makalah Perbedaan Unik Cinta dan Kasih Sayang (tugas softskill)

Perbedaan Unik Cinta dan Kasih Sayang

Sepanjang peradaban manusia, cinta selalu menjadi hal abstrak (tidak berwujud;tidak berbentuk) yang paling berharga dan tiada ternilai. Sejak rasa cinta Hawa kepada Adam yang tumbuh setelah mereka menyantap buah terlarang, umat manusia akan selalu ‘dikutuk’ dengan perasaan cinta yang ditemani dengan perasaan benci. 

Bagi mereka yang cenderung memiliki pemikiran rasional dan logis, cinta maupun benci adalah sesuatu yang abstrak , keduanya tidak bisa dijadikan patokan dengan rumus-rumus yang bisa dibahasakan secara ilmiah.

Definisi cinta tidak akan seeksak dan seempiris satu ditambah satu sama dengan dua. Apalagi bila harus membedakan antara definisi cinta dan definisi sayang, akan cukup sulit mencari perbedaan cinta dan sayang. namun pada kesempatan kali ini saya akan mencari celah untuk bisa membedah perbedaan di antara kedua kata tersebut, yang diantaranya :

>> Perbedaan Unik Cinta dan Kasih Sayang yang pertama

Untuk mencari perbedaan cinta dengan sayang, memang rumit bila tidak mau dikatakan membingungkan. Cinta dan sayang serupa tapi tak sama, sama tapi beda. Tapi kurang lebih, cinta dan sayang bisa dijelaskan dengan berbagai cara. 

Misalnya, cukup lumrah bila menyatakan mengumbar kata cinta hampir kepada setiap gadis ataupun pemuda yang ditemui dan dikencani, sehingga julukan playboy atau playgirl pun lekat pada seseorang. Tapi, cukup ganjil untuk mengumbar kasih sayang sehingga pelakunya dijuluki dengan julukan yang jelek, malahan sebaliknya orang yang menebar kasih sayang di muka bumi ini akan mendapat berbagai julukan positif

>> Perbedaan Unik  Cinta dan Kasih Sayang yang kedua

Agar lebih jelas apa perbedaan cinta dan sayang, cinta lebih terkait seks, sementara sayang lebih dari itu. Cinta memang tidak bisa bila tidak dikaitkan dengan gairah dan asmara membara. Bila perasaan tersebut tidak melibatkan seks, maka perasaan itu adalah sayang

>> Perbedaan Unik Cinta dan Kasih Sayang yang ketiga

Setiap individu di dunia, bahkan memiliki pengertian dan pemahaman sendiri-sendiri tentang cinta dan sayang. Namun bagaimanapun, bahasa Indonesia memiliki definisi masing-masing untuk cinta dan sayang, yang hampir sama seperti bahasa Yunani, namun definisi cinta dan sayang dalam bahasa indonesia itu berbeda dengan devinisi dalam bahasa Inggris.

Dalam bahasa Yunani, cinta disetarakan dengan eros, kasih disamakan dengan agape, dan sayang dikorelasikan dengan philia. Sementara dalam bahasa Inggris, hanya ada satu kata untuk menggambarkan ketiganya, yaitu love. Begitulah perbedaan cinta dan kasih sayang antar bahasa negara.

>> Perbedaan Unik  Cinta dan Kasih Sayang yang keempat

Atau ada yang cenderung mengaitkan beda cinta dan sayang dari ketulusan atau tidaknya. Sayang dirasakan lebih dalam, rela, dan tulus, sementara cinta lebih dangkal dan hanya di permukaan saja, atau tidak penuh kerelaan hati dan tidak tulus (ada perasaan mengharap bisa bersanding dengannya untuk menciptakan kebahagiaan, bila keadaan ini tidak terpenuhi maka akan menimbulkan perasaan sedih yang mendalam)

>> Perbedaan Unik Cinta dan Kasih Sayang yang kelima

Ada juga yang menghubungkan cinta dan sayang dengan permanen atau tidaknya perasaan tersebut bertahan. Sayang dianggap permanen dan berlangsung selamanya, sementara cinta bersifat temporer, hanya untuk sementara waktu sampai cinta yang lain bisa menggantikannya. Telah dinyatakan oleh seorang dokter syaraf kejiwaan bahwa keadaan cinta asmara yang menggebu akan  bertahan selama delapan bulan. penjelasan lebih lanjut bisa anda baca di artikel : arti cinta menurut pakarnya

>> Perbedaan Unik Cinta dan Kasih Sayang yang terakhir

Bila dianalisis berdasarkan bahasa, maka sesuai dengan KBBI, definisi cinta adalah suka sekali, sayang benar. Sementara menurut KBBI, kasih sayang berarti cinta kasih dan belas kasihan.

 Lantas, KBBI juga menyatakan bahwa sayang adalah kasih sayang (kepada); cinta (kepada); kasih (kepada). 

Di laman Wikipedia, cinta, kasih, dan sayang dibedakan dari satu dengan lainnya. Pembedaan ini diterapkan berdasarkan terminologinya / penggunaan kata. Sayang ditujukan kepada teman dan keluarga (philia).dan cinta ditunjukan kepada seseorang kekasih

Kata-Kata Yang Mengungkapkan Perbedaan Cinta Dengan Sayang

Sayang bagaikan sinar mentari pagi; hangat dan menyehatkan

Cinta bagaikan gairah api yang ganas dan siap menghanguskan 

Sayang diciptakan untuk ditebarkan di muka bumi ini

Cinta tercipta bersumber dari hasrat keinginan memiliki seutuhnya

Sayang tak akan menuntut apapun 

Cinta menuntut pembuktian

Puncak sayang adalah kedamainyan

Puncak cinta adalah kepuasan

Sayang diibarkan sebuah kebutuhan

Cinta diibaratkan sebuah keinginan

Bagaimanapun juga, apa pun pengertiannya yang membuat definisi beda cinta dengan sayang, baik secara ilmiah atau sekadar mereka-reka berdasarkan asumsi ataupun opini pribadi dari sudut pandang mana pun, cinta dan kasih sayang merupakan perasaan positif yang dimiliki oleh manusia kepada sesamanya, sesama makhluk hidup, ataupun terhadap lainnya (objek materialis maupun sesuatu yang abstrak).

Di atas segalanya, cinta paling pas bila dirasakan dan diwujudkan dalam tindakan sehingga berbuah kasih sayang yang menis dan abadi. Sebab, begitu banyak perasaan yang seolah bercampur-baur bersama perasaan cinta. Sehingga, cinta pun menjadi sulit untuk diungkapkan dengan kata-kata secara harfiah.

from: http://cinta009.blogspot.com/2013/08/perbedaan-unik-cinta-dan-kasih-sayang.html

makalah Wiraswasta dan Wirausaha (tugas softskill)

Wiraswasta dan WirausahaPresentation Transcript

• KOMPETENSI DASAR DARI MK. KEWIRAUSAHAAN 1). MENJADI ILMUWAN DAN PROFESIONAL YANG BERFIKIR KRITIS, KREATIF, INOVATIF, SISTEMIK DAN ILMIAH2). MENJADI WIRAUSAHAWAN YANG BERBASIS ILMU PENGETAHUAN, DENGAN MODAL “BISNIS”.
• “B I S N I S “• B = BERBASIS ILMU• I = NOVATIF• S = STRATEGI• N = NIAT YANG KUAT• I = INFORMASI DAN TEKHNOLOGI• S = SUPEL
• KEWIRAUSAHAAN / ENTREPRENEURSHIP• Pertanyaan : Apa yg akan sdra lakukan setelah menyelesaikan pendidikan di BSI….? • A. Mencari pekerjaan / jadi pegawai • B. Menjadi Wirausahawan• C. Menjadi karyawan sambil berwirausaha
• Bagaimana motivasi berwirausaha di kalangan mahasiswa?Bagaimana orientasi mahasiswa setelah lulus…? 1. Hanya mencari kerja, bukan menciptakan lapangan kerja, 2. Jumlah orang yg menganggur tiap thn bertambah, 3. Pertumbuhan lapangan kerja semakin sempit.
• Kasus pengangguran di Indonesia• Jumlah pengangguran di Indonesia 10% adalah kaum Pengangguran terdidik yg menyandang gelar sarjana.• Bahan Diskusi: Siapakah yang bersalah; apakah mahasiswa, orang tua, perguruan tinggi atau pemerintah.?
• Hasil penelitian• Mahasiswa sulit untuk mau dan memulai berwirausaha dg alasan mereka tdk diajar dan dirangsang berusaha sendiri; • Didukung oleh lingkungan budaya masyarakat dan keluarga yg dari dulu selalu ingin anaknya menjadi orang gajian / pegawai;• Para orang tua kebanyakan tdk memiliki pengalaman dan pengetahuan berusaha.
• • Maka mereka (orang tua) lebih cenderung mendorong anak-anaknya untuk mencari pekerjaan atau menjadi karyawan; • Orang tua merasa lebih bangga bahkan merasa terbebas, bila anaknya telah selesai kuliah mampu menjadi pegawai;• Salah satu faktor lain adalah tidak ada atau sulitnya memiliki modal untuk berwirausaha.
• Ir.Ciputra (Kompas 31-8-2009) • Generasi muda sdh saatnya mengubah pola pandang, jangan hanya berfikir menjadi pegawai setelah lulus dari Lembaga Pendidikan Tinggi, apalagi Pegawai Negeri, menjadi Wirausaha perlu difikirkan sebagai pilihan.• Untuk memajukan perekonomian dan kesejahteraan Indonesia butuh 4 juta wirausaha terutama yg Inovatif, di Indonesia baru ada 400.000 atau 0,18% sebaiknya 2% dari populasi.
• “Solusi” : • Lembaga pendidikan tinggi diharapkan mampu menciptakan jiwa wirausaha sehingga mereka mampu mandiri dan menciptakan lapangan kerja;• Pendidikan Kewirausahaan/ Entrepreneurship Indonesia perlu ditingkatkan.
• Menurut literatur istilah wiraswasta = wirausaha. wirausaha.Pelopor wiraswasta Indonesia adalah DR. Suparman Suhamamijaya Menekankan adanya peluang kelompok kreatif entrepreneur Indonesia untuk mengangkat bangsa dari kemiskinan. kemiskinan.Istilah wiraswastawan dihubungkan dengan istilahsaudagar,saudagar, berasal dari bahasa sansekerta yg memilikipengertian : Wiraswasta terdiri dari kata Wira, Swa, Sta. Wira berarti manusia unggul, teladan, berbudi luhur, berjiwa besar, berani, pahlawan/pendekar kemajuan & berwatak agung. Swa berarti sendiri, dan Sta artinya berdiri.Saudagar, Sau adalah seribu & dagar artinya akal.Jadi artinya seribu akal.
• Pengertian Kewiraswastaan Kewiraswastaan • “Keberanian, keutamaan serta keperkasaan dalam memenuhi kebutuhan serta memecahkan masalah hidup dg kekuatan yg ada pada diri sendiri”. • Manusia wiraswasta mempunyai kekuatan mental yg tinggi sehingga memungkinkan utk meluncur maju ke depan di luar kemampuan rata-rata & adakalanya wiraswastawan tidak berpendidikan tinggi.
• Istilah wirausaha berasal dari kata Entrepreneur (bahasa Perancis) yg kemudian diterjemahkan ke dalam bahasa Inggris dengan arti between taker atau go-between (Perantara) Secara Harfiah Wira artinya berani sedangkan Usaha adalah Daya UpayaKewirausahaan adalah hal-hal yang berhubungan dengan keberanian seseorang dalam menjalankan kegiatan bisnisnya Entrepreneur adalah suatu kemampuan untuk mengelola sesuatu yang ada pada diri kita untuk dimanfaatkan dan ditingkatkan agar lebih optimal, sehingga dapat meningkatkan taraf hidup kita Enterpreneurial Berwirausaha Enterpreneur Wirausaha Enterpreneurship Kewirausahaan Sumber.Modul Kewirausahaan MGMP Kota Yogyakarta (2007)
• Wirausaha Menurut Ahli Menurut ahli ekonomi, wirausaha adalah: adalah: seorang/ seorang/sekelompok orang yg mengorganisir faktor-faktor faktor- produksi, alam, tenaga, produksi, alam, tenaga, modal & skill utk tujuan berproduksi Menurut Ahli psychologis wirausaha adalah seorang yg memiliki dorongan kekuatan dari dalam untuk memperoleh sesuatu tujuan, suka mengadakan eksperimen atau untuk tujuan, menampilkan kebebasan dirinya di luar kekuasaan orang lain. Menurut bisnisman wirausaha merupakan:ancaman, pesaing baru, bisa juga partner, pemasok, konsumen / orang yg bisa diajak kerjasama.Menurut pemodal wirausaha adalah seorang yg menciptakan kesejahteraan tetapi orang lain yg menemukan cara baru utk menggunakan sumber daya, mengurangi pemborosan dan menciptakan lapangan kerja.
• Ada tiga jenis Wirausaha (Ir.Ciputra) 1.Necessity Entrepreneur yaitu menjadi wirausaha karena terpaksa dan desakan kebutuhan hidup.2.Replicative Entrepreneur, yang cenderung meniru-niru bisnis yang sedang ngetren sehingga rawan terhadap persaingan dan kejatuhan. 3.Inovatip Entrepreneur, wirausaha inovatip yang terus berpikir kreatif dlm melihat peluang dan meningkatkannya.
• Kelemahan & Kelebihan Wirausaha :Kelebihan sebagai wirausaha : a. Terbuka peluang u/ mencapai tujuan yang dikehendaki sendiri. b. Terbuka peluang u/ mendemonstrasikan potensi seseorang secara penuh. c. Terbuka peluang u/ memperoleh manfaat dan keuntungan yang maksimal. d. Terbuka peluang u/ membantu masyarakat dengan usaha-usaha konkrit. e. Terbuka kesempatan u/ menjadi bos. f. Tanggung jawabnya sangat besar, banyak keputusan yang harus dibuat.
• Kelemahan sebagai wirausaha : a. Memperoleh pendapatan yang tidak pasti, memikul berbagai resiko, b. Bekerja keras dan waktu jam kerja panjang, c. Kualitas kehidupannya masih rendah sampai usahanya berhasil, karena harus berhemat, d. Tanggung jawabnya sangat besar, banyak keputusan yang harus dibuat.
• Cash Flow Quadrant ALASAN KEAMANAN ALASAN KEBEBASANMenurut Mereka me-mereka, jika milihsetiap bulan kebebasan.menerima Bebaspenghasilan berusahaakan aman, untuk menda-padahal kalau patkan peng-di PHK atau hasilansakit ? seberapa ygPenghasilan bisa mereka ingin-hilang kan…!!seketika…..!! * Cash Flow Quadrant by Robert Kiyosaki

from: http://www.slideshare.net/gustiramaka/wiraswasta-dan-wirausaha

makalah globalisasi dalam bahasa inggris (tugas softskill)

DISCUSSION OF IMPACT OF GLOBALIZATION Citizenship Papers

IMPACT GOLBALISASI

Process, aspect, and the impact of globalization in the Life Nation and country.

1. Understanding Globalization

Globalization comes from kat "Global" whose meaning is universal. Globalization means a process that includes a whole in various spheres of life so it does not seem to mention the boundaries of the real tie. (1)

Globalization in a literal sense is a social change, a growing attachment between people and the elements that occur due to transculturation and technological developments in transportation and communications that facilitate cultural exchange and international economics.
Understanding globalization according to experts such as:

a. Malcolm Waters

Globalization is a social process that resulted in that geographical restrictions on the social situation became less important, which is manifested in the person patience.
b. Ammanuel Ritcher

Globalization is the global network society that simultaneously brings together previously dispersed and radiated-terisolisasi to the interdependence and unity in the world.
c. Thomas L. Friedman

Globalization and technology have ideology. Ideological dimension of capitalism and free markets. While the dimensions of information technology is a technology that has been bringing the world together.

d. Princeton N. Lyman

Globalization is a very fast petumbuhan the interdependencies and relationships between state-neraga in the world in terms of trade and finance.

e. Leoner Briones

Globalization also includes the insntitusi-social development of democratic institutions, human rights human family, and the women's movement.

Globalization according to Major Indonesian dictionary are things in general and the overall incidence of relating to the world, including in which there is a national policy that treats the whole world as an environment worthy of attention. (2)

2. Globalization Process

Some aspects of life related to the development of the process of globalization that have broad impact on the international community.
a. Globalization of information

Increasingly dynamic and rapidly, for example in realtime broadcast news (from the scene when the incident occurred) can be communicated directly to the international community, such as the earthquake asia tsunami that struck the region on December 26, 2004, in a short time can broadcast live by one of the station private.

b. Globalization Telecommunications

For example, the kit can be requested via the internet to process, manipulate any information no matter where we are in various forms.

c. Global Community

Changes in the values ​​of the society due to the flow of information, for example in the case of music, the capital market and money market comudity, and others.
d. Information explosion

The rate of growth and the accumulation of knowledge and information rapidly rising sharply.
e. Anxiety Information

Rapid development of certain issues that the source is unclear, but is believed to be the actual problems, such as terrorism, disease outbreaks and others.

f. Information Society

The development of the economic structure of developed countries, namely from industrial society to an information society.

3. The phenomenon of Globalization

The phenomenon of globalization which is being faced by mankind since the 20th century can be characterized by several things, such as:

a. Current ethnic

Characterized by high levels of human mobility in the form of immigrants, tourists, refugees, workers, and immigrants.

b. Flow Technology

Characterized by mobility technology, the emergence of multinational and transnational corporation whose activities can penetrate national borders.
c. Financial Flows

That arise with the increasing mobility of capital, investment, purchases via the internet and safe deposit in a foreign bank.

d. Flow Media

Characterized by the growing strength of the mobility of information, both through print and electronic media.
e. Flow of Ideas

Characterized by intensified the new value is entered into a state.

    By looking at the globalization phenomenon, found signs perceived in everyday life about globlaisasi.
a. Increased global trade.

b. To increase  International capital, including foreign direct invetasi.

c. Increase cross-border data flows, such as the use of internet, satellite and telephone communications.
d. The insistence of the various parties to prosecute war criminals in international criminal tribunal to call for international justice movement.

e. Increased international cultural exchange through the export of such Hollywood films.
f. Wide  understand multiculturalism and individuals greater access to a variety of cultures.

g. Increased's journey and tourism across the state.

h. Development of global telecommunications infrastructure.

i. Development of the global financial system.

j. Increased activity of the world economy dominated by multinational companies.

k. The increasing role of international organizations, such as WTO, EIPO, IMF, who tried to international transactions.

4. Aspects of Globalization

a. Economic Aspects

Refers to the merging of economic units in the world into a single economic unit of the world.
b. Aspects of Culture and Religious

Refers to new ideas that come from all over the world.

c. Aspects of Technology

The development of information technology that ultimately unites the world into a place without boundaries.
d. Demographic aspects

Refers to the movement of people who apply to change the demographic pattern of a country.

5. Trends in the Era of Globalization

As for some of the trends of globalization can be described as follows:
a. Changes Akseleratis

A rapid change in all fields, especially related to economic interdependence or dependence, information technology, and communications between the countries borders.
b. Capital Flow Without Borders

Ie the growth of the investment climate that covers a wide range of products.
c. Knowledge economy

With the establishment of the globalization of economic relations between bengsa can be for academic study of science, economics, policy and business world government bail.
d. Hiperkompetisi

That is all he was good from the corporate world, the world indistri, or the governments always compete to gain sympathy and market segments as much as possible.
e. Globalization and Complex

Ie everything that  with transnational product has a close interdependence that requires a high level of management and konpleks.

6. Challenges of Globalization

The real challenge in the era of globalization is the increasing complexes all walks of life due to information technology. The fundamental challenges of globalization and will face, among others, the following:

a. Individualism attitude, namely the emergence of trends over important  put yourself together.
b. Youths appreciation, ie the number of young people who have forgotten the fighters and the nation's identity.

c. A critical look at the ideology of the country, ie the number of people who are indifferent to the country's ideology or philosophy.

d. Community Diversification, that is  emergence of groups with certain professions that continue to compete in the various fields of life.

e. High openness, the public demands of governance that emphasizes the approach, dialogue, democracy, supremacy of law, transparency, accountability, effectiveness and efficiency.

7. Perpetrator or Subject Globalization

a. Countries are mapped dichotomous.

b. Between government organizations, such as ASEAN, NATO, Europan Community and others.

c. International company known as the Multinational Corporation (MNC).

d. International organizations or transnational nongovernmental.

e. Oraganisasi non-formal organizations, secret and semi-secret.

8. Impact of Globalization

The positive impact of globalization, namely: Advances in technology and information facilitate human in interacting with other human beings.
Negative impacts are: The number of people whose values ​​and culture change by imitating, or their selectively.

Following the impact of globalization in various fields:

a. Economy

That is a global community that is no longer dependent on the boundaries.

b. Ideology

Namely the emergence of two major ideologies that dominate the world (liberal and social) in which the two are contradictory.

c. Politics

That is the effect of globalization on the political system in many developing countries such as the political system. Liberal democracy, democracy Pencasila, Social, Communists and so on.
d. Defense and Security

That efforts to maintain the country's sovereignty through the creation of weapons systems, as well as the empowerment of the people and the army formed a defense pact with NATO, SEATO, WARSAW, and so on.

e. Social

Ie the number of values ​​and culture of the people who changed the way imitate or apply it selectively. Such as the presence of modernization in all spheres of life.

9. International Issues In Globalization Impacts

In the emerging economy, the global markets. Whereas in the emerging field of security about terrorism.
Below are some of the international issues related to the impact of globalization, namely:
1. Global markets and global competitor

In the global era, the goods. Services and products from different countries will come in and compete with local products. Flow out of the goods and services are no longer restricted.
2. Transparency (openness)

Transparency or openness especiallyto show on governing the country. Closed government will not last long because the speed of information is still able to break through various government concealed closure.

3. Pluralism

In a global society the relationship between human will be more intensive and not just human compatriots, but people of different races, religions, cultural values, language and customs.Respect for diversity differences is needed.

CONCLUSION

1. Globalsiasi is a process that covers all the various aspects of life that do not seem to mention the boundaries of the real tie, making it difficult to be filtered or controlled.
2. That the process of globalization in the social aspect of going the way through television media both directly and indirectly, and through interactions that occur in masyarakt.
3. That evoked the era of globalization impacts on social aspects of the changes are characteristic of village life that had been qualified by the values ​​of mutual assistance to individual, and the nature is always instant in a person.
4. That the reduction in the impact of globalization on social aspects such as the holding of the quality of human development, provision of life skills, providing global and attitudes that foster insight, rational identity and creating a transparent and democratic governance.


CLOSING

    Thus this paper are arranged carefully and try to show that leads to the discussion of the material. Of course we realize that this paper is far from perfection.
    Hopefully the reader can understood  and constructive suggestions and motivating. So we expect, to improve and refine the paper.

REFERENCES

-    Lemhanas. 2001. Pendidikan Kewarganegaraan. Jakarta. PT Gramedia Pustaka Utama.
-    Munandar, Haris. 1994. Pembangunan Politik, Situasi Global. Jakarta : PT Gunung Agung.
-    Suradinata, Ermaya. 2001. Pendidikan Kewarganegaraan. Jakarta : PT Gramedia Pustaka Utama.
-    Surat Kabar, Kompas. Jakarta : PT Kompas Media Nusantara. T.H. Tambuan, Tulus, Dr. 2004. Globalisasi dan Perdagangan Internasional. Bogor : PT Ghalia Indonesia.
-    Thoha, Mahmud. 2002. Globalisasi. Jakarta : PT Pustaka Quantum.
-    Semi, Prof. Drs. M. Atar. Berlatih Menjadi Wartawan Kecil. Bandung : Titian Ilmu.
-    Kansil, C. S. T. 2003, Ilmu Negara ( Umum dan Indonesia ). Jakarta : PT Pradnya Paramita.
-    Himpunan Ketetapan, MPRS dan MPR RI Berdasarkan Ketetapan MPR RI No. 1 / MPR / 2003 Pasal 2 dan Pasal 4 Skretariat Jendral MPR RI 2005.

from: http://wirmanvalkinz.blogspot.com/2013/05/kumpulan-makalah-bahasa-inggris-tentang.html

Tugas Softskill Bahasa Inggris 2

The White House

Welcome to THIS IS AMERICA in VOA Special English. Doug Johnson. And I'm Barbara Klein.

In the United States, the third Monday in February is a federal holiday. Federal law calls it Washington's Birthday, honoring the nation's first president. But Americans now commonly know it as Presidents Day. And for this Presidents Day, or Washington's Birthday, we tell you about the presidents' home, the White House.George Washington supervised the building of the White House. Yet he and his wife, Martha, never had the chance to live there. It was completed after he left office in 1797.

Since then, America has had 42 other presidents. All of them have lived at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest, in Washington, D.C. George W. Bush and his wife, Laura, have lived there since 2001.

This November, Americans will elect a new president. The new first family will meet with White House employees after the election to plan for the move. Then the family will move in on January 20, 2009 -- Inauguration Day.

The White House has an East Wing and a West Wing. The Oval Office, the large round room where the president works, is in the West Wing. The first family lives in the East Wing. The official home of the vice president is on the grounds of the Naval Observatory in Washington.

The White House has more than 130 rooms. It also has collections of more than 40,000 objects. Presidential families often find things in storage that they like when they move in. For example, Jimmy Carter's children found a chair that Mary Todd Lincoln, the wife of President Abraham Lincoln, had bought.

First ladies have all added to the White House in some way. Jacqueline Kennedy, for example, created a colorful garden that is named in her honor.George Washington entered office in 1789. He had great hopes for the house he started. In 1790, he signed an act of Congress to create an area for the federal government in the District of Columbia, along the Potomac River. President Washington and the French city planner Pierre L'Enfant chose the land for the new presidential home.

A competition took place to find a designer. An architect named James Hoban entered a design similar to where the Irish Parliament meets, Leinster House in Dublin. Hoban was from Ireland. He won 500 dollars and a piece of land for his winning design.

Grayish white sandstone was chosen for the walls. Work started in 1792, while George Washington lived in Philadelphia.

America's second president was John Adams. He and his wife, Abigail, were the first to live in the new home. They moved in on November 1, 1800. The house was not yet finished.

John and Abigail Adams lived in six rooms and used others to entertain guests. But they lived there for only four months.

John Adams lost re-election to Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson tried to finish work on the home. So did the next president, James Madison.

But in 1814, British forces invaded Washington. They burned the White House. President Madison's wife, Dolly, tried to save valuable objects from the fire as she fled.

She rescued a painting of George Washington.  This famous portrait by Gilbert Stuart hangs in the White House to this day.

After the fire, James Hoban helped rebuild the house he had designed. During this time, it was painted white. Over the years, the White House has been enlarged and almost totally rebuilt.

One of the most recent projects was completed in July of 2007. Workers made about eight million dollars in improvements to the press briefing room. The work included a better look for television, new electrical system, better air conditioning and more comfortable seats. Some of the old ones were broken.

News organizations paid for part of the cost of the work. Reporters moved to temporary offices across the street from the White House while the press room was closed for almost a year.

The room is named in honor of former White House press secretary James Brady. He and President Ronald Reagan were shot and wounded by a man with mental problems outside a Washington hotel in 1981.

The press briefing room is built over Franklin Roosevelt's old swimming pool. Polio disabled his legs, but President Roosevelt still swam. The pool was built in 1933.

Roosevelt was president from 1933 to 1945. The 32nd president led the nation through the end of the great economic depression and most of World War Two.

He was elected four times, more than any other president. He died in office. Today, the Twenty-second Amendment to the Constitution limits a person to being elected president twice.In 1961, Congress decided that furniture of historic and artistic value would always be White House property. In effect, Congress made the White House a museum.

As visitors enter the White House, they see pictures of past presidents on the walls.

In another hall on the same floor are paintings of first ladies. A room off this hallway contains a collection of fine dishes. Each presidency has added to this collection.

Wide marble steps lead to the next floor. It is called the State Floor. Presidents use rooms here for official duties and to entertain guests.

The largest room on the State Floor is the East Room. News conferences and music performances take place here. But this room has had other uses over the years.

Abigail Adams hung her family's clothes to dry from the wash. Caroline Kennedy, the daughter of the 35th president, John F. Kennedy, rode her tricycle in the East Room.

Other rooms on the State Floor are named for their colors: the Blue Room, the Green Room and the Red Room. The president meets with diplomats and other guests in these rooms. They are also used for special events.

The 22nd president, Grover Cleveland, married Frances Folsom in the Blue Room in 1886. The Green Room held the body of President Abraham Lincoln's son Willie, who died in 1862.

And the nineteenth president, Rutherford Hayes, took his oath of office in the Red Room in 1877 following a disputed election.

Nearby is the State Dining Room, where big events take place, like official dinners for visiting leaders. The Treaty Room on the second floor is used for meetings. Important documents have been signed there. At different times, this was the cabinet room or the president's office.The next floor of the White House contains bedrooms for guests. One of these is the Lincoln Bedroom, named for the sixteenth president. But Abraham Lincoln never slept there.

Lincoln used the room as an office while he led the country through the Civil War in the 1869s. President Lincoln was murdered days after the war ended with the surrender of Robert E. Lee, the Southern general. John Wilkes Booth, a stage actor and supporter of the South, shot Lincoln at Ford's Theatre, not far from the White House.

Over the years, presidents and other people have reported seeing Lincoln's ghost or feeling his presence in the White House.

Long gone are the days when people could simply walk into the White House. In fact, the White House was closed to visitors temporarily after the terrorist attacks of September eleventh, 2001.

Information about public tours can be found at whitehouse.gov. Tours are available for groups of ten or more people. Requests for these self-guided tours must be made through a member of Congress. A limited number of tours are available. People can also see inside the White House through virtual tours at whitehouse.gov.Our program was written by Jerilyn Watson and Nancy Steinbach and produced by Caty Weaver. I'm Doug Johnson. And I'm Barbara Klein. Transcripts and MP3s of our programs are on the  Web at voaspecialenglish.com. Join us again next week for THIS IS AMERICA in VOA Special English.

Simple Past Tense :

1. Hoban was from Ireland.

2. Grayish white sandstone was chosen for the walls.

3. America's second president was John Adams.

Simple Present Tense :

1. In the United States, the third Monday in February is a federal holiday.

2. The largest room on the State Floor is the East Room.

3. THIS IS AMERICA in VOA Special English.

Simple Future Tense :

1. This November, Americans will elect a new president.

2. The new first family will meet with White House employees after the election to plan for the move.

3. Then the family will move in on January 20, 2009 -- Inauguration Day.