One Saturday morning in September I {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (go) to a local music festival. I left it early{#blank#}2{#/blank#} I had an appointment later that day. My friends walked me to the bus stop and waited with {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (I) until the bus arrived. I got on the bus and found a seat near the back, and then I noticed a man {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (sit) at the front. He pretended that a tiger toy was real and giving it a voice. He must be {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (mental) disabled.

    Behind him {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (be) other people to whom he was trying to talk, but after some {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (minute) he walked away and sat near me, looking annoyed. I didn't want 3{#blank#}8{#/blank#} (laugh) at for talking to him but I didn't like leaving him on his own either. After a while I rose from my seat and walked to the front of the bus. I sat next {#blank#}9{#/blank#} the man and introduced myself. We had {#blank#}10{#/blank#} amazing conversation. He got off the bus before me and I felt very happy the rest of the way home.

    I'm glad I made the choice. It made both of us feel good.

    My time in China was a(an){#blank#}1{#/blank#} (forget) experience. Every day was a new adventure. I made life-long friends and had many{#blank#}2{#/blank#}(last) memories. My study abroad program organized trips for us to learn about each city and to visit cultural {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (sight). While I was in Beijing, I climbed the Great Wall of China, and visited Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and the Bird's Nest Olympic stadium. I also had the opportunity of {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (stick) in a Beijing thunderstorm, bargaining in the market, and riding the high-speed train. While I was in Tianjin, I{#blank#}5{#/blank#}(study) at Nankai University. I was taking the Chinese language and culture courses{#blank#}6{#/blank#} I enjoyed most is that whatever I learned in class, I would use it outside to communicate with people. Having the opportunity {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (speak) Mandarin every day really improved my learning. In the afternoon I would have culture classes{#blank#}8{#/blank#} I would learn about Chinese calligraphy, Beijing opera, Chinese martial arts, Chinese cooking and many other subjects. The mix of learning about the language and culture made each day of class {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (enjoyable') exciting.

    I believe that the key {#blank#}10{#/blank#}studying abroad successfully is the attitude you carry. Going to China, I was open-minded and had a very positive attitude.