佛罗里达州有称为“阳光州”，这真是有它的道理。 上个礼拜，我飞到佛罗里达的奥兰多去参加一个研讨会。那个时候在我们德克萨斯州的天气还是又冷又雨，但是在佛罗里达天气已经既暖和又阳光明媚。虽然才是四月初，但是那里的人们已经悠哉悠哉地在游泳池里了。下午的气温达到29摄氏度，而清晨和旁晚就给人以凉爽的感觉。经过了一个寒冬，温暖的阳光照在你的身上，真是一种舒服的感受。那温暖的微风使人清醒，也让我的心情感到轻松愉快。那真是打高尔夫的好天气。在我住的酒店边上有一个漂亮的高尔夫球场。从我的窗户远远看出去，太阳刚刚升起，懒懒地从地平线上露出光芒，正好照在那些打高尔夫球的人们身上。他们如果蚂蚁寻食一样地追随那高尔夫球。

酒店周围种着鲜艳夺目的花朵。许许多多小小的、绿色的树蜥蜴在树上和树丛里游荡。这绝对是春天的景象，野生动物都已经出动在寻找它们的伙伴和配偶。那些雄性的树蜥蜴则停留在树上抬着头撑大它那色彩丰富的脖子，希望以此来吸引它们同种的雌性树蜥蜴。我觉得幸亏上帝创造人的时候，没有让人以这样的方式来吸引他人。(男人在发情的时候真的是会作出很多愚蠢的事，如果一个男子在走路的时候也抬着头涨红的脖子以此来吸引女士的话，那绝对是一个“笨蛋”。再想一想如果在路上开车的时候也这样，那有多危险啊。) 

在住处的食品绝对是美味。有各种不同品种的食品供各位选择。在主层楼是一个牛排店、一个墨西哥餐厅、一个日本寿司店、还有一个咖啡馆。在下面一层楼有一个超级大的自助餐厅和一个小小的咖啡和烧烤店。我到不同的餐厅都去尝试了，但是我还是觉得那个自助餐厅的感觉最好，那是因为里面可以选择的菜名目繁多。里面有一个巨大的生吃的蔬菜柜台，还有一个超级的的水果柜台里面装满了各式各样的瓜果。我最喜欢西瓜。里面的正餐你可以选择不同的肉和蔬菜。有那么多的选择，你一定能够找到你喜欢的食品。在那里的最后一天，我们没有在我们的住处吃饭，而是到路对面的一家比萨饼店里叫了一个比萨饼。这比在我们的住处吃便宜多了，而且也是换换胃口。

总的来说，那是在奥兰多快乐的五天。我们的酒店是极好的，而且有很好的休息。那个研讨会富有挑战性，同时也提供了很多信息。那里的阳光是既温暖又吸引人，而美味的食品令人回味。这绝对是我希望再次访问的地方，希望在2015年，下一次的研讨会我能够旧地重游。

讨论问题

1.  在一年中，你最喜欢哪一个季节？

2. 经历了长期的寒冬和阴雨天以后的太阳光给你什么感觉？

3. 你最喜欢什么水果？

4. 你是否曾经离家去参加一个研讨会？

5. 你最喜欢的是那一部分？

6. 你比较不喜欢那一部分？

Florida is called the “Sunshine State” for a good reason. Last week, I flew to Orlando for a conference. It was still cool and rainy in north Texas, but the weather in Florida was warm and sunny. Although it was early April many people were already hanging out by the swimming pools. The afternoons were a warm 29 degrees and the mornings and evenings were cool and comfortable. It is a good feeling, after the cold of winter, to feel the warmth of the sun embracing your skin. The warm breeze would wash over you and make your heart feel light and happy. The weather was perfect for golfers. The resort where I stayed had a beautiful golf course and as the sun peeked over the horizon golfers could be seen from my window chasing their golf balls like ants in search of food.

The hotel grounds were very beautiful with many colorful flowers. Small green, tree lizards were plentiful among the bushes and the trees. It was definitely spring time for the wildlife seemed occupied in looking for mates. The small male tree lizards would pause on the side of trees to enlarge their bright red colorful throats in hopes of attracting a female of their species. I thank God that he did not create humans to attract one another in this way. (Men act silly enough in the spring, but it would be absolutely “nuts” to see men walking around puffing out their throats trying to attract females. And think how dangerous this would be if they were driving a car down the street!)

The food at the resort was wonderful. There were several options to choose from. On the main level was a steak house, a Mexican restaurant, a sushi restaurant, and a coffee shop. On the lower level was a large restaurant with a buffet and a small café and grill. I tried several different places to eat, but the buffet was my favorite due to its variety of choices. The buffet had a large salad bar and a large fruit section with many choices of melon. My favorite melon is watermelon. The meals had a variety of meats and vegetables to choose from so it was easy to find something to eat. The last night I was there we took a break from hotel food and ordered a pizza from a local shop across the road. It was a nice change in dining and much cheaper than buying food in the resort.

Overall, it was a nice five days in Orlando. The resort was wonderful and relaxing. The conference was challenging and informative. The sun was warm and inviting and the food was delicious. It is definitely a place I would enjoy visiting again and hope to do so at the next conference in 2015.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. What is your favorite season of the year?

2. How does the sunshine make you feel after many days of cold or rain?

3. What is your favorite fruit or melon?

4. Have you ever traveled to a conference away from home?

5. What was your favorite part?

6. What was your least favorite part?