Journal Question #7

What did you think about Thanksgiving?  You have all now experienced an American Thanksgiving - or at least most of you have.  What did you think?  What was your favorite part of this holiday (Turkey, Cranberry Sauce, pumpkin pie, other food, or something besides the food; Black Friday maybe...)?  Write your thoughts about this holiday.

Journal Question #6

What's the best surprise so far?  Okay, you've been here for three months, enough time to experience a lot of people, places, subjects, food, activities, etc.  So, what has been the nicest surprise for you so far?  This could be a person, an activity, a moment in time, even an aspect of yourself that you didn't know before coming to TA.  Tell me your best surprise since August.

Journal Question #5

What is a friend?  How do you define "friend"?  Who do you think of when you think of a friend?  What makes a friend?  Do you have to know someone for a certain amount of time before you call him/her a friend?  Do you have lots of friends?  Or is it possible only to have a few people whom you call friends?  Talk about your friends.

Journal Question #4

What's your favorite Holiday or Tradition?  In a few weeks, Americans will be celebrating Thanksgiving, one of the country's most important holidays.  It commemorates the landing of the first Europeans in New England at Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 1620, and the Native Americans who taught the Europeans how to survive in the "new world."  Today, Americans eat a huge meal the fourth Thursday in November, including turkey, potatoes, sweet potatoes, stuffing, gravy, pies... Thanksgiving also is the "official" start of the Christmas shopping season.  This tradition began in the mid-1800's, when Abraham Lincoln was president.  

What is your favorite holiday?  What traditions do you follow on it?  What sort of food is eaten at that time?  Are there special feasts and parties and other events that happen?  Tell me about it!   

Journal Question #3

What makes you scared?  In honor of Halloween, write about things that scare you.  For instance, speaking in front of a lot of people scares me.  So do graveyards at night.  A nightmare scares me.  Walking on a frozen river or lake when I'm not sure the ice is thick enough also scares me.  Sometimes I'm scared when I'm driving in bad weather conditions.  Or when I feel lost.  You can also talk about a specific time you were scared.  I was scared the time I sprained my ankle really badly, for example.  What can you do to calm yourself when you feel scared?