, and like the challenge of playing on teams.

But when I came to Canada for the first time, I watched hockey here, and I liked this game. I liked how the players moved on the ice, and the hockey equipment protected them. However, I was scared about this because it was very rough - all the players pushed each other, and maybe I was also scared because I don't know how slide on the ice. I am excited to watch this game because they play to the last second. Finally, I watched the Olympic game.

Wissam El JakiLevel 3Teacher: Andrew VanceRegion: Nova Scotia

Articles carried Forward from June 2010


Tue 5/25/10 9:42 AM

A 50 years old English teacher is on trial

Meddle age English teacher is on trial, because he hit his14 year old student with metallic danble in front of the other students.

Teacher lost his temper because the boy had made fun with him .Teenager got a fractured skull and several cuts in his face.The boy was repeatedly hit by 3 kg danble and now the teacher is accused to attempt to murder . Witness students said: he got extra power because of his anger and screaming die, die when he was hitting the boy.

On the other side the student had several records in his school file. According to students file he was trouble maker in the class. he would try to make the teacher angry and then took video by mobile phone and then mailed it to other students .

It was so disturbing for the teacher and he had to take several months work off because of mental disorders .when he returned to his work he said to one of his colleagues: he wants to hit some one. A counselor told him he is too passive and he needs to let his anger release.

Educational circumstances in England were shocked about this event and trial is continuing at the court.

Masih:It as unbelievable for me that corporal punishment still exists in UK. I think this catastrophic event was preventable if the principle had managed the bizarre behavior of the student better and earlier. The principle must act stronger before this event took place .Bad behavior of a student led to go the teacher off work because of psychological problems .student was stayed on his antisocial behavior and the consoler recommended to release his anger and his colleague were aware about his instability and stayed silent for further events. Teachers are very important in future of every society and their appropriate manner can change many conflicts in their students.

Masih Ebrahimi-DehkordyLevel 6Ana R’s studentLondon region


Wed 5/19/10 9:21 AM

The advantages of Distance Education (E-Learning)

Have you ever wondered what is distance learning or e-learning? Distance learning is a term used to describe the process of teaching and learning where the instructor (teacher) and the learner (students) are separated by time and/or physical place. In the same way, e-learning involves the use of the computer and internet technologies to deliver the knowledge and to communicate. Over the last years, distance learning has been rapidly growing by leaps and pounds for its many significant and considerable benefits. The following are some of these advantages. Distance learning is economical not only for the learners, but also for the learning institutions. Students do not have to commute which saves money usually spent on fuel, parking, car maintenance, or transportation. Furthermore, they do not need to be in the same city or country of the learning institution. As a result, there is no money to be paid out on board and lodging. On the other hand, distance education is economical for the learning institutions as no classrooms or other materials have to be provided for the teachers and students. For all of the above we can conclude that distance education can be considerably cheaper than attending a traditional college. One of the most important advantages is its flexibility. Distance learning gives the students the opportunity to enjoy the freedom to balance their study, work, family, and social life. For instance, people who work full-time or with changing work schedule, parents who take care of young children, those with health problems, and seniors can continue their education as they do not have to attend classes at a specific time or location. Distance learning certainly allows students to flexibly schedule their classes around work and family. The third feature of distance education is that it’s convenient. Students can study anywhere and anytime they have access to a computer with an internet connection. They can study at the comfort and luxury of their home. In addition, they can review assignments, get announcements, access notes, take practice quizzes, discuss questions with their instructor, and chat with fellow students at any time they want. Thus, with distance learning students can complete most of the classes at their convenience. Another feature of e-learning, which the traditional one lacks, is that it can be self-paced. In other words, students can study on their own speed. Students actually can skim over material that is already mastered by them, and concentrate their effort to learn a subject containing new information. This reduces stress or increases satisfaction not only for a slow learner, but also for a quick one. Self-paced learning is a special feature of e-learning.We can see from all of the above that distance learning has many benefits in


comparison to its traditional counterpart. In short, it provides a great opportunity for people to gain higher education for their career promotion or to upgrade their knowledge at their convenience and the comfort of their homes. And with the increased use of the internet and the availability of many degrees with the e-learning, from high school to post-graduate degree, the future is for the distance learning.

Rana AliLevel 6Art R’s studentLondon region


Wed 5/19/10 9:18 AM

Recipe: Shrimp CocktailIngredients:1 to 1 1/2 pounds of shrimp, peeled, deveined. Chopped (about 1 tablespoon) fresh hot Chile pepper (red or yellow) 1 medium size onion finely sliced along its vertical axis and washed4 lemons juice 1 tablespoon chopped celery1 tablespoon finely chopped cilantro1 level teaspoon blended garlic1 level teaspoon pepperSalt1 bowl of popcorn2 or 3 leaves of lettuce

Direction:

Boil the shrimp for 8 minutes adding salt, garlic and pepper. Strain the shrimp, and put into a deep container to mix together the ingredients. Add celery, cilantro, onion, lemon juice, and mix them. If you want, add the chile, more salt and pepper, mixing them again. Serve immediately after it is ready. Serve the shrimp on two or three leaves of lettuce with a bowl of popcorn as a side dish.

Obdulia Noemi CabreraLevel 6Art R’s studentToronto region


Mon 5/17/10 12:35 PMWATER, LIQUID GOLD

When we need water in Canada, we just simply turn on the faucet and we have it. Usually, all of us think about the method to get water in Canada, it is the same in the rest of the world, but I would like to share some very interesting information about how we are lucky to live in Canada and we can get all water we want at low cost. There are many countries where the water is scarce and is difficult to obtain or it is very expensive; for example, Africa, China, and India are the main countries affected by lack of water, in South America and Europe; water is expensive.

According to a World Health Organization report, over a third of the world’s population is seriously affected by water and sanitation crisis. In Africa, 6 out of 10 people do not even have a proper toilet, which contributes to the transfer of bacteria, viruses and parasites causing diarrhea, the second killer of children in developing countries. In addition, this leads to other major diseases such as cholera, schistosomiasis and trachoma.

Although nowadays water is the oil of the 21st century, many nations are squandering the precious commodity. In addition, irrigation and evaporation take their toll; as a result, prominent rivers are drying up, such as the Colorado River in the western United States, The Yangtze in China, the Indus in Pakistan, the Ganges in India and the Nile in Egypt.

Around the world many sources of water have been dried in high percentage; for example, The Aral Sea in Central Asia was the fourth largest lake on the planet in 1960, by 2007 it had shrunk to 10% of its original size; the five Great Lakes of United States and Canada (Lakes Erie, Huron, Michigan, Ontario and Superior) are shrinking at an alarming pace; Lake Chad in Africa, was a landmark for astronauts circling the earth, it had shrunk by 95% since the 1960s.Each county has its own methods to save water; for example, Durban, South Africa is installing pipes for access to clean water. In Rajasthan, India, women are working on a rainwater harvesting project and in Copan, Honduras, local people are working on a new water system for their villages.

Around ten years ago, Australia’s Deniliquin mill processed enough grain to meet the needs of 20 million people, now the rice crop has been reduced by 98% and the mill was closed in December 2007 due to six long years of drought.

Finally, 97.5% of total water is salt water and 2.5% is fresh water, which is locked up in glaciers and icebergs or underground. Only 1% of freshwater is available to 7 billion humans and countless billons of other like forms.


In conclusion, are we squandering water or we are using a smart way to save water? Do not forget to teach our family, especially our children, about the importance of saving water.

40 percent of the world’s population carries water from wells, rivers, ponds or puddles outside of their homesTrachoma: a chronic contagious viral disease marked by inflammation of the conjunctiva and cornea of the eye and the formation of scar tissue Cholera, Asiatic cholera, Indian cholera, epidemic cholera, an acute intestinal infection caused by ingestion of contaminated water or foodschistosomiasis: is a parasitic disease caused by several species of fluke of the genus Schistosoma often is a chronic illness that can damage internal organs and, in children, impair growth and cognitive development

Jazmin LeonLevel 7Fiona E’s studentPeel region

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_development

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronic_illness

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schistosoma

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trematoda

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parasitic_disease

http://www.wordreference.com/definition/epidemic_cholera

http://www.wordreference.com/definition/Indian_cholera

http://www.wordreference.com/definition/Asiatic_cholera


Sat 5/15/10 1:19 PM

A Hero From My Country

A person I consider a hero is Mohammed bin Rashid , the Prime Minister and Vice President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Ruler of Dubai. He was born on July 22, 1949 and he is still alive. He did a lot for Dubai, for example he launched the ‘Dubai Cares’ campaign to raise money to educate 1 million children in poor countries. Also, he laid the grounds for a free trade environment in the project of Jebel Ali Free Zone and Sea Port. This has brought major international companies to work in Dubai. In addition, the Dubai Internet City was his brilliant idea to bring technology companies and manufacturers to the region. Furthermore, the ‘Noor Dubai’ initiative was launched in 2008 by him which aims at helping 1 million people who suffer from treatable blindness locally and internationally, and much more.

Thanks to his vision, Sheikh Mohammed has competently authored the Dubai success story in record time and put the United Arab Emirates on a unique course, which nations around the world compete to replicate.

Indeed he is a hero.

Lina Rajair sai ArafehLevel 5Water, Carla M’s studentPeel region


Fri 5/14/10 5:48 AM

MY WEDDING RING My wedding ring is so special to me because it reminds me of the love that I have for my husband. Of course, it also reminds me of the good old times when we were younger and had no problems like eating more and finding suitable clothes. I have been married for 14 years and have never taken off my wedding ring. I was not aware of the distance that grew between my ring and I until last April, when I had surgery. I had been waiting to have this surgery for about 6 months and when it was finally the day, the nurse asked me to take off all the things that I had on. I could not take off my wedding ring because I have gained a lot of weight since I got married. I was waiting in the waiting room for two hours and when I got to the preparation room, my doctor told me that if they couldn't take off my wedding ring the surgery would be cancelled. Of course, I got nervous. How could I ever imagine that my dear ring would give me problems (and I mean problems not related to my marriage)?. So, my doctor tried to take off my ring using a spray, another nurse tried with cream and finally the doctor came with tools to cut the ring off but then she decided to call some other nurses and ask them if they could find a way to take off my wedding ring. Finally one nurse said she thought she could but she needed to give me an anesthetic, as it had to be done while I slept, because it would be painful. The doctor agreed and asked me if they couldn't take off my ring, if I would give my authorization for them to cut the ring off. Feeling that I was breaking my wedding vows, I finally agreed. When I woke up from my surgery the first thing I tried to see was my wedding ring and the doctor said not to worry and that the nurse took off my wedding ring without cutting it. And they treated me very well. I was very grateful and thought that the nurses probably felt the same attachment to their own rings. I am happy to have my wedding ring again but I can't wear it on my finger because it is too small for me, or my finger is too big for it, now. However I am very grateful that I can still wear my wedding ring... as part of my favorite necklace. Rocio del Carme Aviles IraholaLevel: 6Angela R’s studentKitchener region


Tue 5/11/10 4:19 PM

My Childhood

"Can you imagine how silly and gluttonous she was?", my parents said to my husband. Once they started it, I knew my silly childhood story would be repeated again.

"After she visited a chicken farm, she thought she knew how chickens could be hatched from eggs, so she started to hatch chick at home.", my mom said. Every kid wanted to have a cute chicken, so did I. If I had an egg and kept it warm enough, I would have my own chick soon. I wrapped an egg with cotton, then hid it in a corner of our wardrobe. To make sure my little chick wouldn't come out suddenly, I checked the egg several times every day. Although it was winter, I believed the egg didn't feel cold behind many/ a lot of clothes. My daydream was everybody would be surprised when they saw my chick and compliment on how smart I was. So I didn't tell anybody and waiting for that coming day. Until the day my mom found that egg from our wardrobe, and my dreams were dashed. From that time, this story became the most persuadable one to prove I was silly. "Forturnately, she didn't visit that farm in summer, otherwise, our clothes would have had very bad smell on it", my mom supplemented”.

"She was not only silly but also gluttonous." My father continued, "No matter where I stored snakes, she always could find them." There was a "game" between my father and I. Every time, he tried to hide snacks away from me, my job was to find it out and eat it. Fortunately, our house was small and had limited space helped me a lot. After many "games", I became smarter and smarter. One day, my father used a new method to store our snack which could prevent me from getting it easily. When he found some snack gone, the first idea to his mind was that it was a mouse. While my Dad told my mom maybe there was a mouse in our home, I was hiding under the table and just had finished eating the snack. My parents bought a trap to deal with the mouse meanwhile they told my sister and I to be careful with it. Of course, they didn't trap any mouse, because they taught "the mouse" not to touch the trap. When my parents found out I was that mouse, I had finished all the snacks already. "So we decided to have no any snacks at home" my father said.

"Could she live without any snacks?", my husband asked. "Oh, she couldn't, she forced us buy it again." It was just like a battle although there were no guns and bullets. I liked to eat snacks, but many times after I ate snacks, I didn't have good appetite for dinner. To avoid me only eating snake, my father thought if he hadn't bought any snacks, I would have had dinner well. So a new policy at home was no snacks any more. The higher ups have policies, while the lower class own ways of getting around them. I thought over and over how to deal with it. One day, there


were no snacks at home. My mom always measured how much she should cook for dinner every day. Based on her experience, she did our dinner as before. However, empiricism wasn't always right, I ate a lot of it before, therefore, there wasn't enough food for dinner. My parents were surprised how good my appetite was. The next day, my mom cooked more for dinner, but something wrong with my tummy, I couldn't eat much. A lot of food was food left. We had no refrigerator at that time, food was easy to perish. My parents had to throw away some food. After several times repeating this, my parents had to give up their idea and I won my snacks back again. "I wasn't always silly, I was smart too, see, this was the best evidence." I said to my husband.

Those were a small part of my childhood. Every time, when we recall it, it makes us laugh a lot.

Xuemei Wu (May) Level 6 - Lisa Gayle R. - Kitchener region


Mon 5/10/10 8:58 PM

This is Nadia’s translation of a story by the famous Russian writer, Aleksandr Kuprin. The original story was published in 1897. It is a very beautiful story, and it too her months of work to finish. I hope that you think it is appropriate for the newsletter. It is certainly very long. Perhaps you should publish it in two instalments.

THE WONDERFUL DOCTOR

The next story is not a figment of my imagination. All I have described really happened in Kiev about thirty years ago; even the smallest details were held sacred and preserved in the traditions of the family. I only give written form to this touching story. I have just changed the names of some people.

“ Grisha! Hey Grisha! Look a piglet ... and it is laughing ... Yes.... something is in his mouth! .... Look, look ... there is grass in his mouth... I swear, grass! Here, you see?!”

Two small boys were standing in front of the huge solid glass window of a food shop. They began to laugh uncontrollably, poking each other in the ribs with their elbows, but they could not stop dancing from the brutal cold. They were stuck in front of this magnificent exhibition for more than five minutes; it was exciting them, both their minds and their stomachs to the same degree. Here were piles of firm red apples and oranges illuminated by the bright light of hanging lamps. There were perfect pyramids of golden mandarins, each one shining delicately through its shroud of paper. There were huge smoked and pickled fishes stretched out on their dishes with ugly gaping mouths and bulging eyes. Below, there were hams adorned with juicy thick layers of pink fat and surrounded by garlands of sausages. There were countless jars and boxes with pickled, boiled and smoked snacks that completed the spectacular picture. The two boys, looking at this scene, momentarily forgot about the twelve degree C frost and the important mission entrusted to them by their mother – the mission that ended so suddenly and so miserably.

The oldest boy was the first one to shake off the hypnotic effect of the charming

exhibition. He pulled his brother's arm and said firmly : “Well, Volodia , let’s go ... Nothing for us here ...” The little fellows (the older of whom was only 10, and neither of whom had had more than empty soup to eat that day) threw their last longing looks at the gastronomic exhibition, suppressed their heavy sighs, and ran down the street.

As the boys hurried down the street, through the misted windows of the houses, they sometimes saw a tree, that from afar seemed just a collection of glowing spots, and sometimes they even heard the sounds of a merry polka being played within ... Bravely, they pushed away the temptation to linger for a few moments with their faces pressed against the frozen glass,


and they struggled on.

As the boys continued down the street, it became empty and dark. The beautiful shops, sparkling Christmas trees, rushing horses with blue and red saddle blankets, screeching sledge runners, excited festive crowds, the merry roar of shouting and loud talking, well-dressed ladies with laughing, frost reddened faces - all were left behind. Instead, there were now twisting, narrow side streets, a wasteland, and darkly illuminated hills...

Finally they reached an old crooked house that was standing alone. Its lower level - actually the basement – was made of stone, and the upper level was made of wood. The boys went round the cramped, icy, dirty yard, which was a natural garbage pit for all the residents. They went downstairs to the basement, stumbled through the dark corridor, found their door, and opened it.

The Mertsalov family had lived in this cave for more than a year. Both boys had long ago gotten used to the smoke, and the damp, weeping walls. They had gotten used to the wet clothes drying on a rope stretched across the room and to the terrible smells of kerosene, children’s laundry, and rats – the true smells of poverty. But today, after what they had seen on the street, all that exultant celebration which they had felt everywhere - all that made their little children's hearts ache from the sharp, unchildlike suffering of their lives. In one corner, there was a girl of seven, lying on a big dirty bed. Her face was red and her breathing was short and difficult. Her bright wide-open eyes ware fixed and staring. Beside the bed there was a cradle hanging from the ceiling with an infant screaming, grimacing, straining, and gasping for breath. A tall thin woman knelt near the sick girl. Her haggard face was blackened from grief. The mother was adjusting her daughter’s pillow while at the same time rocking the cradle with her elbow. The boys came into the basement followed by white clouds of frosty air. The woman turned her worried face toward them.

“Well?” she asked abruptly and impatiently. The boys were silent. Only Grisha wiped his nose noisily with the sleeve of his coat, which had been converted from an old cotton gown. “Have you delivered the letter? ... Grisha, I’m asking you: have you given the letter? “

“I gave it,” answered Grisha with a voice hoarse from the cold. “Well, what? What did you tell him?” “Everything you taught us. ‘Here,’ I said, ‘this is the letter from Mertsalov, your former

manager.’ And he swore at us: ‘Get out of here ... You bastards! ...’”“But who was he? Whom did you talk to ? ... Speak properly, Grisha!” “The doorman was talking ... Who else? I said to him:’ Uncle, take the letter and send it. I

will wait for an answer down here. And he says: ‘Yes, sure, certainly! Why not? Open your pocket wider why don’t you? ... You think the master has time to read your letter? ‘“

“And you? ““I told him everything as you taught me. I said, ’We don’t have anything to eat ...

Mashutka is sick ... She is dying ...’ I said. ‘As soon as my father finds work, we will thank you, Savely Petrovich ... In the name of God, we will thank you.` Then the bell started to ring; it was ringing and ringing, and he said, ‘Get out of here; go to hell!` And he even hit Volody on


the neck.” “And he hit me on the head!” said Vladimir, who had listened to his brother’s story

attentively, and rubbed his head. The older boy suddenly began to dig anxiously in the deep pockets of the robe. Finally, he

pulled out a crumpled envelope, placed it on the table and said, “Here is the letter...” Their mother did not ask any more. For a long time in the stuffy, dank room there were

only the sounds of the frantically crying baby and Mashutka’s short rapid breathing, more like incessant monotonous moaning. Suddenly the mother turned back to them and said, “There is some soup left over from dinner ... Maybe you would like to eat it? It is only cold. I don’t have anything to reheat it with ...”

At the same time in the hallway there were someone’s uncertain steps and rustling hand trying to find the door in the darkness. Mother and two boys, all three pale from suspense, turned towards the door.

Mertsalov came in. He was in a summer coat and summer felt hat and without galoshes. His hands were swollen and blue from the cold; his eyes were failing, and his cheeks were clinging around his gums like a dead man‘s. He didn’t tell his wife a single word; she did not ask a single question. They understood the despair that could be read in each other's eyes.

Misfortune upon misfortune had rained down on Mertsalov and his family. First, he fell ill from typhoid fever and its treatment used up all of their meagre savings. Then, when he recovered, he learned that his job as a superintendent for twenty-five rubles a month had already been taken by another person. Thus began a desperate, convulsive rush for cash: casual work, scribbling letters, searching for any insignificant job, borrowing from loan sharks, repawning things, and selling everything of the slightest value. And then the children started to get sick. Three months earlier, one girl had died, and now another one had fever and was unconscious. Elizaveta Ivanovna had to take care of the sick girl and the small breastfeeding infant, and at the same time she had to do laundry at houses at the other end of the town.

All day today he had been busy trying with superhuman efforts to squeeze out at least a few cents for medicine for Mashutka. Mertsalov went around almost half of the city begging and humbling himself everywhere, Elizaveta Ivanovna went to her mistresses, the children were sent with that letter to the house where Mertsalov had been working ... but everyone they met excused themselves because of holiday preparations or lack of money. Some, as for example the doorman of the former patron, simply drove them away.

Now, back at home, no one could say a word for the first ten minutes. Suddenly, Mertsalov rose from the trunk where he was sitting and he pulled down his hat on his forehead with determination.

“Where are you going?” asked Elizabeth Ivanovna anxiously. Mertsalov, who was already touching the door knob, turned around.

“Anyway, sitting won’t help,” he said hoarsely. “I will go again ... At least try to ask for alms.” He went outside and started walking aimlessly. He wasn’t searching for anything and didn’t


have any hope. For a long time, he had already endured that burning poverty when you dream of finding a wallet full of money lying in the street or suddenly receiving an inheritance from an unknown uncle. Now he was seized with an uncontrollable desire to run anywhere, carelessly, just so that he didn’t see the silent despair of his hungry family. Ask for alms? He had already tried that two times today. The first time, a man in a fur coat had told him that it is necessary to work instead of begging, and the second one had promised to call the police.

Imperceptibly Mertsalov came into the centre of the city, right to the front gate of the public garden. He had to go uphill all the time, and now he was out of breath and felt great weariness. He mechanically turned and entered the gate, passed down a long avenue, and sat down on a low garden bench.

Here everything was silent and solemn. The trees, shrouded in their white cloaks, dozed in motionless majesty. The deep silence and the great calm guarding the garden, suddenly cleared the tormented soul of Mertsalov, who had had such an intolerable thirst for this same calm, this same silence. "Here, lie down and fall asleep,” he thought. “Forget about your wife, about the hungry children, about poor sick Mashutke." Mertsalov pushed a hand under his waistcoat and groped the thick cord that served him as a belt. . . The thought of suicide had risen clearly in his head; he was not terrified about it anymore. He wanted to rise and execute this terrible plan, but he heard the soft sound of steps at the end of the avenue. Mertsalov turned angrily toward the sound. Someone was walking down the avenue. At first, he only saw the spark of a cigar. Then, little by little, Mertsalov could make out an old man in a warm cap, fur coat and high galoshes. As soon the stranger reached the bench, he turned towards Mertsalov and, slightly touching his hat, asked, “May I sit down here?” Mertsalov deliberately, sharply turned away from the stranger and moved to the edge of the bench. Five minutes passed in mutual silence, throughout which the stranger just sat and smoked his cigar.

“ Oh, the night, how glorious!” suddenly spoke the stranger. “It is frosty... and quiet. What a beautiful thing - Russian winter!” His voice was soft, gentle, and like an old man’s. Mertsalov kept silent and did not turn. “Well. I bought gifts for the friend’s kids,” continued the stranger. (In his hands he had several pieces of clothing.) “Yes, I could not resist going down this road. I made a circle to walk through the garden: it is very nice here.”

Mertsalov generally was a gentle and shy man, but the last words of the stranger suddenly filled him with desperate rage. Ridiculously waving his hands, he turned to the old man and shouted: “Gifts! Gifts! Gifts for a friend’s kids! ... I ... And me sir... at this moment my kids are dying from starvation at home.... Gifts!.. And my wife's milk has gone and the infant has not eaten all day ... Gifts! ..”

Mertsalov expected that after these erratic, angry cries, the old man would rise and go, but he was mistaken. The old man approached him, his intelligent face with its gray sideburns now serious, and said in a friendly but serious tone, “Wait ... do not worry! Tell me everything in order and as briefly as possible. Maybe together we will think of something for you.”


In the unusual stranger's face there was something so calm and credible that Mertsalov immediately, without any concealment but fearfully and hurriedly, gave his story. He spoke about his illness, about losing his job, the death of the child, about all of his misfortunes until today. The stranger listened inquisitively and without interrupting, and looked intently into Mertsalov‘s eyes as if trying to penetrate the very depths of this suffering, disturbed soul. Suddenly, quickly, with youthful movements, he sprang from his seat and grabbed Mertsalov‘s hand. Mertsalov involuntarily rose too.

“Let’s go!” said the stranger, pulling Mertsalov’s hand. ” Let’s go! You are lucky you met with your doctor. I, of course, cannot promise anything, but ... let's go!”

Ten minutes later Mertsalov and the doctor had already entered the basement. Elizaveta Ivanovna was lying on the bed next to her sick daughter, who was burying her face in the dirty moist pillows. The boys were sitting in the same place gulping soup. They were frightened by the long absence of their father and by their mother's immobility: they were crying, wiping their tears on their faces with dirty fists. The doctor entered the room, took off his coat, and stayed in an old and rather shabby coat. He went to Elizabeth Ivanovna, who did not even raise her head at his approach.

“Well, it is enough, enough, my dear,” said the doctor gently stroking the woman’s back. “There! Show me your sick child.” And, just as recently in the garden, something sweet and convincing sounded in his voice that made Elizabeth Ivanovna at once rise from the bed and obediently fulfill all that the doctor asked. In two minutes, Grishka lit the stove with wood obtained from the neighbours with the doctor’s help. Volodya blew on the samovar. Elizabeth Ivanovna wrapped Mashutka in hot compresses ... A little later in came Mertsalov. On three rubles received from the doctor, he had managed to buy from the nearest tavern hot food, tea, sugar, and buns.

The doctor sat at a table and wrote something on a piece of paper which he had torn from his notebook. When he finished, he put some kind of a hook instead of a signature at the bottom. He got up, put the paper under the tea cup, and said, “Here is a piece of paper that you can take to the pharmacy ... Give one teaspoon every two hours. This will cause the baby to spit. Continue putting hot compresses. In addition, even if your daughter becomes better, invite Doctor Afrosimov tomorrow. He is a sensible doctor and a good man. I will warn him immediately. And now, goodbye. I hope this coming year will be a little better for you than this one and, most importantly, keep your spirits up!”

He shook hands with Mertsalov and Elizabeth Ivanovna, who was still reeling from amazement, and he patted Volodya on the cheek. The doctor then quickly stuck his feet into his deep galoshes and put on his coat.

Mertsalov recovered his wits only when the doctor was already in the hallway and rushed after him. In the darkness it was impossible to make out his surroundings, so Mertsalov cried out at random: “Doctor! Doctor wait! .. Tell me your name, Doctor! Let my children pray for


you!” And he thrust out his hands to catch the unseen doctor. But at this moment at the other end of the corridor, a quiet old man's voice said, “Hmm! Here is a load of invented nonsense! Return to your room!”

When he returned, there was a surprise: under the tea cup, along with the prescription from the wonderful doctor, were several large bank bills. That same evening Mertsalov learned the name of his unexpected benefactor. On the pharmacy label that was attached to the bottle of medicine, the pharmacist had clearly written: "by the recipe of Professor Pirogov”.

I heard this story repeatedly from the mouth of Gregory Yemelyanovich Mertsalova, that same Grishka who I described as a little child crying over the empty borscht pot. Now he is at a quite high, responsible position in one of the banks. He is a model of integrity and responsiveness to the needs of the poor. And every time he tells his story about the wonderful doctor, he finishes in a voice trembling with hidden tears: “From then on, a beneficent angel has looked after our family. All changed. In early January, my father found a job, Mashutka got well, and it was arranged that my brother and I would be enrolled in a school at public expense. This sacred person had performed a miracle. After that, we saw our wonderful doctor only one more time, when he was transported dead to his own place called the Cherry. And we didn‘t recognize him because that great powerful and sacred light that had lived and burnt in the wonderful doctor all his life had died away.

Nadejda GovorovaLevel 7Gregory S’s studentKitchener region


Thu 5/06/10 10:22 PM

Indonesian Cheese-Filled CupcakesIngredients:4 egg yolks2 egg whites90 grams granulated white sugar60 grams all-purpose flour75 grams melted butter

50 grams shredded Gouda cheese or any other type of cheese

1. Preheat oven to 180 c. Mix eggs and granulated sugar at high speed until stiff.2. Add flour and mix well. 3. Stir in melted butter.4. Place cupcake cups into muffin pan and filled each half-way; sprinkle with grated cheese

leaving enough room for second layer of batter and cheese.5. Bake for 15 minutes or until tops are brown.

Yield approximately 15 cupcakes.

By: Lianita SughandiLevel 6Morley M’s studentPeel region


Tue 5/04/10 11:08 PMTV & Children

According to the A.C. Nielsen Co., whose head quarters are in the U.S. is the world’s leading marketing and media information company, found out after conducting a survey that the average American watches more than 4 hours of TV each day (or 28 hours/week, or 2 months of nonstop TV-watching per year). In a 65-year life span, that person will have spent 9 years glued to the tube. Would you believe that T.V.programs watched by infants, kids and adults is more than the ideal time? According to me the ideal time for the kids to watch TV should be 1-2hrs a day. Do you know the reason for increase of violence and obesity? Do you know nowadays why children are more immune to violence? If you would like to know the reason, watch TV for 3-4 hours a day for some months. Children and TV is the issue raised so many times and many institutes did research on it. All research goes against watching TV.

There is no doubt that TV can be used as an educational and entertainment instrument. There are many channels for kids to watch, in which kids can enjoy cartoons, creative activities, dance or games. By watching these types of channels, kids can develop cognitively. The Discovery Channel shows many interesting programs related to the history, animals, etc. Kids can watch this channel and enjoy as well as learn by watching TV. TVO kids is a channel which shows programs related to kids regarding education, dance and arts. These types of channels are very good for kids and kids can learn from these types of channels. But the time kids watch these channels also play an important role. Most of the kids don’t want to go away during the time of their favorite program, and they spend excessive amounts of time watching TV instead if playing outdoors and taking part in sports. They become like a couch potato, glued to the T.V This can reflect on their health, they become obese due to inactivity and it can their brain development as well as physical development. During childhood the brain develops imagination and creativity, but if kids watch TV a lot then they get those pictures ready which prevents them to think.

The violence is dramatically increased, and people become immune to violence. There are many reasons behind this but one of them is TV, which shows more and more violent programs. Here are some numbers which will raise your brows. The average child will watch 8,000 murders on TV before finishing elementary school. By age eighteen, the average American has seen 200,000 acts of violence on TV, including 40,000 murders. Watching TV is a normal activity of our lives. When kids watch violence on TV, they become immune to violence in daily lives and they start to believe that this is the only way to get justice. Nowadays games are also becoming more and more violent. Kids imitate what they see on TV. Watching TV is not an important activity, which can help to develop a child’s body or brain.


Instead there are numerous other activities which are more beneficial; activities like drawing, swimming, painting, sports, reading, music, games, etc

Obesity is one of the major health problems in Canada. You can refer the following numbers declared by Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS): for the age of 2 – 17 years, 18% (an estimated 1.1 million), and 8% were obese (about half a million)—a combined rate of 26% according to the survey did in 2004. The root cause for that is also the time spent by kids watching TV. Watching TV makes children lazy and they become tired, consequently, they don’t go outside to play. Sometimes children, instead of watching TV, play games on computer or play stations. Instead of watching TV or playing games, kids should go out and play some games or indoor games which can help them to develop their body as well as their brains.

There is a solution for every problem. Our problem is the amount of time kids watch TV and the program watched by kids. Following are some suggestions which will make your family’s life healthy and happy.- Monitor what programs kids watch.

Keep an eye on the programs kids watch. By asking them questions regarding the program, you can raise their imagination and learning ability.

- Restrict their time to watch TV.(1 program only or 1 hour only)Allow them to watch TV only after finishing their homework.Keep them busy with something else than TV such as playing indoor games in the winter, which can help them to think and concentrate. Join recreational activities which can help them to develop physically and mentally too. During summer time, take them to the park where they can play with other kids and enjoy life.

- Kids should know the symbols used for viewer discrimination. Parents should make their kids aware about some symbols such as TV – Y: suitable for all children, TV-PG: parental guidance suggested, TV-14: suitable only for kids over 14 years.

To make the next generation’s life peaceful, healthier, loving, understanding, caring and respectful teach them values, morals, the benefits of reading a good book instead of watching T.V programs. Finally, let them watch program that will be of value and benefit them leading them to become good citizens.

By Alpesh Kumar PatelLevel 5Jonathan B’s studentToronto region


Fri 4/30/10 10:30 AM

Energy Efficient Home

The Eco-Energy Retrofit - Homes program, is a program funded by the Goverment of Canada created to encourage homeowners around the country to undertake energy efficient improvements in their homes. This is a great idea because it will result in increased energy savings and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We are right now a part of this program. As a part of this program, you have to have a pre-retrofit evaluation and a home energy evaluation from a licensed professional, who can assess your home about the improvements you can do to become more energy efficient.

In our case, we had our pre-retrofit evaluation on March 5, 2010. The energy advisor said we should change our old water heater tank for a tankless water heater, improve the insulation in our basement, change our toilets for dual flush toilets, and eliminate small drafts sealing the energy leakage in our home. Right now, we are renovating our basement and we made all the improvements we were advised to do. We are ready to have our post-retrofit evaluation, and ready to apply for the grants this program offers. This is a no brainer option, everybody wins, you can improve your home's energy performance and receive an Energuide rating label and grants, and you can become a friend of the earth. For further information, see the following web site:

http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/residential/personal/grants.cfm?attr=0

Martha RuizLevel 6Fiona E’s studentPeel region

http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/residential/personal/grants.cfm?attr=0


Wed 4/28/10 11:07 AM

In the April edition of Linc Newsletter, Nahla S. a student of the Linc Home Study program, wrote an article entitled “Egypt”. She provided readers with a nice brief description of Egypt.

Nahla was right; the weather in Egypt is fantastic, with sun for almost for the whole year except of some rain during the winter in a few cities on the two coastlines. Also, as she mentioned, there are so many nice places to visit, whether they are old places such as the Pyramids, Sphinx, temples, and museums, etc. or new places such as The Magic Land, Dream Land and Sinbad which all have lots of games. Egypt has beautiful beaches, with amazing fresh air, clean salty water in the sea and the bright sun.

The main problem as Nahla also mentioned, is the population which is concentrated in a third of the area of the country and the rest is desert. I would like to add another big problem that Egypt faces, which is the pollution especially in the capital of Egypt, Cairo, where most of the factories and the population are located.

However, if you are looking for a place to visit, do not hesitate to choose Egypt, because you will never forget your visit.

Rania K.Level 6Terese C’s studentOttawa region


April 26, 2010 12:30 PM

Iraqi Date Cookies (Klaicha)

These cookies are the favourites and the most well known Iraqi sweets that are usually served when celebrating “Eid” in Iraq.

Ingredients 3 cups wheat flour1 cup butter melted 1 cup water or milk1 tablespoon baking powder1 teaspoon salt1 egg beaten

The date filling2- 2 ½ cups dates pitted 3 tablespoon butter2 teaspoon ground cardamom

Instructions1. Place the dates and butter into a saucepan. Cook over low heat and stir occasionally until the dates soften and become like a paste. Add the cardamom and set aside to cool. 3. In a bowl, mix the dry ingredients: the flour, baking powder, and salt. Make a hole in the center of the mixture.4. Pour the melted butter into the hole of the flour mixture. Then rub flour with fingertips until the butter is distributed evenly.3. Then add the water or the milk and knead until it forms a smooth dough. Adding more water if necessary. Allow the dough to rest for 30- 60 minutes.5. Divide the dough into three parts. With a rolling pin, shape one part of the dough to a rectangle with ¼ inch thickness. 6.Then take one third of the date paste and make it as a long roll with same length as the dough and place it along with one edge of the dough. Then roll over to enclose the filling. Remove the excess dough. Cut into small pieces.8. Arrange the cookies into a baking pan. Brush the cookies


with the beaten egg and bake in a preheated oven with 350 degree F for about 15-20 minutes or until the Klaicha turns golden brown.

Tips 1- Do not substitute butter with oil. Butter makes the cookies soft. 2- You can make plain cookies without any filling by cutting it into round shape using cookies cutter or fill it with chopped walnut mixed with little honey.

Rana AliLevel 6Art R’s studentLondon region

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