Notes:
marriage 結婚;
encounter (偶然の)出会い;
elope 〈男女が〉(両親から結婚の許しを得られず)駆け落ちする;
realistic 現実的な;
wrinkle しわ;
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The days are cold, but one lovely piece of news warmed my heart. An article in a newspaper said that a couple in America just had their 81st wedding anniversary on Nov 25, 2013. They have been officially named ‘the longest married couple’ by Worldwide Marriage Encounter. They eloped in 1932 because the wife was told to marry a man 20 years older by her father. She was only 17. Can you imagine making the decision to elope with the one you love when you are 17? It doesn’t sound realistic to many people living in this busy modern society, but when you see the couple sitting on a couch holding their wrinkled hands and saying, ‘We have watched the world change together’, you might think it’s a good idea to run away from everything just for love. (written by student Miss Murakami, edited by Prof. Douglas Jarrell)
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▼上記のエッセイを動画で再現しました。

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I visited Taiwan alone last month on my winter vacation. I stayed at a hostel that had a lot of people from all over the world. We got to know each other, chatted, and spent time together every night. I made friends, ate delicious food, experienced Taiwan’s culture, and visited many places. The most impressive place I visited was Chiufen. This place was used as a model for a scene in one of the most famous Japanese animation movies by Hayao Miyazaki. I went there with my friends on Christmas night. I saw a hundred lights from the top of a mountain, and the view was totally romantic, beautiful, and amazing. I still feel impressed by it. I had a great time! Why don’t you visit Taiwan?  (written by student Miss Kaneda, edited by Professor Douglas Jarrell)
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▼　Chiufen on Youtube: