Chinese student travels to America: Abigale Qian

**Chinese foreign exchange student Amber Zhang wrote this story.

“I heard that in Texas there are bullies everywhere. If someone calls your name in the street, just give them 20 dollars or you will get hit,” Abigale Qian, foreign exchange student from China, said.

Qian has been in Wylie for six months.

Qian lives with sophomore Greta Williams’ family.

“Greta is so pretty. I like her. She looks like Germany,” Qian said.

In the last six months, Qian developed a relationship with Grates family. She even became a Christian. The Williams family adopted a little girl, Olivia, from China when she was 1 year old. She is now 4.

“I have a lot of fun spending time together with my host family. I’m a good Chinese teacher at home,” Qian said.

Qian participated in the school band the first semester. She had so much fun during the football game season.

“Band is crazy, but fun, we cheered too much to make our throat hurt and can’t even speak the day after the game. Band makes me crazy too,” Qian said.

Qian met a lot of friends and learned how to make friends with Americans. Her first close friend in Band, was Sarah Alford. She could always remember that she said to her “you are my buddy.” She enjoys being friends with her. She said her kindness always makes her feel so warmed.

“At least I learn to say y’all this year from my ‘crazy’ friends,” Qian said.

Qian was in track class during the first few months in school.

“I’m so tired. I’m going to pretend my tummy hurts tomorrow, so the coach won’t make me run,” Qian said.

Qian moved to the winterguard team from band in the second semester.

“We look so bad when we get up at 5 every morning without putting make up on and go to practice,” Qian said.

Qian chose the leadership class this semester. They were participating in a game where their teacher chose a partner for each of them. One of them had his eyes covered and without touching anything, had to totally believe what his partner said and go down the hallway like a blind person.

“I was blind. I even hit the wall,” Qian said.

In China, students stay in their classrooms and teachers come to the class instead of students moving in the hall way. They also have a 10 minute break between classes.

“I want my classroom and my comfy blanket back,” Qian said.

Qian is from Shanghai, a big city. Her high school is in Suzhou.

In China, teenagers are not allowed to drive until they are 18. But it’s really convenient that in China everywhere you can find a subway, buses and taxis which are able to take you everywhere.

“I’m so jealous of the people who have a car. If I have car I can go to Wal-Mart and buy candy every day,” Qian said.

Qian misses Chinese food so much. When she first got here, she felt so happy that finally she can have pizza every day.

“I don’t like pizza anymore,” Qian said.