FAMILY OUTING
Last weekend, my parents and I went to Supattra Land in Rayong. It's a garden where there are many fruit trees — rambutan, jackfruit, durian, etc. Some were sweet, some sour and some bitter. But most of the flavours were OK and delicious. We also had lunch and walked around the garden. It was a pleasure to see the scenery. I'd like to encourage everybody to go there if you have free time. After that we went to the beach to relax for about an hour. We ate delicious seafood and enjoyed the excellent atmosphere. Kanthida Amnuaychailert, That sounds like a great getaway, Kanthida. I like going down to Rayong. It's nice to be near the water, and it's certainly not too far from Bangkok. I've also eaten some of the best seafood I've ever had there. Next time I'm there, I'll make an effort to check out Supattra Land. — Editor |
SAD SIDE OF FUNNY
Recently the famous comedian and actor Robin Williams died. The news reports said that he was depressed and that he committed suicide. I think that is a sad ending for somebody who made so many people laugh during his lifetime.
It seems that Robin's death has made many people think about depression in a way that they have not before. I hope that if somebody that I know feels depressed they get help from a doctor.
Kirati Thaisirisuk,
Bangkok
The death of Robin Williams took a lot of people by surprise, Kirati. A sudden loss like that can be really shocking, even if you don't know the person. Like so many other people, Robin had some serious problems with depression. He obviously felt so hopeless that committing suicide was the only way to stop his pain. It goes to show that even the most successful people in the world are just as likely to experience depression as anybody else. I encourage anybody who thinks they might be experiencing serious depression to find a doctor and get the help they need. — Editor
PUNISHING BEHAVIOUR
In Psychology, I studied about how child rearing can influence the behaviour of children. Often it is seen in young children that parents smack as a punishment when they've done something wrong. This can lead to aggressive behaviour and also continuing the cycle of violence on to the next generation with their own children.
The best thing is to give love and understanding to the child so that conflicts are as minimised as possible.
Teera Siribunsuk,
Bangkok
I'm not a big believer in corporal punishment either, Teera. I think that there are lots of other options that don't involve physical violence. Then again, I don't have any children. In general, parents try their best to discipline their children, and as you point out, if people were disciplined physically when they were children, they're more likely to do the same with their own kids. It's important to remember that it's not the only way, though. — Editor
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Vocabulary
- scenery (n): the natural features of an area, such as mountains, valleys, rivers and forests
atmosphere (n): the feeling or mood that you have in a particular place or situation
getaway (n): a short holiday
rearing (n): the process of caring for children as they grow up, teaching them how to behave as members of society
smack (v): to hit somebody with your open hand, especially as a punishment
corporal punishment (n): the physical punishment of people, especially by hitting or beating them
discipline (v): to punish somebody for something they have done
suicide (n): the act of killing yourself deliberately
depression (n): a medical condition in which a person feels very sad and anxious and often has physical symptoms such as being unable to sleep, etc.
