Learning English

What did things use to be like for you?

Let's think about the things we've seen and heard in this unit so far:

• All about changes in technology, like smartphones and social media (from Alice and Amith in the Great Debate in Session 1)
• How robots have changed working practices for miners in Australia (in the article in Session 3)
• What it is like to move from a small town to a big city (from Christine in this Session)
• Changing what you eat from a predictable diet to something more adventurous (also from Christine!)

Now it's over to you!

Hojii kana yaali

To do

Put what you've learnt about used to into practice by writing a description of changes in your life. Here are some ideas of what to write about:

• A change in your living situation (Have you moved home? Have you left your country to go and live somewhere else?)
• A change in your job - especially if you've been doing it for a long time (Is your job the same as it used to be? How has technology changed how you do your work?)
• A change in your life because of technology (Did you use to write letters to your friends and family? How do you communicate with them now?)

Thank you for emailing your comments to us. We enjoyed reading them. This task is now closed.

Here are a few of the comments that we received.

Aili, Germany

When I was a child I growed up in Finland. My family used to move home often. This was because of the work of my father. The entrepreneur of my father was always the same. Our neighbours used to move too, so the moving was never a big problem for us after all.

When I was grown and already used to work in my profession for few years I applied for a job in Germany. They approved me, then I did move again but this time the moving should change very much in my life. I planned to stay in Germany just one year to learn the language fluently but today I'm still living there - for over 40 years!

In the beginning in Germany I used to miss the light summer nights from Finland but now I accustomed myself to the dark nights in Germany. I used to miss the sauna too until I got my own. I used to eat and drink very traditionally Finnish - red meet, fish, root vegetables, milk - but now I eat mostly very big assortment of vegetables and drink water and sometimes wine.

In Germany I enjoy to join in vintage every autumn but I used to join in potato harvest in Finland. So there are many big change in my life! 

Denis, Kharkov, Ukraine

I did not use to study English well at school and I used to study badly at school at all. Nowadays I understand that I simply lost my time. Now I study English with BBC Learning English because it is very important for my scientific job to know it. It is never late to start learning foreign language.

Melina, Spain

This year my life had a lot of changes.

One of the biggest changes is that I moved alone to another city. 

My hometown is a small city located three hours away, in the south of Cordoba.

Where I live now is a big city so distances are bigger and I have to walk a little bit more or take a bus.

As I am living alone, now I have to do housework everyday and cook. This activities are new for me because in my hometown my mother used to do it for me. 

Other big change is my diet. In my old house I used to eat healthy and handmade food everyday but now I do not have enough time for cooking so I buy junk food frequently.

I really enjoy my new life here but I have to admite that a miss the food that I used to eat. 

Linh, Vietnam

My name is Linh, from Vietnam. I was married in 2005 and had two kids in 2007 and 2009 that made my life change so much.

One of the biggest changes, of course, is that I used to be a single man but I am a young father of two kids now. As a consequence, my routine is also turned over. I used to wake up early in the morning and went jogging for exercise prior to going to work. I used to get office a couple of minute earlier. And I used to spend hours to hang out with my friends at weekend. It is absolutely different now. I am so busy in the morning and I have to change my exercise time to the evening after the work that I did not use to do before. My boss did not use to complain about my lateness whereas he notices me more often now. I spend time for my kids at weekend instead of my friends as I used to do before.

Along with these, there are some positive changes. Firstly, I used to be a heavy smoker but I gave up just after my first kid was born. Secondly, I am a good cooker now even thought I did not use to cook while I lived with my parent before my marriage. Finally, it used to be not easy for me to play with children but I can spend whole day with my kids now.

In conclusion, my life is absolutely changed after having kids. It is the same with you, isn’t it?
Have a good day!

Fabrizio, Italy

I’ve been living my life in the same place where I was born, a town in the north of Italy. I’ve studied there and I’ve been working there. Boring, isnt’it? I used to stick in my daily grind till I had the opportunity to experience a gap year abroad, in Africa, as a volunteer. At the beginning everything seemed to be so different and it was so hard to live in a place where nothing was easy and everything was missing.

Where I lived, in my home town, after working I used to sit in a comfortable sofa to read a book or to watch TV or to call my friends just to have a chat with them. Little things but when you don’t have them you feel they are missing and put on them a value that normally you don’t. In Africa, I didn’t use to read a newspaper or listen to the radio. I was really in the middle of nowhere!

Now I’m back home and I sometimes remember my experience and I think: in Africa I used to admire spectacular sunrises, I used to sit down on a very uncomfortable chair listening to the stories that happened in the village and I used to smile more than I do now.

It’s up to you to decide what’s better or worse. I've just learnt that the important thing is to be satisfied of who you are “here and now” and appreciate the little things as much as the important ones wherever you are.
Thank you for reading me.

Maria

I with my family used to travel to Crimea before Russian Federation has not annexed this peninsula. We used to open new wonderful places in Crimea every year. And now we didn’t use to drive to Crimea because we fear for our life.

I’m teacher. I used to print many printing material to prepare to class, but now I didn’t use so many printing materials. Current technologies are permitted to prepare for lectures, seminar or laboratory works easier and more efficiency.

I used to communicate with people by phone, but now I apply e-mail, smartphone and different new software.

Christian

Hello, I am a mechanical engineer, to day i use to work with a computer. But, when I started in my company, 25 years ago, I didn’t use a computer. I used to draw with a drafting table. You know, emails didn’t exist then i used to communicate by internal post and by phone of course. I used to wait the answer for hours or days sometimes. Often, I used to talk with my colleagues while a meeting or at the “pause café”. I remember, the secretaries used to type letters with typewriters, and i crossed their office i heard the typewriters symphony. Tchic, tchic, tchic! If it was a power cut, always i used to continue working.

Then, in 1993 Bill came. It was a beginning.

Today I use to draw my projects with my mouse and I use to send my messages by mail and if I don’t have an quickly answer I am angry. Yes, But I don’t want to drive the Marty’s DELOREAN. Now, I am connected, I use to discuss news ideas with another engineer by social networks.

I use to communicate with my Brazilian branch easily. I can walk in my projects by virtual reality in such a way my conception will be better. At home, I use to play musical instrument with different teachers and I can find many musical partitions. I use to cook meals as well as my wife, thank you world web wide! And I use to take English lessons by chat and on BBC.

It was better before? Thank you BBC. Have a good day

Ana Maria Dobrescu

I worked in call centre until 2 years ago, but now I work in the Customer Relationship Management department.

When I used to work in call centre I used to use the phone, because I used to answer to the phone calls, but now I work with the new software: Microsoft Access and SAS, a Business Analytics software.

In call centre department I used to have more fun because I used to go out with my collegues, but now I didin't use to have evening outs. This is because in call centre most of my collegues have the same age, unlike CRM department where the collegues have different ages.

In call center I didn't use to know anything about the programme Microsoft Access or SAS, but now I use for the marketing campaign's implementing. Now I use the CRM aplication to offer the clients the best offers for them, but all these after I do the selection of the clients in Microsoft Access or SAS programmes.

At the begining of CRM period, I used to consider these programme very dificult, especially I didn't use it in faculty, but now I am used to using them and its don't scare me anymore. :) .

Thank you!

Keep up the good work! You are the best!

Sumi from Seoul, South Korea

I  loved writing letters in the old days. I used to write letters to my friends a day. And my friends used to writing in answer. But changes in technology (like SMS or kakaotalk), many things are changing recently. As a changing technology, we are living comfortably, but the old days memory was disappeared.

Yesterday I wrote a birthday letter to my friend. She was delighted by letter. Because she received letters that is hand written I was happy.

Although technology developed, I wrote letters to my friends like the old days.

Tuong Nguyen from Saigon, Vietnam

Hello BBC. I'm Tuong Nguyen and come from Saigon, Vietnam. First I would like to say thanks because my name was been on BBC posting about the weather topic.

My hometown is one of the western cities and it's less modern than other cities in vietnam. When i was a kid, i watched a lot of films about The Doctor, I used to dream to become a doctor that make me earn lot of money and get high position in my life but now I work as a financial analyst. After leaving my high school. I passed an exam and went to saigon to study. My life has changed a lot since I moved here, especially this year. There are new and interest things that I haven't ever had before. At the beginning here, I didn't used to go anywhere by bus but now I really love it. In my spare time, I often go by bus to many places in saigon and nearly places. I like travelling and here it's easier to do than living my hometown.

I used to want to come back my hometown after finishing university program. But I still live here now. I worked as an auditor about 3 years. I met new people, faced new things and had nice colleagues. I used to love it so much. Six months ago, I realized that it wasn't my favourite job but I couldn't leave because my parents wanted me to still work this job. I had a trouble to find something that interested me and satisfied my parents. Finally, I decided to leave it and take the next step by taking on my favourite things. There are still some doubts since i have made this decision. I will try my best to show my parent that it's right.

Manuel Ángel Barragán del Río, Madrid, Spain

Listen here

Hello everyone

I think I´m a bit old for begining on these type of social network

I´m a bit like Phil, prefering on talking face to face or with some type of feedback from your counterpart

Quite cold talking to a microphone, making a podcast. I hope you like it

Thank you all for your special work with us. You´ve got all my admiration for the quality of material employ and the love you deal with us

Sophie, France

When I was young, I have been leave in Paris, but when I have been married I moved in a suburb near Paris. Now I use to go by car, in Paris I used to go by bus and underground, because it was easier and more practical.

When I lived with my parents, I used to a landline, but now I use my Smartphone, which is change completely my life, because like said Alice “we have everything we need at the touch of a button” .

What else ! I never used to travel by plane, but now when I travel I went by plane.

Thank you very much for all this lesson, there very interesting and living, I hope I improve my English, I learn it every day.

Have a good day

Ángel Pérez Sandoval

I remember when we wanted to the cinema, for example, we used to tell the precise point where we were going to meet.

This was, because we hadn't a mobile phone and if someone didn't know the place it was probably we didn't met us. Nowadays this problem doesn't exist anymore. We didn't use to go out without any worry, now there isn't this problem if you don't met with your friend or girlfriend the only thing you have to do is call her and ask where she is.

Rocio Lopez Rodriguez

Technology is the most important change in the last years for me. I remember how I used to study when I was 20. I used to go to the library and share everything with my classmate. We used to gather so as to make revisions for our exams. But now, 20 years later, I don’t need to meet people in a library to study. I only need my laptop and I can surf Internet and find other students from the other side of the world asking and answering questions as mines. Hundred of people upload tutorials about everything you need to learn. And teachers are very generous too because they put a lot of exercises so you can learn from your home.

Simon, Taiwan

When I was 18 years old, I got into the college. I need to live in the dormitory because the school is far away from my home town. This was the first time, I live without my parent. I thought this was a big change for me but I was very excited about it, too. Because this represented I have already grown up, I needed to lead a live by ourselves.

No doubt, in the beginning, there were something that I can’t get used to. My mother used to prepare the food for us every day, but now I need to cook by myself. And my father used to do the housework for us, but now I also need to do by myself. And, furthermore, I got into an unfamiliar place, I had no friends there. This made me feel alone in the beginning. But ,fortunately, I got used to this situation quickly. I can arrange the time well to do all the housework and study. I make a lot of friends. And now I love and enjoy this kind of life. I treasure it very much.

Jose Salazar, Venezuela

Hello everyone.

I am retired since November 2014, I used to work in a University like metrologist but now I decided work like consultant. Some things has changed since my retired four months ago, I didn't use to run frequently but now I can run every day, I like read books but in the past I didn't use to read with the same frequently that now. And most important to me that as long as I can share with my family.

Juan Carlos Moreno from Colombia 

Hello everybody I'm Juan Carlos Moreno from Colombia, in my first forty years old, I saw many changes about technology. when I was child, I used to see tv without color in a big tv set, in that time we only had two channel to see them, and now I can see any tv show since my cell phone.

when I was studying of the school, the devices for save information had little space of storage, and when I needed to save any document or program, I used to save that information in disquetes.

Rachada, Thailand

I started my job as a reporter 20 years ago. At that time, everyone used to write articles with typist and nobody wanted to change. Finally, we found our job was easy with computer. Nowadays, I'm a freelance journalist. Without computer and internet, my job is impossible. I love learning English with BBC because, even, learning by myself, it's fun.

Dina, France

I lived in Antananarivo when I was a child. I used to walk everywhere in my district with friends. We used to play hide and seek in every courtyard and houses we found. Now that I am in France, I take the car or the bus everyday. I do not have time to visit family as often as I used to.

When I had just moved to France, I used to send letters to relatives and friends. Now, I communicate with them through social media and, from time to time, by phone.

Thanks for your helpful courses.

Dương Thị Nga, Vietnam

I was born in Vietnam which is a developing country. So, we have been being behind other countries in the information technology. And I still remember in 2000 that is the fist time that my family had possessed the telephone. At that time I was really happy and excited to hear the call by phone. But my country has been being one of countries of developing countries information technology world's fastest in recent years. So, we had 2 computers for my older brother and me, we had television, cell phones for all people.

Technology plays an important part in life. All people can chat with each other through social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Skype, Viber… These are not only fast, exact but also free. Technology helps us communicate with everyone in all over the world. Multinational companies can exchange work directly with by online meetings, that’s mean they will save a lot of costs like airfare, hotel expenses as well as much time. Besides, we can be entertained with activities such as watching television, listening music, playing games…For those who are passionate about understanding and learning, technology is really very useful. Only with a smartphone, they can learn foreign languages; discover the culture of other countries that do not need to go to that country… Nowadays, the information technology is an indispensable part of life for everyone and for me, too. I have a few friends overseas. We often talk to each other via facebook, email, skype… So that, I haven’t never felt distant from them. Not only that but I also have more friends in other countries.

Technology is really very useful, but if you abuse the technology, it will leave the unpredictable consequences. Please use technology effectively to improve the quality of your life.

Ania, Poland

Hello , my name is Ania. I'm 20 years old now, but when I was younger I used to spend more time on the fresh air. Since many young people gain computers or other technology devices they are too lazy to meet with their friends . They are far too lazy. They just prefer to talk with them on messengers.The other issue is our food. When I was younger I used to eat more healthy food, for instance apples whereas today I don't eat them at all. In the past, I didn't use to eat quick meals in Mc'Donalds as KFC. Here, in Poland, these kinds of fast food restaurants are more and more popular. Society has more work so they don't spend much time near dinner table as they used to.

Mohammed, Jordan

When I was a child I grew up in a life full of scientific progress and I like all of them. In the past when I need something from anybody I used to phone him but now I can phone and see him live. I think that change in communication compare life to simply and full of technological development.

Phuong, Vietnam

I used to work at Ho Chi Minh within 7 years. I was happy when I was as a executive document. I received many help from my dear colleagues. We used to work hard, eat luch, travel together. This is greatest experience in my life. Now I move my hometown to find a new job. I never forget my company.

Mahi, the Netherlands

I live in Holland. I used to study. After I finished my study. I used to work with different dental practices. After one year I began as entrepreneur. I used to work every day but now just a few days a week. In January 2016 I want stop working, and I want to go to another country because another climate is very important for me.

Thank you for all your hard work.

Regards, Mahi.

Airin Franco López, Venezuela

When I was a child I used to send letters to my friends for different reasons. Sometimes I wrote letters because I wanted to express to my friends how much I loved them, other times I sent letters for apologies. But the person who most used to receive my letters was my mother. A few days ago she shown me some letters, It was nice because there was a lot of inocence in those letters. Right now I dont send letters to anybody, maybe some e-mails, or messages through social media. But one of the most incredible thing about tecnology is that I can speak with friends who live so far away from me and I dont need to wait for the postman.

Suzuki AyaKei, Japan

Hello everyone ! I'm from Japan.

I used to have to take a bus to go out because my house was far away from the station, but now I moved and live near the station. So I can go to the nearest only 5 minutes on foot.

Thanks to this move, though I used to take for 2 hours to go to my school, now I can go there only for an hour.

Peter, Hanoi, Vietnam

Hi BBC!

My name is Peter, and I am from Hanoi, Vietnam. There are a lot of changes to me when I moved to Hanoi city for studying. In the past, I lived in Yenbai, a province that is 150 km from Hanoi. I used to go to school on foot because my school is 50 meters far from my house now I have to go to university by bus. In Yenbai, My mother used to cook meals for me but now I cook by myself. That is a big change for me.

Taras Kvasnytsia, Ukraine

Hello everyone! I’m surprised how technological progress has changed the world. I used to have to write letters to congratulate my relatives a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. It took a long time until a postcard went to point. But now I can just write e-mail, press “send” and my congratulation instantly reach to goal.

Mary

Hello! When I was younger I used to be scared about changings, now I love prepare my luggage and leave my home town and discover the world. I also used to work as a waitress, now my job is receptionist in hotels. Two years ago, I used to live in Brighton, but now I'm back to my home town, sometimes I really miss my life there. There, I used to speak english everyday, now i don't do that and I am losing it.

Olga

I like sports very much. I used to do more rock climbing compared now. Today I prefer mountain climbing. One day I discovered cross running and them mountain running. Strength and fitness is very important to climb in mountain, so it was brilliant discover for me. I live in small town but I work in the big city. I spend o lot of time in by traveling, so I have short time to do exercises and it's difficult to me. I used to jogging about 80-100 km in the week, but now unfortunately I jogging only about 5 km on the week. I used to feel a lot of enthusiasm and I used to feel very strong and invincible. In the past I used to return home on my foot. I used to come back home running. Last year I had leg injury. Now I'm only ust to climb on the artificial wall.

Lu Xiani

Things have changed a lot since I got the chance to work and travel in America. When I came back after a few months, I found that my nieces were all much taller than they used to be. And my relatives are now living in new houses, which is well-decorated with beautiful scenery around. However, my parents are getting older as they used to. I wish I could spend more time with them and take more care of them this year!

Alexandra Skakun, Russia

Hello! Hope you are well! I didn’t use to know English language few years ago and now I learn it every day. Several years ago I used to live in my home town but now I live in Saint-Petersburg. Living here is fantastic. I didn’t use to get to anywhere by train. Now I often use the train to get to Moscow or to other cities. My live has changed. I had met a lot of new interesting people and could travel a lot. I didn’t use to find out too much ways for the learning languages before! Thank you a lot for your job! The resource BBC Learning English is really efficient for me. Have a good day!!!

Damian Brown

When I was a child I used to play with about 20 cousins who were my best Friends, we used to play all day at our grandmother's house, my family was really big and happy, It was nearly 25 years ago. Today our family is much more bigger than in my childhood days and I have a new best friend his name is Ekom and he is my son and I'm going take him to my home town and his colosal family with a lot of other best friends.

Thanh, Vietnam

When I was a single. I had a lot of free time. So I used to hang out with friends at coffee shop every day in week. I used to play football every at weekend. I could did anything what I want. However, when I got married seven years ago. We have two children, one boy and one girl. Everything has changed so quickly. I do not have many free times. I have to change my habit. Almost the time I have to work to earing money. At the weekend I spent time with children to take care them, helping wife clearing house…

Gyorgy, Budapest, Hungary

Everybody should know the importance of handwriting. Love letters used to be written by hand, but now they are written by computer or we just send an sms. Think of a letter of one of your relatives from the anchient time. Letters used to give pleasure to read. I think of the letters that used to be drawn one by one. Those letters were beautiful and took much more time to write them than a computer made letter these days. The importance of writing a letter by hand is to give a hand made present and more of your time the person you love.

Giuseppe, Italy

I grew up in a beautifull little town, Ercolano, in Sud Italy next to Vesuvio a big Volcano, but there wasn't many job's opportunities and so after the University i moved in Rome, the most beautiful city in the world. This change has been very important for me ....now I'm happily married and i have two beautifull children.....my god when i was young i used to go running every morning for myself .......now i run only for my family.....

Emiliano

When I was a child I used to draw for hours, so I developed early good skill in 'life drawing’. I didn’t use to study very much, but now I love reading (and reading mostly to understanding: for example i like social science). With the help of 'Bbc Learning English’ and with my small effort, English is more pleasant and easier. I didn’t use to love foreign languages. Now I’ve changed idea. It’s never 'too late’!

Efraim Buzo, São Paulo, Brazil

I'd like to share a little bit about my life with you. I did'nt use to study a lot when I was under 18, but the things have changed nowadays. Currently I am 21 years old and I study much harder than 3 years ago. I used to practice english by the wrong way, but after I know BBC Learning English, my vocabulary and my speech are getting better.

Marta

When I was a teenager I used to write letters to a pen-pal who lived in Philippines, but by the time we abandoned this habit and now I have no news from her. I never knew her in person, I saw her in a picture that she sent to me. It fascinated me to imagine the travel that letter had to pass through to reach my friend. And I was fascinated by discovering different habits and a different life from mine as well. We used to write each other at least once a month. Now, with the new technologies, it's easier and faster to communicate, but I don't feel the same magic feeling. You can't open the envelope and you can't read the handwriting... An email or an online chat imply a less personal and a too detached relation.

Pauline Moussu, Brest, Brittany, France

When I was a child our family used to move very frequently in different parts of France because of my father's work.But after I spent eight years in Paris as a student, eight years in the north of France as a teacher and now I'm living in Brittany since more than thirty years. Brest is the most western city in France, near the English Channel, with a weather very similar to the english one, sweet and rainy. It was a big change for me because I never used to have close friends during my childhood and even now it's not easy for me to keep friends for a very long time. I used to teach history and geography but now I am retired. I've got plenty of time for sport, reading, watching movies. Another big change in my life! But once more it's a bit difficult to keep relationship with my former colleagues who are still working. Fortunately I use since years to go in a local association where we can talk about the books we read and learn foreign languages like spanish and english. That's a reason why I can now follow the BBC curse and I find it very interesting and efficient!

Marco

Five years ago I moved to a city which is bigger then my village so many habits are changed; for example I didn't use to travel with public transport but now I use it regularly. Now I use my bike everyday, five years ago I didn't use to use it but in the city is very useful, I can slip through the traffic very quickly. Also my nutrition is changed a lot: I used to eat so much red meat but now I eat fruit, vegetable and legumes. I moved because of my job which is rubbish collector, so I get up very early (tomorrow at 4 o'clock for example) and I didn't use to fall down from Morpheus' arms so early!

Ewa, Poland

I used to learn English at secondary school but that was 50 years ago. After that I went on to study medicine at university. I became a pediatrician but didn't manage to improve my English since then due to heavy work load. I retired on the 1st of January and gained more time to improve my English. I can now practice more often and I do so with the help of the BBC learning English every day. I enjoy your website very much. It's great fun to use. Thank you very much for your work!

Zahid Hussain Khan

Hello, I am a resident of Dubai, United Arab Emirates. I used to live in my home city Karachi which is port city in the south of Pakistan. I am born and brought up there. I got all my education from the same place, I used to go school and college by walk as these are located within the one kilometre distance from my home. However, my university was at quite a distance away , therefore, I used to commute through public transport.

After my education I worked in the same city for many years with a few international assignments as well. Then, I moved to Dubai that I liked most from my first visit on a project. I have worked here for quite a time and enjoy a comfortable life here.  Life never used to be that easier in Karachi but I still miss it.

Francois, France

My son, who is 30-year-old has lived in Thailand for 3 years and a half. Before he left France, we used to meet him once a month and we didn't use social medias or other modern means of communication to hear from him.  Since he lives in Bangkok, we use Skype and Facebook to communicate, to hear him and see him. In the same way, before he left abroad, we used to eat French food mainly: we didn't use to eat Asian food. Since we have been to Thailand and surroundings countries we have got used eating Thai and Chinese food that we do like. Travelling allowed us to find out what we didn't use to see and eat.

Shinya, Japan

I used to live in Tokyo. When I graduated from university, I decided to move to Berlin and now I'm living here in Berlin. It was very big change for me because there was no friend, no home, and no job. Maybe you are curious about why I decided to move to Berlin. It's simple reason.I really love fashion. I'm really interested in Berlin based designers. This is all of my reason to move here.

When I moved to Berlin, I was surprised because Internet is slower than Tokyo and difficult to find free wifi. Actually it suits me because I don't like SNS. SNS has too much privacy information. These information give me too much stress. I would like to communicate at cafe, bar, home party or something like that.

I've used mobile phone since I was 12. The mobile phone was just for calling and sending text. When I was 20, I changed from mobile phone to smart phone. How genius smart phone is. Smart phone provide me every thing. This is my first impression. But now, I can use it only wifi condition so I bought prepaid phone. I sometimes feel back to old life. I'm used to being this a little bit analog life. I like it.

Marie-Eve, France

In 1985 all my family, except my father moved from Madagascar to France. I was a teenager.We did the big step. I left my country because of misery and to pursuit better schooling in Europe.We have stayed in the northeast of France, in Alsace.In winter, it's very cold, sometimes the temperatures can reach minus 10 degree and it was the first time that I saw snow. All the ground covered by snow, as far as my sight could bring me it was white. It was fantastic. Many things had to change : habits, school, friends. When we were in Madagascar, we used to live in a house with a big garden, we feel free and could crowd and shout even late, in Alsace we were in a small flat, we had to be discreet, mind the neighborhood and keep silence after 22h. It was difficult to start a new life with new rules.But now, I'm very happy to have grown up here. I live in the south by the Mediterranean sea, in Montpellier and I have a beautiful family and a good job. I'm a scientist.

Antonio

Recently, I've been living changes in my job. I didn't change the company where I've work but I've moved from department.

Since I've joined my company I make differents works. The most I've made is installing fiber optics networks. Because of it, I used to travel so much around Spain. In one hand, It was an interesting job, in the other hand, I felt tired at the end of the week because I used to drive thousands kilometers by week.

In fact, I used to work in different places and buildings. Right now, I'm always working in the same office. I'm happy to have a job and there's no reason to complain, because in Spain we have a big problem with unemployment.

Raúl

I used to live with my parents but now I live with my girl friend in a big house.
Before I didn't use to cook , now I cook every day and I'm good.
I used to eat much rices and chicken but nowadays I eat a lot of types of fishes and meat.
My girlfriend told me: you are a good cook but now I'm fatter than years ago, stop cooking now, please!

Siham, Sudan

When I was child. We used to play with my cousins. We all live near each other. We used to play all the day no one prohibited us, but now we can’t let our children do that. Also my mother used to do anything at home jam, yogurt and bread. Nowadays we buy every things from supermarket. I remembering when some our neighbours used to watch TV with us because there are a few TV in that time. In these days anyone have a TV and you are rarely see your neigbour.

Fabio, Brazil

The bigger change that a had in my life was about education.

When I was young I didn't use to like to study, I preferred spent my

free time playing sports, mainly soccer. But when I was 16, suddenly I

started to like

to study and my life has changed. Because of education, I had an

opportunity to live in another city, I used to live in a countryside of

São Paulo state, and now I have lived in the biggest city of the

country, as well a had opportunity to visit others countries and

graduate in engineering. I have more dreams to achive in my life but

these ones that I have achieved are some dreams that I used to have when

I was young.

Jian Lima, Lages, State of Santa Catarina, Brasil

In all my life I had many important changes. However, the most important challenge was when I moved to another city because I needed study in a university.

Unfortunately in my hometown there aren't university. So, I needed live alone, in beginning it wasn't easy. I used to have a lot of free time and I used to practice many sports and I didn't use to worry about nothing, just with my books and my school grades. When I moved I also started to work, a lot.

Although it had been very pained, today I know that everything I faced was good for my pessoal development.

Now, I know cooking and washing and some others things about housework.

Besides, I learned to manage my own life because I used to be too sloppy  but I am now graduated and  to be continue to live alone without the biggest problems.

So, I think it was good.

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Time for News Report! You can find out all about what studying was like in the school with no rules!