Hello, and welcome to my 4th blog!
As autumn turns into winter, the days are getting colder and shorter. I now bundle up in a coat and gloves whenever I go outside. While I prefer the English summer, with its mild temperatures and long days that make everything feel exciting, there are still plenty of things to look forward to in winter, like winter sports and Christmas events!
Nostalgic Half-Term Break with My Host Family
During our October half-term break, I stayed with my host family, just like last year. It was a nostalgic experience. I was especially surprised by how much their daughter, now two years old, has grown. When I first met her, she was just a baby who couldn’t speak much, but now she talks fluently and can even go to the toilet on her own!
Asian Food Adventures and Learning to Use Chopsticks
I spent a lot of time with friends during the break. One day, we went to Southampton to meet up with some friends and enjoy Asian food. It was the first time one of my friends had tried Asian cuisine. When we were boiling vegetables, she amusingly asked if we were making salad! Although Asian food might not become her favourite, she’s been practising with chopsticks. Recently, she even managed to eat grapes with them, which was both funny and impressive.
Badminton Matches and Training Challenges
On the 16th of November, I participated in another badminton match. Unfortunately, the strings of my racket broke during the game, which rattled me a bit. However, I managed to play all three matches, even though I lost the last game in my league. Despite the setback, I feel like I gave it my best effort.
I have badminton training every Friday, and while it can be tough because my coach often plays two against one, I enjoy the sessions a lot. I’m always learning something new and pushing myself to improve.
Warming Up with Hotpot and Memories of Home
One of the highlights of November was having hotpot with my friends on a chilly Friday evening. I love eating hotpot, especially in winter, as it warms me up. We had a Chinese-style hotpot, which is quite similar to the Japanese version. We filled it with all sorts of ingredients like vegetables, meat, fish, and noodles. Eating hotpot always reminds me of home, and I can’t wait to enjoy my mum’s cooking again.
Academic Pressure and the EPQ Challenge
On the academic side, studying is becoming more intense. We have frequent tests and loads of homework each week. We also have lessons on the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), which requires a lot of research and presentations. Presenting makes me very nervous, and I often forget what I planned to say, so EPQ is a particularly tough subject for me. I definitely need more practice to improve my presentation skills.
Thank you for reading!
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