Dear Anna
In your last letter you asked me to tell you about my pets. OK, I can talk for hours on this topic. I have a dog; his name is La boule. That’s a French word which means a ball. He is a pug and he is very funny. I also have a hamster. His name is Masha. Not a usual name for a hamster, you say, but he is very curious and smart enough. I would also like to have a cat, but perhaps not now.
I’m fine, no changes since the last time. I’m passing my exams next week. After that, I’m looking forward to going abroad. I like traveling a lot. I’ve visited just a few European countries but I fell in love with the Old world. My dream is to go to Paris. This is the city of love, croissants and haut-couture. I think every person should see it and not necessarily die after it!
You told me that you had been to many countries. Tell me about your greatest trip! Have you been to Paris, did you like it? What are you going to do this summer? Where would you like to go?
I’m so happy that your sister married! Wish her and her husband a very good luck! Hope the wedding was as gorgeous as the bride was!
Could you send me some photos?
Sorry, I have to go, my parents are leaving on holidays, I need to see them off.
Waiting for your letter,
Yours truly,
Masha
Once a philosopher was traveling down a river in a small boat. While he was crossing the river he asked the boatman:” Have you ever heard about Philosophy?” “No”, I haven*t " said the boatman. “I * ve never heard about it. What is it ?” “I am sorry for you, indeed,” replied the learned man, “you have lost a quarter of your life as it’s a very interesting science!” Several minutes later the philosopher asked the boatman another question: “Did you hear about Astronomy, when you were at school?” “No, I left school many years ago and I forgot all about it.,” was the answer. To this the philosopher answered that he was really sorry for the man, and he thought that the boatman lost a second quarter of his life.
Some minutes passed and the passenger again wondered if the man had ever heard about Algebra. And the man had to admit that he had never known anything about it. “In that case you certainly lost a third quarter of your life!” said the scientist.
At that very moment the boat struck on a big stone. The boatman jumped and cried: “ Have you ever learnt swimming ( to swim)?” “No,” was the answer. The boatman explained sadly to the philosopher that he was sure the scientist had lost his whole life as the boat was sinking
