Ni hao! That's how we say "hello" in Chinese. I'm Michaela, and I will be sharing my journey to China with you over the next few weeks. Did you know Ms. Flanders is my mom? That's right— I grew up not too far from Biddeford.
Although I lived in a small Maine town when I was your age, I already had a connection to China. I was born there, in a small town called Xinyi. There are lots of farms all around the area. My mom adopted me when I was one year old, and I grew up with a love for Chinese culture. When I got the chance to study Chinese, I was so excited!
I had never learned Chinese before, so the classes were really hard. I studied online with other students from around the world, through a program at Peking University. This is a very famous university. Fun fact: centuries ago, the officials who worked for the Emperor studied at Peking University! During my time studying Chinese, I learned how to say basic questions and facts about myself, as well as how to pronounce everything. I also began to learn how to read and write using Chinese characters. You may have seen this kind of writing on posters or at restaurants.
