šåōåšąņ 14 ńī÷čķåķčé ķą ąķćėčéńźīģ ˙ēūźå

1. My last day off.

  Yesterday it was Sunday, that’s why my last day off was not long  ago  and
I remember it quite well. I always try to do my best  to  make  my  holidays
really exciting, because we have only few days in a week for relaxation  and
rest.
  Yesterday my friends and I agreed to meet at my place. First we watched  a
very interesting  TV  show  «What?  Where?  When?».  Then  we  went  took  a
videocassette and watched an outstanding movie «The Independence Day».  This
is a story about strangers from  the  other  planets  that  were  trying  to
conquer the whole Earth and about the struggle against them.  The  movie  is
full of visual effects and computer graphics  that  takes  your  breath  and
makes you admire the modern technologies in the cinema. I wish  our  studios
and directors made such movies. «The Independence Day» can be added  to  the
genius pieces of modern art – that is my opinion.
  Having watched the film, we decided that it was a time to go outside.  The
first place we went to was the sports ground. Though it was rather cold,  we
put on warm clothes and had fun. Almost all day long we  played  soccer  and
basketball.
  As for me, I like weekends and holidays, as the majority of other  people.
And I like telling  about  my  holidays.  It’s  dull  to  listen  about  the
ordinary working day, how  do  you  think?  Every  working  day  looks  like
another, but every weekend is different from the other. During  the  weekend
we have an opportunity of enjoying the life and having rest.


                      2. The library of our institute.

  «Library is a temple of  books», -- somebody said. And I fully agree  with
these wise words. Every person in our country elder than 14 years  old,  I’m
sure, was at least one time in the library. The  majority  of  young  people
has subscriptions to the libraries they like. The libraries  not  only  give
us a vast choice of  books,  but  also  offers  excellent  opportunities  of
having rest.
  As you know, I study at the Far-Eastern State  University,  and  I’m  very
proud that its library is thought to be the one of the largest  in  Primorye
and even the whole Far-East.
Soon after our studies began, we had heard for a course  of  lectures  about
the university library. We were told about the rules of using books we  take
from the library and about its catalogues. Having listened to  this  course,
we passed an examination that showed everything we had learnt.
  Soon I had to visit our library the first time as I needed a text book  on
economics. I went downstairs (as library is situated in  the  ground  floor)
and found a room I was searching for. But I didn’t get  the  immediately  as
it was many students. So  I waited for my turn. I asked to a librarian if  I
could get the book on economical  theory.  She  answered  affirmatively  and
soon brought  me  a  book  which  name  was  «Modern  economics».  Than  the
librarian asked me if it was  for  the  first  time  I  used  the  library’s
services. I answered that it  was  true,  and  she  suggest  me  to  receive
reader’s ticket. I was interested to know what documents I  had  to  provide
for this. She told that she needed only my photo  3x4  cm  and  some  money.
Fortunately, I had picture with myself and  two  minutes  later  I  was  the
owner of reader’s ticket, which proves that  I  am  a  real  member  of  the
university library.
  So, that is my story about our library. By the way,  I  want  to  say  you
that I was greatly surprised the  level  of  service  in  it.  It  was  very
pleasant to meet kind librarian that was eager to  help  in  everything  you
ask.

                         3. A visit to a sick friend.

  Everybody can fall ill with any disease. Fortunately, only  cold  and  flu
are quite frequent in our city among infectious illnesses. They  are  rather
easy for the modern medicine and  various  pills  can  help  you  a  lot  in
overcoming this trouble. But, of course, being sick isn’t a pleasant way  of
spending your  time.  In  such  situation  friend’s  participation  in  this
trouble can encourage  you,  give  you  moral  support  and  even  can  make
yourself feel better. That’s why you always should visit your sick  friends.
You must remember that tomorrow this illness may happen with you.
  I always try to follow this rule. Fortunately, my friends don’t  fall  ill
frequent. But I remember such case that happened about 12  months  ago.  One
of my best school friends had fallen ill with hard form of flu. Soon I  went
to his place to see him. I took some things that, as I was  expecting,  were
interesting for him. Among them I brought a  videocassette  with  best  game
moments of National Basketball  Association.  He  was  very  glad  for  this
present and soon  we  both  were  enjoying  the  outstanding  games  of  the
strongest basketball league in the world. Then I told him  all  last  school
news and everything about the material we had passed  when  he  was  absent.
Then we tried to entertain ourselves and started to solve crosswords in  the
newspapers, to watch TV set, so we began to  do  all  that  everybody  makes
when he doesn’t know what to do. To my surprise, I lost the feeling of  time
and there was deep evening, when I understood, that it was a time to  go  to
the home. When I was leaving for the home, my friend promised that he  would
be all right soon and he kept his word. In a two days he came to school  and
started to study various  subjects  with  new  energy.  Sometimes  a  little
interval is useful for a person.
  Modern medicine helps us a lot in a illness treatment. It  also  gives  us
many advises of how not to fall ill. Please  follow  these  recommendations,
and don’t be sick.


                                4. My family.

  We are 4 at our family: my mother, father,  my  elder  brother  and  I.  I
think, our family is friendly, united. We spend much time together,  go  for
a walk in the woods, visit theaters, museums, go to the cinema. My  mother’s
name is Luidmila Mikhailovna. She is an engineer, she works  in  an  office.
She is a kind, nice woman. She can cook very well. She is fond  of  reading.
My father’s name is  Konstantin Alexeevich. He is a sailor. He is a  strong,
clever  man.  He  often  tells  me  interesting  stories   about   different
countries. Father  can  do  a  lot  of  things.  He  teaches  me  to  repair
furniture, to drive a car. My brother’s name is Alexei. He is 22 years  old.
He have been studied in Far- Eastern State Marine Academy for 5  years.  Now
it is a very difficult period for him: he is passing through state exams.
  I have my duties about the house. I must go  shopping,  clean  the  rooms.
It’s not difficult for me. I like our home to be clean  and  tidy.  I  think
home is the nicest place. As proverb says, «East or  West,  home  is  best».
There is no place more delightful than home and there  are  no  people  more
dear than your relatives.


                     5. The working day of an engineer.

  One of my friend, Dmity Shevelev, lives in Vladivostok now though  he  was
born in  Nakhodka.  Some  years  ago  he  graduated  from  the  one  of  our
institutions and became an engineer.  Now  he  lives  near  his  office.  He
usually walks there. He works on weekdays. I can’t say that  he  work  hard,
but all his mates like him because he is a good mixer or, as  you  may  say,
he is very communicable person. He doesn’t work on Saturday or  Sunday.  His
working day usually lasts for eight hours. His  duties  are  to  answer  all
incoming letters and calls, to meet  with  different  specialists,  to  help
young engineers. He often tells me that he likes his  job.  I  usually  meet
him after the work and we speak about life. He is very glad  that  he  found
such work where he can show all his talents. Though there  is  a  difference
between our ages, we have much in common. He is among my best friends.
  By the way, my friend knows English rather well (he finished school  #13).
It helps him a lot as every year various foreign delegations come  to  their
office.  These  delegations   change   different   technologies   with   our
specialists and discuss many problems. All foreigners  thought  Shevelev  to
be the best translator in their institute.


                             6. My working day.

  I usually start  my  day  with  getting  up  and  doing  all  things  that
everybody does in the morning: washing, having breakfast, etc. Also,  I  got
used to gather my learning tools:  pencils,  exercise-books,  text-books  in
the morning. Then I usually go to the university. Fortunately, father  takes
a car every morning and he often picks me up and drives me to the  doors  of
our university building.
  And soon the lectures and lessons begin... We have from 2  to  4  lectures
every time, depending on day. I like studying in the  university  more  than
in the school because in university  it  is  mostly  allowed  to  miss  some
lectures (of course, later you should take a  summary  from  your  mate  and
copy it). So, a student is much more free, than pupil is.
  After the lessons I usually return home where  I  have  dinner  and  start
thinking about my ways of spending the rest of the day. Very often I  go  to
my friend’s places. During the early autumn and summer I  often  go  to  the
sports ground or on  the  beach.  I  also  like  visiting  different  sports
events, for example, soccer matches of «Luch» in Russian  championship.  So,
the world is full of enjoyable things to do.
  On returning home I usually start doing my homework (perhaps,  it  is  the
most dull part of the day). Having finished it, I open a book  and  read  it
or watch TV. At last, I go to the bed.
  Of course, I would like to tell you more about myself and my working  day,
but, unfortunately, my time is rather limited  and  I  have  got  a  lot  of
homework to do. Generally, now you know about my working day enough.

                      7. My grandmother country house.

  You are lucky if you have grandmother in the country to  go  to.  Visiting
our old relatives gives us excellent chance to become children again.  Every
time you are at your grannies they start to take care  of  you.  That’s  why
everybody loves his grannies very much. Countryside  is  always  the  nicest
place for everybody as its fresh air cheers you up  and  the  low  level  of
noise helps you to have real rest.
  My grandmother lives at Oceanskaya station. Every summer  I  got  used  to
spent my summer vocations at her place. It  is  the  nicest  place  for  me.
There is sand beach and deep forest – it is all I need for the  rest.  Every
day is full of adventures – you may investigate woods, get sunburn  or  swim
in the sea. And if you also find good friends to spend time with –  you  may
call this place real paradise. And all this pleasures one can  get  only  in
25 kilometers of the city!
  My grandmother is kind old woman. Her name is  Lidia  Federovna.  All  her
life she worked hard and now she  is  still  very  industrious  and  tender-
hearted. I love her very much. All best moments in my life I  spent  at  her
place at Okeanskaya station. I will never forgot my grandmother’s house  and
I am sure the impressions I got there will be  among  the  brightest  in  my
life.


                          8. The lesson of English.

  As you know, our group has two English  lesson  a  week:  on  Tuesday  and
Friday. When the teacher come and opens the door, we come in  and  sit  down
at the tables. Then we open our bags and take our exercise-books and  Bonk’s
text-books.
  And  soon  the  lesson  begins...  We  usually  start  it  by  pronouncing
different words and sounds. Then we are usually invited  to  the  blackboard
by the teacher and Oksana Victorovna asks us the words we were to  teach  by
heart. After that we usually do some exercises  from  the  text-book.  These
exercises teach us to ask questions, or how to make negative  sentences  and
so on. Then, having got our  exercise-books  for  tests,  we  usually  write
spelling, two tests and a quiz. During the lesson we speak  mostly  English,
but sometimes, when the students don’t understand the teacher  or  the  task
in the text-book, we start speaking Russian.
  What I like best of all in  our  English  lessons  is  the  gay,  friendly
atmosphere in the class. The funny joke is always greeted.
  To the end of the lesson the teacher always gives us a huge  homework.  It
usually consists of learning new  words  or  a  text  by  heart  and  making
several exercises in a writing  form.  Then  we  all  say  good-bye  to  our
teacher and begin preparing to the new lesson.
  Here I want to end my small composition about the English lessons  in  the
university, where I study. And I want to say you that  all  English  lessons
are among the most interesting and the most exciting lessons; that’s  why  I
like them very much.


                    9. What will be there in my new flat.

  Every young man wants to live independently. And I’m not an exception.  Of
course, the time will come, when I will alone in my flat. I  wait  for  this
moment and  imagine, that my new flat will be at least three  roomed.  There
will be a study, a bed-room, a dinning-room. Of course, there also  will  be
a kitchen and a bathroom. The dinning- room will  be  big  comfortable  room
with big table in the center. There also will be several  armchairs,  and  a
big TV set in it. In this room I shall receive guests. I also  shall  put  a
piano in the one of corners  of  the  room  and  shall  start  taking  piano
lessons cause I like this musical instrument very much.
  The bed-room will become my favorite one because it  is  a  room  of  rest
where everybody can spend several hours without  noise  and  fuss.  There  I
shall put my PC that helps me very much.
  Another room – study will be the place where  I  shall  do  all  my  work.
There will be a large table full of papers and several shelves. I  am  going
to gather big collection of books, so they won’t stay empty.
  That’s how I imagine my future flat. I hope that these dreams will  become
true.

                      10. How did I spend last summer?

  I think summer is the best season for rest because it is warm, the  nature
is beautiful and we have great opportunities for rest. Summer is a  time  of
holidays. We can go for a walk all day long, watch  the  clouds,  swim,  sit
down by a river or a lake on fresh, green  grass,  climb  high  hills,  play
different games, ride a bicycle and so on.
  I spend my summer holidays at my granny. There were many things  there  to
enjoy. I swam in the sea, laid  in  the  sun  and  did  many  other  things.
Sometimes I made a fire with my friends at the seaside and  cooked  potatoes
there.  It  was  wonderful.  We  told  anecdotes  to  each  other,  and  did
everything we wanted. I also got used to walk alone in the forest.
  When the August was coming to the end, I went on a small voyage  by  ship.
The ship name was «Olga Sadovskaya».
  But the last summer wasn’t for me only sugar  and  honey.  I  have  passed
through the graduating exams in school and entering exams in the  university
and technical university. So the bigger part of my summer vocations I  spent
at the books. Of course, it was not interesting, but I’m glad that I did  it
because now I’m a student of the best university in Primorye and  the  whole
Far-East.


                            11.My first journey.

  For some people there is nothing so exciting as traveling, and I’m not  an
exception. And I’m happy that I have traveled a  lot  and  I  hope  that  my
first journey wasn’t the last one.
  First I bought a ticket for plane. Many people think, that nothing can  be
compared with traveling by air, because it is the most comfortable, and,  of
course, the quickest way of moving. There is none of the dust and dirt of  a
railway or car journey, none of  the  trouble  of  changing  from  train  of
another to streamer and then  to  another  train.  But  booking  tickets  in
summer is a problem. The air-fare is quite expensive and not all people  can
afford it.
  Then I continued my way by the train. This  kind  of  transport  has  also
many advantages. With a train you have a comfort and  speed  combined.  From
a comfortable corner seat of a railway carriage you have a splendid view  of
a countryside. If you are hungry you can have a meal in the dinning-car  and
if the journey is long one can have a bed in a sleeper.
  But I believe that there is no travel so fine as by ship.  It’s  wonderful
to feel the deck of the ship under the feet, to see the  rise  and  fall  of
the waves, to feel the fresh sea wind blowing in the face, hear the  cry  of
the sea-gulls. Of course, the voyage isn’t exciting for those who  are  sea-
sick when the sea is a little bit rough.
  Many people say: «Give me  a  walking  tour  any  time».  And  it  is  not
surprising. The walker leaves the dull, broad highway and goes along  little
winding lanes where cars can’t go.  He  takes  mountain  paths  through  the
heather, he wonders by the side of quiet lakes and  through  the  shades  of
woods.
  He sees the real country, the wild  flowers,  the  young  birds  in  their
nests, the deer in the forest, he feels the quietness and  calm  of  nature.
And besides, you are saving a lot of money by traveling on foot. No one  can
deny that walking is the cheapest method of traveling.


                  12.My work at the foreign trade company.

  Hello, my name is Maxim Sviridov. I work as a manager at the  «Star  tour»
company. It is Russian company which works on the  business  travel  market.
Two weeks ago I was sent by the administration  of  our  company  to  London
where I studied  the  English  travel  companies,  their  traditions,  their
marketing and management. Now my business trip is coming to the  end  and  I
want to share with you my impressions of English business  world.  First  of
all English businessmen are well known all over the world for their  honesty
and decency. If an Englishman gives you his word he  will  keep  it  in  any
case. Besides that, nothing can prevent him from  refusing  the  once  taken
decision. Of course, there are some exclusions, but they are  so  rare  that
nobody should put attention on them.
  During the last two weeks my  working  day  was  approximately  the  same.
Early in the morning I took a taxi  to  my  hosts’  headquarters,  which  is
situated in the City – the business heart of London. First of all I  usually
asked Ms. Lapital – my secretary if there were any  letters  or  cables  for
me. Then she gave me my correspondence and fresh newspapers and  I  followed
to my office-room. There I studied all documents that had come for  my  name
and wrote a short report about previous business day and then  faxed  it  to
my native company in Vladivostok.  After  that  I  went  to  Mr.  Forsberg’s
office-room to get tasks for the new day and ask some questions about  their
company, its history, traditions, clients, and so on. After that  I  usually
did what Mr. Forsberg  asked.  My  usual  job  was  meeting  with  potential
clients, discussing their rest  plans  and  offering  the  services  of  Mr.
Forsberg’s company. I usually met with 10 or 12  people  a  day.  They  were
representatives of different  social  groups  and  communicating  with  them
increased my knowledge of England and Englishmen, their psychology  greatly.
This business trip was a great chance for me and I hope I used  this  chance
fully. Now I know a lot about Western business world, about travel  business
and this knowledge will, of course, help my in my future career.


                              13.My breakfast.

  It is not a secret that our meals influence much on  our  health  and  our
mood. That’s why I consider breakfast to be the most important meal  in  the
day as it is the first our meal and it can put us  in  good  spirits  or  it
can’t. Now I shall tell you about my breakfast.
  In the morning I usually have porridge. I often start my breakfast with  a
cereal which is not cooked, it is  something  dry,  ready  to  be  eaten  or
muesly – some grain or porridge which is not cooked with dried  fruit,  nuts
and so on.
  I also like eggs (cooked in  different  ways).  I  don’t  practically  eat
butter, I prefer soft margarine – made of vegetable fat, which is not  heavy
and creamy. I don’t eat jam at breakfast,  I  eat  marmalade  which  is  not
sweet, there is slight bitterness; it’s rather pleasant.
  I usually don’t have  substantial  breakfast  on  weekdays,  I  do  it  on
weekends when I get up late. Very often I  have  just  tea  or  coffee  with
sandwiches. Tea is usually taken by me with milk. I  like  very  strong  tea
without sugar.
  Sometimes when I am in hurry I don’t have time to  have  proper  breakfast
and I go to the  university  being  hungry.  In  such  case  I  usually  buy
something like «Snickers» or «Mars» on my way to the Alma Mater.


                         14.My district and my flat.

  As you know, Vladivostok, the capital of the  Primorsky  region,  occupies
the peninsula of Murav’ev-Amursky which is washed by Amur and Ussuri  gulfs.
One part of this peninsula, called Egersheld (it was named after one of  the
explores of Russian Far-East), is my native  district.  Egersheld  is  known
from the foundation of Vladivostok. More then  one  hundred  years  ago  the
first houses for the seamen appeared in it. Since  that  time  Egersheld  is
known as the working center of the city. Now, for example, the territory  of
the commercial port is situated in this district.  Egersheld   is  the  most
environmental friendly district in the city as it  is  open  to  strong  sea
winds which blow out all harmful substances in the air and clouds  of  dust.
Of course, this has a  negative  side  –  the  average  temperature  in  the
district in winter is lower than in the other parts of  Vladivostok.  As  my
native district  occupies  very  special  geographical  position  (in  fact,
Egersheld – is a small  peninsula  of  Murav’ev-Amursky  peninsula)  so  its
citizens may admire beautiful sea scenes  every  evening  when  the  sun  is
hiding for the horizon. These seascapes are  really  breathtaking  and  very
often you may see dozens of artists trying to carry this wonderful sight  to
paper or canvas.
  Now about my flat. I live in Sipyagina, 31. Our flat is  not  very  large,
its double-roomed. If you know the word «khrushovka», you may  imagine  what
is our flat looks like. Besides these two rooms we also have a  kitchen  and
a bathroom. I think there is no any outstanding thing in our  flat  that  is
worth describing. We have a TV set in  one of the rooms, two wardrobes,  two
working tables, and small bookcase where our home library is kept.



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