Tell me about something you like and why.  It may be very hard to pick one item that you like so you may use combinations.  For example, cake and ice cream, swimming and diving, playing video games and eating junk food, going to the movies and the arcade, hanging out with friends. 

I like ice cream and cake, something like the picture on the left.  I also like adventure though, and I like adventures more so I'm going to write about adventures.

I like adventures because they usually take me to places I have not been to before, they introduce me to experiences that I have not encountered before and they make me do something or complete something that I would not have done if I had not been on the adventure.  For example, my trip to Florida to swim with manatee.

I have been snorkeling before, many times in many different places and continents.  I had usually gone snorkeling in places where the water was clear and deep.  The water where the manatee live is shallow and murky.  I was a little confused at first because I could see so little underwater. I could only see about 8 feet in front of me and made figuring out where I was a little difficult.  I was strange to have to pull my head out of the water in order to get my bearing, but this was an adventure that I would gladly repeat again, murky water included.

There are lots of other likes I have, what is one of yours and why?

One of my biggest goals is to compete in a triathlon by myself.  I have competed in a triathlon before but I was part of a three person team.  I rode the bike and the two other members of my team completed the running and swimming part of the race.  We finished third and that was fantastic but I would still like to compete on my own and have the satisfaction of completing all three parts with my own effort.

What is one of your big goals?

What is the biggest mess you every got into?  Maybe it was a real mess and maybe it was more virtual.  Let me tell you about a real mess I got into when I was 5. 

Just over the fence from where we lived was an empty field.  Someone was going to be building houses on the land so the jungle that had been there was cleared.  All that was left was dark brownish-red dirt what had lots of clay in it.

Since we lived in the jungle of Borneo, Malaysia, just outside of the town of Sandakan (see map below).  It rained almost every day, usually in the afternoon and usually for an hour or two.  I am sure you can figure out what dirt with clay and rain water combine to make...of course, mud!  This mud was thick, the kind that keeps your shoe if you walk in it, the kind that will never give it back either.

Well this huge empty, brownish-red, mud bath as just over the fence from our house.  And since no one else was using it, it was calling to be explored!  So my brother and I did exactly that!  I have no idea how long we spent in the mud but when we came back my mom would not let us in the house! We had to be hosed off out side in the back yard.  We had mud in our ears, our eyes, our noses, between our toes and fingers and covering our clothes.  Apparently our clothes were so badly stained that they were never the same. 

That is one of the biggest messes I have ever been in.

What would you do if you could be invisible?  Perhaps you would play pranks on some of your friends or teachers, perhaps you would help someone without them knowing it, perhaps you would get back at that dog that keeps chasing you down the street or the bullies who always seem to catch you when no one else is around.

What would you do and why?

What are the qualities that are important in a friend.  Describe at least three and explain why.

My favorite movie changes sometimes even though I find it hard to beat some of the old classics.  I still enjoy "Murder By Death", "Blazing Saddles", "Roman Holiday" and "Princess Bride".  What is your favorite movie?  Tell me about it and tell me why it is your favorite.

Summer is full of different feelings.  These are usually different from the feelings I have during the school year.  I'm usually more relaxed and less worried.  I have time to think about what I want to do when school starts again.  What is different about summer for you?

Write at least one paragraph explaining how and why summer is different for you.

Most days when students see a substitute teacher in their class they think it will be a mixed up day.  Some students will take advantage of the sub and some will try to help.  I have never been a substitute teacher and it has been a long time since I was in an elementary or high school room as a student.  Tell me about the most interesting substitute teacher you have had.

It is supposed to be very hot here today, probably around 100 degrees Celsius.  When it is hot people go swimming, they eat ice cream, drink cold tea, play in the sprinklers and go to a place where there is air-conditioning.  Some people still do some of these activities when it is not hot outside, like this man eating ice cream when it it snowing! 

Describe an activity you do when it is cold that some people do when it is hot.