I Wandered Lonely As a Cloud

I wandered lonely as a cloud

That floats in high o’er vales and hills

When all at once I saw a crowd,

A host of golden daffodils;

Beside the lake, beneath the trees,

Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine

And twinkle in the milky way,

They stretched in never-ending line

Along the margin of a bay:

Ten thousand saw I at a glance,

Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they

Outdid the sparking waves in glee;

A poet could not but be gay,

In such a jocund company,

I gazed-and gazed-but little thought

What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft when on my couch I lie

In vacant or in pensive mood,

They flash upon that inward eye

Which is the bliss of solitude

And them my heart with pleasure fills

And dances with the daffodils.

                       

By William Wordsworth

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Bonsai Tree

Bonsai is the art of growing trees and other plants into small containers in such a way that it become the miniature of a real tree. A bonsai tree may be 10 years old but have a height of one foot only. The art of Bonsai originated perhaps more than 1000 years ago in China. Early Japanese aristocrats also showed a fondness for Bonsai and contributed greatly to its development. Bonsai is different from normal pot-planting as it is considered an art form. A Bonsai tree is carefully shaped to remain small but still has the appearance of a large tree. It does not need large pots but small containers and not much of soil. A Bonsai container has holes in the bottom which are covered by small nets so that the soil does not flow out with the water.

            The plant is then taken out of its original pot and one-third of its root is cut off. It is then tied to the bottom of the pot with the help of wires. Soil is then spread over it to cover the container, but about an inch of the root is allowed to stay on the soil to enhance beauty.

            The soft branches of the plant are coiled by wires so that they are compelled to grow the way the planter wants them to grow. This allows the planter to give the tree a particular shape. A Bonsai plant is never allowed to grow too high. In fact Bonsai is classified in two ways- * the style in which the branches are planted and shaped, and * their sizes. Plants that are below 6 inches are called miniature, 6-12 inches: small, 12-24 inches: medium,  and those more than 24 inches are called large. Almost all woody plants can be grown as bonsai. The art of Bonsai is now quite popular in many places of the world. For some people, it is not only an interesting pastime but also a moneymaker.

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Etiquette in English Society: ( Tips for Bangladesh going to Britain )

Welcome to you for Visiting our country.  Come and see………

The British have a reputation for keeping their emotions private and for being reserved in their public behavior. There are some obvious things that people from overseas notice in British behavior. For example, on public transport, people do not usually talk to other passengers. On meeting, people do not embrace and often simply shake hands on a first introduction. In theatres, concert halls and cinemas, audiences are quite during performances and reactions are often restrained. None of these behavior traits, however, need to be interpreted by visitors as unfriendliness and in general, if a visitor makes the first move to start a conversation, they will find that British people are friendly and very considerate. On the other hand, some aspects of British behavior might seem too informal for foreigners. An example is the informal use of first names among staff holding different status at work. Although if would be a blasphemy for a student to call his/her teachers by their first names in Bangladesh, it is quite common in British College and Universities.

Britain lies in the temperate region. In winter it is very cold and windy. You should carry warm clothes with you. Moreover, there are a number of significant differences in norms and behavior. Here are some useful tips for those visiting Britain.

·        People in Britain often socialize at home, but unless you know someone very well it is not usual to just ‘drop in’ without at least telephoning first to make sure that it is convenient.

·        If you accept an invitation for a meal in someone’s home, it is regarded as a definite appointment and it would be considered bad manners not to turn up. If you really do have to cancel an invitation, do let your hosts know as soon as possible, before they start making preparations.

·        If there are certain foods that you cannot or do not eat, do let your host know in advance, in order to save embarrassment in the day.

·        Whether you are visiting just for a meal of for a longer stay, it is customary to take a small gift for your hast-flowers or chocolates, for example.

·        If you stay with a British family, you should act thoughtfully at all times. Be in time for meals. If you need to miss a meal let your host know if you are going to be staying out late so that they won’t worry about you. Offer to help with household chores-your offer will probably be turned down but will still be appreciated.

So, please come in our country (Britain) and enjoy your life peacefully and more happily…. Thank you….

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Beautiful Bangladesh

Beautiful Bangladesh

Visiting Bangladesh: ( Tips for Foreigners )

Welcome to you for Visiting our country.  Come and see………

At the airport:

At the airport, there are taxis and aot-rickshaws called babi-taxis, but you have to bargain for the fare. They demand three or four times more than the usual fare, even more when they see foreigners, especially Europeans. Taxicab services have been introduced but many taxis do not use meters and therefore you may be overcharged.

Driving:

It is difficult to drive in Bangladesh if you have no experience of driving here. Drivers change lanes frequently. As a foreigner you might find lane-changing without signals quite distressing. Many people do not follow traffic signals. Rickshaws and babi-taxis move in and out in zigzag course and try to push through wherever they find some space.

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