For those of you that are reading this post, you haven't given up on me. Thank you! I really don't have much access to a computer, and when I do, it takes a long time to upload any pictures. We are also so busy, that it's been hard to send updates.
Since my arrival here in the city of Harbin a little over a week ago, I have been almost constantly doing something or going somewhere new and exciting. Although it sometimes feels like a lot, I am thankful that I was lucky enough to be placed with a family that has given me an opportunity to really explore and appreciate Harbin for the great city that it is. Not everyone in our group has been placed with a homestay family that is able to provide the same opportunities to explore. Fefe, my homestay sister, is exceptionally good at English, and the fact that my homestay mother is an English teacher does not hurt either. Although I am always trying to practice my extremely limited Chinese, their knowledge of English helps to make it easier during those challenging times when communicating with each other in Chinese has proven difficult. My homestay father on the other hand knows almost no English at all and whenever I attempt at a conversation with him, it is often the most interesting. Thankfully he is incredibly understanding, and when my pronunciation may be horribly off, or I may answer a totally different question than what he asked, he is kind enough to only let out a little chuckle and correct me. Although I still often struggle and most likely will, even after years of learning a language as complex as Chinese, there is no doubt that my Chinese has been improving immensely.
Everyday Monday to Friday I wake up early (even earlier than I do for school during the year) and I am at the school by 7:20 every morning, ready for class to begin at 8:00 am. We are split into beginner, intermediate and advanced classes. Myself and the other 6 kids who just began their Chinese studies this summer, are in the beginner class together. Class goes until 12:00 when we have lunch. In the afternoons we have culture class. Each afternoon, volunteers from Harbin No.1 High School (the school in Harbin hosting our program) come into our class and run a lesson on the culture of Harbin and all of China. Some examples have been presentations on Chinese cuisine, field trips to museums, paper cutting classes, Chinese calligraphy lessons, and much more.
This picture is of my first paper cutting design. Today a professional paper cutter came into our class and taught us the secrets to master the art of paper cutting. We were each given a zodiac animal design randomly, and I of course was landed with one of the hardest designs. It took me a solid 2 hours but I finished with a product I am very proud of.Having the volunteers with us, has really added a lot to our group. They have been studying English for years and know enough to be able to help us translate what we want to say from English into Chinese. They are also there just for us to get to know regular Chinese students our own age. I have had many long conversations with some of these volunteers, most which include a lot of hand gestures and acting out words.
Each Saturday we take full day field trips into Harbin to explore many of the attractions which make Harbin special. This picture is of Fefe and I standing in front of the Sophia Church. It is a Russian Orthodox church, now a sect not found commonly in China. The Sophia Church is in the center of Harbin city and has become more of a landmark than a church. 
Each Sunday we spend the days with our families. In my case, that usually means that Fefe and I go out into the city on our own, to do something entertaining. Fefe is friends with many of the other homestay siblings of my American friends within our program. I am often getting together with other people and spending the day or evening together. The first Sunday we went out, Liza (another American girl in the program) and Rose (Liza's homestay sister) joined us. The four of us have done many things together. In Harbin there is a huge Russian influence. Russian can be seen almost everywhere and many of the older buildings do not have the traditional Chinese style, but rather a more Russian dome design. This picture shows Fefe, Myself, Rose and Liza in front of a statue of traditional Russian dolls.
This past Sunday, we went to the Harbin amusement park followed by watching the new Transformers movie. Although we are all working on our Chinese we seized the opportunity when we were offered to watch the movie in English. The only place that movies in English are placed at that theater, was in the VIP room. The movie itself was good but the seating was notable. The seats were really big and comfortable, like living room furniture. With the exception of Chinese subtitles, the movie made us all feel like we went back to America for just a few hours. Seeing an American movie together with my Chinese sister, also gave me the chance to talk a little more about American language and culture to my new Chinese friend.
