陳嘉瑜

【Abstract】During a summer vacation I went to Britain to visit our sister school there with the teachers and students delegation in our school for a cross-cultural communication trip and we stayed there for about a month.What I saw and experienced during the trip broadened my horizon and had a great effect on me and its really a wonderful and unforgettable experience in my life.

【Key words】A Trip to Britain； The Isle of Man； Cross-Cultural Communication； London； Cambridge University； Greatest Inspiration

Our sister school lies in an island called The Isle of Man.It is about an hours flight from London.During our three weeks staying there，we were arranged to live with the host families.I lived in Stephanies home，who is a girl older than me and who was in her eleventh grade then in my sister school.So every day I went to school with her and studied in the school and then we went back home together.I was forced to think and speak English all the time.Sometimes I couldnt use English to express what I wanted，so I needed the help of my body language and gestures.Although it was hard at first，two or three days later，I got accustomed to it and I became active in talking with Stephanie and her parents and my English improved quickly.

Besides the study in our sister school，we really had a wonderful trip there.The vice-president of our sister school，Mr.Keith and our host friends accompanied us and led us to almost all the famous places of interest in the island.The island is all surrounded by sea，so beautiful sea scenery is its most typical feature.We went to several bays： Niarbyl Bay，Calf Sound，Castletown Bay.Each time I went to a bay，I was lost in its beauty： the blue sea was shining like a big diamond against the beautiful blue sky.The brave seagulls were always flying up and down around us，singing and dancing freely.The waves came over and went away several seconds a time，bringing the salty and fresh taste of the sea.How relaxed and cozy we were in such superb natural scenery！

There were also some unique and old transportations still being used there.For example，we took the old steam engine train and we seemed to have gone back to the far past.We also took the special red tram to the top of the mountain and it was so great to see the green grand field below us and crowds of sheep here and there along the way.We even took the tiny single trail train in the Wild Life Zoo there.Like in other countries，there are some famous museums in the Isle of Man and they can tell people the old history of the island.We went to the Peel Castle，Castle Rushen，House of Mananan，Manx Museum and Laxey Wheel.Those are old castles and buildings dating back to the Middle Ages.They not only showed us the unique building style at that time but also told us the origin，the development of the island and the hard work of their ancestors.

On the way back we spent 5 days in London and visited lots of famous interesting places there，such as the London Eye，The River Thames，the London Bridge，The Big Ben，The Buckingham Palace，the House of Parliament and so on.We specially spent one day visiting the famous Cambridge University and especially visited two colleges there： Kings college and Queens college.We all know University of Cambridge is one of the best and top universities in the world and many famous scientists graduated from it，such as Isaac Newton，Stephen Hawking，Charles Darwin.It is said that about 90 scientists who won the Nobel Prize came from it.Standing on the famous Cam Bridge，all of us were shocked by its classic and charming buildings and totally absorbed in the dense academic atmosphere.It was in Cambridge University that gave me the greatest inspiration to study hard and be a diligent person all the time.It was there that I planted my wildest dream seed in my heart： I hoped one day I could study there.In order to chase my dream，I think learning English well is the basic requirement that I can achieve first.

We spent another day visiting the British Museum.It houses a vast collection of art works from all over the world.Each section stands for a country and has the most typical and unique feature of the country.So when we enjoyed the statues and artifacts in a section，it seemed that we were right in that country and when we came to the Chinese part，everything was so familiar and close to us.We really learned a lot in the British Museum.

Even though time goes fast and what I experienced in Britain was a long time ago，I can still remember everything vividly in my mind and the most important thing is that my greatest inspiration came from it.It always inspires me that there is such a wonderful and colorful world outside and I should work hard to prepare myself well enough to explore it one day.Once I have seeded the dream in my heart，I will do whatever I can to realize it，not only for my English study，but also for my whole life！