I got an interesting-looking e-mail the other day. I couldn't tell where or who it was from because the e-mail address meant nothing to me and there was no message, just an attachment. So I clicked on ‘print' and watched as a familiar film poster began to emerge from my printer. A shapely woman in silhouette, flames, a gun, the hammer and sickle – From Russia With Love , of course.

Now, I am old enough to have seen From Russia With Love when it was first released , in 1963. Strictly speaking, I shouldn't have seen it because in 1963 I was only twelve and therefore under-age for such a film. Not only did I see it, I saw it three times in succession (i.e. three times on the same day) because in those days we had continuous screenings in this country. So you could buy your ticket for the first performance of the day, at say 1.00 pm, and remain in the cinema until closing time at around 10.30 pm – something I did more than once!

But you don't want to hear about my misspent youth. You want to know why someone was sending me the From Russia With Love poster, don't you? Well, I have a friend who is Russian and who lives on the south coast of England . She has been here a number of years now, first as a law student then, eventually, as a practising – and very successful – lawyer. A while ago she applied for British citizenship, which she has finally been granted . The poster was an invitation to the party she's throwing to celebrate her new citizenship.

And here I have an admission to make. I have absolutely no idea what a person has to do to get British citizenship. In my case it was easy. I did nothing. I was simply born here to two British parents. But I have no idea what Katya, my friend, had to do to become British. I will, of course, ask her when I go to her party next month. But since receiving her invitation (what do you think: vodka for the first half of the evening and then fish and chips for the second half?) I've been thinking about what I think Katya should know – and maybe even believe – if she is to become a good British citizen.

Should she know all the words to the national anthem? How perfect should her English be? Should she re-take her driving test? Should it be compulsory to swear allegiance to the Queen? How much British history should she know? How much of Britain should she have seen? Is it necessary for her to understand the ‘offside' rule in football? What, in fact, does it actually mean to be a citizen of a particular country? It could be fascinating to read your suggestions. What do you think Katya should know and be able to do (make a perfect cup of tea?) if she is to be a good British citizen? What would you insist on if you were able to grant citizenship to your country?

Sean Connery as James Bond

Incidentally, those early James Bond films were very formative for an impressionable boy like me. I sat in that huge, darkened space watching this suave , confident and sometimes brutal young Englishman (James Bond is English even if Sean Connery, the actor who played him, was a Scot) at ease in some of the most beautiful and exotic parts of the world: Jamaica ( Dr No ), Istanbul and Venice, ( From Russia With Love ), The United States, France and Switzerland ( Goldfinger ) and, I think, without realising it at the time, I wanted to be there in all those places myself. As a teacher of English as a Foreign Language and a writer of school books about other countries I have been able to visit all those countries – and very many more. I have lived and worked in several of them, too. I wonder whether I would have become the traveller I became if I had not read those James Bond books and then, perhaps more significantly, seen the movies.

And, finally, talking of thrillers, one of my favourite authors died just couple of weeks ago. Michael Dibdin wrote fascinating thrillers, most of them set in Italy where he lived for many years (he was Irish). He created the character, Aurelio Zen, a police detective and investigator who was never very popular with his superiors or with the Ministry of Justice but who, in the end, always managed to solve even the most obtuse crimes. Zen's personal life was a shambles and he resisted most of the technological developments which have changed the world in general and policing in particular. I will miss Dibdin's writing. It was always good to know that a new Aurelio Zen novel would appear in a year or so. Actually, Dibdin's last Zen novel was completed before he died and will be published in July. It's always good to have a new thriller to take on holiday in the summer (this year I'll be spending July and half of August apartment-sitting in New York , and I'm already looking forward to writing to you from there!).

Next time I write to you I'll respond to some of the comments and questions you've posted since this column began – so keep them coming! I might even tell you something about the stresses of being the parent of an eighteen year-old schoolgirl who is about to take her ‘A'-levels and hoping for the grades she needs to get into the university she wants to go to – if you're interested. Let me know.

And what do you think I should do about this party? Should I hire a white dinner jacket and an Aston Martin DB5 and turn up with a bottle of Dom Perignon (James Bond's preferred champagne) to celebrate Katya's new Britishness? It would be fun, wouldn't it?

Bye for now – or should I say, From London With Love?

Stephen

SOME USEFUL WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS

couldn't tell
If you can't tell where something is from it means that you don't know where it's from.

to emerge
to come out of

the hammer and sickle
The symbol of the former soviet bloc of countries in eastern Europe. The hammer and sickle appeared, in yellow, in the top left-hand corner of the national flag of The Soviet Union.

in silhouette
A ‘silhouette' is the outline of a dark shape against a bright light or pale background. If something is ‘in' silhouette it is shown as a dark, solid object, without surface detail.

released
When a film first appears in cinemas, it is ‘released'. [If it were a book we would use the word ‘published'.]

screenings
When a film is projected onto the screen in a cinema it is called a screening (plural: ‘screenings'), although it is acceptable to use the word ‘showing' or, more usual, ‘performance'.

say
for example

granted
given (usually by someone or some organisation with authority)

throwing
The verb ‘to throw' (a party) is an alternative to ‘to have'. Here it is in the continuous form with future meaning (i.e. she is going to have a party at a time in the future).

re-take
take again (note that in English the correct verb to use with ‘test' or ‘examination' is ‘to take': once you have the result you can use the verb ‘to pass' – or, if you're unsuccessful, ‘to fail')

swear allegiance
formally and officially declare support of and loyalty to, perhaps in writing or by reciting an oath or promise in a public ceremony

formative
An experience which is formative helps to form your character or personality. Influential

suave
charming, polite and sophisticated

at ease
comfortable; relaxed

obtuse
difficult to understand

…was a shambles
If your life is ‘a shambles' it is disorganised, chaotic and a bit of a failure.

resisted
If you resist change you reject it. The opposite of ‘resist', here would be ‘welcome' or ‘embrace' (i.e. to welcome change or to embrace change ).

policing
The word is used here as a noun. It can also be used as a verb (i.e. ‘to police'; EXAMPLE: It can be expensive to police large football matches .)

apartment-sitting
looking after someone's apartment while they're away on holiday

turn up
arrive

 

COLLOCATIONS
Re-read the article and underline or highlight the words and expressions listed below. Each is a collocation – a combination of words which regularly occur together. Collocations probably have to be learned by heart, fairly mechanically, but they are a necessary ingredient of good, natural-sounding English. There are dictionaries of collocations, self-study practice books based on collocations, and some grammar reference books offer lists of common collocations (usually arranged according to some kind of thematic organisation).

meant nothing to me
[You can use ‘meant something to me' to mean that a particular experience or gesture was significant to you in some special way.]

misspent youth


applied for ( citizenship )

she has…been granted ( citizenship )

throwing ( a party )

to make ( an admission )

SHOULD
In the fifth paragraph of the article there are several sentences which contain the word ‘should'. Re-read that paragraph and focus on each of those sentences. Make sure you understand the particular function of the word ‘should' in each sentence. There is some help, below:

I shouldn't have seen it [AGAINST THE LAW]

Should she know all the words to the national anthem? [OBLIGATION]

How perfect should her English be? [NEED]

Should she re-take her driving test? [ADVISABILITY]

Should it be compulsory to… [OPINION]

Look at the remaining sentences in the fifth paragraph which contain ‘should' or other words which perform a similar function (e.g. ‘necessary') and consider which of the notions (moral obligation, advisability, necessity, etc) each sentence expresses.

WRITE TO STEPHEN
This section has now closed. Thank you for your comments.

Asif Masood, Islamabad Pakistan
Hi Stephan its my first here and fortunately or unfortunately its you I met first.Oh what way you write.Its wonderful. I would like to read you as often as possible.

China Haerbin
Hello Stephen,it's really nice to know you and read your column,I am a newspaper designer of the City News in China. I really like reading English articles in my leisure time. Good luck to you and take care

Bear, China
hi, Stefen,first time i read your story about this theme. I was one and half years in Germany. I know many foreign students in Germany want get the admission of german citizenship, and they want to take the advantage of it. But exactly only few of then can chieve the goal. SO i can untderstand the roll in your story. She is not wrong, she needs a better einviroment to develope herself. in your story, your opinion about the thriller is very fancinating. thanks for that, just continue to write it. I have leant much from that.Regards

PamelaW., Chile
Dear Stephen:It was very nice to read your column. I`m a chilean jornalist, tryng to save her bad English.I felt very close to your words about taking Nacionality from other countries, specialy from England, bacause I lived there for one year. My husband studied a Master degree at Essex. I learned English there, but I started to loose it, that's why I'm beagining again to practice it, trought this website. About ten minutes o 15 a day. very few, but al least something.I feel that Katya knows haw to combine her new nacionality with her original education/culture. She just has to be enough open mind. English people are very kind, and that's very important to get into a new society.Thanks for your nice column, I will try to still reading them.Best RegardsPamela WerbinSantiago, Chile

Patricia
Hello, firstly may I thank you for your column, since it has helped me enormously with my studies to become an ESL teacher. I also learn a lot form the comments of the other respondents - how interesting and thoughtful they are! But, I have to end on a sad note - I think the word "obtuse" is wrongly used in this entry - according to my memory, and a quick google for a dictionary definition, it means " 3: lacking in insight or discernment; "too obtuse to grasp the implications of his behavior"; OR 4: slow to learn or understand; lacking intellectual acuity- "he was either normally stupid or being deliberately obtuse"; [syn: dense, dim, dull, dumb, slow]" I'm wondering if you meant "obscure"? Forgive my saying this, pelase ... I would not have raised it, except for hte need to avoid students learning an incorrect definition.

Farida, Pakistan
Hello StephenThis is me Farida. Hope you remember. welcome back. I was away from my PC for the last 2 weeks, went to Karachi (another city of Pakistan) to visit my relatives. Although, it is time to leave but I would say that please take some flowers (roses) for your friend Katya. It doesn't matter what you wear on the occasion as you will remain the same old Stephen.

Silvio, Brazil
Hello StephenAs a father of a fifteen year-old boy, it woul be great to read about your stresses with your daughter. It would be a way to change experiences; teen's parentes are teen's parents, with similars concerns and problems, anywhere in the world.

Adek, Poland
Hello Stephan :: I found your blogs very interesting and educational. I'm happy you're back with the BBC LE. I'm becomming your fan. As I'm not a good writer, I don't take part in BBC LE blogs a lot. What's more you've got a lot of co-bloggers so one more blog doesn't mean a lot.But I'd like to sort of take part this time and explain one thing: 'The hammer and sickle' was the emblem on the flag of the Soviet Union. It partly also played the role of a symbolic representation of the Soviet Union. For the West it was a symbolic representation of Communism in general, but! in the East the symbol of the former soviet bloc of countries in eastern Europe was a plain red flag. You could see them in demos and on state buildings during state holidays. Best regards.

Ana, Poland
Stephen, this is just a line to ask you what is the deadlne for submitting comments. Do we have 2 weeks?

Ana, Poland
Stephen, let's do something for Darfur! On April 30, at a special meeting devoted to Sudanese refugees, I saw a BBC film by Hilary Anderson and we all were devastated. There was a long silence before we were able to say a word. Now, we are trying to send the message further to make our government announced a statement supporting Darfur. It’s sad that so many people in Poland know nothing about situation in Sudan. The media, with some exceptions, seem to be indifferent – they focus too much on domestic issues. Hope that situation will change after recent protests. Perhaps we could exchange information what we can do for Darfur in our community or country. ---------
BBC Learning English Thanks for your comment about Darfur, Ana. You can find a major BBC site on the current situation here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/africa/2004/sudan/default.stm It would be best for a large discussion on this topic to take place on those pages.

Mohsen, Iran
Dear StephenYour Column is a challenge for me in laerning english writing and vocabulary.Althoug I,m a new and recently familiar with this column, but I like reading more of you .Is there any archive of your writings that I can read them when I have time.

Paulraj, India
Dear Stephen, Your view on citizenship is great. It’s very patriotic. In modernization and globalization the government may not be considered before giving citizenship to the foreigner that they should know the meaning of national anthem or the cultures and history. They want to use the brain and knowledge of the persons. At the same time the people who want to become a citizen of other country want to earn as money as they want and enjoy the benefit they could.

Monther, Sweden, Sollentuna
hello stephen thanks .its the firest time i read what you write . i wont to improve my english in this way . i engeged in your friend katya story .what she should know or believ if she is to become agood british citzen . first of all she have to took english and understan english .should she know all the words to the national anthem ??? shall she??? how perfect should her english be ???? if she take this mattar sieruosly her english must be att least acceptable. should she re-take her driving test ??? yes sh should . should it be obligation to swear lojalitet to the Queen . yes she should . otherwise why she wont to become british citzen ??? how much british history should she know??? she should know much hitory about her new country and about her old country .howmuch of britaiin should she have senn ??? thats qustion its up to her . is it necessary for her to understand the offside rulle in football ??? its upp to fanc . what in fact does it actually mean to be acitzen of aparticular country ??? today many pepol have more thane one citzenshipe ( passport ) in this way maby thy get more facitelites or do buzssnis . or maybe thy have another resonons (political refuge) .many of this pepol have dificalty withe languge which its very important instrument to undarstand pepol and communite whithe them . not just that thy miss whole the culture of those country maby much of thier life .thanks agian monther

Amir,Iran
Dear Stephen. Your view point to problems and the way you describe the situation is really interesting. I wish you could update your column weekly.

S.Mansoor Ali,Kadapa, India
Dear Mr. Stephen First I would like to congratulate you for writing such a good Article written about your experience on an email you have received on James bond. The language is quite a bit challenging I like your for such a tremendous writing. keep on writing such a article like this which gives mettle for the readers brain.

Adriana, Brazil
Stephen, how can we know when are you going to release the next post? It's frustrating to come here everyday expecting news from you. I think 2 weeks is too much time to wait. Sorry for my spontaneous impulse but we miss you.

Juan Luis, Spain
Dear Stephen,I love your colum and the way you write in it.I would like you to explain us about your daughter and the grades she needs to go into the university. What degree does she want to study? In which university? In Spain you must to pass a general exam called "Selectividad" if you want to go to the University. In this exam you have to answer questions about the subjects you have studied in the last year of your High School. Depend on your marks, you can study or not the degree you would like to study.I teach accounting in the University of Jaén (Spain) and I'm trying to improve my English skills.Please, don't stop writing and let us know about your daugther.We keep in touch.Thank you very much.Juan Luis

Nozomi, Japan
Hello,Stephen!I really enjoy your column renewd every two weeks.By the way,I regretted my sending you a message with many wrong spellings.Imagine how I was embarrassed!As soon as I saw my own comment on the web,I made up my mind to read what I would write at least twice...But of cource,I know I cannot improve my English without making mistakes.I want to do my best not to make elementary mistakes!!The fewer,the better.Anyway,if I were able to grant citizenship to my country,I would make a point of wheather he or she can speak our language properly or not.I think working hard to learn a certain language only could enable us to live harmony with people living in that place.Through reading,listening ,or talking in a foreighn language ,we can naturally learn its culture and social customs as well as the language.

Gopi Pandey, Kathmandu, Nepal
Dear Sir,Firstly, please allow me writing this short note as a English learnner. I am little bit confusing the uses of the follwing words . Kindly let me have your suggestion with example.I am looking for your kind suggestionThanking for advance support and suggestion for this matterBeing: what is the exact meaning and where it's uses in the sentence. AS: uses and meningSince: uses and menainh

Eunsook Lee, South Korea
Dear Stephen, Your column made me think many things concernign imigrant to other country. I always hope to go to America and and dreaming to be one of nurse there.After read your column, I realised again living in a different country and to be granted citizenship is not simple matter. To become citizen, which means to be able to have all rights and also all duties that British have to. And the process should have take enough time for those people who want to become British.From culture, custome to tiny detail life style. Anyway, Thank you for your article, though this is my first time to read your writing, it did help me to improve my reading skill.

Intta, Latvia
Hello, Stephen! Don't try to understand what you will never understand!I see many people try to answer to your questions- but these arn't answers for Katja- she's enough intellgent as I understood and she can answer by herself!I wish to ask you- do you love your fatherland?And why?Let's continue our conversation after your answer!Good luck to You!

Ana, Poland
Hi Stephen, I really missed you, but I also missed a possibility to respond to your first entry so this one will be a bit too long – sorry about that. It was good to see your rosy kitchen, fresh flowers on the table, and you with a glass of champagne and familiar smile -it’s a sign that everything is OK. Stephen, thanks for suggesting discussion on poverty – do you think we could continue this topic? Does it make any sense to talk about our involvement as an individuals in fighting poverty – I hope so. But first, it would be good to hear what we know about poverty in our countries and around the world, and then think what we can do to stop it. Perhaps I sound naïve, but I strongly believe that social protests can change the course of history. Just two positive examples: Thomas Clarkson, Englishman, who initiated antislavery movement in XVIII century, and anti-Vietnam War social movement. It could be an inspiration to do something more than just discussing it. The problem of citizenship is also a hot topic, especially for those who are desperately looking for opportunity to live in a different country on a legal basis. In Poland there are many people who live there for many years and though they have, for example, a significant contribution to our culture or science, they are still not entitled to receive citizenship – this is a lengthy process, which makes their life rather complicated. So I would say that Polish regulations are too restrictive, but as regards British ones the things a rather complicated, among others because of home-grown terrorism. I think it would be interesting to ask those who have already obtained citizenship to what extent they identify with the country they live in now, is it their new ‘patrie’? (It seems that there is no such a word in English, which would cover mainly emotional attitudes to someone’s country. In Polish we have two words: ‘kraj’, equivalent of English ‘country’, and ‘ojczyzna’ equivalent of French ‘patrie’). All the best,

H.Shyamala, India, Hyderabad
Mr.STEEPHEN KEELER,the contents in ur letter r very interesting.Since I have not seen the film,should I also see it?Anyhow,being an adult I too can see & enoy it!Don't you think that u should attend the party for which u have got invitation?Could u please congratulate her on behalf of me also?According to me one should be BROADMINDED to be the citizen of my country.Dq attend the party and have a lot of fun. I wish and hope that you are going to write the the stress that you are facing as a parent.I know that you consider me as one of your best friends!Don't you?Bye for now - or should I say From Hyderabad With Love?

Julhas Alam, Bangladesh
Hi, the way you focus on issues is interesting. It helps me learn expressions in English. Big cheers!!!

Sunil, India
Hi i am trying to read the vocbalury but i was not able to understand the entire of garmmer and vocbalury but i to want to find some of the words which i cant spell like most of the forigners names the most difficult to prounce very easily can u kindly do a favour by giving some tips to talk fluvently and in with correct prouncation and proper garmer that i want to know from u beacause i think ur the right person to me to become a true british in future in a months time if u go through the mail and kindly do the favour with ur geartfull hearts to me and to all of the one who goes through the entir thing and have determined to do it for the growth of long living the british culture

Olyha, Ukraine
Dear Stephen, many thanks for your column. I loved your questions about British citizenship. Personaly, I find them very interesting and particular important. Ok, I'll try and do my best to answer them... What people have to do to get British citizenship? Firts of all, I think they must have lived in the UK for at least three or probably five years. Of course, they do need to have sufficient knowledge of English. And the main thing, I think, is to pass a citizenship test or an interview which may include such topics as the customs and traditions, human rights, population in Britain and even how political system works... What questions could possible be? Well, so far as I know, most British people are animal-lovers, except you. So, the people who want to get a British passport, could be asked about what must dog owners do? And other things like: what are national saints days in the UK? Which telephone number can you call for an ambulance? What is the church of England and who is its head? I'm sure most of the questions even Britons might find difficult. I don't know whether or not your friend Katya had to pass the test. But if she did pass it, would you mind asking her how long did she study for it? It would be also interesting to hear whether she managed to learn much about the Queen and Royal family? I don't think Katya could fail the test or the interview. But would it be possible to take it again to those who fail it? I wonder what could possible the test pass mark be? You know, you made me smile when you wrote that your friend should be able to make a perfect cup of tea. I suppose she could have the cup of traditional English tea with biscuits at the special ceremony she had to attend. Or am I wrong? I'm very much looking forward to hearing all about what Katya had to do to get her British passport. With best regards, Olyha

Eliana, Brasil
Hi Stephen!This is the first time I read a column of yours, and I really enjoyed it!About your russian friend and what would be necessary to become a citizen of another country, I do think it is important to be part of its culture. When you move to another country, you carry inside you your own culture, which many times is completely different from the new country's. So, it is expected that you at least agree with the rules of this new culture. If you don't, it will be hard to socialize, to understand people's behavior and be a real citizen.Kind regards!

Akram, Pakistan, Rawalpindi
Hi stephen wounderful article with lot of information,i also read new expressions in it which i hear first time,your article is helping the english learner in great deal.i once again admire your effort.

Carolina, Canada, Ontario
Hey Stephen, It most be a great deal for your friend to have becomed a English Citizen. I can share that story because I came from Venezuela and move to Canada. I had to learn the culture and be extremely polite. That is how Canadian are know for...funny. I believe that a good bottle of wine will do her fine, and teaching her about other parts of England. Maybe touring the country itself to get to know a bit more will be fun. Thanks again for your columns and it does enriches my vocabulary.Adios! Cheers...

Marianna, Slovakia, Bojnice
Hi!People who watching the High Tatras from their home windows climb the mountain not once up in the whole life for seeing any attraction in it. We are used to deal with the things which we can reach each day in that way. We are not often proud on our citizenship and longing and struggling much for another from our dreams. It was so `normal´ to enjoy Prag during my studying there. But walking the streets from the theater performances at nights and looking at lights in windows I felt lonely. What is worse it is situated in another country now, how strange. I studied medicine with any problem but a year before the end I wanted to leave this, you can guess why. What a misspent and shambles life, not able to follow the dreams! But it didn`t avoid me to see the "Wuthering Hights" movie six- seven times(with Timothy Dalton of couse) in my teen age! (Don`t say Lucy that!)

Inayat, Pakistan, Islambada
hi stephen, i read your column, which was realy interesting regarding to give new information. honestly speaking, your work is realy appriciatable. through this work a person can get new things, atleast new vocab and new ideas. because every person has her/his own ideas and way of expression. so please keep it up. cheers

Naheed, Pakistan,Karachi
Hello Stephen,First I saw your wrting as a teacher blogger and now we all will be meeting you through your columns. Talking about The British citizenship of your friend,the best thing I can say is that, a good human being is acceptable in any part of the world. She really needs not to think so much and you should definately be at her party and say From London With Love. I would love to hear about your stresses of bringing up a teenage daughter,as this will help many of us to know the teens at our homes. I also have a younger sister,she is 13 and I really wish to make the years of her teens best and memorable. I believe this time of age is rather crucial because a child is between the two satges of his age,childhood nad youth. The former is departing and the latter is arriving. Bye

Diema, Bulgaria
Hello Stephen!I find turning up at a Katya's party with a bottle of Dom Perignon as a remarkable idea.I am more than sure it would be funny. Thanks for the nice column and also for PDF version of it. As usual, you are very informative and neat in your explanation. Keep on passing on your experience and comprehensive knowleadge to us. It is not a compliment but the truth.Regards! Diema

Anita, Slovakia
Hello Stephen! Good to hear from you! I am glad to read your column. I am a little late because my comment is related to your first column. I do hope that it will appear. Well, congratulations, you turned a dream into reality. I can also say that I have realised one of my dreams. I visited my daughter who is living and studying at a university in England in April. We spent together ten fantastic days in Reading. During the season of Easter her housemates went home so we could enjoy her company in their shared house. I saw her university, the surroundings where she lives, her workplace and all that. She performs her duties very skilfully, so all that really put my mind at rest. We did lots of sightseeing because we rented a car and drove about 1 000 miles so I saw the hustle and bustle of the cities and the peace and quiet of the countryside as well. We visited Windsor castle, the city of Salisbury, Canterbury and Bath which are definitely beautiful cities. The dock in Dover was also marvellous. We spent one day in London which is such a short time to see and visit everything. I was deeply impressed by the National Gallery because firstly, they asked for donations rather than made visitors purchase a ticket and secondly I was able to see my favourite picture by Vincent van Gogh, The Sunflowers. We had a flying visit at The Tate Modern, too so I saw the installation, the ‘slides’ you mentioned in your December’s blog. We walked past Downing Street, walked up and down St. James’ Park, picnicked by the Houses of Parliament and had a little rest in Regent’s park. Sightseeing was so much fun. England left me utterly captivated. The weather was beautiful. We were expecting rain and fog but the sun was shining all week. However, I saw a terrible thing. Just imagine when we were on the beach in Bournemouth people were swimming in the sea. Brrrrr…I tried fish and chips, steak pie, English muffins with eggs and ham, scones with clotted cream and jam and crumpets with butter. All these meal were delicious.Several times it came to my mind: ”What would I do if a saw you coming towards me in the street.” I bet that I would not have gathered my confidence to address you. Maybe another time…I hope you enjoyed my “travelogue” as much as I enjoyed yours. Finally, I would like to ask at which university Lucy is continuing her studies in September. From Slovakia with love. Best wishes,

Rana, Pakistan
Hellow dear writerI am here first time. I enjoyed by reading your colums. Your efforts are commendabe. Hope you will continue to write such a good things for mankind. Have a nice day to all. Bye

Adriana, Brazil
Hi Stephen. It's so relaxing read your column at night. I don't know what people think about, but I think a potential migrant should love the country before going there. It's necessary know much of the history, the lifestyle, understand the way people from there are. The climate, the safety may also influence the decision. I hope she has a great life there and good friends like you to accept her somewhere in your heart. I am jealous of her. Kisses. Adriana

Ana Paula, Brazil
Hello Stephen!It´s really nice to hear from you again. What´s your favourite Aurelio Zen adventure? Could you tell us a little bit about it?Best wishes,Ana Paula.

Marcus Brazil
Hi STEPHEN,I belive that Katya has reasons to celebrate.I live in Brazil and a lot of people here dreams with the possibility of live legally in England and others countries.Regard'sMarcus

Cesar, Switzerland
Thank you very much for your column!I really like the way you write in english. Is very instructiv!I can imagine how do you feel to try to undestand that for many people coming from other countries to UK is a real challenge and worthwhile to get granted the citizenship, I even would say it is the dream of many people like Katya. I do believe that those people who were working and studying for many years in the UK have the right to be treated like british citizenship (in terms of opportunity to get a good job,I mean). Anyway I can imagine the proud and the joy of Katya's achievement. Anyway now she can travel and work around the world without making the effordt of applying for visum for different countries, which is very annoying!Dear Staphan, again thank you very much for your contibutions to improving my english. I still learning every day with the BBC..Best wishesCesar

Hyoshil, Lincoln
It's fantastic to hear from you.Actually I wrote my first comments to you but somehow it didn't appear on your blog.i can see you are very healthy and fit if the picture of you is taken resently.you look great.move on the British citizen since I moved to Uk about 6 years ago I have a right to claim English citizenship,but I am not keen on getting it.I am always tring to be myself to live in this country and I also try every single day improving my English and living the way of British.I know I can't deceive myself where i am from and I can't chage my skin colour. It's very important for me being aware that where I live now.I want to belong to this society and I wnat to open my house door for people who are intersted in learning other countries,therefor, I need to speak Enlish fluently,to learn British history and to be a good-natured person.best wishes from Hyoshilps:would you say "hello"to Lucy?

Ayub, Bangladesh
I like the way you write and enjoy reading all you write. I am learing english and your column greatly help me to improve myself to learn english. Thank you and I am looking forward to reading your next column.

Luna, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
Stephen, hey, definitely, you are living the dream that so many people have but did not dare to realize… Good that it was James Bond (and not Darth Veider! Sorry, Alex, if you’ve read this) that formed your dream. He is at least …very individual and masculine. Hi! So good to read this entry – thank you. As for the party Katya’s throwing, maybe you should give her a hand-made certificate stating that she is really a British citizen now (with the words ‘You did it, Katya!’). I bet after all that she must have gone through while waiting for it she may not yet have really believed in this. Or am I wrong?Although I am sure that Katya, being a successful practicing (!) lawyer, knows all the rules and laws to become a good British citizen and can even make a perfect pot of tea. Maybe, she has become a British citizen ever since YOU became to call her a friend??? It’s always about love and respect no matter where you want to live. Look forward to your next column and answers that you promised. Luna Russia PS. By the way, I do not know the words to the Russian anthem, do you?

Ming-Ming, Canada
I enjoyed reading your column, thanks for taking the time to write it. I think Katya would be very flattered if you show up in an Aston Martin. I am originally from China and I have immigrated to Canada for almost 15 years. Still I am not very confident with my English and hope to find ways to improve it. Besides the BBC learning English website, are there any other websites or books that you would have recommend?with warmest regards.Ming-Ming