Thursday, June 18, 2009
Basic Travel: bumped, blackout
http://www.videojug.com/interview/basic-air-travel
If my flight is cancelled or I'm bumped, what is airline's obligation?
If the flight that you want to be re-booked on is full and you have to wait until the next day, sometimes the airline will put you up in a hotel. But if they don't and you need to pay for it yourself, try asking the hotel (nearby an airport) for the distressed passenger discount. Then you can maybe get a better deal on the overnight stay. If you're bumped and the airline is going to offer you some compensation, try and get a cheque rather than a flight voucher. Cash in hand is always better than a flight voucher because the vouchers could have blackout dates, restricting you from travelling anytime you want. Whereas, with the cash, you can use it for whatever you want, or you can re-book a brand new ticket.
What are "blackout" dates?
Blackout dates are restricted days of travel. So, if you are on a discounted flight, then the blackout dates are dates you cannot travel on, such as holidays or special high peak season vacation times. But these blackout dates vary from airline to airline so you want to make sure you check with your provider before you book your ticket.
What is the standard "connection time" between flights?
The standard "connection time" between flights is usually about 45 minutes to an hour and a half, but if you're traveling overseas, the "connection time" can be upwards of two, four, even five or six hours, between flights.
If my flight is cancelled or I'm bumped, what is airline's obligation?
If the flight that you want to be re-booked on is full and you have to wait until the next day, sometimes the airline will put you up in a hotel. But if they don't and you need to pay for it yourself, try asking the hotel (nearby an airport) for the distressed passenger discount. Then you can maybe get a better deal on the overnight stay. If you're bumped and the airline is going to offer you some compensation, try and get a cheque rather than a flight voucher. Cash in hand is always better than a flight voucher because the vouchers could have blackout dates, restricting you from travelling anytime you want. Whereas, with the cash, you can use it for whatever you want, or you can re-book a brand new ticket.
What are "blackout" dates?
Blackout dates are restricted days of travel. So, if you are on a discounted flight, then the blackout dates are dates you cannot travel on, such as holidays or special high peak season vacation times. But these blackout dates vary from airline to airline so you want to make sure you check with your provider before you book your ticket.
What is the standard "connection time" between flights?
The standard "connection time" between flights is usually about 45 minutes to an hour and a half, but if you're traveling overseas, the "connection time" can be upwards of two, four, even five or six hours, between flights.
Travel: Why do I have to be at the airport so early?
Why do I have to be at the airport so early?
We traditionally ask passengers if they are going to be flying domestically to get to the airports two hours before their flight. If they are flying internationally, get to the airport three hours before your flight. You have to manipulate the parking, you have to check in and get your ticket, you have to get your bags screened, you have to get through security, you have to find your gate. We think that two hours is a good amount of time for domestic flights, but it's always a good idea to check with the airline. If you have some flexibility in scheduling your flight, you can schedule it during non-peak hours when you know there's not going to be a lot of people at the airport.
We traditionally ask passengers if they are going to be flying domestically to get to the airports two hours before their flight. If they are flying internationally, get to the airport three hours before your flight. You have to manipulate the parking, you have to check in and get your ticket, you have to get your bags screened, you have to get through security, you have to find your gate. We think that two hours is a good amount of time for domestic flights, but it's always a good idea to check with the airline. If you have some flexibility in scheduling your flight, you can schedule it during non-peak hours when you know there's not going to be a lot of people at the airport.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
A Miserable Merry Christmas (Drama)
A Christmas Day is supposed to be merry, but how can it be miserable.
When Santa had a no-show on Christmas day,what
happened to a girl? Her day became miserable.
Wait... something happened..
The story about a little girl on a Christmas is very touching.
This drama on youtube was acted up and made by the 9th graders in an American school.
Watch it and share the joy of Christmas.
When Santa had a no-show on Christmas day,what
happened to a girl? Her day became miserable.
Wait... something happened..
The story about a little girl on a Christmas is very touching.
This drama on youtube was acted up and made by the 9th graders in an American school.
Watch it and share the joy of Christmas.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Friday, November 21, 2008
Assignment: A Miserable Merry Christmas
As students of English, we have to learn a lot about English and American cultures.
Reading stories is a fun and easy way to access the cultures and people of the English world.
Before the holiday season begins, I would like to pick up some interesting and surprising stories for you to read. One of them is "A Miserable Merry Christmas."
Read the story quickly and find out how the boy changes from miserable to merry.
You are required to write a review by using the form provided
Download.
Or you may post your answer to the following questions:
1. Where and when did the story happen?
2. Who are the main character?
3. What is the story about? (Its plotline).
4. What do you think of the story or the boy?
The story link:
Story -Click at words with notes (有錄音，點字現出註解,不用查字典)
Reading stories is a fun and easy way to access the cultures and people of the English world.
Before the holiday season begins, I would like to pick up some interesting and surprising stories for you to read. One of them is "A Miserable Merry Christmas."
Read the story quickly and find out how the boy changes from miserable to merry.
You are required to write a review by using the form provided
Download.
Or you may post your answer to the following questions:
1. Where and when did the story happen?
2. Who are the main character?
3. What is the story about? (Its plotline).
4. What do you think of the story or the boy?
The story link:
Story -Click at words with notes (有錄音，點字現出註解,不用查字典)
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
A Miserable MerryChristmas
A Miserable, Merry Christmas
A miserable and merry Christmas? How could it be?
Christmas was coming. I wanted a pony. To make sure that my patents understood, I declared
that I wanted nothing else.
“Nothing,” I said.
“Not even a pair of high boots?”
That was hard. I did want boots, but I stuck to the pony. “No, not even boots?”
“Nor candy? There ought to be something to fill your stocking with, and Santa Claus can’t
put a pony into a stocking.”
That was true, and he couldn’t lead a pony down the chimney either। But no। “All I want is
a pony,” I said। “If I can’t have a pony, give me nothing, nothing.”
On Christmas Eve I hung up my stocking along with my sisters.
The next morning my sisters and I woke up at six. Then we raced downstairs to the fireplace.
And there they were, the gifts, all sorts of wonderful things, mixed-up piles of presents.
Only my stocking was empty: it hung limp; not a thing in it; and
under and around it- nothing. My sisters had knelt down, each by her pile of gifts; they
were crying with delight, till they looked up and saw me standing there looking so
miserable. They came over to me and felt my stocking:
nothing।
I don’t remember whether I cried at that moment, but my sisters did। They ran with me back
to my bed, and there we all cried till I became indignant. That helped
some. I got up, dressed, and driving my sisters away. I went out alone into the
stable, and there, all by myself, I
wept. My mother came out to me and she tried to comfort me. But I wanted no comfort. She
left me and went on into the house with sharp words for my father।
My sisters came to me, and I was rude. I ran away from them. I went around to the front of
the house, sat down on the steps, and the crying over, I ached. I was wronged, I was hurt.
And my father must have been hurt, too, a little. I saw him looking out of the window. He
was watching me of something for an hour or two, drawing back the curtain so little lest I catch him, but I saw his face, and I think I can see how the anxiety upon it, the worried impatience।
After an hour or two, I caught sight of a man riding a pony down the street, a pony and a
brand-new saddle; the most beautiful saddle I ever saw, and it was
a boy's saddle. And the pony! As he drew near, I saw the pony was really a small horse, with
a black mane and tail, and one white foot and a white star on his forehead. For such a horse
as that I would have given anything।
But the man came along, reading the numbers on the houses, and, as my hopes- my impossible
hopes- rose, he looked at our door and passed by, he and the pony, and the saddle. Too much,
I fell upon the steps and broke into tears। Suddenly I heard a voice.
“Say, kid,” it said, “do you know a boy named Lennie Steffens?”
I looked up. It was the man on the pony, back again.
“Yes,” I spluttered through my tears. “That's me.”
“Well,” he said, “then this is your horse. I’ve been looking all over for you and your
house. Why don’t you put your number where it can be seen?”
“Get down,” I said, running out to him। I wanted to ride.
He went on saying something about “ought to have got here at seven o’clock, but-”
I hardly heard, I could scarcely wait. I was so happy, so thrilled. I rode off up the
street. Such a beautiful pony. And mine! After a while I turned and trotted back to the
stable. There was the family, father, mother, sitters, all working for me, all happy. They
had been putting in place the tools of my new business: currycomb, brush, pitchfork-
everything, and there was hay in the loft।
But that Christmas, which my father had planned so carefully, was it the best or the worst I
ever knew? He often asked me that; I never could answer as a boy. I think now that it was
both. It covered the whole distance from broken-hearted misery to bursting happiness- too
fast। A grown-up could hardly have stood it.
A miserable and merry Christmas? How could it be?
Christmas was coming. I wanted a pony. To make sure that my patents understood, I declared
that I wanted nothing else.
“Nothing,” I said.
“Not even a pair of high boots?”
That was hard. I did want boots, but I stuck to the pony. “No, not even boots?”
“Nor candy? There ought to be something to fill your stocking with, and Santa Claus can’t
put a pony into a stocking.”
That was true, and he couldn’t lead a pony down the chimney either। But no। “All I want is
a pony,” I said। “If I can’t have a pony, give me nothing, nothing.”
On Christmas Eve I hung up my stocking along with my sisters.
The next morning my sisters and I woke up at six. Then we raced downstairs to the fireplace.
And there they were, the gifts, all sorts of wonderful things, mixed-up piles of presents.
Only my stocking was empty: it hung limp
under and around it- nothing. My sisters had knelt down, each by her pile of gifts; they
were crying with delight, till they looked up and saw me standing there looking so
miserable
nothing।
I don’t remember whether I cried at that moment, but my sisters did। They ran with me back
to my bed, and there we all cried till I became indignant
some. I got up, dressed, and driving my sisters away. I went out alone into the
stable
wept. My mother came out to me and she tried to comfort me. But I wanted no comfort. She
left me and went on into the house with sharp words for my father।
My sisters came to me, and I was rude. I ran away from them. I went around to the front of
the house, sat down on the steps, and the crying over, I ached. I was wronged, I was hurt.
And my father must have been hurt, too, a little. I saw him looking out of the window. He
was watching me of something for an hour or two, drawing back the curtain so little lest
After an hour or two, I caught sight of a man riding a pony down the street, a pony and a
brand-new
a boy's saddle. And the pony! As he drew near, I saw the pony was really a small horse, with
a black mane and tail, and one white foot and a white star on his forehead. For such a horse
as that I would have given anything।
But the man came along, reading the numbers on the houses, and, as my hopes- my impossible
hopes- rose, he looked at our door and passed by, he and the pony, and the saddle. Too much,
I fell upon the steps and broke into tears। Suddenly I heard a voice.
“Say, kid,” it said, “do you know a boy named Lennie Steffens?”
I looked up. It was the man on the pony, back again.
“Yes,” I spluttered
“Well,” he said, “then this is your horse. I’ve been looking all over for you and your
house. Why don’t you put your number where it can be seen?”
“Get down,” I said, running out to him। I wanted to ride.
He went on saying something about “ought to have got here at seven o’clock, but-”
I hardly heard, I could scarcely wait. I was so happy, so thrilled. I rode off up the
street. Such a beautiful pony. And mine! After a while I turned and trotted back to the
stable. There was the family, father, mother, sitters, all working for me, all happy. They
had been putting in place the tools of my new business: currycomb, brush, pitchfork-
everything, and there was hay in the loft।
But that Christmas, which my father had planned so carefully, was it the best or the worst I
ever knew? He often asked me that; I never could answer as a boy. I think now that it was
both. It covered the whole distance from broken-hearted misery to bursting happiness- too
fast। A grown-up could hardly have stood it.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Tears
Tears
Tears are like rain.
They loosen up our soil so we can grow in different directions.
Tears shed on the rocky places of our lives can make tiny
pebblesout of the boulders that block our paths.
Tears can help us see anew if we're willing to look straight
ahead--clearly, openly, and with expectation of a better view.
~Virginia Casey
淚水如雨。
讓你心中的土壤放鬆，才能向四面八方成長。
淚水滴落在生命的岩石地面，化磐石為細石，
你得以暢行無阻。
如果你願意往前眺望，細細的看，
敞開心胸，期待美好的景象，
淚水讓你打開新視界。
Tears are like rain.
They loosen up our soil so we can grow in different directions.
Tears shed on the rocky places of our lives can make tiny
pebblesout of the boulders that block our paths.
Tears can help us see anew if we're willing to look straight
ahead--clearly, openly, and with expectation of a better view.
~Virginia Casey
淚水如雨。
讓你心中的土壤放鬆，才能向四面八方成長。
淚水滴落在生命的岩石地面，化磐石為細石，
你得以暢行無阻。
如果你願意往前眺望，細細的看，
敞開心胸，期待美好的景象，
淚水讓你打開新視界。
The First Time Experience
In our life everything under the sun you don't know is new and fresh.
We experienced many first times in our life.
When you entered the knidergarten,
for the first time you were alone at school without mom and
dad or grandmother standing by you. You might cry a lot.
When you go to the "Fresman Welcome Camp"
or a party, for the first time you meet a lot of students
from different departments,
and you may make friends with some.
You say, "College life is so wonderful. I like it."
There are more things to happen to you for the first time.
Now the mid-term exam is around the corner.
You will experience another occurrence for the first time.
Will it be a shock, a surprise or a something you will not forget?
We experienced many first times in our life.
When you entered the knidergarten,
for the first time you were alone at school without mom and
dad or grandmother standing by you. You might cry a lot.
When you go to the "Fresman Welcome Camp"
or a party, for the first time you meet a lot of students
from different departments,
and you may make friends with some.
You say, "College life is so wonderful. I like it."
There are more things to happen to you for the first time.
Now the mid-term exam is around the corner.
You will experience another occurrence for the first time.
Will it be a shock, a surprise or a something you will not forget?
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Sunset of the Day
