Health Issues in Britain

Health is an emotive and political topic. In Great Britain, National Health Service (NHS) was established by government in 1948. Therefrom, local people could get free medical care. Compared with the period at the beginning of this organization, people today are much less likely to die in infancy and die from several diseases, such as tuberculosis, influenza, variola and paludism.

However, different social classes lead to different level of health care. The low social class usually have a poor medical care. They had to go to public hospitals and alway need to wait. The high class have their own personal doctors as a rule. Hence, they always enjoy the best medical care. Maybe it is unequal.

Education in Britain - Homeschooling

Education is a big problem in most families, whether in Britain or China. Nowadays, many families consider homeschooling. All parents would like their children to have enough chances to fulfil themselves.

Nowadays, more and more families prefer homeschooling than traditional education. Because each child could has his own teacher and the teacher also could spend enough time on his student. Homeschooling make the children have much time to study and the time is uncontrolled. The teacher could teach the children base their own conditions and interests. The children could ask their teacher till they understand each point of knowledge too. Hence, homeschooling is more popular than previously.

On the contrary, homeschooling also has some shortcomings. The most important thing is that it can not make children know how to work together. The children are not able to understand the importance of team spirit. When the children grow up, they may not know how to get along well with other people either.

In conclusion, each thing has both two sides. Homeschooling has its own advantages and disadvantages. We should deal with it correctly.

History of Halloween

October 31 st was the eve of the Celtic new year. The Celts were the ancestors of the present-day Irish, Welsh and Scottish people. On this day ghosts walked and mingled with the living, or so the Celts thought. The townspeople baked food all that day and when night fell they dressed up and tried to resemble the souls of the dead. Hoping that the ghosts would leave peacefully before midnight of the new year.

Since the 800's November 1st is a religious holiday known as All Saints' Day. This day was called Allhallowmas. The evening before became known as All-Hallow’s Eve, the short name that be used today is Halloween.

Today children dressed in costumes knock on their neighbors' doors and yell "Trick or Treat" when the door opens. Their neighbors give each child sweets, and try to guess who is under the masks.

Pumpkins are also a symbol of Halloween. Carving pumpkins into jack- o'lanterns is a Halloween custom also dating back to Ireland. A legend grew up about a man named Jack who was so stingy that he was not allowed into heaven when he died, because he was a miser . He couldn't enter hell either because he had played jokes on the devil. As a result, Jack had to walk the earth with his lantern until Judgement Day . The Irish people carved scary faces out of turnips , beets or potatoes representing "Jack of the Lantern," or Jack-o'lantern. When the Irish brought their customs to the United States, they carved faces on pumpkins because in the autumn they were more plentiful than turnips.

It's a special tradition for people, and it becomes more and more popular today.

Symmetrical Families

This week we talked about the families in Britain again. I found that there are so many differences between British families and Chinese families.

Firstly, the roles of men and women in UK families are different from Chinese ones. In British families, women usually do not have any jobs. They just do their housework at home, such as cooking the meals, taking care of children, cleaning the rooms and so on. Men always are the only earner of their families. But in China, women usually have their own jobs, just like their husbands. Sometimes they earn more money than men. Grandparents often help the young couples look after the children, or they just send their children to nurseries and kindergartens, because they do not have enough time to look after them.

Secondly, the position of children is different too. In China, each couple is only allowed to have one child, but British couples usually have two children or more. So Chinese children may get more care and love from their parents and grandparents. Hence, they do not have to find jobs until they graduate from schools. They get money from their families to finish their studying. The difference is that children in British families usually do not depend on their parents after they are 18 years old. They become to be independent earlier than Chinese children.

Family Size

In recent years, there is a large problem for the family size. The structure of family has changed a lot.

Because of the development of science and good medical care, the lives are extended as long as possible. Almost every family has several grandsires. But they do not live with their sons, daughters and grandchildren.

In British society, children should leave their parents when they are 18 years old. They earn money to support their study and living by themselves. It is good for children to learn how to live independently and overcome difficults. Hence, maybe it is favorable for children's future in some fields.

On the other hand, it is not good for keeping connection between children and parents. Both children and parents may feel alone. They have the habie for living separately. As a result, more and more grandsires live by themselves. They feel lorn and have less joy. They need communion with their family members. They would like to intercourse with other people. However, they do not have so many chances to do it owing to variety of reasons.

Welcome & Families

There are many differences between British and Chinese families.

In Britain, most families have more than one children.So the children do not feel alone. They could take good care of each other. I think it is good for their growing up.

Each family member is of equal position. Children have enough freedom to do everything that they would like to do. They and their parents may be good friends. They could call their parents' names. They also have rights to choose everything they like, such as university, department, subjects, and so on.

Children in British families is to be independent more earlier than Chinese children. They earn money by themselves to support their life. In my opinion, it is most important for the future.

The Gifts from Lloyds TSB

Last month, my classmates went to the International Office to open their bank accounts. They chose Lloyds TSB. When they finished the procedures, the staff of Lloyds TSB gave them some clocks for gifts.

In China, you can not give any people clocks for gifts. Because the meaning is that you want this person to be death. The accent is as same as that you want somebody to be death. If you would like to give a clock for gift,you must give this person a book together. Then the meanning will be changed. The new meanning is:there is a beginning, there also is an ending.