Se7en

Seven 

My 月考 (Yuekao / monthly test) did in fact go well! 

I've also started working on a supplemental textbook with more complicated vocabulary and grammatical structures, so that's keeping me busy on the academic front. 

We met our language partners for the first time this week! Each one of the international language students is paired with a Chinese student to meet once a week to work on our respective languages of study. My partner is a dance enthusiast named Yi chen. So far, we've only spoken Chinese but it's a great exchange and automatic friendship. She is so sweet!

We also made these beautiful kites in art class: 

Reo (from Japan) and I painted this one that has our Chinese names and "Feel the wind" in Japanese. 

I haven't flown a kite in such a long time and I forgot how much of a blast it is (and how much work!) 

(Class 1 & 2 international students from left to right: Saori, Eriko, Johanna, Tilden, Maike, Megan, Yasu, Vitaly, Me, Reo, Keoindre, Carmen, Sarah, Julie, Paris, Jens, Brady, Noah, Eric). 

On the extracurricular front: I went to my first choir practice this Monday! It is taught in English by an American IB teacher and we sing all sorts of music, but I also get the opportunity to speak Chinese with the other lovely Chinese students there. There is a great guy whose English name is Howard who always wears a black suit coat and combat boots and carries a brief case. Didi is also an cute and awesome alto who plans to attend Rochester University next year! 

During the practice, we warmed up with a variation of "Amazing Grace" and then started working on a four-part French Renaissance piece called "Mille regretz". I am a soprano but am singing the tenor part an octave higher for this song, because there aren't enough tenors.

It's a really supportive and fun group to be a part of and I am really excited to be participating! 

On Thursday, I had a model UN meeting. I represented Malaysia on the topic of Iran's nuclear program. 

Friday was the track meet! 

Our singing/yoga/kungfu opening ceremony performance was a hit! 

As for my event, I was glad the sports meet was changed to Friday because it meant I got a couple extra days to prepare for the long jump. My roommate Megan was a total track rockstar in the States before breaking her ankle pole vaulting this spring, so she helped train me. Many thanks to Megan, because despite the total lack of prior experience, I just made the cut for a prize at 8th place (out of about 30 people)! 

Coach Megan and me: 

Me jumping (3.65m was my best): 

The other international students who made the preliminary cuts (Koki, Brady, Keiondre Paris, and Noah) did so well in their running and shotput events, racking up two first place titles, two third place titles, and a fifth place title! So proud to be part of this group! 

Saturday, I went with my host mom to a street market. She taught me how to ask the price of things in Shanghainese and so all the sellers were really surprised at a random foreigner asking them how much their apples were in the regional dialect. It was a cool experience and we bought some delicious breakfast noodles, apples, and tofu (the variety and quality of tofu products here really puts America to shame). Also I really loved this regal lady selling eggs: 

Later that day, I rode the subway to meet up with my NSLI-Y (American) classmates and our RD (resident director) for an outing to Jing'an Temple, which was terrific!

After we looked at the temple, Tilden, Megan and I explored the French Concession part of Shanghai. We had some great food and got some Chinese medicine cupping done! I am definitely starting to feel at home in this magnificent city!