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May 18, 2010 |
Now i know what paradise is.
Grand Bahamas.
I looked forward for this trip so long and now it just finished
already. People always say the best is always the last. So true.
14th of May, our first day of
Bahamas trip. our plane was 10:30 am, but guess what, we were asked to
get to the airport at 7:30. that doesn't make any sense at all,
everybody was so tired and pissed but of course excited too. You know,
there were some emergency happened, like Tim forgot his passport (good
job!!!), and Kwan didn't show up at all. So, they know we would
absolutely make some troubles. Every thing was crazy in the airport,
we only had one chaperon with us who was Susan. We had 12 people,
obviously tough for her. it only took 20 minutes to go to Bahamas, it
was like up and down immediately. The plane was tiny, but 20 minutes
fly, what do you expect?
Gabriel and some kids in the interact club at the airport for welcome
us. they were so passion and kind. We went to Gabriel's house to drop
our stuff and have some lunch then we go to Port Lucaya. Port. Lucaya
was like a tourist place, kinda like Miami beach. There were some
bars, stores, restaurants stuff like that. We went to a village first
where the beach was, spend an afternoon there. Bahama has the most
amazing beach i have ever seen!!!! Waters were so clear and green, sky
was so bule, sends were so clean and white, can you imagine the
pictures? They had nice pool too. We went on the street and bought
some souvenirs after we left the beach. Our local host families came
to pisk us up about 5:30, Sanne and i was in the same host family
which was Gabriel's hostmom's best friend. We all went to grandma's
house for dinner. Grandma is a British lady, white and British accent.
Totally a British old lady. They didn't really have some relationship
with Grandma but they told us Grandma is like a core in the families.
Anyway, she was so nice and friendly. She said she loves meeting
exchange students and host exchange students. That's why she invited
everybody to her house and had dinner with her. We had Bahamas local
grilled ribs, some pasta and a local dessert with a carrot sauce. I
love that so much!!!!! They were all delicious.
15th of May, our second day in Bahamas. They have a cool "bahamian
time" which is like no ruch and no stress. We asked our hostmom what
time were we suppose to wake up last night, she said "whatever, just
wake up whenever you want.". We didn't dare to wake up WHENEVER we
want, instead, we woke up about 9 and get ready. Anyway, Bahamian
time, our host mom woke up just right before the time that we supposed
to be in the beach.
We were in a private beach today, called Fortuna Beach. If you are
just regular tourists in here, 75 dollars per day per person.
Fortunately, we are just so special, EVERYTHING is FREE for us!!!!
even including the foods, the drinks and all those water sports
equipments. A Rotarian lady used to work there, she asked them, they
gave. We really appreciate all they have done for us.
16th of May, the third day in Bahama. Today was really free, the
schedule started at 1:30 pm!!!! We woke up at 9. Which doesn't really
make any sense. anyway, We went to Unexso, where was like a club and
they have so water activities. We swim with dolphins today!!!! So we
took a boat out to The Dolphins Experience where we have some
activities with dolphins. They said we would swim with them but
actually not. We had a snapshot of dolphin kiss our cheeks:) and go
into the water played with them. They were adorable!!!!! I almost
wanna buy one or adopted one. i know that was impossible. Went to a
beach after that again. I fall in love with Bahamas beaches, seriously
they were all amazing and phenomenal. Friends, music, tanning and
amazing beach, that what paradise is. Hung out at Port. Lucaya at
night with everybody and our host families. Our last night in Bahamas.
Sunday morning, 9:30 at the airport, ready for coming back:( We were
trying to pretend we lost our passport so we have to stay there. All
our host families were there for us. Gabriel's host family and Gabriel
have done the most for us, they gave us rides, planed all the schedule
for us. Also the rotary clubs. We really had wonderful time there and
the best experiences in Bahamas.
NEWS RELEASE: Bellina (Yano) Huang, Rotary Exchange student helps
improve the quality of life of geriatrics in her host country. On
Friday and Saturday Bellina gave up her usual activities to help her
host Rotary Club paint the exercise room in the Seymour Gelber Adult
Day Care Center. Using bright yellows and pastel greens Bellina's
humor and hard work made the Club's project a delight and they
finished in record time. "Bellina continues to do more than enough and
helps raise the average" says her host Dad. The Rotary Club of Miami
Sundown is very thankful that Bellina has had a wonderful year in
Miami and hopes that she will return again soon.
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April
13, 2010 |
this is my best weekend ever. my first time skiing
in the best place in the world, Colorado.
since the first month in here, Todd told me i am
going to skiing with them in March. I pretty doubt about that.
I have no idea if i would stay in this family until March. I just
keep this thing in my mind. Fortunately, i am still here and i
will stay with them in the rest of this year for sure.
We woke up at 5 on friday, skip school(YES!!!), got
to airport go to Houston and transferred to Denver. it was so pretty
in here, totally different with Miami. now i see the real America. I
love here so much, i am getting tired of beaches, humid and HOT.
We rent a condo and plan to stay here in this week.
When we get to the condo, it was uncleaned, smelled and dirty.
Obviously the cleaner didn't clean since last time people left here.
Disgusting!!!!! We set everything down, did some shopping and we
just enjoyed a movie first night.
Time for my first skiing experience. It was so
excited waking up and getting ready for skiing. put on all the warm
clothes, long underwear, turtle neck, ski socks ski outfits, ski
boots and helmet with goggles. cool!!!!! though that was so hard to
walk in ski boots, i almost fall from the stairs while walking to
our car. Freaked me out though. We ski in Breckenridge in the first
day and the second day. Kids and i all had ski lessons, i need them
of course. Some thing stupid happened in the morning of the first
day when i was having the lesson. My feet hurt so bad and then
couldn't even fit into my skis. My instructor called the place where
we rent our equipment. The guy in the store told my instructor those
boots were not even mine. How stupid!!!! The truth was Curtis got my
boots!!!!! I tried my best to do the lesson with people and i
couldn't stand any more. only way they can help me is wait for the
lunch time, so i can change my boots with Curt. The people in there
were nice too, one lady who helped me switched my boots and gave me
lunch for free!!!! i just have lunch with whole bunch noisy kids....
the lesson in my first day was just practice how to turn and how to
control your speed. we took a lift which is a really basic one going
up to a little hill and ski down over and over again. kinda boring
but i should work on it. i figured out i can turn left better than
turn right. after we go back to our condo, we just jumped into the
hot tub. the first night was horrible, my legs and arms were super
sore. i could barely fall asleep.
i had lesson in second day too. Hard to believe, i am
in level 2!!!!!! This day was really really warm, i sweated all day.
i got some tan too:) We took the car lift up to the mountain and
ski down over and over again. This time was more fun than the first
day. my instructor remind me Roy, he talked like Roy, acted like
Roy, looked like Roy!!! Seriously, I doubt he was Roy. Any way, he
was really nice and patient. He corrected my position and gave me
some tips about turning. i also met a lady who is from Miami
homestead too. I am the youngest in the class, i am so proud of
myself. The second night was better than the first night but not
really much. i still couldn't fall asleep and my legs were killing
me too. Don't even think about skiing is easy, all your muscles were
used. after we finish today, Todd and I drive to the Town of
Breckenridge and took a look. It looked exactly like old west town,
cozy, cow-boy-look, i love this kind of feeling, actually reminded
me about Disney.
New place skiing today, Keystone. I still have lesson
this day but i think they put me in level two again. i am still the
youngest in the class which cheer me up a lot. i don't like this
instructor, he was cute but he talked way too much. i am use to go
up to the mountain and ski down. We did a tiny bit of blue line,
just a little bit. It was way steeper than green line, it freaked
me out in the beginning. Have a dinner in Frisco which is like a
old west town too. I think i fall in love with these old west towns.
Skiing with Lary's in Cooper Mountain. No lesson for
me today:) actually i was ski with Todd. Dad taught me so many, and
ski with me instead of skiing with mom who is a great skier. I
didn't have confidence in the beginning so i fall so many times and
i cried out eventually. I really really lose all my mind about
skiing. After skiing with dad couple runs and i even tried blue
lines, i fall couple times but i still make them eventually. I ski
better after lunch, i got more confident, i think that's why make me
ski better. tonight was the most horrible night ever even worse than
the first night. all my muscles fall asleep, not working at all. the
most exhausted day ever!!!!
I improved a lot, that's what Dad said not me:) i
still ski with them today, blue lines almost. i have more confident
today, i think i ski better today. Mom told me it's all about your
mind, if you think you can do it, you can do it; if you think you
can't do it, you can't do it. I told myself i would be fine in blue
lines. I still fall couple times but i ski all the way down without
any crying or complaining. this is the last day we
skiing, tomorrow's weather might be horrible so we decide just have
a day-off.
Just like what we plan, day-off today. We went back
to Cooper Mountain for breakfast in Belgian Bean. We had great
Belgium waffles and hot chocolate. Hot chocolate suppose to be good
but obviously not, but about the waffles were so good though i don't
know if they were invented in Belgium. Weird. We did some shops in
the village for some shirt of Cooper Mtn. We went to the town of
Breckenridge for some shopping and dinner. Any way, i love these old
West town feeling, i just looked at them all the way back to our
condo.
I have my first and the best skiing experience ever. i
really appreciate Lary's pay all of these for me including my
lessons, rentals, tickets and so many things and they were so
patient teaching me. they created my best time ever. When the last
night on our back to condo, snowing outside, i was thinking about i
am leaving in 3 months and all of these they have done for me. i
really have to say this, thank you Lary's.
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February 19, 2010
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Seacamp weekend just
finished. We had so much fun and lots of science.
I skipped school on Thursday and Friday, and we picked up Kwan on
Wednesday evening. Wednesday in school I couldn’t pay attention, as I
just felt like "weekend time!!!" Kwan and I can talk all night long,
no matter what was the topic. We talked about her paintings and also
about the idol we both have.. Isn't that amazing?! She is so much my
soul friend.
When I saw the agenda of seacamp, my first reaction was " what's wrong
with this picture, we have biology class?!" I felt so upset because I
am not really interested in science, but when I saw that we would go
snorkeling and wading, I felt better. I have never snorkeled before,
even though there is a huge place in the south of Taiwan where you can
snorkel., but I have never been there.
We went to the Dolphin Center in Key Largo first and watched dolphin
show, it was adorable!!! We learned some stuff about ocean creatures
in Keys and some basic knowledge of dolphins. I can't believe that
dolphins can know if you are pregnant or not. They are my favorite
mammal by the way!!! We had dinner in Marathon Key. Madeleine and I
were wearing the same shirt. Everybody was so confused and kept asking
"why are you wearing her shirt?". We didn't do it on purpose, it was
totally a coincidence!!! We finally got to Seacamp which is in Big
Pine key and totally a "camping" place. For example there were no
lights in my bedroom,, no air conditioner and outside showers, exactly
like a camping place.
We had a camp fire the first night and we played the "Beeper" game, it
was so funny. Everybody was so crazy in the game. After then games we
roasted marshmallows. I got two marshmallows by the way. They tasted
delicious.. We had to go to bed at 10:30. Everybody was exhausted at
the first day. We whispered a few minutes in the bedroom and everybody
fell asleep gradually.
Snorkeling the second day!!! We went to the cafeteria for breakfast,
then we had a welcome party and they separated us to nine different
groups. Every group had their own topic they would have to to discuss.
I was in the "water quality" group. I made more friends in my group,
even a guy and a girl from local. Then we had a tour and after the
tour, we went to get the wet suits, goggles and flippers for
snorkeling. I felt embarrassed when I was wearing the wet suit,
because everybody can see what you really look like. I felt naked.
Before going to snorkel, we had a swimming test. I passed it!!!! You
can't imagine how nervous I was and how excited I was after I passed
it. Liz taught us everything about snorkeling. My favorite part is you
have to spit in your goggles before you put them on. Totally
disgusting, but funny. The point is to keep the glass from fogging up.
The salia coats the glass and prevents condensation. The water is cold
and your face is hot so your perspiration from your face condenses on
the glass and fogs it up so you can’t see. A soap film will do the
same, like in the bathroom when you take a shower.
We then went on the boats which are designed especially for science
expeditions. You have to wear a PFD the whole time and at least one
foot on the floor when you are on the boat. We talked about the issues
that affect water quality and tried to catch something to discuss when
we were snorkeling. I thought it would be pretty. Like what we saw in
the movies on the bottom of the ocean, but actually it wasn’t. It
looked creepy instead. But I still loved it. Party at night!!! I
didn't bring any skirts or dresses, so I wore a T-shirt and jeans
instead. When I saw somebody wearing heels, I was like "Wowww". We
danced crazy and excitedly. I haven’t been to a party for a long time.
The party only lasted 2 hours. Obviously not enough. Today is Bob's
birthday, we bought the present together, which was a beer stein with
"Exchange students 2009-10" printed on it. Isn't that sweet?
Marco's film about us was awesome and touched my feelings. I didn't
know he is that kind of sweet person..
Boat trip on the third day again. We are really proficient snorkeling
now. We put on the wet suit quickly, prepared everything in order and
went into water without any hesitation.. Dorothy and I were trying to
catch something, but there wasn't anything interesting to catch. We
had roundtable discussion with the other water quality group after we
came back to prepare for our presentation. We had a guest speaker who
gave us some suggestions about our presentation. He told me that he
went to Taiwan 9 years ago and he noticed that we had water quality
problems in Kaohsiung where I live. That was exactly correct. It was
really nice to talk to a professor about the problem which is in my
hometown. A lot of people cried after the presentations, because it
was the last chance to see everybody, except for us that are going on
the year end trip. Thank God I am going., no thank DAD. The last night
in Seacamp, we sneaked out in the middle of the night and just hung
out and talked.
Finally, we went to Key West on Sunday. This is where Kwan lives. I
talked to a girl in my bedroom before we left Sea Camp who was from
Key West. I told her that we will only spend 2 hours there, and she
told me "oh, that's enough”! The downtown of Key West is just a
street!!" How tiny!!! So we walked around on Duvall Street and looked
around. Then Todd took us to the "Southern most point". I can't
believe I was standing on the most southern point of continental
America!!!
I had so much fun this weekend!! This was the first time I loved
science stuff. Dolphin center, Key Largo, Seacamp and Key West, I have
my second favorite weekend so far, an unforgettable weekend. Thanks to
Mom for sending me on this exchange year!!
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January 5, 2010
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Can you believe I just
celebrated Christmas in America? I never really ever celebrate
Christmas before. We only did decorations and knew that December 25th
is Christmas. We had school Christmas vacation from December 21st to
January 4th.
I didn't pay attention in the last day of school, we just went to
auditorium and watched a movie for whole day. There were no
decorations in the school, not like SK. We always put Santa, a huge
Christmas tree and lots of decorations with sprinkling lights. I was
expecting to see "America decorations" in the school, but I was
disappointed that I didn't see anything in the school.
We purchased Christmas presents
about two weeks ago before Christmas. I was so serious about choosing
the presents for the Lary family. I won't allow them to forget me. I
bought Guns and Roses album for Mom, a personal coffee cup for Dad in
which I made the pictures and put them in, a Chinese style purse for
Gramsie, a Polo mug for Granddad, and a photo frame for Izzy and
Steve, in which I put the pictures first. I already said they are not
allowed to forget me.
We had a Christmas Eve dinner at
Gramsie and Granddad's house. That was my first time to experience
such a big Christmas dinner with "Americans". I was a little bit
nervous that night. We had stone crabs and chicken fingers for the
kids, including me, but I also ate some stone crabs and some shrimp
appetizers, which I think those make my stomach hurt the next
day. After dinner, during the dessert time, we opened the Christmas
presents. I got a Hello kitty bathrobe, a pair of slippers and a book
about Miami from Gramsie and Grandad. I think I really need that book.
After we got home, Santa had
already come. He put the stuff in the stockings and delivered the
presents already. This was the first year that Curtis and Brittney
knew who Santa really is. We decided to open the presents, even
though it was not Christmas morning yet. We delivered the presents to
everybody, everybody had their own corner to open their presents. Time
to open the presents. Let's see what I got, a pair of shorts from
Banana Republic, a calendar, 365 new words a year and a book about
earth atlas, a photo frame that I can put the Lary's family picture
from Mom. A Sony digital camera, 3D puzzles, one of them is Hello
Kitty and a necklace with Chinese and birthday stone from Dad. The
stuff in stocking from Santa!! Letter B ornament, make-up bag and
family games from our cousin Scott and Elizabeth. Three Cups of Tea
novel from our neighbor Malotte and Bud. I love that story, I already
have one in Chinese, now I have an English one:) A comfy blanket and
super soft penguin from Curtis. A skinny shirt and nice scarf from
Brittney. Such a nice and rich Christmas eve!!
Christmas morning, we had
Christmas brunch with Izzy and Steve. It was a great and delicious
brunch. They also brought presents for me, I am so appreciative about
that. Let's see what I got, a new purse, an iTunes gift card and two
adorable Hello Kitty ribbons. That kind of the purse is the one that I
really wanted, I was so excited. Also, I had a pretty Hello Kitty
Christmas!! Mom's brother and his family came and Gramsie and Grandad
came over and had Christmas dinner with us. I was pretty uncomfortable
that night because of the delicious stone crabs from last night, I
think I ate too much though. I like to have dinner with everybody, I
felt so warm and sweet.
That was the first Christmas
for me and I loved it!!! It can almost compare with Chinese New Year
in my heart!! It is a nice and great holiday!!
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December 19, 2009
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Just finished an awesome
and unforgettable weekend!! Where “Dreams come true”---Disney World.
We went there on
Thursday morning, I was so excited that there would be no school on
Thursday and Friday . We spent almost 3 hours driving to Orlando,
where Disney World is located. We stayed 4 nights in Disney’s All-Star
Movies hotel in the Herbie section. I didn’t really like that movie,
but the car was still pretty cute!! We had 4 people in a room, and we
didn't really know each other before, but we had met each other before
in the orientation. It was a good opportunity to make more new
friends.
The first day we went to "Hollywood Studios". There are so many
characters in that park. We saw the ''Lights, Motors, Action!'' show
which was about vehicles. They blew up the car and did so many action
scenes. It was so coooool!!! We saw Beauty and the Beast live musical.
The stage setting was so full of sparkles and very adorable. We took
so many rides, but those were not really scary. Actually every
attraction was so good!!!! They looked just like real!! We saw a show
called ''Fantastic" at 6:30. They did fireworks with lasers, lights,
dancing and special effects. They reminded me my childhood that I
still remembered from every Disney movie. After the fireworks we went
back to the hotel, and jumped into the pool, but we totally forgot the
weather was pretty cold!! Everybody was freezing and shivering in the
pool, but we still had so much fun!! I felt very excited to be with
all of exchange students having such a great time!!!
The second day we went to the "Magic Kingdom". We had a special class
in the morning, it took us 3 hours. The special class was all about
the physical characteristics of the park. !! We had to wake up at 6,
but we went to bed at 3am, and I was so tired and the weather was
super cold, so I didn’t enjoy those 3 hours!!! However, in one part of
the class, we had to take the "splash mountain log ride where we got
wet". It made us freezing all day. There is the classic "Cinderella’s
Castle" right in the front of the park!!! I can't believe they made it
look just like the real one – how did they build that??? There are so
many attractions in this park. We had a very relaxing afternoon
walking around, looking at everything and taking funny pictures:))At
the night time, they did the fireworks by the castle! That was so
pretty. Just like New Year’s eve!! This day nobody went into the pool,
but we still stayed up talking until 2am.
The third day we went to EPCOT Center. Epcot is not like Disney’s
Magic Kingdom, no cute stuff, no sparkling lights.. We also had a lot
of fun at Epcot. They have so many cool attractions, like mission
space where it actually feels like you are flying a spaceship, they
even put the pressure on you!!! It felt so real, I can’t understand
how that they really did it! We went to a lot of attractions!! Because
there were so many, I am too lazy to talk about all of them:)) The
biggest attraction in this park is INTERNATIONAL STREET with 11
different countries being represented, including Mexico, Norway,
Canada, United States, CHINA, Germany, Morocco, Italy, France, United
Kingdom and Japan!!!We went to everyone; it was really a fantastic
representation of each country. In Italy, Marco was trying to speak
Italian to the waiter, but that guy said he only speak Italian when he
is sleeping!! We were yelling ''Italia Uno" front of the Italy
section, everybody looked at us so weird, haha:) We had a French
dinner next by the lake where we saw the fireworks again. They did the
most awesome fireworks that I have ever seen!!!!! They do that awesome
show everyday!!! 365 days!! I think that is why everything in Disney
is so expensive. After the dinner, we went back to the street and sang
lots of songs, we were so hyper:)) After that we went back to the
hotel, everybody just jumped into the pool! Nice weather!!
The forth day we went to “Disney Animal Kingdom". That was a really
cool place. I love animals, so of course I loved it :) We took a ride
which was so funny!! It was a high-speed train that zipped through the
misty unknown. There was a section about dinosaurs. Another awesome
ride, it was kind of a little car that carried you back 65 million
years. The scenes were so realistic. We also went to the African
section and took a van to a trail and discovered animals!! I love that
place:) We only stayed until 2:30. It was the time to say goodbye to
everybody :( We really didn’t want to leave there, we were trying to
hide in the bathroom!!
We would like to stay there for a year, but the big problem is we
would all die of starvation because, the food was so expensive. The
price of clothes would kill you too, one T-shirt cost 20 dollars!!!!
So, we just gave up that idea:(
I really, really had fun this weekend. I love to go out with the
exchange students, they are so much fun to be with. I appreciate that
I am exchange student now.
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November 13, 2009
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I have been here for3 months already. Everything for
me is still fresh and awesome.
We had an unforgettable weekend. We went to boat and
jumped into the salt water, such a crazy thing for me! Everybody
knows that I cannot swim very well, that was my first to try this
amazing experience.
The day before that day, we spend a night at Diane's
house. She is a adorable lady I have never seen. Her house was so
awesome, big pool, jungle room, fish room, nice roof, super comfy
couch have to thanks her very much again.
I still have great time with my host family. We went
to my sister's house and had a Halloween party, that was so funny!!!
I was an Asian pirate!!! We went to trick or treat which was my
first time!!! I think I was the oldest one in there:)))We got bunch
candies and have those candies for our dessert after dinner!!!
Now, I am the translator in my school. I am helping a
boy who is form China and speaks no-English!!! That was horrible
went to his class helped him and also helped the teacher.
By the way, I used to hate the teacher!!! But I am
helping him now, how nice I am:))
Last weekend, we went to Hard Rock hotel, which is a
awesome place. I was so excited in there, cause there are so many
classical bands!!!!We went there for the district conference, we
have to hold the flag of our country and introduce yourself. I was
so nervous!!! The special talent show was in the night which we just
practiced like less than 3 hours!!!
My talent show was about kung-fu which I used my fan.
I was so nervous that you cannot imagine how nervous I am!!! During
my show, my fan was fell down one time. I felt so embraced but I
still have to finish it. I just keep myself concentrate!!
We still have fun after that day. Roy's house was so
funny. I figure out every time we meet each other must have a
schedule is about swimming:)) That was really good for me so that I
would have a pressure to make me learn how to swim better:))
Maybe you won't believe how much fun that we have,
unless you have this experience in your life.
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September 2, 2009
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Hey, my name is Bellina.
This is my report.
I live in a jungle, it is real. A beautiful huge house. I have new
daddy and mommy and two younger brother and sister and one older
sister.
This is my first time to come to America and also my first to take
such long time in airplane. When I arrived Miami airport, my hostdad
called my name. I was so happy.
I can't swim well, so I asked my hostdad to teach me. Because my
little brother and sister swim like a fish.I n order to play with
them, I practiced it everyday. Now, I can swim well. I think my mom
will not believe me. :)
I went to fishing last Sunday with my dad and my brother. It was my
first fishing experience, though I didn't catch anything.
In the beginning, I didn't trust this exchange program. When my mom
gave me more information, and I think it will be a good experience of
my life. Real, I learn more and experience more. Because, I'd love to
try everything.
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