YN 002 - Leili

Dear Holly,

How are you? I’m very thankful for your help! I am also very surprised that you’re a 9-year-old girl. I am now a happy high school student. School is very intense here but I will work hard. You should, too! I am hoping that you are having the time of your life!

Last summer, we only got about 20 days to rest but I did a lot of meaningful things. For example, I went rock climbing with my friend, helped my dad with the farming and taught my little brother to play Chinese chess. I had the most fun when I entered a singing contest with a friend from my village and won second place!

This semester, we already had half of the classes and will be having a winter break very soon. That break, unfortunately, will be our last break. It has been really cold lately so no one really wanted to get out of their rooms so we just stayed in their dorms. When it gets sunny in the morning, my friends and I do lots of activities such as playing badminton, biking and hiking. I feel so free when I do these things!

Our school is beautiful and big. It has the most students. My favorite part of the campus is the willow tree, reading my book under it makes me feel so serene. We also have a lake that is filled with colors under the morning sunlight. It is unfortunate that the lake doesn’t have any fish.

Unlike your family, I have no sheep, rabbits or horse. Instead, I only own a cat and a dog. I bet it is always fun to live under your roof! You are so fortunate that you have the opportunity to go horseback riding. I have always wanted to ride a horse but never had the chance to. However, I know I will in the future!

Christmas is almost here, Merry Christmas! I hope your life is filled with joy and laughter!

Sincerely,

Leili

YN 003 - Xinghui (Song)

Dear Addie,

I’m really happy that I am able to send you this letter right before Christmas and I would like to take this opportunity to say Merry Christmas!

You have supported me financially for two years already and again this year and I can’t begin to express my gratitude toward you. Every time I’m feeling down, I always think of how you’re supporting me from the other side of the Pacific Ocean and that compels me to pull myself together, cheer up and continue to study hard.

Addie, you are the person who supports me the most in life. Although we have never met, I will always think of you as an angel - an angel who has stepped out of her everyday life to help a girl from a completely different country. I would like you to know that this girl has stepped onto the road to a beautiful future. You have helped me to seize the opportunity to create a beautiful future for myself.

On campus, I’m known as a jokester. During the leisure time we’re given, I like to play games with my friends. When I’m feeling stressed I like to sing or draw in order to relax. What do you like to do when you’re stressed?

As I have told you, I like to play jokes on others and I have just thought of a funny incident that happened to me. I remember one afternoon I was walking down the stairs with my friends. Because there were so many people on the stairs, I put my hand on the shoulder I saw in front of me and assumed that the shoulder I put my hand on belonged to my friend. However, that person lifted my hand off his shoulder. I thought that was strange but I still reassured myself that the person in front was my friend and I put my hand on his shoulder again. Soon, I heard a voice say, “Hey, could you get your hands off of my shoulder?” It was then when I realized that I had mistaken the stranger in front of me as being my friend. That was such an embarrassing incident. Every time I think back to it, I relive this awkward moment!

For summer vacation, we only had a week or two for holiday. Even though the holiday was short, I was still very happy because during this time I was able to be with my family again. My family has a lot of things to do in. Each morning at the crack of dawn, we must go dig up the yams and harvest the crops. While I do this with my family, I can’t help but feel a sense of happiness and belonging.

Do you like animals? My family owns cows, pigs and a small dog. I think they’re all cute, especially the dog. I’m a lot closer to the dog than the other animals at my house.

I understand that Christmas is nearing and I cannot give you a present except words to wish you the best of luck! I understand that if you want to wish your friend peace you can give them an apple and that is the best present you can give them! So here’s an apple that I drew for you!

Merry Christmas!

Best Regards,
Xinghui (Song)

YN 004 - Wei

Dear Gracie and family,

How are you? I was really happy to receive your letter the other day!* Since it’s December, that marks the fact that Christmas is coming closer and closer, so I would like to extend to you my early wishes of good luck and health to you and your whole family.

Right now, I am a senior in high school and since it’s already the start of December, this marks a very important time for me. I need to work hard to finish all my core classes in order to prepare myself to work in the city. Thus, I spend all my time in classrooms, the cafeteria and my dorm room to study. However, instead of feeling stressed, I feel happy because I have been given the opportunity to discuss issues with my fellow classmates and teachers. These discussions lead to the broadening of my knowledge and my view in life.

Being in school for such a long time, I get bored at times. However, I often go and enjoy the views when I hike in the mountains behind my school with my best friends. While hiking, we listen to music and enjoy the light breeze on the nape of our necks. It is during those moments in time when I feel the most calm and relaxed. Another good way to de-stress myself is when I go to the basketball courts and just fool around with my friends. After some fun and games with my friends, I feel as if I’ve dropped a lot of stress from myself.

Just a few months ago, during October, I went back home to my village for the National Day of the People’s Republic of China. Arriving home, I realized that there were some big changes that had happened in my village. However, the sun still shone brightly and the rays still sparkled in the sky – it’s as if everything were still the same.

When I’m not studying, I go to my aunt’s restaurant to help out. While helping out in her restaurant, I gain new experiences and insights on life. I feel that this is an important experience for me to have as it prepares me for work.

Studying aside, I believe that the most important thing in life is maintaining my health as it is the basis of my life. Thus, I also like to go running. At night, I usually go running to release all of the stresses that I have in life. Most nights, I go to the field and I run around it a few times. Because of this practice of running at night, when there was a race at school, I got first place out of all the girls in my school! But, the thing that still bugs me is that, nowadays, my long jump skills have deteriorated and now I can’t jump as far as I could before.

I can’t express how thankful I am through just words in this letter but, from the bottom of my heart, I’d like to wish you and your family all the best. I hope that your Christmas is fun and being filled with laughter. I understand that Christmas is a major holiday in America, just like Chinese New Year is a major holiday in China. Chinese New Year is not only a holiday, but marks the ending of a year and the beginning of a good year to come. This date brings us new hope for a better future.

Thank you so much for your help!

Best Regards,

Wei

* We told her a little bit about your family.

YN 005 - Zhouyan

Dear Debbie and Fran,

Greetings! I really appreciated your care and concern through my illness; it made me feel endlessly happy. I remember that this time last year I was in the hospital. My father was working out of town and my mother was at home alone. Although she was not with me in the hospital, I knew she was worried about me day and night. Although she wasn’t with me, I didn’t resent my mother at all because I understood her very well. She was at home caring for me.

When my sickness was still undiagnosed, they checked me twice and the doctor couldn’t find the reason for my sickness! Mother’s family did not want to take me to the hospital for another check up because it was so expensive. Now, I have finally gotten through the suffering from the sickness. My body recovered well and I will always be thankful for my health. I will always remember you as well.

During the summer, our family was very busy. We didn’t go to any other places. Basically the entire summer was working with the soil or doing chores for our family so, I did spend the summer in a satisfying way. When I was working in the soil, I had blisters in no time. I truly understood the feeling of working hard.

I must study very well because of our hard life. I think that education is the only path to change our lives. My dream is to become a doctor. I hope to erase the pain from patients who suffer from it. That dream is my goal. It is what I think I will be happiest doing.

However, sometimes things don’t go the way we think they will. As long as I do my best and fight for it, even if I fail, I will not have any regrets because the more I know, the better I will become. If I were to work in a factory, I would like to be a technician. But first, I would start from being a basic worker and keep on working hard. If I were to work on a farm, I would plant fruit trees.

Now, I feel that I’m not good at every subject. I love math, chemistry and biology, but my English and Physics are not strong enough. My goal is to be perfect in every subject. At the end of the semester I hope to be one of the top 50 students.

In school, I like to make friends and play basketball. I was naughty when I was very small. I fell three times from high places. When I was studying in junior 2, I fell from the upstairs when I went to collect a piece of wood because the floor was not well-nailed. But, I only hurt my hand. My grandpa said this was a miracle. As a result, I feel that heaven is fair to me. My family is poor but they are warm. I’m happy to receive your support. I can give back nothing to you but my thanks. What I can do is study hard, but this is also for my benefit.

I wish you happiness and health forever. I wish that your work is good and that everything is under your control. Be happy every day!

Merry Christmas,

Zhouyan

YN 006 - Weng Jiao

Dear Woodland Street Kids,

I'm extremely happy to be writing to you. My holiday was very enjoyable and fulfilling. During my summer vacation, I took extra lessons for four weeks, so I had two weeks of real vacation.

When I am at home with my grandparents, I usually help out with chores, but sometimes it can be boring. One day, some friends called me and asked me to go to the mountains. I decided to go with them because I have wanted to go to those mountains for a while now. When I arrived, it was a bit chilly but I was mesmerized by the beautiful green grass fields, the blowing wind, clear sky, clean water, sheep and horses. On the grass, we ran wildly and screamed like children. We also went horseback riding and climbed the mountain too. I was so happy. During these few days at the mountain, I forgot all about the pressure and stress from school. Just like that, my break was over and I had to go back to school.

Did you know that my hometown is called the village of apples? I love to eat apples because they're big, red and crispy. This week, the apples will ripen. All of the people in my village will pick the ripe fruit from the trees. I usually help to pick out the best apples. Let me tell you, picking apples gives me ten dollars a day. I help eagerly so I can use the money to do whatever I want.

Life at school is happy, but also busy and a little frustrating. Sometimes in class, I daydream about ridiculous thoughts and then I laugh to myself. I always think, “What if I won the lottery? Then I'd buy a house, a car and go play on the beach.” These thoughts are just too funny! But my real dream is to become a famous doctor. I dream about graduating from college, wearing the gown and taking my graduation photo. That would be a dream come true.

It's almost Christmas now. I hope you will have a wonderful holiday. In fact, over here, we give apples to each other as a way to say that we hope they will be safe during the holidays. I hope you will be safe and happy too!

Weng Jiao

YN 007 - Hongqiong

Dear XXX Family,

Hello! I was very excited to receive your letter. Time passes so quickly when you’re not paying attention. In the blink of an eye, I’m already in my senior year at high school. This past year, I have often had conflicting feelings. For example, I am reluctant to leave my high school and will miss it very much. At the same time, I am also looking forward to being in college. Every time I feel this way, sharing my feelings with my friends and hearing theirs makes me feel better.

I am curious about how Katie, Jillian and Emily get to school and about their school life in general. Could you tell me about it? I never would have thought that your eldest daughter and I would share an interest in history. I love history because it allows me to understand my country’s role in the past, allowing me to have a better grasp on the present and be able to create a better future. Does she share my opinion?

Though I enjoy history, math is a challenge for me. But I know that if I cultivate my interest in it, find the best learning method for me and work hard at it, I will be able to do well. Right now, I’m trying my best at school. My family is also well.

I feel very lucky to be able to share my life with so many people. I really enjoy making friends and will share your stories about school with my classmates. During summer break, I still go to school for classes. I only go home once a week now and spend most of my week on my studies.

I hope all of you are well too.

Hongqiong

YN 008 - Wang

Dear XXX Family,

I am very happy to have this opportunity to write you a letter. Time passes quickly. I am already in my third year of high school! This year should be an important turning point of my life. Sometimes the pressure is so heavy that it feels like I can’t breathe. Then, I think of my parents’ eyes full of expectations, my teachers’ encouragement and all the people like you who have cared about me and helped me reach my life’s goal. Then I become brave enough to confront the college entrance examinations again. It is really a huge challenge.

Last week, something happened that I will always remember. I understand how valuable life and family love are, but I didn’t pay much attention to them. It was last weekend that I happily came home and my little brother was around me calling me sister. Suddenly he went into a coma. He was sent to hospital to get medical help. I watched the doctors who were rushing in and out. At the same time, I didn’t know if my brother would die or not. Staying with my mother who was too distressed to stand, I finally knew that life and family were so precious that it was beyond my imagination.

At last, my little brother went through the dangerous period peacefully. Now, I realized no matter how busy I am, or how far away I am from home, I should take time for my family and treasure the wonder of being alive.

Wish that everything goes well for you and wish you all the best.

Yours,

Wang

YN 009 - Wen

Dear Grace, Rachel, and Ashleigh,

I am very happy that I received your letter and your bracelet. It’s beautiful. First of all, I hope you are in a happy mood every day and have healthy bodies.

Just out of curiosity, I would like to know about your school life and how you spend each day. I always liked English and chemistry because they are very interesting. But now, chemistry is not a class I can take anymore because I am not doing science or math related subjects anymore. As I am studying language arts now, English is my favorite subject and I want to be an English teacher in my hometown. I also like physical education such as basketball, badminton and running. Every morning, I wake up at 6:30 to run because I need a healthy body in order to do well in my studies.

I am in my third year of high school now and the pressure that comes with studying is very great. My time is also very tight. I can only see my father twice each school term because he is away working and I do not know how his life is. I love him the most and he is the most important person in my life so it pains me that I cannot see him.

My school is in the countryside. In the spring, the fields turn into a beautiful scene full of vitality. In the summer, the fields are still full with greenery and at night, you can hear the frogs croaking. The fields in the fall are a crisp brown and it is the harvest season. You can feel the vastness of the fields in the winter and smell the fresh soil. Our school is also very beautiful and our school spirit is great. My classmates are humorous and friendly; I love everyone at my school and I am so happy to have everyone in my life.

Thank you for the opportunities you have given me,

Wen

YN 011 - Chen

Dear Zoe,

How are you!

I am happy to be able to write to you. I wish to share some things about my life with you. I spent my summer holiday at my grandmother's home. There are a lot of things I like to do over there. Every day I helped my grandma to pull the weeds in the corn fields. Sometimes, I would carry a bamboo basket to pick ripe peas. The feeling of the heavy bamboo basket always makes me feel very satisfied.

There are many new things happening there. This area is a poor mountain village where access is difficult and therefore there are very few inhabitants. Sometimes, I am able to see strange animals. My grandmother has a very big dog but one day the dog disappeared. When it came back, it held in its mouth a baby hawk which had just cracked open its egg. We saved the baby hawk from the egg shell and I carefully fed it until it grew older. Then I sent it back to the forest. The moment we watched the hawk fly away, both my grandma and I were smiling. Those happy times passed by very quickly and now I am back in school.

Back at school, although our studying is intense, I am also able to do some very happy things. Sometimes we can do something special on the weekends. I like to go with my friends to climb the mountain very near the school. There are lots of pine trees on the mountain and, in autumn, the leaves that have fallen on the ground make it soft and comfortable for us to step on. In the mountain’s open areas, we would pick dry twigs from trees to make a fire and barbecue the local peas while we chat. Sometimes we also collect the autumn leaves to make them into bookmarks for our favorite books.

Thank you for your help.
Yours,

Chen

YN 012 - Dahong

Dear Melina and Talia,

Hello! It’s been a while since we last wrote, how are you? My life here is great. I get along with other students pretty well. Although there is a lot of pressure from school, my life here is full of happiness.

You have asked me about a book named “shehua.” I am very sorry, but I have not read this book before therefore, I do not know what it is about.** However, if I have a chance, I will look for the book and read it.

At school, I like to take a stroll and talk to my best friends. Sometimes, I will listen to music alone. Life at school is tough because of the pressure of the college entrance exams, but learning is also interesting because I am getting a lot of new knowledge from school.

You said your favorite animal is a dog. I like dogs, too. My favorite animal is a rabbit but I have never raised a rabbit. I am a few years older than you. If you don’t mind, can I call you little sister? I have seen your picture, you are gorgeous and cute. I wish I could have a brother too because I only have a sister. I am the youngest in my family and all my friends say I am very lucky. Certainly, my family and friends are all very nice to me.

How about you? You must be lucky too! You have a lovely family as well. I like all kinds of colors. Of the two colors that you mentioned, I like white because it is pure like some innocent people.

You asked me about where I would like to travel and I have thought about it. If I had the chance, I would love to travel around the world, like you. I would go and see all kinds of places. I have not seen the Great Wall, but I have seen it on the TV and in books. If there is chance, I hope you can come to the Great Wall and other places in China. As for languages, we only know Mandarin and English but not fluently. Honestly, I want to learn Korean because it sounds good. And the writing in Korean is interesting, too. But I wonder if I will ever have the chance. Do you like Chinese? If you do, I can teach you. But it is hard to teach you because of our distance.

How was your vacation? Did you have fun? Did you do any interesting things? Nothing interesting happened during my vacation. We took extra classes during our summer vacation, so I didn’t have time to go out and play. I stayed home for this vacation.

I should stop now, I will talk to you next time. I hope the best for you and please be a happy girl. This wonderful life belongs to us and let’s all work together for our future.

Remember, give yourself a smile every day.

Dahong



**We apologize, this must have been lost in translation.

YN 014 - Wang Mei

Dear Charlotte,

How are you? It has been a while since I last wrote to you. Are you doing well in the far West? Have you ever been to China? Probably not. My village is a great place. The main products here are apples and corn. In addition, there are a lot of beautiful travel spots. The black-necked cranes are our country’s animal and they live in our village. I love my hometown. Although you have probably never been here, if you do ever visit, I believe you will like it here, too.

I remember once during my summer holiday, my English teacher, my friends and I went mountaineering. We were especially happy and we all came back with joyous smiles. It was my happiest outing. I don’t usually go on outings, so that experience left me with the greatest memories. In the remaining time, I helped out my family by doing house chores and I would do other things that I like.

We have a lot of festivals here and I like New Year the most. Each year, we have a big meal with our family. The second day, we hang out with our friends. Most of all, the unity of my family makes me happy. My brother and I also get to be together. The thing we like to do the most is shopping.

We spend most of our time at school studying. There is not much time to play. In my school, one of the things that I like the most are the tall trees and when the winds wave the leaves. That makes me feel great! Speaking of school, I should mention about my learning objectives. During this year, I want to learn about communication. I hope I will be able to use language better to express my thoughts and ideas.

Lastly, I wish you the best every day.

Wang Mei

YN 016 - Hao Run

Dear Susan,

I am so glad to be able to write another letter to you. I am currently a Senior and will be graduating from high school. When I became a Senior, I realized that my life has changed and it is not the same as before. As I reminisce about my first two years, I remember that I had more time to finish my work and to study for my tests. I would even have some leisure time to allow myself to relax and relieve my stress. However, when I became a Senior, I realized that a life of a Senior can be hectic. Sometimes work piles up and I have lost the leisure time I had previously. I truthfully feel that a Senior experiences more challenging obstacles, but these obstacles are what allows us to get more and more out of our lives.

During our last holiday, I did not have a lot of time to rest because I spent most of my summer holiday at school. I used more of my time studying and I left a very small portion of my time to relax. As odd as it may seem, I actually had quite a fun time at school because I learned and experienced a lot. At times, I would only return home after a couple of weeks to help my parents with their farming or doing chores around the household. Our special product of agriculture is corn, potato and apples. Needless to say, we will welcome you as a guest at any time.

In this semester, I feel that my English has improved because in the past I would not do as well in English at school. However, I have seen a significant improvement. I have developed an interest in English class especially when my teacher gives us lectures.

On another note, a beautiful and breathtaking environment surrounds our school. I like to enjoy every minute outside when I am outside of a classroom. I also like to relax myself by playing badminton with my friends.

For the rest of the year, I will prepare for the “End of Term” exams (the college entrance exams.) I will make use of my time to fully prepare myself. I wish to do well on these exams and have set this goal for myself. As hard as the process may be, I will never give up and will keep studying until the end. Christmas is arriving soon, so I wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Yours Sincerely,

Hao Run

YN 018 - Zhiqi

Dear Iris, Laurel and Elise,

Let me tell you a little bit about my life. My hometown is really pretty. There is often sunshine in my village but sometimes we have continuous rain. There is a large meadow and flowers blossom on the slopes of the hills in the summer. It snows a lot in winter so we can make a snowman. We are able to see black-necked cranes every day. I still remember when we skied one winter.

I used to fly a kite near the lake in the spring time. I always enjoyed the beautiful landscape in our village during summer vacations. I used to catch bugs on the flowers… these are my memories of childhood.

I am no longer a child so during this summer vacation, I helped with housework most of the time. In my spare time, I like to play basketball or sit down alone in a corner quietly listening to music or reading novels. I like the chrysanthemums at my school. They give me a feeling of peace. I like that feeling.

This year, my biggest hope is that I can get a high score on the English and math exams. My English and math are not good enough, so I hope I can make some progress this year.

There are a lot of stories I can tell you, but they are all about petty things so I don’t want to tell you now. I would like to draw a picture of them when I have time. Please forgive me for not having time to draw a picture to share with you. Life is colorful. I hope I will have time one day to write a letter telling you all I want to tell.

I wish you happiness,

Zhiqi

YN 019 - Zang

Dear Ava and Allison,

How are you? I’m really happy to have received another letter from you. It’s been quite a while since I last wrote. I hope you’ve been well!

I’m so grateful to you for all the help and care you’ve given me. I know there are no words that can fully express the amount of gratitude I feel, so instead, I’m hoping that I can show you my thanks by getting good results in school. I’ll be graduating in a mere six months and I’m hoping that I can get good grades to show my appreciation to all the people who have cared for me and helped me.

During the summer, we had an extra month of classes so I didn’t have much free time. When I did have free time, I helped my mother with housework and work on the farm. Even though it was tiring, it was rewarding. My family grows potatoes, vegetables, corn, rice and other crops. We’ve had a good harvest for many of the past years.

Also, my sister was accepted into university! Even though it’s a second-tier school, it’s still so exciting that she got in. Our relatives came to congratulate my sister. This was my happiest memory of this summer because I’m so happy for her.

Ever since my sister was accepted into university, I’ve really looked up to her and I’m determined to become a university student just like her. My plan is to work extra hard this year in school in order to do that. Our school is also taking very good care of our grade in particular. We get to use the nicest classrooms and the best desks and chairs in the school - it’s really nice! I’ve heard that our school is planning to renovate and build a new building in the near future. I’m really looking forward to it and I hope that maybe you can come visit our school again sometime soon!

Once again, I hope you know how grateful I am for all the care and support you’ve given me, and I hope that someday you can be guests in my house.

From,

Zang

YN 020 - Kailei

Dear Emily,

I was very happy to receive your letter. I hope you are well. After entering my senior year in high school, I have been very busy. Our final exams (college entrance exams) are only six months away and I plan to use this time well to improve my studies.

During summer break, I mostly stayed at home helping my parents with household chores. I have one older sister, one younger brother and two younger sisters and getting to spend time with them is always lots of fun. I also love being with my friends and being able to share our thoughts with one another. Basketball and badminton are my other interests. Whenever I’m feeling down or bored, playing sports make me feel more cheerful.

Since I was little, other than working around the house for my parents, I’ve never had a job. I would really like a chance to experience life with a job. Nowadays, I can’t go home every day because it is too far away from my school so I spend most of my time at school only returning home once in a while. It is winter here and I hope every day that it will snow. I love snowy weather because it makes the whole village very beautiful.

Your pets are very cute and I like them very much. When they grow up they’ll be even cuter.

I hope your studies are going well.

Kailei

YN 021 - Shuanglan Liu

Dear XXX Family,

I am very happy to write this letter and share my life’s happiness with you. My summer holiday was greatly anticipated. The sunshine was wonderful and the light summer breeze always made it very comfortable. Every morning, the birds and the cicadas woke me up and I fixed breakfast for my family. After we finished eating, we would begin our work so we could have a great harvest in the fall.

My family always works together. For all we give, we get something back. After helping my parents with their work, I like to go to the forest to read books and listen to the birds chirp. In the forest, there is a floor full of flowers and butterflies everywhere. I also pick some wild fruits to eat. Sweet and sour; this is the taste of life and this life makes me feel so content. During my holidays, I always go to the forest. I take off my shoes and soak my feet in the water.

Before I know it, my holiday is done. I pack my things and go back to school. At school, I love the cherry blossoms, particularly in the spring when they are full in bloom. I like the fall even more. Even though it is cold and there is a slight air of sadness, I like this feeling. The trees are full of crisp brown leaves and when the wind blows, the leaves scatter. This is the weather in Yunnan. One day it can be sunny and bright, the next day it can be cloudy with light showers. This affects our mood as well. Perhaps this is because I am sentimental.

In this cold winter, it is even harder to study. However, in order for us to get into the college we want, we are all working very hard so we can finish our studies with no regrets. We will bring with us all the beautiful memories from our high school life when we leave. Of course, there is also you to whom I am extremely grateful. I do not know if I may continue to write you after I graduate?

Your country is definitely entering the snowy season and the extravagant decoration on the Christmas trees must be very splendorous. I really hope to see that kind of beauty someday. You have your Christmas trees and I have the old pine trees of my hometown. As you decorate your tree with beautiful lights, I see the powdery snow on the pine trees. As you have Santa Claus, I have the great mountains. Although the mountains bring no gifts, they are themselves a wonderful gift in providing such marvelous scenery.

Finally, I wish you a merry Christmas, a happy family and success with work!

Shuanglan Liu

YN 022 - Huamei

Dear Carolyn,

I am very happy to be writing to you. To begin with, I want to thank you for all the support and help you've given me by allowing me to finish my studies in school. Now, I'm in my third year of high school, so there is a lot of pressure to do well. Every day I must wake up at 6 to do morning exercises but I know that high school is supposed to be hard. I'm not afraid though, because I believe that with determination, I will succeed.

My home is quite far from school, so it takes about two hours to get home. Because of the work load, I am only able to go home once every three weeks. Whenever I go home, I first take off my school bag and have a good dinner with my family. Afterwards, I will wash my mother, father and grandmother's clothes. After dinner, I start to work. That's the schedule every time I go home. Anyway, let's not talk about school anymore!

My hometown is beautiful, because there's a lush forest and some very famous apples. The apples don’t have a nice appearance, but the taste is amazing. My school is also beautiful and this peaceful serene environment helps me to study. Even when I'm away from home, I do not feel alone at school.

I'll tell you about my school’s summer break. During that time, I was very happy because I had four weeks of vacation. When I am home, I help my father with his work on the farm. I also help my mom sell some food and from this, I am able to earn some money. Besides taking advantage of the time to rest, I spent a lot of time chatting with my grandmother. She's aged quite a bit and she's always ill. I think I will buy her some medicine in the city soon. These types of holidays are very exciting and fulfilling to me.

My father's eyesight is terrible and at times he will do things that are not to the best of his ability. This angers my mother and so she will scold and blame him. When this happens, I try to calm them. After all, my father's eyesight is not perfect. When I do this, I am able to bring the family together and live in harmony. I work hard for good grades and do my best to help out at home too. I'm thankful that my parents love me. While studying at such a faraway school, I still have dreams and goals. I am working hard towards my goal and one day I hope to succeed. I'll end here now, talk to you soon!

Huamei

YN 023 - Yan

Dear Ali and Julia,

How are you?

Time is like flowing water. Almost three years of my education have passed already. The hard days of preparing for the college entrance examinations will soon come to an end. I am so grateful I had you to help me. It was you who used the warmth of an honest heart to melt away the cold of the winter. It was you who used the most sincere of affection to move us. With your help, I can finally successfully complete my high school education.

My summer wasn’t all happy. During the holidays, I took extra classes so I had to prepare homework and review my lessons every day. However, my holidays in the past were spent working. In my working life, I also acquired a lot of life experience and common sense. I hope if there comes a day when I am working in a factory, I will also get more work experience and develop skills. I like my life in this rural area and I hope someday I can create a tool that will help save labor and time to make life easier here.

But, our life in school is quite colorful. Even though it is difficult, it is full of happiness. I have so many good friends and the school is full of the sounds of cheerfulness. Every weekend, my friends and I like to go hiking. We tour the riverside and enjoy the marvelous views. After all this relaxation, we feel that the schoolwork is not so stressful.

Out of all the classes, I like English the most. I am working very hard on it because I hope to do well so I can come to your beautiful country to vacation. My teachers and classmates say that your country is very beautiful and full of prosperity. On the other hand, I hope you can come to my hometown in China. In this small place in Yunnan, the scenery is wonderful and the apples are very tasty. We are prepared to have you come here any time.

I wish you happiness and good health!
Your beneficiary,

Yan

YN 024 - Xingyun Duan

Dear Lilly and Oliver:

Are you both well? Right now I am in the third year of high school. My college entrance exams will come soon. The pressure I feel is very large, but I believe I will succeed. I am the happiest when I am with my classmates. Every day they talk with me and make me laugh until I am very happy. This helps me succeed in my classes.

During this summer vacation, my teacher took us to climb a mountain. At the start of the climb everybody was very excited because teachers rarely take us out. As we climbed and climbed we suddenly felt that we could not go any more. Eventually, everyone helped each other climb to the top of the mountain. When we were on top of the mountain, we took pictures, ate snacks, drew pictures. Everyone was very happy. This was a time of great delight during our period of intense studying.

My home is in Yunnan. The climate here is really clear and the people are friendly. Here, the most important farming crops are apples and potatoes. Because potatoes are all grown on the mountain, we use a horse to carry them. This way it saves our hauling energy.

People harvest the apples because we need to be sure that the apples do not bump each other. If they get bruised, they are hard to sell. Furthermore, it is not easy to preserve them. During harvest season, we are very busy and tired but we are also happy.

Because I like to draw in school, I hope to study my teacher’s drawing methods and improve my drawing skills and my knowledge. On my exams, I want to get the most excellent results.

Finally, I hope that you all are happy every day and I thank you so much. Because of your help my life has added brilliance. Thank you!

I wish you a Merry Christmas!

Xingyun Duan

YN 025 - Dedan

Dear Parker and Cian,

Hello! How have you been lately? Christmas is coming up so I wish you all a merry Christmas.

We had a break for a couple of days so I went to work with my mom. During the holidays, there was one really memorable event that happened. My friend and I went to a lake and the water there was extremely pure and clear. We were having a lot of fun along the side of the lake but just when things seemed to be going perfectly, my friend fell into the lake! I didn’t know what to do then, but luckily there was a man passing by and he helped pull her out of the water. When she got out, she said to me, “Wow, I am so lucky!”

When I am free, I like to venture into the fields of a small nearby village because it has such a peaceful atmosphere. Despite the village being old and poor, it has amazing scenery. In these beautiful fields, you can hear birds chirping and singing their songs. There are many different kinds of crops and plants such as corn and onions. The field is like the mother of these crops and it nourishes all the plants that are grown on it as if they were her own children.

I am now only a few months away from my college entrance exams so I am preparing myself for a long journey. I wake up at 6:20 every morning and go to sleep at 12:30 every night. Every day, I review all the things I have learned over and over again just so I can do well in this exam. I believe that only those who push hard will do well because they are not afraid to try and overcome any obstacles in their way. Also, I think it is a privilege to be given the chance to fight for something like this.

Three years have passed in a blink of an eye but time will never wash away the deep friendship that exists between us. I would like to say thank you very much one more time and wish you peace and happiness.

Dedan

YN 026 - Jinfeng

Dear Iris, Laurel, and Elise

Hi! The new semester has begun. I have a new English teacher who is nice and generous. My favorite subject is history. I really have a lot of fun learning about my country’s past. At school I get along well with my classmates. After the new semester started, I met more friends. I share my interests and problems with them. They also try their best to help me. We learn, play and talk together. I am becoming more and more outgoing!

During my summer vacation, I continued to study. In addition to reviewing my lessons, I also did my best to help my parents and I really enjoyed hiking and reading during my vacation.

My home is in a remote countryside village surrounded by huge mountains. My home is right at the base of one of the mountains. There are endless green farms and beautiful scenery. My home is in a village where the people are friendly. I like to chat with them and listen to their stories of ancient myths.

My parents are farmers. Even though we raise animals, we mainly eat corn and potatoes. My parents work hard so that is why I did my best to help them during my vacation. I cannot go home frequently unless there is a vacation because my home is so far away from school. However, my school life is good, so I don’t feel sad being miles away from home. I am self-confident enough to turn myself into an independent person.

New school year, new challenge! I am not doing as well in math as I would like. I would like to use this year to build up my skills. Being at this school is important. My school offers not only a good atmosphere, but also humorous and experienced teachers and passionate and energetic classmates. Our class is just like a big family full of happiness. When I have free time, I usually play basketball or badminton with my friends. My teachers and classmates give me the faith to believe in myself.

Life at school is lovely and meaningful. I learn a lot here and make a lot of friends. With my teacher’s help and your help and care I am always ready for tomorrow.

I wish you good health and happiness!

Jinfeng

YN 028 - Chen Jiao

Dear Rosle Family:

Thank you for all your support. You are supporting me not only physically, but also spiritually. Yunnan is a beautiful place. Although I live in a small town, it is not lacking in charm. I really love it! If you can come here, you’ll like it, too! In addition, there are some famous scenic areas. Here we have a comfortable climate and many animals. There is kind of a sense of a tropical rain forest.

From my house to school is a little bit far, so I am a boarder. I only return home on weekends. At school, I love all the activities. I’m not a shy girl, so I really have fun with all of my classmates.

There are many differences between America and China, right? If I have an opportunity, I’ll go and see for myself. Ever since I was little, I’ve dreamed of being a traveler and traveling all over the world.

Although I am not rich, I can still to use my hands to help others. I hope there will be more and more kind-hearted people just like you who are willing to help others.

The air here is very fresh and natural beauty is everywhere. If you have the chance, I really hope you can come and have fun.

By the way, my favorite teacher is our English teacher. He is strict, but kind.

Best wishes,

Chen Jiao

YN 030 - Ling

Dear Olivia and Julia,

I haven’t written for a while. Everything here has been good recently, so let me tell you something about my hometown. I come from a place that is surrounded by mountains. There is a river in front of my house, too. The environment is very good and all of the people around me are friendly. There are flowers everywhere. It feels very relaxing to be there amidst the trees. In autumn some nice plants show their beauty, it becomes colorful all around. It seems like every corner is talking aloud in this natural landscape and there are many animals too! You are welcome to come visit some day.

The only problem for me is that my hometown is too far and I can’t go home that often. I can only go home once or twice a year. When I see all the students going home to their families on Saturday, I feel really homesick. The school becomes a really lonely place, as only about a dozen of us stay on the weekends. I am really happy that this semester will soon be over, so I can go home and stay with my parents for a while!

Here is a little poem for you:
So near and yet so far
A silky rain is falling down
As the flowers wither
Nobody around me
Only a starling in the sky

The wind is blowing softly
While leaves fall down, back to their roots
The autumn wind is merciless
As our worries become spirits

The cuckoo lets out his cry
Turns his head gazing far
At the lotus that sounds like a harp
The lonely cries of the spirits
The snow fell down and the dust can’t move

It doesn’t matter
On whose strong shoulder we lean
In my dreams I kissed the sleeping beauty
So near and yet so far

I’ll write back again, goodbye!

I wish you all the best and a healthy life!

Merry Christmas!

Ling

YN 031 - Li

Dear Gimre Family,

Hello! First, I want to thank you for caring for me and helping me. I am a second year student in high school now. The biggest pressure I face now is that my grades are not ideal. Sometimes, I feel frustrated and empty in my heart. When I am having these feelings I always think of you and the situation gets better.

I’m doing well in my school now. I joined the student association and the literature club of my school. They occupy most of my free time. Even though I am so busy, I’ll continue to be active in these clubs.

As for my schoolwork, my politics class is my favorite because I can learn about the law, economics and about philosophy. I like these things very much. The most difficult for me is math. It’s really hard for me. Do you have a good way to learn math?

Our school holds basketball games for the school teachers. I am the scorekeeper. I can work and watch the ball game at the same time. If you can come to our school to have fun, it would be great!

There are mountains surrounding of our school and there are pine trees in the mountains. There is also a highway nearby our school. Every day when we go to school, we must ride on the highway. I spend two hours riding my bike to school. It would only take one hour if I go to school by car. Beside the highway is a wheat field. It is bright green when it is springtime. It becomes gold when it is autumn… it is awesome!

We live on the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau. The altitude is very high and the temperature difference between day and night is large. Hence, we produce apples abundantly. Supposedly, apples here are the sweetest and the best. If you can come to China someday, you have to come to my hometown. I will give you the sweetest apples to eat and lead you up the mountain to pick fresh mushrooms.

I am an optimistic and generous girl. I have many acquaintances in my school. I also have some best friends. All of them have strength and special qualities.

By the way, Gimre family, are you okay? Is everything going smoothly? I hope you can live happily every day!

Li

YN 032 - Yongcui

Dear Shannon, Alan, and Mirlan:

Hello! It has been a long time since I wrote you a letter. I miss you so much! I am so glad to get your mail. The picture you attached was wonderful. I love it so much. Your child is very cute. I hope that he will grow up happily and be a good boy.

I have a good relationship with my friends. We talk about everything and help each other with our schoolwork. I really have a good time with them but I still have stress. I feel sad when I think, “What if I disappoint these kind people who care about me?” My sister told me, “The more you think of this, the more you should work hard.” I believe this is what I should do now.

I used to want to become a doctor, but now I have changed my mind. Even though I still have no idea what job I should do, the most important thing for me is to enter a university. To reach this goal I will carry on, no matter what happens.

I’m very appreciative that you are continuing to support me as I go into spring semester. I really feel your love and encouragement. I know that you are also busy with work. Please take care of yourselves. Thank you for your support. I will use my time well and I won’t stay up too late. If I do that, I feel like I will have the best chance to succeed. Please keep in touch with me.

Sincerely,

Yongcui

YN 033 - Dongmei

Dear Soleil,

It’s nice to write to you again! First, I want to express my appreciation to you for helping me. Truly speaking, I’m really very grateful for it. I had a nice time during the summer helping my parents do housework and doing homework to enrich my education. I felt glad while doing both of them.

I have an ordinary hometown. I especially love the vegetables and fruits in my hometown. However, my home is far from the school. It is about one hour away by car so I seldom go home. Anyway, I love my school, my classmates and teachers. The atmosphere at my school is both nice and friendly. My classmates and teachers help me get along.

On the path of my life, I wish to improve slowly and steadily. What I expect for this year is to study as much as I can, be a good student and do my best to get along with others. It goes without saying that I will work hard in every subject, especially English, the one I love best. I regard English as an important language and that may be the reason why I have an interest in it. I hope that I can be fluent in English or even master it in the future.

What I really love to do in school is to discuss issues with my classmates. Solving problems gives me a sense of achievement and pride. I really like my conscientious and humorous teachers.

Oh! I forgot to tell you, my grades have been improving during this semester. What’s more, I even feel happiness while I study. I understand that nothing is impossible if a teenager puts her mind to it. As a Chinese saying goes, “The more bitter the struggle you face, the better person you will be.” I deeply believe that the future is in my control, so I need to be hardworking in order to avoid any regrets later on.

During this semester, I met a new friend. She is a girl that is humble and friendly. We have a good friendship. We even help each other solve academic problems. I really like her, not only because of her beauty but also because of her personality. I’m wondering, would you like to be friends with her?

Finally, I wish you will be happy every day, have a healthy body and enter the school that you want.

Dongmei

YN 034 - Tai Zhou

Dear XXX Family,

Hello! I am the student you are helping in Yunnan. My name is Tai Zhou. My home is in a small city in northeast Yunnan. I really thank you for helping me. I am in my second year of high school now and will be graduating next year.

Last year, when the high school entrance exam results were sent to me, I was extremely excited. At that time, my mood was really golden. My neighbor told me that this high school is very hard. It made me shiver, but I wasn’t afraid. I just decided to focus on my heart’s goal.

I was excited to go to this school, but when I thought about taking my parents’ hard earned money, it really affected me. I was really very heartbroken. I needed to overcome this difficulty. I knew I must somehow use my achievements to pay back my parents.

When I learned of this scholarship program, I was quite relieved because a large burden had been taken off of my parents’ shoulders. But now, it increases your burden. My heart thanks you. With your help with tuition, I have self-confidence and a new life to look forward to.

From now on, I want to work hard toward my goals. In the future, I want to pay back my parents and pay back all the people that helped me. When I have the ability, I would also like to give someone a helping hand like you have given me. I want to give warm sunshine to those people that I help.

Thanks to you all!

I wish you good fortune, beauty and happiness every day.

Tai Zhou

YN 035 - Ze Jian

Dear Oyster River High School Students,

How are you? I'm honored to be able to write to you. Since there hasn't been anything new happening in my high school life, having the chance to write this letter to you has helped me cheer up. Thank you for taking good care of me. I was surprised that you are high school students like me.

I'm just a girl with a poor family, but school has made me aware of many new things. Before, I could only see my life in my small village. There, I would never be lonely or sad. But in this new life, this school has shown me news paths that I can follow.

My hometown is located among the hills of Yunnan. Even though summers are hot, in my village, there is always a cool breeze. I like to listen to the birds sing at dawn and to the nice sound of the rain. It is a wonderful place to be. It might be not as beautiful as a fairyland, but it is not as bustling as a town either. That is why people can still enjoy the peacefulness.

At school, I like the extracurricular activities the most. They are very good for lightening the weight of our responsibilities and taking the worries out of our minds. Studying is really important, but physical activities are not to be undervalued. We need to study but we also need to enrich our souls. Sometimes this is easier said than done.

My highest hope now is to be able to enter university, not as a goal per se but as a means to enrich my knowledge. This achievement would cast light on all of the pathways I could choose to walk in the future. Finding happiness in studying and keeping your dreams high are also very important factors to success.

How about you, can you tell me about your study environment? Take care of yourselves and be careful during the hot days: find yourself a nice and cool shelter. As for the colder days, try to wear warmer clothes. Please write back to me. I want to hear from you, no matter how long it takes for your letter to get here. This way I will be able to share your joy and happiness. Could you send some pictures of you too?

Wish you a merry and happy life, enjoy your time studying!

Ze Jian

YN 036 - Zhou Zeling

Dear Elyse and Luran,

Hello!

I hope you both have had good health and hope that everything has turned out as you wish. In the blink of an eye, I am in senior two now. My senior two life is very busy. During this past summer, my elder sister and I did housework at home. Although it was tiring, we were very happy. I played with my sister and we talked together. Time flew by and soon it was time to return to school.

I live at my school because it is very far from my home. I go home once each semester. After Saturday’s classes are done, I always feel lonely. When I see my classmates go to their homes, I can’t help but miss my own home. Maybe it is because of the stress from my studies. Anyway, I am better now.

In my school, I love the summer mornings the most. I love to watch the sun rise. It makes me feel warm. When the sun shines, the school is covered in golden light. It seems like I am in heaven. I don’t have the words to describe how it makes me feel. I like to play basketball, table tennis and badminton in school. I always play these sports to help me relax.

I should also tell you about my home! My hometown is a beautiful place. There, I find my favorite sky and mountains. The most beautiful thing is the mountains. There is a special mountain. I don’t know how it got its name. However, it is very tall and grand and magnificent. The mountain breaks through the sky. Looking down from the mountain amazes me. It is very beautiful. If you can come, I would welcome you to my hometown. You must come and see how beautiful the mountain is!

Previously, my dream was to become a teacher. However, when I see the pain of so many sick people it makes a deep impression on my heart. As a result, now I want to become a doctor to do my best to give them at least a little strength. I must study harder to achieve my dream as quickly as possible.

The weather is colder now and I must wear more clothing.

Finally, I wish you that you have happiness every day.

Zhou Zeling

YN 037 - Meng Huifang

Dear Katie,

I’m glad to have a chance to write you a letter. During these holidays, you are surely having a good life! Are you having a nice winter vacation?

My life is varied and colorful. My life at school is especially meaningful. In order to enrich our after-school time, the school held a gymnastics competition, basketball competition, debate competition, etc. These activities help us all to relax in the midst of our hard study time.

My home is not far from the school. On the weekends, I like to chat with my parents and help them do some housework. There is a pond in front of my home. During the summer, the fish swim freely in the clear water. There are different kinds of flowers around the pond. During my free time, I love to sit by the pond and quietly watch the fields. In the fall, the fields turn yellow. The crops are then gathered through the efforts of the farmers.

I love my hometown. Not only does it have beautiful scenery, but it is also filled with hard-working people. My mother often told me, “If you don’t plant a seed then you can’t reap a harvest.” As a result, I study hard. I know that my future is in my hands and I don’t want to disappoint my parents who have supported me for so many years.

Considering all of the subjects, I like language the most. Language gives me a lot of happiness. When I feel bad, I like to read some nice articles. During my free time, I like to read poems. I am happy that I have a genuine friend. We have the same interests. I believe that our friendship will be eternal, just like the stars in the sky. His home is near to school, so during the weekend I often invite him to come to my home. It takes him only half an hour to get to my home by car. We plant flowers in my garden. We both like flowers, especially orchids. While we are at school I like to invite my friend to take walks with me beside a pond surrounded by lotus.

The pressure to study is absolutely huge. Sometimes I feel exhausted, but I will never give up on my dreams. I have a teacher who is very responsible. I really respect him. He wakes up early to guide us in morning exercises. He says that “To live well you need physical activity.”

Winter here is especially cold. We still wake up early in the morning to exercise, but sometimes my roommates and I argue about getting up. Last year, our class had a field trip during the springtime. We went to the top of a mountain and sang. The sound of our singing will remain there forever.
I hope to get better grades this semester in order to fulfill my dream of going to college. I hope that you will get better grades, that you may become even more beautiful, that your wishes may come true and that your family is always happy.

Merry Christmas!

Meng Huifang

YN 038 - Long Mei

Dear Ellen,

Hello! I was overjoyed to receive your mail! How are you now? I think of you so much. I hope that someday I can travel to the USA to see you.

Now, I like to daydream a lot. If I had a farm, I would live there and call it “The House of Happiness.” From the house, I could see lots of meadows. In my home there would be animals and a pavilion. Beside it, there would be lots of flowers and grass as well as a clean stream with some little fish. This is what I dream for, my happy house.

During the past summer, I was full of joy every day. Because the weather was hot, I stayed in my home during the day listening to music. One time I went to the zoo with my friends. The most joyful night was the torchlight festival on June 24th. On that night, everyone took a torch, gathered and danced together. Everyone talked together for a long time. When it was time to leave, we used the remaining fire to heat water for washing our faces. This is the Chinese torchlight festival tradition and that night was my happiest night.

The short summer passed by quickly and a new semester began. I wanted to excel in my studies, review all the things I forgot over the summer, put away all my worries and have a fresh start.

At first, when I began at this school I complained, but now I enjoy studying here. My home is near the school so I can ride my bike to school. During the summer, I enjoyed the scenery by the river. During fall, I saw lots of crops. Every time I go home, I am happy. When I reach home, my mother is usually done making dinner. This gives me happiness and also motivation to study. In school, my favorite subject is English, but I really dislike math. I feel it is very hard and not interesting. My favorite teacher is my English teacher. He is funny. Even though he gets frustrated with us sometimes, we still like him for our teacher.

Since two weeks ago, it has been wintertime. The weather was terrible and the roads were covered with snow. Outside our school, there was some kind of accident. Now many places have people who have the H1N1 virus, including some of our classmates. The cold was serious but nobody gave up. Instead, we became more hard-working. Now the weather is getting a little warmer. During the weekend, I play basketball or badminton or soccer. I love soccer the best because it helps me relax.

Now, we are preparing for a Christmas party. There will be a lot of shows, including Chinese comic dialogues, dramas and games. Everyone will participate in it. I believe it will be a successful party.
I think that if I have the opportunity, I would like to go to the USA to learn more, especially about medicine. I’d like to be able to help more people. I don’t want to see people who have no money give up treatment. So, my dream is to be a doctor.

Finally, thank you for your encouragement and help. I will study hard and won’t let you down!

I wish you a Merry Christmas!

Long Mei

YN 039 - Wen Ju

Dear Kelley and Katie,

How do you do? I am Wen Ju, the student you sponsored. I am glad that I can write to you. I am a girl who lives in a village in Yunnan. I grew up in this village. I love my hometown. Although it is ordinary, it has the beauty of a nice village. As the different seasons change, people wear different clothes in my hometown.

Every summer vacation is varied. There is happiness, but there is sadness, too. My vacation was hard, but I was happy because I worked with my parents and we went home together. No matter how tiring it was, I didn’t grumble. I felt joy because I have the care and support of my parents. Since I was little, I have learned many things in my village. There are many benefits. Some people say that country girls are rustic, but I think that country girls are cute and brave.

The beauty of my hometown not only lies in the fruit, but also in the sweat of the farmer. Walking in the wide fields you can hear the singing of the birds and laughter of the children. How wonderful it is! The local products are pears, apples, and peanuts, etc.

I am studying in school now. I know my lessons well. My home isn’t far from the school. It takes about 30 minutes to walk to school. Although it is tiring, I am very happy because I can strengthen my body and enjoy the pleasures of school. I hope you can do this, too.

There is a big farm in my village. The farm was built a few years ago and it increased the standard of living in our village. I will work hard and contribute to my hometown and make it rich and colorful.

There are some unforgettable things that happen every year. This year, I hope I can have a good life, learn how to interact with different people and look upon everything with an optimistic view. Learning is important, but life must be sufficient as well.

Originally, I hated everything about school. As time goes by, I gradually began to like it more and more. I really like the style of this school and the kindness of the students. But the thing I like most is painting. Painting has been my dream since I was little.

Right now, the most important thing in my life is learning. I like physics and chemistry. They make my thinking more open. I like the responsible teacher as well. I really admire him. A good teacher is like a light that leads me forward.

I have made many good friends this year. They make my life full of happiness. But, I was hurt one time. It wasn’t sad, it was like an alert. It made me understand what is good and bad. As I keep growing, my thoughts change a lot.

I hope you can tell me about your hometown and keep in touch.

Thank you!
Wen Ju

YN 040 - Yan Hong

Dear Gould Academy Students:

Hello! How are you doing? Since I learned that you sponsored me this year, I have been thinking about you a lot from far away. Time has passed so quickly, another semester is about to end and it seems like it just started. Although the road is not easy and indeed it can be very rough, still, I will never give up on my education.

The cool wind of winter has started. Every time when summer starts, the whole village seems so alive and even more wonderful. I love summer and I also love my village, where we have so many special times. In the summer each year, we celebrate a special festival, the Dragon Boat Festival (端午节). It is as big as our Spring Festival (春节) celebration. During the festivals, the village is so crowded and lively. The traditional customs are interesting. The people worship God and direct their hearts to rely on God that their next year will have good luck. The people around town say, “The bigger the celebration this year, the better harvest we’ll get next year.”

Every time I need to go to school, I walk along the roads between the fields for about two hours. I live in the dormitory at the school but I am able to return home every weekend. When I am at home I help out by doing chores or farming in our field. I love my parents. I think they are the greatest people. Their love for their child cannot be described with words.

I also enjoy my life at school. I like to participate in activities such as playing badminton, ping-pong, jumping rope, etc. When I feel down, I always chat with my friends. That is how I relax the most. I love History the best. It gives me pride to learn about the old great Chinese culture. But, the teacher I like the best is my Politics teacher. He is funny, kind, and also optimistic. Finally, I really want a good ending for this semester as a gift for my parents.

In order to achieve my dream of going to college, I will work harder. Although I have very little material things, I will keep on moving forward and will never give up. My life is a lot better now and this gives me confidence.

“You must scatter the seed to reap the harvest.” Therefore, I’ll work harder to get a wonderful life. Last, I wish you all good health and that everything goes as you have planned.

Yan Hong

YN 041 - Qian

Dear Hannah and Olivia:

Thank you for your letter. I’m very happy that you wrote to me. I am very touched. I have seen your photos and you seem like two beautiful and energetic girls. Your pictures remind me of my own childhood. I was so pure at that time.

The things that give me strength and keep me studying so hard are the unconditional love of my parents and the encouragement and expectations of my friends and relatives. I think that I am very lucky because I know there are many people in this world who care about me. So, I’m not only working hard for myself but also for my family and for society! Actually, when I first began to attend high school, I was curious about everything. I also thought that high school was a bit difficult. Now I have fallen in love with my new teachers, my new classes and my classmates here.

If I wasn’t able to receive a full education and wasn’t able to finish high school, I think I would have been very depressed. This is because I love life. I love to learn. I don’t want to be “blind” in this new era. Just like you said in your letter to me, I am China’s future, so I will dedicate my actions and efforts to my country and society!

As for my scholarship, I think that if I didn’t work so hard for it, then I would feel guilty to receive it. But I did work hard for it, so maybe I deserve it. When I learned that I received the scholarship, I was very happy. Thank you for your love and support. Thank you for your encouragement. I sincerely give you my thanks. I think that education defines a person and a country’s destiny. Higher education can raise a person’s morale. Without education, a person is incomplete.

Since I was little, I have dreamed of attending college and of becoming a scientist. If I can graduate, then I would help my parents earn money, help my little brother and little sister achieve their dreams and raise the level of science and culture in my county. If I earn a lot of money, I will help people in need.

I want to tell you, “Thank you! I love you!” I wish you health and happiness.

Qian

YN 042 - Ji Mei

Dear Drees Family

How have you been lately? I think you must be very busy! I am very thankful for your concern and support. I hope that I can learn more about your family. Can you tell me some stories about yourselves? I’m very glad to share with you some information about me.

Do you want to know how I was able to test into this high school? Let me tell you about it! When I was still a middle school student, I really wanted to study in high school so I could get more education. The only conviction in my heart was to test into this high school. No matter how difficult it would be to be accepted, I would never give up. Because of this faith, I was always hard working. I believed that one day success would be mine.

When I received the notice about my test, I was so excited that I couldn’t speak. I knew that on the road of life I had taken a big step. As I thought about high school, I was filled with yearning. Since that day, I have worked even harder because I now I am filled with confidence.

When I learned about the Moving Mountains’ scholarship, I felt so full of blessings. Now, I am resolved in my conviction that I will definitely test into university. Again, I am full of yearning. Because I have so many people who have concern for me, I will not lot them lose their hope. I look forward to seeing how my studies will change my life’s path and my parents’ lives. I hope their lives will be more abundant.

My dream is to test into university. I will strive to get a lot of money to help even more children who need help. After I graduate from the university, I have another dream. I want to meet you face to face and tell you, “Thank you.” Afterwards, I want to travel to many places around the world. But, my utmost goal is to work my hardest to help those people whose lives are the most difficult. I want to plant the love you have given me and pass it on. I want to accompany more people in this activity. This will make the world brim with love and harmony.

Finally, I wish the Drees family a Merry Christmas and hope that your work goes well. I wish that you have happiness every day and that you don’t have any worries.

Yours,

Ji Mei

YN 043 - Mao Li

Dear Reilly Family,

Thank you for your help! Although we do not know each other yet, I am grateful for your financial assistance for my school studies. Because of the kindness of your hearts, I can study in school comfortably and my family can worry less about the charges for my tuition.

In the past, I didn’t like to study and my grades were poor. During that time, I even got into trouble and my parents worried about me. Sometimes my mother couldn’t help but cry for me. As time went by, I gradually understood that my parents made many sacrifices for me. They worried about my future and were afraid that I would waste my life. As a result, when I was in the sixth grade, I began to study hard. When I played, I would keep in mind that my parents were working hard in the fields. When I would almost fall asleep in class, I would work to have energy again quickly. I was able to enter middle school smoothly and I continued to keep this frame of mind.

After three years of middle school, I entered this high school. When I first began here, I was not accustomed to the workload. I studied every day, but it seemed that my hard work made no improvement and my grades were not great. Now, I have gradually become used to it and now I feel that high school is not as hard for me.

One thing that touches me deeply is that not everyone can receive an education. Everyone should have access to education, because knowledge can change one’s destiny. Knowledge will help me achieve my dreams and bring about a beautiful tomorrow.

I don’t want to allow anyone to suffer harm so, when I grow up, I want to become a policewoman. I will protect my country and everyone around me. When I have the ability to help others, I will try my best to help the people who need my help, just like you have done. I would like to be a philanthropic person and dedicate myself to helping others.

I will work even harder on my studies than before. Thank you again for your help. I wish you good health and wish that you may have all of your wishes come true!

Mao Li

YN 044 - Xing Lin

Dear Lili,

Hello! I really appreciate your help! It allows me to make it through all of my difficulties and continue my education. For us, education is very important. When I was young, I had a dream. My dream was to leave my poor village with my parents and move into a big, bustling city. In order to go to a better high school and to make my dream come true, I tried really hard during my junior high school years. The results turned out just the way I hoped. I got into the school I always wanted to be in! That made me feel really excited. It is very significant for a child who lives in the mountains to attend such a great school.

Now, I am already a senior one student and I have another big dream. Take a wild guess. Do you know what it is? Well, I think you can keep a secret. This big dream of mine is to go to college and become a teacher in the future. I have always wanted to do this job. After I graduate, with my education, I can lead the people in my hometown so they can walk out of illiteracy and poverty.

You really have no idea how deeply grateful my family and I were when we received the news that you would help me continue my education! It made us all cry… really! We don’t know how we can ever thank you!

Although we have never seen each other, I know that you must be a very kind and lovely girl. Finally, I give my best blessings to you and your family and wish you happiness every day, good studies and a joyful family!

Best wishes and lots of love,

Xing Lin

YN 045 - Wan Mei

Dear Nina,

Thank you for writing me a letter. I was happy to receive it.

I want to tell you that when I was little, my family was poor. As a result, I didn’t begin going to school until I was eight years old. When I was in middle school, I could think of nothing but going to high school. As time went by, I learned more and more and I felt the real pleasure of learning. I was extremely happy when I was accepted into this high school. I could feel the joy of my dreams coming true.

But, in the middle of my happiness, there was some concern. I worried about the tuition charges. I wondered if after high school I could pay back a loan. Your help allows me to not worry, to have no anxiety – to beam with joy and smiles. I want to really tell you “Thank you.” Because of your help, I’ve decided to try to go to college. No matter if I have success or failure, I am willing to take a chance. Even if one day I have failure, still I will not feel bad because I know that I had your encouragement and I will feel content. It will take a lot of work, but I still hope that will succeed. If there is a day in the future that I can complete my education, then I can grant my hard working father some rest and I can use both of my hands to help more people.

My dream is very simple. I want to go to a good university so I don’t disappoint my father and waste the nurturing he has given me. If I have the opportunity, I would like to try my best to transform my hometown and make it a place where people want to stay, a united, peaceful and affluent town that people don’t want to move from once they have lived there.

Thank you Nina.

Wan Mei

YN 046 - Da Qiao

Dear Careen,

Thank you for giving me help and caring for me. Because my family did not have enough money to support me they felt immense pressure to make ends meet. To try to get me into school, they put all their efforts into earning money even when it was painful and exhausting. Our life in the farming village has been poor. Your help is like offering us fuel in snowy weather. It makes me hopeful for the future. When I was young, I enjoyed learning new things. Because my family isn’t rich, I worked hard in school and my future was full of hope.

When I was in middle school, I looked at a college student from my hometown and thought about the education my parents had. I decided that I should study hard to fulfill my dream of going to college. In return for the pain and pressure my parents were suffering, I gave them my good grades hoping that they can eventually have a better life in the future. When I experienced problems with my studies, I would think of my family and what they have sacrificed for me. That is the power that keeps me going.

When I received notification of my entrance to this high school I was delighted, but also sad. If I were to continue studying in high school my parents would have to work even harder and they would have even more weight on their shoulders. When I thought about not being able to continue studying, I didn’t know what to do. I was convinced that learning would be my life’s companion. If I lost the opportunity to learn, what would I do? I was unsure of what to do.

After I received the scholarship from you, I became full of hope again. For me, this scholarship plays an important role in my life and fills my future with hope. My goal is to finish high school and enter an ideal university. Afterwards, I hope that I can contribute to my community and dedicate myself to helping there. Also, I hope that after graduating I can find a suitable job so that my parents will be happy and be proud of me. I also hope I can be like you – helping people who need help.

Here, I would like to present you with my heartfelt thankfulness again. With my whole heart, I wish you blessings of happiness and peace.

Sincerely,

Da Qiao

YN 047 - Yong Chun

Dear XXX Family,

First of all, I want to thank you very much for your support and help. Your assistance helps reduce my family’s burden.

When I was in junior high school (junior 1 and junior 2), my scores weren’t good. When I reached junior 3, I realized that if I didn’t study hard my life would be spoiled. Then all I would be able to do is live like my parents and become a farmer. Therefore, I decided to strive in my studies. That is why I went to the school that is far from my home. I studied hard in order to be admitted into this high school. After I finish university, I hope to find a job with a stable income so I can let my parents have an easy and relaxed life.

When I was admitted into high school, I was so excited. I knew that I did not disappoint my parents and teachers. Before I studied in high school, I looked forward to high school life. However, when I really began to study here, I discovered that high school is very different from junior high school. High school has more subjects and I didn’t know anyone here. It was hard to understand what the teachers said in class. It made me feel disoriented and I didn’t know what to do or how to do it. I think that was the main reason why I didn’t have a good grade on my first test. However, it is better now. I have become accustomed to the new environment here and my relationships with my classmates are better now, too! This has given me more confidence to catch up.

I never thought about what would happen if I couldn’t go to school. My parents always told me that if I was accepted to this school, then I could go no matter how much money they would need to earn. They said that they would work hard to enable me to study. What they told me really encouraged me. If I faced a difficult situation, I still completed my schoolwork. But when I received the tuition notice, I knew that the financial burden would be too hard on my parents.

I had no idea that I could receive a scholarship. I had never heard about it before. My teacher told us that there is an organization that helps people who need help in Yunnan and other areas. When I heard that, I knew that the love in this world never stopped. Some things are hard to put into words. This financial help has made a big effect on my future. I know that in the world, there are still many poor people who need to help. After I grow up, I hope that I can do what you are doing – passing on the love and selflessly helping others.

For me, poverty means nothing. True wealth is in the heart. Because of my poverty I know how to cherish the right things and I know that money has no power. There are some things that can’t be bought. There are many famous people who have poor childhoods, aren’t there?

My dream is to become a doctor. Being a doctor would not only help people, but it would also help me take care of my family. But, my dream may change in the future. Even if it changes, I will still work hard. I hope that after I graduate, I will have the ability to help my hometown and make it better. I can help it look more beautiful and I can allow my family to have a happy life!

Finally, I wish you happiness and joy every day,

Yong Chun