你好，好久不见！（Nihao, hao jiu bu jian!)

So much has happened this month, which has made it seem like time is going twice as fast. I have immersed myself in student life, studying as often as my busy schedule will allow to keep up with my four classes: intensive reading, extensive reading, listening and conversation. Along with attending clubs and elective classes to broaden my university experience. For example, every Tuesday and Friday I go to Taekwondo (跆拳道). Now me and my friends all have our uniforms.

Another fun hobby is cycling. At night I often go cycling with my Chinese friends and explore my new home city.

On Monday 23rd October, I met my former headteacher along with two other teachers and pupils from my old high school in Scotland, Queen Anne High School. We made dumplings and chatted for hours. They brought me some gifts from home as well as a special bag my family had made up to give to me!

However, my favourite experience this month was when myself and nine other Scottish scholars travelled to Jinan 济南 (the capital of Shandong, southwest China). We stayed in a luxurious 4 star hotel for 3 nights and spent 4 days exploring the city. We went shopping, to restaurants, street markets and visited touristy areas.

This was at a place called Baotu Springs (趵突泉- baotuquan)

This was on a boat ride at Daoming Lake (大明湖-daminghu)

This was at my favourite place of the trip, it's called the Thousand Buddha Mountain (千佛山- qianfoshan)

We spent a full day at this place as there was so much to do! We even went on the dodgems and went down a slide through all the trees and mountain. 

I am having the best time of my life, every day is different. Why don't you share yours with me? Halloween is coming up, what do you think I should dress up as?

Hope to hear from you soon,

可丹, Kirsty!