Level 5/6 students write about their favorite places

"the place where I would love to go again and again"

Written by Alisha from India

As an Indian immigrant, I have visited many beautiful places in the United States that I can’t explain in a few words. I always feel amazed to explore these places every time. Although my favorite place is not one of them, it’s my parent’s house. The place where I would love to go again and again. The love for our parent’s house always remains in our heart but we never realized it. The realization occurs when we live so far from them. 

The comfort of sitting with my parents in any corner of the house always brings an infinite level of satisfaction within my heart. Also, the delicious home cooked foods, I can hardly stop my cravings after having enough food. However, these are not enough reasons for me to like the place. I like this because of my loved ones and being able to enjoy my inner childish things with my siblings. 

Two Eggs - The Everlasting Memory 

Written by Isla Hawthorn from China

Ling woke up at 6 am. This was a hot summer morning as usual. She was thinking where she would go and what she would play today. Go with Fang to the swimming pool or go to the bank of the river to play pebbles ? “Today is my special day. My mom will allow me to do things I really want, ” she thought. Her mind flew thousands of miles away, then her eyelids dropped slowly, she went back to her sweet dream again. 

Fang chased her on the bank. Ling ran as fast as she could. Under the bright sun, in the middle of the summer, she ran, ran, and ran. She breathed with difficulty, then she stopped in front of a small man-made cave which was a shelter that was built a long time ago. She entered the cave. Inside the cave, a cold breeze, the cooling air made her feel soothing. She felt some water drop down on her head, she was thirsty and wanted to get the dripping water. While she was stretching out of her tongue she woke up. Beside the bed, there was her mom who was holding a dried- palm- leaves fan, to give her a gentle wave, a smile.

The sesame oil flavor filled the whole room. She got up and saw two cooked eggs with sweet soup in a bowl. She was so happy, she had waited for this day for a year! “ Happy birthday, Ling!” her mom said. She thanked her mom, then finished everything in the bowl in one minute.

This was Ling’s childhood. Many years passed, and she still remembers the day as clear as crystal. In that time, foods, fruits, eggs, milk, and sugar were limited for living, and families had to save everything for emergencies as if someone got sick. Even though life was difficult, Ling's mother always remembered her husband, and her children’s birthdays, and she had never forgotten treating the two eggs for her loved one!  

Now life is much better, the eggs no longer seem too precious, but Ling's family still keeps the tradition. Ling and her siblings live in different cities, they cook two eggs on the birthdays for their own families.  Between their siblings, when someone’s birthday comes, the others always remind the birthday person:“ Cook two eggs! .” The love, and feeling being loved, heart to heart connection and legacy remembrance are in Ling’s family! 

"HeartPlace"

Written by Zhenya from Russia

A fragment of memories, a piece that I tenderly keep in my heart. Our first New Year in the USA, the mood is strange, it is difficult to believe in the approach of the holiday when it is pouring outside and everything is green, it is so unlike snowy Russia.

So my kids are 6 and 8, we are trying to create a festive mood, we are making toy snowmen. It's all pretty simple, just take two unpaired socks, I believe you should have no problem with this…

Oh, an important note, one of the socks must be white. You will also need 3 hair ties, cereal (I used rice), a marker, scissors, small buttons and glue. The children do not want to sit down, they run around putting socks on their hands and trying to catch each other, laughing. I pretend to be strict, but I start laughing with them.

Our cat looks at us suspiciously from the mantelpiece... I am so glad that she is with us, that we were able to take her with us. Without her, we would not be complete. It is part of raising children - to explain to them that we are responsible for those we have tamed. Our cat is part of our family.

Finally. Take a white sock, this will be the body of the snowman. Fill it with rice or synthetic padding. Form the head into a ball and tie it with an elastic band. Form two smaller balls along the edges of the body - these will be the arms. There were some difficulties at the stage of the arms. Children's fingers could not cope and my eldest son began to lose patience and began to express doubts that this was possible. Perhaps you will have to help with this.

Cut off a part with an elastic band from a colored sock, about 7 centimeters, this will be a hat. Put it on the snowman's body. Something has started to work out and the children are sniffling with concentration, sticking out their tongues. I'm happy. Tie the top of the colored sock in a knot, you'll get something like a funny pompom.

Do you see? You're doing great! The daughter is trying to find a name for the toy, the son says that he will name his own after her. Now I will write Valeria on it. The son says. No, don't you dare! Mom, why is he...well, tell him!!! The daughter screams. They squeal, run after each other, try to take away the felt-tip pen, then start laughing.

The children squeal with joy. "Look at mine, and look at mine!" they shout. I praise everyone. It turned out quite cute. We hug, and now we feel the festive New Year's mood. They take their favorites Olaf and Marshmallow to bed.

The kids are asleep, my husband and I are opening a bottle of champagne. We are happy. Happy New Year

This evening will forever hold a place in my heart - "Heartplace"

Step 1.

• Mix egg yolk and sugar well in a bowl with a whisk or a spoon until completely combined.

Step 2.

• Heat milk and heavy cream in a pan on the top of the stove with low heat once you see small bubbles around the edge of the liquid in the pan.

Step 3.

• Add the warmed up liquid from Step 2 into the bowl of Step 1. Little by little and mix well each time you add the liquid until egg yolk and sugar melt completely.

Step 4.

• Strain the liquid with a sieve and divide it into serving dishes. And cover them with aluminum foil separately. Use heat resistant containers such as grass cups and cocotte.

Step 5.

• Place a few piece of paper towel or a cloth in a pan on the stove, and arrange serving dishes of step 4. Add boiled water into the pan until it reaches about half of the height of the dishes. Then cover the pan with aluminum foil or a lid.

Step 6.

• Turn on the low to middle heat, cook for 20 mins or more. Cook until the liquid turns firm, but it still wobbles in the center. (To check it, you can lightly shake or tilt it.)

• Remove the dishes from the pan, let cool to room temperature, and then refrigerate until completely cold, at least 2 hours.

Optional: You can add caramel sauce to the top before eating if you like.

BULGOGI

Written by JJ from South Korea

I’d like to introduce the recipe Bulgogi.

Bulgogi is one of the popular foods in Korean. Easy to make it but it is so delicious.

Ingredients:

• Approx 500g beef,

• 4-5 tablespoons soy sauce

• 2 tablespoons sugar(or honey)

• 2 tablespoons rice wine

• 1 tablespoon minced garlic

• 1 teaspoon minced ginger pepper

• 1 tablespoon sesame oil

• 1 tablespoon sesame seeds

• Optional ingredients: onion, carrot, sesame

Steps:

1. Make a sauce -Soy sauce, sugar, minced garlic, ginger combine well in a big bowl.

2. Mix well thinly cutted beef with the sauce and marinade at least for 30mins.

3. Turn on the heat and cook the marinated beef in the pan. When the beef almost is cooked put the vegetables.

4. When the vegetables are cooked put the assume oils and turn off the heat.

5. Sprinkle sesame seeds before serving!

Level 5/6 students share other topics