Category Archives: Life in the United States

Okay, so you don’t work out (exercise) as much as you should. Perhaps your exercise routine (habits; things you do regularly) are getting a little stale (dull; boring; old).  Are you ready for the latest, greatest approaches to keeping in … Continue reading →

I am a terrible cook. If I tell you I’m going to cook dinner for you, run the other way. You have been warned (told about the danger). When I was growing up, my mother did all of the cooking … Continue reading →

It’s here! The 2012 presidential campaign has begun. The big battle is shaping up (developing) – Democrats versus (against) Republicans, liberals* versus conservatives*, President Obama versus … who knows? For the next 14 months – from now until November 2012 … Continue reading →

In my work with students from many different cultures, I’ve discovered that educational values (ideas about what’s important) vary (change) a lot from one culture to another. Even in the U.S. today, there are ongoing (continuing) debates about educational values … Continue reading →

Last week I talked about the importance of shortcuts in the life of an Angelino (someone living in Los Angeles). Today I’ll add another essential (necessary) element (part) of life in L.A.: Expect people to be flaky. To be flaky … Continue reading →

Every city and region (part of a state or country) has its own culture, its own set of customs, beliefs, and unwritten rules. I will soon complete my 20th year here in Los Angeles, and in honor of (to celebrate … Continue reading →

When I saw Angry Birds in the Field of Dreams, I chuckled (laughed quietly) to myself, thinking that Jeff had come up with a clever (unusual, interesting) title for something that had happened in a baseball game earlier that week. … Continue reading →

Baseball, as you probably know, is our national sport in the United States. Its influence can be seen in both popular culture (movies such as Kevin Costner’s Field of Dreams) and in the recreational (sporting; games) choices of Americans themselves. … Continue reading →

Whether people intend (plan) to buy or only window-shop (look without buying), shopping malls have become popular destinations (places to go) around the world. “Let’s go to the mall,” is heard often in many households (people who live together, usually … Continue reading →

This headline (the title of a newspaper article) – A Declaration of Endurance (the ability to do something difficult for a long time) – caught my eye (got my attention) as I was looking through the New York Times online … Continue reading →