Brandy and Hu Kejun

Jiang Huayu and Daniel

Jesse and Wang Liang

Jessica and Yin Tingting

Yang Chiyan and Maisie

Reflection on our Homestays (afternoon of the 21st)
Jessica writes: My home stay was great. My sister's name was Pinky. Pinky likes Heavy Metal and Winnie-the-Pooh. She took me out to dinner and we talked and watched Blade and Blade Two (with Chinese subtitles) and we had a milk-chugging competition. It was such a wonderful experience.
Kai writes: My home stay was very nice. The family was very hospitable and welcoming. We went shopping after dinner and he was able to show me the best shops and how to get the best prices. I very much enjoyed my stay and hope that Mark will be able to stay at my home in America.
Oliver writes: One of the funniest things that occurred while at my home stay is how new the house was. Soon after walking into his house, George informed me that it was his first day living in the house. In other words, I slept in his house the first day that he did too.
Drummond writes: The one think that I loved about my home stay was how much they welcomed me into their home and their family. As I am leaving them today, I feel as if I am losing a wonderful part of my family.
Daniel writes: My day with my host family started after the visit to the Minority School and it started well, because I was playing ping pong and he was waiting for me, he didn't call me and just waited. That surprised me because Bill is a very busy student and he should'nt be waiting around, but he did that for me. We went to his rented house, close to the school, to have dinner. His grandmother is a great cook. He brought me to his real house, a little bit farther from the school where he was reunited with his parents who he hadn't seen in months. I thought he might be more excited but he didn't seem to be. It was a wonderful experience.
Cailey writes: I thought that because I only had two nights at my home stay I wouldn't be able to connect with my family. I couldn't have been more wrong. My family expressed such generosity and kindness that I couldn't believe I had ever doubted the experience. If you ever want a lesson in kindness, I would suggest a home stay in Kunming.
Mike writes: The first night I felt out of place, because I did not feel connected with my homestay Father. After playing two hours of tennis and laughing with him I felt much closer with the family. I wish we had more time.

April 20th and 21st were dedicated to the home-stays at night and school visits during the day. The heart of the AACE program, these match-ups between American students and Chinese host families are the result of extraordinary coordination, careful planning, and preparation on the part of the Chinese and American program administrators. For their part, the students greeted one another with open smiles and hugs; the Chinese literally extending open arms, and the Americans leaving the shelter of the group for authentic Chinese homes without a look behind.

Homestays: In the students' words:
What did you find surprising about your home stay? (asked the afternoon of the 20st)
Oliver: I was the first guest in my family's new house
Kai: The welcoming nature of my family exceeded my expectations
Drummond: My host student is not only a good basketball player, he is a waltzer!
JBob: My host student enjoys soccer, and his music preferences run to the Titanic
Mike: The house was really nice, polished oak floors, and a huge sword hung over my bed
Cailey: They took me to the English Corner at Green Lake Park in the evening
Maisie: I was overwhelmed by their gifts of sandals, fruit, & food. I loved my room, it had a bay window with a view of city
Brandy: The apartments look small from the outside but inside they're beautiful, white, glass and leather
Grace: Couldn't get over how flattering they were about her and Americans in general
Daniel: His family was sorry they couldn't take him out. But he got to meet the whole extended family and stay in two of their houses.


Yang Yuting and Cailey

Drummond and Zhang Xiaohan

Grace and Li Ruijue (sorry for the blurry photo, hopefully
a better one is coming).

Fang Shuaipeng and Kai

Huang Pengyu and Mike

Maisie and her homestay family

Oliver and Wu Qian