T6
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Seneca’s Story My name is Seneca and I am an English teacher living in Kiev. I arrived in Ukraine for the first time one year ago. Was life in Ukraine similar to that in America? I had no idea, but when I told my friends and family I was moving here, everyone said, “Bring a coat. It’s going to be very cold!” A colleague also told me that I shouldn’t smile when walking down the street. In America, we are known for smiling a lot. “People will think you’re crazy, if you smile so much in public,” my colleague said. I had never been to the region before, so I didn’t know if this was true. To be safe, I decided it was better to keep a serious expression in public. Imagine my surprise when I saw Ukrainians smiling and laughing with friends and family everywhere around town! People always smile at me here, especially when they want to practice their English. I also quickly learned that family is very important to Ukrainians. In fact, it is common here for young people to live with their families longer, even until they get married. This is very different in my country. American children often leave their parents’ home when they are 18 years old, sometimes moving very far away from their family to go to college. After they leave, parents may send their children small packages filled with treats and gifts to remind them of home. But in Ukraine, I soon learned that parents often fill an entire suitcase with fresh vegetables from their village and send it on a train to their children in the big city. How intriguing! Ukrainian parents really love to take care of their children.
A Reading 1 Understanding Read the text and choose the best answer from 1-3. a) Her friends advised her to bring 1. an audio guide 2. a laptop 3. a coat b) To be safe she decided 1. to walk with friends. 2. to be serious 3. to learn about Ukraine. c) In Ukraine the families 1. are of great importance. 2. are neglected. 3. are talked about. d) American children become independent 1. when they are 16. 2. when they are 21. 3. when they are 18. e) American parents 1. are like Ukrainian parents. 2. may send some little gifts to their children. 3. never send anything to their children. e) Ukrainian parents 1. are loving, protective, and caring. 2. never call their children. 3. are very busy.
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