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I am so far behind on answering everyone's questions. I feel like a mosquito in a nudist colony.....I know what I want to do, but I don't know where to start! (LOL)
First I would like to say to Lily that I think American boys like the same things as boys in other countries (with minor cultural difference). Boys are boys, what more can one say.
Next, for Benly - I don't know the actual amount of education it takes in the USA to become a lawyer but I know a student has to complete their Bachelor's Degree first (at least four years at the university) and then they have to attend Law School. I would guess at least another four years. Cory used to be a legal secretary. I will ask her and get back to you. I would guess that it takes 8 to 10 years of school to become a lawyer.
For everyone who is interested - my Thanksgiving vacation included a trip by car to my daughter's house in Southern California. It is approx. 420 miles south of Sacramento and it takes approx. 7 hours of driving time to get there. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner with my daughter and her family (husband and 4 children). We had a huge Turkey and stuffing and candied yams and green beans and mashed potatos and gravy and cranberry sauce and wine and hot rolls and I am getting full again just thinking about it. While there, I was able to attend a family reunion with my brothers and their families and my father. It was good time and mostly spent enjoying my family members whom I don't get to see very often. The food was good too. My daughter is a great cook. Almost as good as me!
I also want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I thoroughly enjoyed Benly's dissertation on the English Christmas celebration. I don't think it will appear in Fodor's English Guide Book.
Christmas is a Christian Holiday to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, it has turned into the biggest sales season of the year for almost every country in the world. Even countries and peoples that are not Christian celebrate the gift giving aspect of the holiday. Anyhow, Merry Christmas...Peace on earth and goodwill towards our fellow human beings.
Bye for now, Duane

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To everyone on here:

I would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

Best wishes,

From Benly

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In my last English lesson before the Christmas Holiday. We had a very interesting subject in the class, everyone to talk for three minutes about the traditional English Christmas. I talked about what English people do on Christmas and Boxing Day. I think the Japanese and Russian students might love to hear, so I put it on here as well.

. Christmas is a major festival in England, because it is a Christian country and they celebrate it for two days, the Christmas day and Boxing Day. They love to give presents to each other during this festival, so nowadays, Christmas is more involved with commercial elements than a family reunion day.

. On the Christmas day all the children can�t wait to get up early to open their presents in the morning. Everyone in the family open their presents altogether and show what you have got for this Christmas. That is the most expensive part and it makes everyone have a headache to get everyone a present. After everyone opens all the presents, they only stay at home for the whole day for eating, drinking, watching TV or play some board games. Then they have their biggest meal in the whole year in the afternoon. That is the Christmas dinner, the main dish is a massive turkey and with lots of the other side dishes as well, everyone is looking forwards to having it. After the big meal, they sit in front of the TV to watch the Queen�s routine Christmas speech at 3�clock. It only takes 5 to 10 minutes on the Christmas afternoon. No shop is opened and no public transport runs, even the local pub (bar) is closed, so they stay at home for the whole day, no one goes out and they love to play the never ending board game �Monopoly�. That is the favourite board game on the Christmas day in England. And they stay up very late until they feel very tired.

The next day is Boxing Day, most stores open on that day for the general sales and most people take this chance to go out to have some fresh air. Afterwards, all the football fans would head to the traditional Boxing day football match in the mid-day or some people prefer to go to the church, but all the parents are busy doing the cleaning up in the house after a whole day messed up by everyone on the Christmas.

What do the Japanese and Russian people do on Christmas and Boxing Day? I think everyone on here would like to hear from you.

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Hello, Albina!! Thank you for your message! I'm very glad to read. I'm Chiyoko. I'm 20 years old. I study comparative culture. Particularly I study about Europe. It's very interesting for me. I read you like Alla Pugacheva. Sorry I don't know her. But I want to listen to her songs. I�fll find her songs in my free time. I like pop music too. My favorite singer is Ken Hirai. His songs are very nice! His music makes me happy and comfortable. I like his songs. Also I like Aiko. I think her songs are lovely! I want to go to her concert. Well, is it cold in Russia? It's very cold in Japan. And which parts do you live?? Is there a beautiful place? I've lived in Tokyo for 2 years. I live alone. My hometown is Nagano. Do you know Nagano? There is countryside. Nagano is famous for skiing. There are a lot of ski resorts. Do you like skiing? I think that skiing is very fun! I'm going to go skiing this winter. I'm looking forward to hearing from you. (^o^) See you��