Theme for Astroforum.

15.07.2010 | Dmitri Vaga

On 15th of June at 23.30 p.m. my mom got a call from my aunt Lesya, she is actually our neighbor, too. Lesya said that she saw a UFO in the sky. My mom and I ran outside and saw 12 white clouds over us which were moving clockwise. I thought that that was funny and, of course, I didn't believe in any UFOs. Then I ran to my other neighbors and showed them that phenomenon. My mum said that some Europeans saw similar strange things before a hurricane. So she began to worry. Everybody who observed that didn't know what it was. I wanted to shoot the UFO, but my camera had limited features.

Next morning I called my uncle Alex in Kiev and he said, "You must draw what you saw and send it to me". I did that and Alex started a theme in the astroforum. People started to discuss these 12 white clouds in a night sky. Some said that they were just spotlights, others thought about aliens and some connections to inhabitants of the earth. I said, "If I am lucky, I will see that thing again at night".

And so it was. I observed exactly the same picture the following evening. Though, at some moment I remembered about the circus which stopped in our village. My neighbor Pablo suggested me checking it out. So we went to the circus. When we arrived, we saw the UFOs that landed. I shot that device and told this funny story to the circus workers. We just laughed and then understood that that was only a Mirazh, so-called plant. I called my uncle and he closed the theme in astroforum.

Business English: Student's Graph Description

23.05.2010 | by Pavel

Business English: Student's Graph Description

23.05.2010 | by Nikolay

By Nikoay and Pavel

26.04.2010 | Intermediate

by Pavel Rusnak

05.2010 | Intermediate

Black BMW 7th

Once upon a time there was a man. It was a very poor and unhappy man. He had no family, no hobby, no friends... nothing except his boring job in the office in a little unknown shoe manufacturing company. Every day he was staying in his office till midnight because he didn’t have anyone to hurry to. He had no plans and thought that he lost his childhood.

One evening when he was returning home he got under rain and got completely soaked. He reached his pocket to take out a pack of cigarettes, but there was none. He dropped the pack into a dustbin, but missed. Again he thought he was the biggest loser in the world. Then he took his eyes up and saw a billboard on the other side of the road. In capital letters there was written a strange phrase, “You are a blacksmith of your own happiness” and a telephone number a little lower but he couldn’t see it exactly since the numbers were really tiny. He moved towards the billboard across the road and nearly fell under the wheels of a big black BMW 7th, which was passing by with high speed and loud signal.

555-73-45 clicked a man on his mobile telephone, but in the answer heard only a voicemail, saying, “When you want to solve your life problem, do all things vice-versa”. “Oh, thank you”, - said the man and thought, that it was somebody’s stupid joke. He sat on the wet ground and started to cry. After a while he really decided to do all things vice versa. He had nothing to lose. So he steeply jumped and began to laugh very much and very loudly. The patrol cops car, which was passing by him stopped.

The next moment he already was sitting in a prison cell, and from the words of other prisoners understood, he was suspected in drug dealing. Unexpectedly for himself, though, during the next two weeks in the prison he met a lot of friends. When he was finally freed he began to create a radically new and strange model of new shoes, which had a big demand at that time. He met also a young girl and was ready to become a father. The secret of his success was that he was doing all things vice-verse.

When he was attending one party, which was organized in his honor, he decided to joke – he said he was going to jump out from the roof of his house into the swimming pool in the court. All his friends screamed, “Don’t do it, Johny!” But as we know he was doing always vice-verse … and he jumped.

When he opened his eyes he saw only wet hot asphalt, small pieces of glass and crump bonnet of a big black BMW 7th.

By Marta Sereda

26.04.2010 | Intermediate

By Nataliya Yashina

04.2010 | Upper-Intermediate

Poetry: Born Under Pressure

I don’t have a talent of conviction
My life was proved me one more time
Believe me please it’s not a fiction
It’s real fact of real life

All time I am trying explain
The main values which I see
But if people understood them
Maybe this world would be free

Unfortunately, I lack this talent
That’s why we live in our world
Sometimes it maybe trully vialent
But maybe not you will have hope

Ok, it’s song it’s just a writing
Don’t think about this a lot
If I ignored they would be fighting
I didn’t ignore, I tried and wrote…

By Dmitriy Vaga

04.2010 | Intermediate

One hour song

By Alexey Sasimov

04.2010 | Intermediate

Snowy Storm

It was a usual Monday morning. Sam got up early at seven o’clock because he got fixed up in a new job. There he could earn 500$. It was a lot for him. It was his first work. He had taken a high education in the main university of Switzerland. He was a secretary. In twenty minutes he had a breakfast and went out from home. The day was usual but Sam felt that something might happen. When he was working his best friend named Luka called him. Luka invited him for a trip to mountains. Sam didn’t want to go there but there was his girlfriend Jane. He couldn’t miss a meeting with her, because he loved her. Next Saturday they took the skis and went by car to the mountains. The mountains were near the city so it wasn’t a big problem to get there. In thirty minutes our friends arrived and then they started their trip.

It was a sunny day. Nothing was to happen. Jane was listening to music but Sam and Luca were speaking about the weather. They heard on the radio that that day a snowy storm was ready to start, but nothing foreboded it. They pleased landscapes but suddenly sun disappeared and the snow began. It was nothing terrible, because it wasn’t a snowy storm, so trip continued, but Sam understood that we were in danger. They were four hours away from the town. Sam understood it but could do nothing, because he thought that if he said something about coming back, he would look like a coward. It was evening. The weather was getting colder and colder. Then we prepared the tent for sleeping. And in spite of everything it was his best evening in his life. They brought a lot of food with them and ignited a fire. Everything was ok. The nature around was beautiful. After eating they went to bed.

After a little while Sam woke up because it was windy. He understood that the weather changed. He went out and saw the snowy storm. Suddenly, the wind started to blow the tent off. Sam woke Luka and Jane and said that they must do something because they were in real danger. Luka offered to go to the town, but Sam said that it would be impossible because it was really dangerous weather. But Luka insisted on returning back and said that he would go to the town alone or with Jane. Jane decided to stay with Sam, then Luca left them and went to the town alone. Sam understood that Luca didn’t have a chance to survive. But at that moment Sam had to think only for himself and for Jane. He was face to face with the enraged weather and with his girl that he loved. Sam started to dig a hole. There they could hide from the storm. When Jane wanted to take things from the tent she couldn’t see tent because it was taken away by the wind. In fifteen minutes Sam finished digging then they climbed into the hole and started to wait. Sam remembered about his mobile phone. He wanted to call the rescuers, but there was no connection.

In two days they waited till the storm calmed down and climbed up to the surface. Everything was covered by snow. Sam called the rescuers and asked them for help. In thirty minutes they came and took them to the hospital. When they arrived to the hospital, they knew a bad news. Luca died. His dead body was found near the camp. Sam thought that that situation would be a lesson for their whole lives.

By Julia Duderina and Victoria Yanishevska

04.2010 | Intermediate

A song in one hour

This song was written and performed within one hour by Julia Duderina and Victoria Yanishevska.

By Alexander Andreev

04.2010 | Upper-Intermediate

A song in one hour

Mama, take me home!..

I bought my computer when I was 17
It was already used by someone in canteen
It was very dirty and smelled not good
I spent long time to make it look good

I installed the soft in the hard drive place
That was stolen from my working place
I was very happy with computer of mine
But I didn’t understand what was hidden behind

When I surfed the Internet for my mate
The computer asked me for a little update
I didn’t understand what was hidden behind
I pushed the button yes, cause I didn’t mind

I continued to work seeing nothing around
I was into my job without any doubt
Then the window blew and the door as well
The SWAT appeared and I felt unwell

When I was able to open my eyes
I was taken by not very good surprise
Mama, mama, take me home
Because I am in jail and not alone

By Nikolay Zazulyak

04.2010 | Intermediate

Ukri

I think you must know it! It is one of the world’s endless questions, - Who we are and how we appeared.

I have decided that now I could tell you it because my life is protected. My facts will go through all historical and scientific truths.

When our earth wasn’t populated, it was one single continent. It was the place where the fist human civilization was born. We don’t know what it was called, though these people named themselves Ukri.

Ukri was developing very fast and every settlement has its personal vector of development. But they had open relationships and were populating all the earth. That’s why now we can find somebody who looks like us in all the places of the world.

But then for certain incomprehensible reasons everything changed. It was because an asteroid of enormous size hit the earth and split it apart. Everything was destroyed. However, there were some people, the smartest and most organized of that civilization, which saved their lives on one little part of land that suffered the least, we call it Atlantida. They made everything for the renewal of the majestic civilization and human settling all over the world. It was difficult to do since their world network of communication was destroyed and their language bit by bit changed and human being became more and more different.

Our government knows it but they don’t want to unite the world because they would lose their power and influence over us. We can see different political processes of supporting one or the other political interest, vector of development, and etc. But it is we who must do everything possible for our better future. It is because we are famous Ukris – the direct successors of our ancestors. We feel our forefathers. Besides, just in case if you don’t know, the abbreviation UA, it means, “Ukrainians Amazing”!

By Andrei Koval

03.2010 | Upper-Intermediate

Lake Story

It was a usual morning. Mao woke up in a good mood. There was a very good weather and he was ready for his usual day. His boat was prepared for fishing and he hoped to catch a lot of fish that today. He got up from bed and went out from his hut. All people in his village did the same as usual. Some of them were going to go fishing, other were repairing instrument, and women were cooking breakfast and playing with children.

They lived in very beautiful valley, on the bank of a lake. Their village was surrounded with green forest and high mountains. The lake was full of fish. It was the best place to live in.

Mao went through the village to his girl Oki. She was very beautiful and Mao thought about their wedding next autumn. He went and greeted villagers. All were affable, and there seemed to be nothing special. But something was. There was something inconspicuous in the air. Something, that made this day special. That day was a day “choice”.

Every year one of the inhabitants of the village had to leave. He was supposed to go to a far gorge, stand on a big stone and after that he would disappear. After that nobody would ever see him again. Every villager knew if nobody goes there would be a great disaster to their village. And that day all people had to choose the one who would have to leave this year.
Mao came to Oki. She ran towards him from her hut. As soon as they embraced, a loud bell has sounded. It was a signal for the Meeting. Mao and Oki went to the center of the village.

When they came, all people were there. All were worried and scared. The shaman began the ritual. He started his wild dance. There was something primeval in that dance, something from animals. It was a fascinating spectacle. At the end of his dance shaman had to show who would go this year.

Suddenly shaman stopped his dance. He walked through the crowd and pointed to Oki with his spear. The choice was made. Mao couldn't understand. All his life was broken at once. Oki became pale, but seemed calm.

Oki said good bye to the relatives, hugged Mao and went to the side of the far gorge.

Mao stayed alone. He stood and didn't know what he could do. After several minutes he also went to the far gorge. He followed Oki. And as soon as she approached the big stone, he jumped on it instead of her.

All around him turned dark. He didn't see and didn't hear anything. After several seconds he appeared in a very strange place. He was standing over an abyss and a lot of flying rocks were flying under him. He didn't know what he could do further. After several minutes he realized that he had to get to the other side of the abyss. He started jump from one flying rock to another. It was very difficult. Several times he almost fell. But in the end, after a great deal of suffering he reached the other side of the abyss.

As soon as he jumped down from the last rock, the world around him darkened again.

And, thus, he appeared on the next strange place. It was a flat plateau. And nothing was there. Suddenly, somewhere from behind the rocks a huge monster jumped to Mao. Monster tried to catch him and Mao ran. Monster almost caught this little man, so Mao had no choice but to climb the rock. He understood that the rock wasn't a problem for the monster and that he had to do something to save his life.

Abruptly, he saw a big stone from the other side of the rock. He went there and started to call the monster. When monster came, Mao pushed a stone on the head of the monster. When the monster was no longer moving, a strange sound appeared and something like a huge window opened in the sky.

Through this window Mao saw the large creature that looked like a man, it stared at Mao. The creature was sitting in the strangest place of those that he had ever seen in his life. This was something even more amazing than the flying rocks and the huge monster…

By Dmitiri Vaga

03.2010 | Intermediate

One Day Story

Oh, my God, again that unbearable noise! I am so fed up with it. How can it be? And this is happening every single morning. It doesn’t give me enough of sleep. That’s it, I change my registration! I'm leaving! Has every heard me? - And Ms. Roger invites Dan and Catherine for lunch. Mr. B, a husband of Ms. Roger, furiously is slurping his coffee. I did nickname him in such a way because he was too big for the chair he sits on.

No, this is a bad idea to leave the Roger’s family! They sheltered me when I was only two months old. I am very grateful to them for such kindness and generous hospitality. And I am used to tasty pies with apples and bilberry from Ms. Roger. She makes them in the days when I don’t have upset stomach. I have been in a good family, but they often forget about my existence.

I have a big sib. Except my parents, who went on a trip around the world by a cruise ship St. Mary, I only have Uncle Sam. He lives not far from me in a house nearby. His home is in a box of rice. My cousin Marty works in a restaurant on the 5th Avenue. He deals with exquisite European cuisine, - Yummy! But we are unpretentious in food. We do not need foie-gras, cheese with red mold, sushi or even a hamburger from McDonald's. We always find something to eat.

According to the stories of my uncle, who replaced the parents, our ancestors served in NATO forces, were in the Vietnam, Kosovo wars, and are currently working for the benefits of the U.S. military in Afghanistan and Iraq. They entrusted an important mission connected with the destruction and disposal purveyance of enemy troops. Many of my relatives have awards from the motherland. After his release from the ranks of the U.S. Army my peaceful brothers share the experience with others and govern in hostess storeroom. We also have great importance for science. Without our help it is not possible to progress in medicine, we invented the cure to many diseases, the price of their health, even life, but will not go into detail, children read us.

As you understand, I am a little mouse. My name is Leedsy. But my friends call me, “Acute sense of smell”. So, for you, I am – Leedsy - “Acute sense of smell”. I celebrated the 2nd birthday this winter. The first was when I was born, and second, when I escaped from the embraces of the cat Gary. He left on my body a lot of scars that decorated me and the girls like it. If we are talking about girls, I have my beloved Betty. She has probably no idea of my existence, but I love her. Once we our eyes met and it was love at the first sight. I could not do anything else at that moment and since that I’ve never seen her, but the eyes, and her silhouette I'm still holding in my memory. Most of all I would like to see her again.

If to talk about my own weekdays, I like lively lifestyle. To lie on the sun, warm gizzard up and sip the juice from the tubes - it's not for me. I love to run on the block, to stir up all the cats around, to visit Central Park with Uncle Sam and to analyze the demand of visitors for the content of garbage boxes, to play football with friends in the kitchen in some cozy cafes, at the end of the day to go down in underground and meet the sunset on the shore of the ocean, then to return home. This is my life - full of adventures and unplanned events.

So, you have enough information about me, and in this way I am confident that I can start telling about one day in history. No! One story from history. Oh, my God, I'm confused. So let’s begin!

The day began, as you already know, from the morning commotion. Having woken up, I stretched myself and instantly realized that I was hungry. My acute sense of smell noticed oatmeal cookies on the shelf above. It is so attractive! I decided to taste it. When I got to the breakfast, I heard screams and a weird noise. Children shouted and a chair where Mr. B. set fell down. I decided to flee without looking back. Host ran after me. I ran to the balcony, jumped on the rails and could not keep myself and flew down. Having realized that the life started to shorten drastically, I remembered everything. After closing my eyes, I was ready for the worst to happen, but I was lucky and I found myself on the roof of the summer cafes. After a couple of tricks, I appeared on my own four paws on the roadway of Manhattan. I felt free and decided to walk.

New York - the capital of the world. The crowd, the huge taxi, hot-dogs at every step, bright advertising and a sense of freedom - all these show the greatness of a megacity. I'm just a little mouse, midget in the country of giants. Two minutes of capture and thinking passed. I realized that I have the chance to see my uncle and once again I feel the beauty of life in the big city.

Jumping into the passing by bus, I got on the other side of the block, where my uncle lived. He was not at home. Probably he had an important business in town.

My stomach sang incomprehensible melody and I decided to visit my cousin Marty. He worked on the 5th Avenue. I met him and he kindly bought me cheese and fresh milk. But he was not alone. He was with her, Betty. I blyushed immediately. Marty began to taunt me. I was embarrassed; my heart went to the heel, my pulse rate increased. Everything was interrupted by a waitress, who raised a mad cry having seen our meal. We ran wherever we could! Marty began to pretend as if nothing had happened and continued to chew. I rushed with Betty to where I thought we would be safe. When everything was over, we rested. After that we got to know each other.

She was wonderful. Its unmatched appearance, charming smile, brilliant hair, perfect figure, elegant dress - all these made me to forget about Marty.

We talked about life, about preferences, about food, about tastes, about the world around us. The time was running unnoticeably. I immediately thought that I knew her for a hundred years. She suited me perfectly. The evening came and I suggested seeing the sunset. After having received a favorable response from her, we were at the Coney Island, in the Lower New York Bay. Last rays of the evening sun warmed us; seagulls circled low over the water, there was a romantic atmosphere. I felt sympathy from Betty’s side and it was great. My dream came true. My soul sang. I was ready to turn over the mountains.

I concluded that in life everything is not accidental. My morning awakening, acute sense of smell, Mr. B, employment of Uncle, unbearable Marty, the waitress - all helped me from the morning. Life is beautiful; I do not want to complain about it!

Do not be afraid to dream, do not be afraid to take risks, live each day with enthusiasm, remember that you are needed, do not forget about your loved ones – I am telling you, I am a little mouse, Leedsy, “Acute sense of smell”. Good luck! ;)

By Victoria Yanishevskaya

03.2010 | Upper-Intermediate

Fate changes

Once upon a time in a small village lived an ordinary girl. Although her life was going on like those of others, she understood that she was special and mysterious. She did not say about that to anyone. It was her secret. As the time passed by she was becoming older and older. Something was good, something bad. And one day she started to notice that someone was chasing her. Everyday there were a yellow car and men in black. She was not afraid, she understood something was about to happen.

So, one day on her 16th birthday an old man came to her. That man told her that she had the power to feel people, understand their wishes. She thought that she knew it all her life. She entered life of mysterious people but, unfortunately, this power had its own disadvantages. Because she was behaving in a very strange way, her father teased, thinking that she was influenced by a bad company of friends. But she couldn’t reveal her secrete to him. Every time when she was among people her head was just splitting in pain. Despite this fact she helped many people to realize their dreams. And she also knew that everyone from their planet will help her. There were a lot of people with the power. They were able to see through walls and to see the future. From that time on her every day became wonderful and very different from that past. Later her daddy accepted the changes he saw in the life of his daughter and understood that only these changes could make her happy.

I won’t tell you what happened to her after that, what she went through, because it would be a very long story, the idea is that miracles are real and you never know how your fate would change your life...

Alexander Andreev

03.2010 | Upper-Intermediate

The Bridge

He walks along the street and thinks, “What will I do with it?” Grey clouds on the sky don’t promise the day will without rain. Strong north wind forces him to be muffled up.

In a distance he detects a bridge. That is the bridge where he has to meet her in 10 minutes.  His palm feels the rough and cold surface of a gun handle. And this feeling gives him more strength, so he starts walking faster.

Her hair uncurled downwind. She looks from the bridge to the river and it seems that she doesn’t feel the cold of the coming winter.

• Hi Helen, how are you? – he said.
• Hi Tom, fine, what about you? – said Helen.
• Very bad without you.
• Please, Tom doesn’t start it again. – whispered Helen.
• How can you do it? How can you leave me? What is wrong? – starts crying Tom.
• Tom it is my decision and I don’t want to discuss it with you.
• Why? Please, explain it to me, Helen!
• Tom! I don’t want talk about it! Don’t … Her voice was broke by a shot.

Tom comes to the body and shoots again. “In the movies killers always do the final shot into the head” – thinks Tom. The last shot sounds.

After a while Tom thinks:     

• What have I done? Did I kill her?!
• Yes. So what is the next step? I don’t remember what I should do the next!
• Stop! Be calm… First of all you need to hide the body.
• I don’t want to go into prison…
• Relax, mate! Nobody goes into prison! In a few minutes the body will be hid.

He is standing over the body. His palm squeeze gun handle. The gun tube is smoking slowly.

Julia Dudernia

01.2010 | Upper-Intermediate

Dreams come true

Once upon a time, there was a little girl, whose dream was to be a famous singer. She lived in the countryside of New York City. Her name was Christina. She was a great person and a beautiful girl, but she was very poor and hadn’t a possibility to learn in popular schools and universities. Christina’s parents were teachers and worked in a high school. They taught her all the most important things, especially to be a good and honest person in every situation.

The time passed by and Christina became a woman. As her parents were too old to work, she had to work in the city restaurant as a waitress. It was popular place to have a rest and there was a great piano. When all clients went home and they started to close Christina always played and sang. When she was a child, her father took her to his school, where he worked and learned how to play and sing. He was very talented and Christina had as great voice as her dad did. Her friends and colleagues were jealous because of her amazing voice.

One dark night, when the restaurant was being closed Marc went home. Although he was one of the greatest producers even they had bad days. It was one of them. His car broke down and his best singer resigned. As a person, Marc was self-confident, stubborn and vain. As all heroes with character like his, he was unbelievably handsome and his heart was kind. When he walked round Christina’s restaurant, suddenly he heard a beautiful voice. He stopped and entered the place, where he was hearing that voice. It was Christina. She was singing as usually, but for him it was like a dream. Marc looked at her and couldn’t stop looking. He fell in love with Christina the moment he saw her beautiful eyes, which were full of hope and love.

After this meeting he became her producer and Christina’s dream came true. They couldn’t stop loving each other and lived together till they died. As for Christina’s wish to be a popular singer, she didn’t wait for the world fame, which was waiting for her for all this years. She understood that all she needed is faith. Faith in one’s own strengths, in people who supported one and, of course, in love, because of which one may only live.

Before death, Christina said these words, which became popular very fast:

P.S: when you believe in something, and believe very strongly, it will certainly come true. All you need is to believe in yourself and you will be happy. Really. Believe me. I know what I’m saying … 

Dmitiriy Vaga

12.2009 | Intermediate

Denis and Mary

Once upon a time, when people didn’t know about cars, the Internet, supermarkets and rided on horses, ate primitive food, in some fantastic country, which was called Cornwelland, lived young boy Denis. He was 16 but he was very small that was why all children laughed at him and taesed him, also he didn’t have any friends. He felt very bad and alone, but her mother asked God that he would help her son. Mother bealived that the miracle will come. In some time, Denis fell for one girl but he couldn’t tell her what he felt about her.

There was a snowy winter. The weather was very nice, the sun was shining brightly and all children were waiting for the New Year and Christmas holidays. They presanted some things to each other. These could be somekind of wooden characters, animals, soft toys, which they made by thenselves. He also prepared some gifts for Mary, it was a girl which he loved. But he couldn’t give her that toy. 

One day when his village celebrated the New Year holiday he was sitting at home and had a bad mood because all teenagers were spending time outside, they were playing snowball, jocking, dancing around the New Year tree, drinking hot tea but he felt lonely and abundant. Nobody wanted to play with him.

His mother looked at his sufferings and God heard her. And he send an angel for her son. When Denis was sleeping in his room, a bright light got into his room through the window and the angel appeared in the middel of his room. Denis woke up and he was very afraid because he thougt that his house was in fire. But when he saw the angel he calmed down. The angel said, “God heard the request from your mother and can help you!” Suddenly the angel disappeared and the boy felt than he grew up. It happend at night between the 6th and 7th of January when all Christian celebrate Christmas holiday.

At that time he was very happy and because of this he woke his mother up and started to danced with a great joy.

After this he got a lot of friends and made a proposal to Mary. And they were very happy thereafter.

Anna Bulytko

09.2009 | Intermediate

One 'Sunny' Day

That day was sunny and nice, it was a memory day. A friendly family decided to visit a house, where one year before their best friend, Robert, had disappeared. Marta and Frank got acquaintanced with him, when they had a weekend off in Florida. He helped them to look after July, their daughter and they had a good time together. From that time they phoned each other almost every day and met together on holidays. One day they called Robert, but there was no answer… from that day nobody saw him, and all people tried to avoid his house… People had a legend, that Robert was stolen by a priest.

When they arrived, they saw a nice place near the river. Frank said:  «O, God, this place looks like a paradise, oh Robert… why today you cannot be with us»? Than he said louder: «Robert…come back..Robert»!

«Come down, we have to spend this day with a smile and good memories…. Ce can't bring him back, but nobody will steal our good memory about Robert”, said Marta.

When the night came, July was watching TV, then she felt a little wind…and then she saw an open window. “Father, are you here?” she asked and felt a hand on her mouth and knife on her throut…Few minutes later her mother heard somebodies steps out of house. She ran out to the yard… There was a hand with a ring, that was the ring wich Robert presented to their daugter. She stard to scream. Frank ran to her and they saw a woman and July’s body near the river.

They tried to pull her out, but she wonted to kill them also… Frank took her knife off and in a moment she was on the grass, the knife was in her hear... In tears Marta has shouted why? Why my daughter?

The women said, «I loved Robert very much, but he loved July…I killed him and was waiting the moment to kill July… now, I have nothing to do in my life... I can die» and close her eyes.

Marta and Frank came back home. They will never see their best friend. They will never hug their daughter. They will never forget that day. But in their hearts there will always be warm love to their lovely persons.

Victoria Yanishevskaya

09.2009 | Intermediate

She Follows You

A beautiful girl lived in the city which was called Crop. Boys always loved her. Once a mysterious boy came to Crop. She fell in love with him but he tried to refuse her. She really became mad about him. Finally she decided to go to him and talk. She came to the entrance looked into his deep eyes and disappeared.

No-one saw her again but no-one looked for her. Her parents just organized her funeral on 6th day of her disappearance in 9th day everyone forgot that she was alive.

But what happened? He killed her because she saw that he was not a human. But her soul wanted revenge so she lived in mirrors. One day (On her 40th day of the death) she had a lot of power and she killed him. From that time she killed everyone who lived in that time and their friends and relatives. And she is looking for another victim among us.

Julia Duderina

09.2009 | Intermediate

Night Horror

A few months ago, a young family couple was driving along the road. It was a dark, cold, and horrible night. Suddenly, Dan heard a terrible noise. His girl Jane was confused because she didn't know about cars even the simplest things, but the reason was obvious for him, - they ran out of petrol.

They stopped the car and went out. Jane proposed to stay near the car but Dan told her that they had to find a near town or village or even someone, because it was an old abandunt road in the forest. The time past by. Unfortunately, they couldn't find anything that was related to human.

Jane started to be nervous, naturally, so they stopped and sat under a tree. Unexpectedly, they heard extremely strong, loud and terrifying animal's voice, which echoed from the depth of the forest. It seemed that it was a scream of a beast. Dan and Jane never heard such a cut deep noise.

Their hearts almost stopped because of the fear they had. They could neither move no carry on. Young people understood that if they didn't do somewhere and would sit on the same place, they would die. Jane and Dan stood up and started to walk slowly and very carefully without any sound. But after few steps they stopped in fear because of the thing they saw: on the forest meadow, which was all in the moonlight, stood the beast.

It was something with red eyes what's had a bright yellow shade and with sharp as razor claws and teeth. It wasn't a man but it wasn't an animal. It seemed that he was from hell. Lovers started to run out keeping
each other's hands. Unexpectedly, although Dan felt Jane's hand in his one, when he turned round Jane wasn't there. At that very moment he heard a horrible scream. It was his girl. Dan ran and ran towards the sound really wishing to save Jane but it was too late. He started to shake with fear and his face was in tears. All the glade was in human blood. In the middle of the forest meadow Dan saw torn Jane's body. In despair he ran to her, he wanted to kiss her lips which were in blood for the last time, but suddenly he saw the beast's shade behind him...

Several days later he got back to his consciousness. He was in a big forest-guard's house near the road. Dan opened the window and saw his car. He remembered events of that terrible night. That day he found out that this forest was damned and the beast was a guard of it. He killed everyone who came in. Man told Dan that he was the first who stayed alive after meeting with devil's son. But why? This is the biggest secret of Dan's life.

Anna Bulytko and Victoria Yanishevskaya

4.06.2009 | Intermediate

Song

She was walking, he was sitting
She was smoking, he was drinking
She stop smoking while walking
And start crossing towards him

Plus and minus
Light and darkness
Angel and demon
Forever and more

Angel and demon find each other
They were happy, but everybody
Told that was not right
And all the world will fight

Plus and minus
Light and darkness
Angel and demon
Forever and more

Egor Tilpunov

02.2009 | Advanced

There goes the third autumn

There goes the third autumn
I’ve got into jail
The damn cell is rotten
My mind fades away

My friends had forgotten
So send me the mail
To visit me rotting
Give hope for a day

My wife beared a baby
While I was away
The child knows no father
But He’ll grow up the same

I was a good bady
Got just A’s at school
With health almost perfect
I was fastest in pool

The best grad from College
The best thesis in years
They said I’m future
Without hiding tears

You’d say I was lucky,
But here I’m away
Lost, damned, and forgotten
The whole thing is lame

There goes the fourth autumn
No difference here
I’m away at South Pole

I’m scientist in jail

Anna Bulytko

03.04.2009 | Intermediate

A story about a little girl

This is a story about a little girl. When she was a child – animals found her in the woods and she lived with them... animals helped her to build a house and brought her all things for living… She was so nice and wanted to know everything about life. She saw a lot of pictures from real life, where people like her lived, but she was afraid of that word. Once a big tiger came to the woods… he killed a lot of animals and wanted to eat a little girl without a name. Her best friend monkey helped her to run away… She ran and ran…then fell down and fell asleep.

When she woke up, she saw a strange man…he was looking at her and gave her a hand to stand up. She wondered. He was very handsome…but she had never seen people… she started shouting…but he hugged her and said – “everything will be ok”. All his life he had lived alone… he’d liked nature and thought that he would never fall in lone …But when he saw her eyes…that was love at first sight. They were very happy to find each other. Then they found an article in a newspaper that said that there was an airplane crash 18 years ago and so she was just one person who survived…She lived to meet him and to be happy.

Victoria Yanishevska

28.03.2009 | Intermediate

They met each other …

They met each other when the sun was rising
They both understood
That they were made for one another.
She was rich and he was poor
But their hearts were beating together.
That was true love
In real life.

They met each other when the sun was rising
They fell the same, they understood
That it was love
It happens only once.

They were young and fell in love
But they could not be together.
That was forbidden love that happens only once.
He gave his life for saving her
He sacrificed himself
Everyone now remembers and never forgets.

Larisa Bulash

Elementary

Love

They were happy
She had a boyfriend
They lived together for some time
But they suddenly separated
Because they thought they found a better love
Twenty years passed by
But they found nothing really better
And he met one woman
They liked each other
But it looked like his first love
Her name is as that’s woman in the past
Now he thinks more about that woman in the past
When he sees this woman in the present
I would like to come back to that time
To see that nothing happened
To see that nothing happened
A – a – a – a !

Victoria Yanishevska

26.03.2009 | Intermediate

Acute sight

Once upon a time there lived a girl in a little village who was very intelligent and pretty. However she had a very strange completion and she didn’t look as anybody else. She had short dark hair, black eyes and straight nose. She had never dreamt about a beautiful prince on the white horse. Although she wanted to meet her love but she knew that he would be completely different from the other men. Also I want to tell you why she was so strange. Everyone thought that she was a witch because her eyes were deep and acute. If she looked into your eyes she would read your mind and wishes. So she looked for a man who would have a clean soul and good desires.

On her 17th birthday her father presented her a beautiful white balloon. She was playing with it in the meadow of the dark and very old forest. Suddenly, it started to rain and her balloon was taken away by the strapping wind. She went home being dramatically upset and she sat near the window for a week and expected her balloon wholeheartedly. All of a sudden she saw it and understood that it was calling her to go after it. She ran for a couple of hours vigorously. Suddenly balloon stopped near a clean picturesque lake. As soon as she looked at it she remained there forever.

She stood there since there wasn’t any pure soul that she could look into …

Viacheslav Kulko

12.09.08| Upper-Intermediate

Moidodyr

Were you afraid of Moidodyr when you were a child? If you say no, you either have no memory or had no imagination. Well, just try to imagine now a creature that consists of sink, toilet, buckets, brushes... And this creature is alive, it moves and tries to catch you and... wash you to... holes..? Or how should we otherwise translate Moidodyr (Wash-to-holes)?

So, there was one boy six years old who just investigated that Moidodyr exists. It was not very scary near the mother and sitting on the chair in the park sunny day. The boy had wasted his hands by soil and didn't want to clean up. When mother told him a story about Moidodyr the boy was not surprised, even boring a bit. “Of course, when you waste you hands, don't expect story about gremlins that steal the bad boys who don't eat soup. This story is waiting for you at a dinner” - the boy thought. He knew all mother's tricks very well.

In a month boy was moved to the countryside to his grandma. The official version told that boy had to take vitamins and sun. But the boy suspected that mother and farther don't love him anymore and want to get out of him. Now he very regretted about some of his faults that were the most annoying for his parents.

So, the boy rambled by the house and one day he opened the door of the room which resided under the roof. The room had steeped wall (actually it was a roof) with a windows on it. The half-round window started straight from the floor. Faint light spreaded across the wooden squeaking floor. There is only old sofa was in this room... and... It was the GIGA cupboard. It was abnormally huge and improbable old. There were billions of one hundred years old teapots, cups, strange porcelain figures... It was.. Well, it was Moidodyr's boss.

At this moment grandma lifted by stairs to this room. She had a brush with paint in her hands. “Oh, you've founded this room yet, good boy. This is just on time, because I am painting you room so you have to sleep in this room tonight” - she said.

The boy cried all the day but grandma was inflexible. So at the evening the boy went to this room. Those evening he dried his teeth as never before, he cleaned his ears perfectly, he even brush his hair what he didn't do never in his life. Than the boy went to the room switch on an old lamp near the bad (the lamp made a circle of light across his bad) and laid down on the sofa. Grandma kiss his and went out of the room.

Nobody knows what happened those night. But when at the morning grandma opened the door, the boy was sitting on the floor where cupboard should stay, watching into the window and don't hear her. When grandma touched him, he turned back and grandma saw that the boy absolutely grey.
In a week boy's parents took him to the city, and he became the only grey first former in the world. And than he became a TV star. But he still don't like Moidodyr. And his children don't know nothing about Chukosky's books.

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Victoria Kulko

12.09.08 | Upper-Intermediate         

Stashil-ka
One day we decided to travel to London.

- It will be great! – we thought and went to the railway station to buy tickets. We bought two tickets and began preparing for our trip. We packed two pair of checked coats (all people of GB dress in checked coats, of cause), two umbrellas (there is always rain, of cause) and complete set of Shakespeare (we prepared to visit Globe).

When the time came we went to the railway station and got on the coach. Coach was very strange. It had a very sinister look. Wild stench was in the air. Windows were so dirty that passengers couldn’t see the view. Doors squeaked like a displeased deadmen. Children were crying all way long without any adequate reason. Adults were sitting with absolutely glassed eyes. Some people were sleeping and saliva was dropping on their breasts. Sometime later a strange cripple with crosswords entered in our coach and children began to cry much more.

Five  hours later locomotive driver asked for free coaches. It was quite strange because the way to London takes more than twenty-four hours.
- It's nothing! – we thought and said «Good afternoon» to the first comer Englishmen. Englishmen went very quickly without any questions.
- We must improve our English, of cause! – we thought with sorrow. 
- How can we get to Globe? – we asked the next stranger with a true English pronunciation.

- Pashka? Globa? Tak vin ge tut davno vge g ne give… - a local citizen answered to us without any hint of English.

The name of that homestead was Poddon (full name is Gnilij Poddon). You find it easily between Shepetovka and Gmerenka. Or – if bought tickets in kiev ticket office where deaf cashier sits.

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Alexander Yaburov

12.09.2008 | Upper-Intermediate

Game: miniFOREX

You should have following equipment:

1. Banknotes of 5 different currencies.
2. Cards with news and consequences.

Description

At the beginning players receive the equal quantity of banknotes of different currencies and choose a managing player who is to be responsible for the pulling of cards and announcing news and consequences.

The managing player mixes cards and pulls one by one on arbitrary basis. Than he reads loudly the news which has influence on the exchange rates between currencies. Drawing into account this information players have to predict an effect on the exchange rates and after then they have to negotiate with other players the changing some money between each other using current exchange rates but minimum $100 in equivalent. After finishing this exchanging the managing player turns over the card and reads consequences which could be of the following:

1. new exchanging rates for all currencies
2. default of one of currency

In the “a” cases the managing player begins the next round. In the “b” cases all players drop banknotes with this currencies and the managing player continues the next round.
The game finishes after 16th round and players count their banknotes in USD equivalent. Winner will be one who has the biggest amount of money at the end.

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Victoria Kulko

1.08.08 | Intermediate         

SKAZ_KA
Her name was Nobody but people called her simply Zero. Honestly saying - they called her very rarely. And if to be absolutely honest we will say that people never called her because they never noticed this girl.  Those people were not very bad or indifferent. The reason was in the girl – because in the place where other people had face that girl had only dark and fuzzy blot (such faces one can find only on a very-very old and damaged photos).
And in general that girl was insignificant. She had empty thoughts, she saw not memorable dreams, talked too quiet, did useless things and lived an unnoticeable life.
- It is not so bad… Millions people certainty live like me… Am I right? – asked she often, but nobody answered her. It was because her question was too quiet and too unimportant.
- I am Zero – she used to say. – But it’s very comfortable to be Nothing. All the more, people remember about me very often and think good about me. For example they say: «What a day! Nothing good!» Or: «What a life! Nothing good!»
She had had many empty years and saw a lot of vacuous dreams until one day she met him. At first she didn’t notice him. She didn’t notice him when she saw him second time, too. But in the third time she suddenly saw his face. It was the same like her ones. It was nothing. And it was very strange because she never saw her reflection like in a mirror….
- Nothing good! – people said about that. – Ha! Two zeros! No sense! They need at least one “One” (единичку).
…Two zeros didn’t know what they had to do. That was why they simply took hands of each other. Nothing good happened and made up.

Except new symbol that looked like this ∞…

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Viacheslav Kulko

30.07.08| Intermediate

It happened one day when I was at work.
The phone rang and when I took the receiver men's voice said, "Hmmm, It is ‘Lost-and-found’ service speaking.
Are you mister Kulko?
"Yes" - I said
"We have something for you. You've lost your life".
I had no time for jokes so I said something impolite and interrupted this dumb conversation. Next day receptionist said to me: "Mister Kulko, please come to the reception. The ‘Lost-and-found’ service has something for you".
It was very good opportunity to finish this joke so I went to reception.
I was quite surprised when I saw a messenger. It was a dog. Not small dog, which I don’t like (honestly, I think that there are two different kinds of animals - small dogs and big dogs). It was big, healthy and proud creature. Everyone who see him will trust him definitely. The dog was glad to see me. He raised and came to me as an old acquaintance. There was an envelope on his neck.
I took the envelop and saw: "Read it". There was just one word in the letter: "Enough".
"Enough" I read and took a look at the dog. He was laughing as only a good dog was able to.
"Enough", I said and walls of the building disappeared. I was not scared because I felt fresh air, sunny... It was quite unusual for Wednesday when all things tend to be unresolved and you have no time... You have no time for anything.
Then I saw my wife. She stood on the roof of the neighbor building and there was another big dog near her.
"Hmmm, you said enough to your work? I did not expect it" - she smiled.
Building under her legs slowly became invisible and disappeared in a minute. And... we came... higher and higher... The four of us... And now we are happy without... how does spell that word?

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Andrey Koval

31.05.08 | Intermediate            

This story I heard a few years ago from a stranger in small café. It was a small not young man, in big brown hat. The host of the café told me not to listen him, but I was alone and have some time, therefore when stranger told to me I didn’t stopped him.

He told me that he had lived in small village near there. He had family it was wife and two young daughter. One time he left his house and went for a job. He went back at night. It was a dark night. He was sleepy. Suddenly his car bumped into something. He stopped, went out from his car, looked around. But he didn’t find anything. And he went on. But when he come back home, he didn’t find there his family. He had started searching them. But nobody was there. It was a complete darkness in the house. He went upstairs and saw lighting behind the door. He opened the door and saw lighting firework of a woman to young girls. But it wasn’t his family. He was frightened, but he wanted to know what had happened with his own family and he asked ghost of a woman what had happened. She answered him that when he came back home he killed her and her daughter on the road and they came and replaced his own family. And they would live in this house forever. Man ran away from the house. But later, he came back many times, but he never saw his family or ghosts.

I didn’t believe this man that time. I only paid for my coffee and went away.

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