My husband died and I became very angry. I hated being alone. One day, as I was 1down a busy street, I suddenly noticed a beautiful new fence (栅栏)around a house. The 2 still smelled of fresh paint.

    “Hello!” I came up and said to a 3 in the back garden, “I came to see the fence, it's so beautiful! ”

    “Oh! The fence is not there for me,” the lady explained to me in a calm voice, ”I live alone.

    4 so many people pass by every day, I think they maybe pleased to see something really wonderful.  5 stop like you and come up to have a chat.”

    “But weren't you 6when they expanded (拓宽)the road and everything changed so much?”“Change is part of life and takes part in making us who we are. When something we do not like happens to us, we have7choices to become a bitter (痛苦的)person or to become a better person.”

    Her reply changed my life, I carefully left the gate open and drove on 8a new feeling inside me. I could not tell9it was, but I could feel the thick stone wall around my 10 heart breaking off.

    “Homestay is a form of study abroad program. It allows the visitor to rent a room from a local(当地的)family to better understand the local lifestyle. It also helps to improve the visitor's language ability,” said a teacher during a school meeting last term. “Students who wish to learn more about foreign cultures or to get foreign experience should join this kind of holiday. I am sure you won't be disappointed(失望的).”

    After this special meeting, I always thought about this kind of holiday. Last month, I had a chance at last to go on such a holiday with some of my schoolmates and we went to London, a place where I had wanted to go since years ago.

    As we were still young, we had a group leader who planned things for us and looked after us. After we got to London, we went to stay with different families. I was lucky that my host family(寄宿家庭) was a white couple who had a daughter about my age. They treated me as a daughter of their family during my stay there. They were interested in me and I learnt a lot of things from them, too.

    The holiday was filled with activities every day. After breakfast, a local teacher would come to take us in his car. Then we would have classes or go on a sightseeing trip to different places of interest like the Big Ben, the London Bridge, and the Buckingham Palace. We would go back to our own homes after the activities.

    The holiday was a valuable experience for me. I enjoyed every minute of it. Yet, time really flew fast. Three weeks later, we had to leave “homes”for Hong Kong.

    If you think you're too shy and want to be a little bit braver, try the following. You can make it.

     ① There's no need to hide(隐藏)it. When they get to know you're a shy kid, they'll understand you better. This also helps you feel more at ease in talks.

     ② When you smile, people think you are friendly and easy to talk to. Remember that other people also have feelings and most people will stay away from an angry-looking face.

     ③ If you find it hard to start talks, say something nice about people around you. Think about how great you feel when someone says something nice to you. Doesn't it make you want to keep talking to that person?

     ④ Think more about ways to enjoy the party or the game. Don't waste time worrying about your looks or whether people like you or not.

    Take one small step at a time. Each time after you say “Hi” or smile at someone for the first time, say to yourself “You did it!” Or it could be something bigger, like buying yourself an ice cream.

    Keep trying and one day you'll never be “shy” when you talk to others.