Anna is busy studying hard at the No. 80 High School in Beijing. Since meeting President Hu Jintao in September, Anna has been able to explore the city and the larger metropolitan area. The program has high expectations and the students are tested frequently which means plenty of evening studying. Anna's roommate Perry's native language is Russian so they are forced to communicate in Mandarin. That helps to sharpen their language skills! Anna gets to leave the dorms on weekends when she visits her host family.
She has had a visit from Christopher Hibbard,Fryeburg Academy's Director of Admission, who was in Beijing to attend educational conferences. Mr. Hibbard was also kind enough to carry a suitcase of items that Anna forgot to pack! She also met up with her old FA friend Eliza who is in Beijing for a semester.
Street vendors are everywhere and Anna enjoys the variety of foods that are available. She also says that she is now quite adventurous in restaurants--that is frog on the end of her chopsticks!
Thanksgiving isn't celebrated in China so today is another day of classes and studies. One thing she is thankful for is that now that November 15th has passed, the heat in the buildings has been turned on. Unlike her last stay, we are now able to Skype with her regularly as well as chat on the phone.
Anna passes along "Happy Thanksgiving" wishes to everyone back home.