Recent studies have shown the increasing health risk that smoking poses, not just to those who smoke but also to those around them. Smokers, as well as passive smokers, run a higher risk of contracting lung cancer and other diseases of the respiratory tract.Besides being a health hazard, it is an annoyance. The smoke of […]
As students, most of us lead sedentary lifestyles. We spend most of our time in claustrophobic classrooms and homes. With loads of homework, assignments and exams, exercise seems to be a monotonous chore. The increasing demands made upon us by our studies, exams and the high expectations of our parents and teachers leave us with
Very long ago, eating out was considered a luxury. Nowadays however, with jobs that require people to stay away from home for the greater part of the day, eating out has not only become a necessity, it is indispensable. The number of eateries that have sprung up all over town is indeed alarming.While eating out
Indians must be getting richer. More and more parents are sending their children to private schools. By all accounts these schools are not cheap. I only pay special fees once a year for my son, but his cousin who goes to a private school has to pay several thousand dollars a term! Uniforms have to
Mountaineering is some sort of an adventure. It is also some form of physical activity. The adventure lies in facing all the troubles and risks and overcoming them for the joy of it.Mountaineering is not a game; it can be called a sport. For games like football and hockey, there are man-made rules. But mountain
As the only child in the family, Billy was the apple of his parents’ eyes. Born with a silver spoon in his mouth, Billy could have anything he wanted. His father was a successful entrepreneur while his mother was a consultant. Their busy careers left them with little time to spend at home. As a
“Examinations”—This is a word that causes sleepless nights, a word can change a cheerful person into a nervous wreck. So, what are examinations, and how can they be any good?An examination can be defined as a detailed inspection or analysis of an object or person. For example, an engineer will examine a structure, like a
There was a huge three-acre pond just a few kilometers from where we stayed. Since moving into our new home in the countryside, my brother, Jim and I used to often sneak out to the pond where we would meet another friend. Dad had warned us not to venture anywhere near the pond area, especially
The rise in criminal activities has always been a matter of grave concern among Asians. Gone are the good old days when we could roam the streets freely and safely without fear of being robbed, assaulted, kidnapped, raped or even murdered. There have been comments that the authorities have not done enough to fight crime.
I have always been interested in various cultures especially those completely alien to us. Thus, imagine my delight when my father told me that he was taking us on a holiday to Bangkok and from there to visit a remote tribe that lives about 200 kilometers north of the capital city. My father explained the
It is a popular belief that it is great to be young. My parents keep reminding me that this is the best time of my life. They urge me to enjoy what they describe as my ‘carefree’ days. I can think of several reasons why people think this is the best time of our lives.To
We learnt that our class teacher, Mr. Singh, was about to be transferred to another school in a week. All the pupils adored Mr. Singh as he was a very good and dedicated teacher. He never shouted at us and was very patient with the slower pupils.Our class decided to hold a farewell party for
Father is in the army. He had been away for months in Bosnia-Herzegovina on a mission. All of us missed him terribly. Finally, we heard that he was coming home. We planned a special welcome for him.The special day was a Saturday. We got up early to help with the preparations. Each of us was
Before townships and cities developed, people lived in villages in the countryside. Facilities are, no doubt, better in cities, but city life has become associated with stress, crime and pollution.Life in the city is very hectic. Traffic congestion is a perpetual problem. At work, fierce competition, deadlines and meetings await the city dweller. Always in
My cousin Manish , the only child, is a healthy, good-natured teenager who works at a supermarket in our neighbourhood. He gets along well with the other employees and his boss calls him his star’ worker. When Manish was one and a half years old, he was diagnosed with a mental disability. His parents, shocked