What were you grateful for this week?I’m grateful for a bed to sleep on and meals provided from my host family. 

What was the most challenging part of this week?It is hard to not ever be completely understood. 

Tell us about a “wow” moment you had this week.I have really put in effort to connect with [my host family’s son] and have fun with him.

Tell us about your week! This week was very fun! I have not been going out as much because I need to conserve my money, and I also get very tired when I go out every day. But my friends and I found this amazing park that has absolutely everything from tandem bikes and a lake and rides and horseback riding and very tall trees! It was beautiful and we had a lot of fun. 

On Sunday I visited one of Shanghai’s most famous parks called Century park. It was gigantic and beautiful with so many flowers and gardens. It was so beautiful!! Also this week [my host family’s son] and I have been able to play a lot which is a nice change from homework. I taught him how to make a homemade fortune teller and I also drew pictures with him and made towers with blocks! He loves playing hide and seek with me. I love that kid so much! 

On Saturday night/Sunday morning I didn’t get much sleep and then I was out all day Sunday, so I can home with a pounding headache and a fever and a sore throat. I was dead because I had been walking around a lot that day. It took a lot of rest but now I am feeling better 🙂 It is hard getting sick in a different country! Whenever I feel under the weather, my kind host family, in an  effort to find the root of the problem, usually gives me advice such as don’t hang out with people who are sick, or you go out too much, or you ate food that made you sick. I appreciate their concern and desire to solve the problem but sometimes I wish we could both understand each other perfectly. 😀