For Stefanie Lietke from Germany, China is new. Here she has a new school, new friends, a new name and even a new mum.

The 15-year-old came to Beijing two months ago. She is going to stay here for a year.

Stefanie always liked China. Before she came, she had learned some Chinese. But she wants to visit China to know more. So she asked YFU-Greater China for help. It is the largest educational exchange organization in China. Now she is studying and living with a Beijing family.

Stefanie is happy in her new family. Her Chinese parents gave her a Chinese name — Qianqian.

From her parents, she is learning how to live the Chinese way. She has tried her hand at some Chinese food.

And last week, she learned to make little bracelets. "Friends back home will like them," she said happily.

Stefanie missed her friends in Germany. Now she's happy because she has made new friends at her school — Beijing Middle School No 80.

Like Stefanie, there are about 30 foreign students living with Chinese families in Beijing. They all came through YFU-Greater China.

New problems

Anne Sophie comes from Switzerland. She has a Chinese sister the same age as her. They both go to the Beijing Middle School for Hui Minority.

Anne travels a lot around Beijing. Last Sunday, her family took her to the Great Wall. That made her very excited.

But there's one problem — she doesn't like her school.

"School hours are too long. On the first school day, I sat on the hard chair and my bum hurts," she said.

As a 16-year-old, Anne wants more space for herself. Back home, she is free in the afternoon or the evening. But here in China, she can't go out after school. "I'm never by myself."

(21stcentury September 30, 2004)