In February, we travelled to America for a magic visit. We, ten students and two teachers began our American trip when we landed on Pittsburgh after 16 hours. Pittsburgh was the first city we would visit. It was 10 o’clock at night and it was snowing and freezing cold. Janice (the superintendent assistant of Allegheny Valley District —a kind lady) and Nick (the energetic history teacher) picked us up at the airport and they had already waited for us almost two hours. After we knew each other, we were picked up by our own host family. My host is an English teacher, so we had a lot to talk about, language learning and teaching. She had her own house clean, beautiful and comfortable, with a big swimming pool behind the house. She prepared a bag of gifts for me, a book on Pittsburgh history, a yellow towel (the famous yellow terrible towel) and a bar of chocolate.
　On the first day of the schedule, we attended seven periods of lessons and shadowed the students to enjoy every class. The teachers said we were the most popular person on that day because a group of Chinese guys busily got in and out of the classrooms taking pictures and willing to learn everything. I answered the American students’ questions in one period of class, after which I changed my view on American students. Before that, I always associate American students with drugs, crimes, and alcohol. But I had a new point of view.  American students have to attend their classes from one to another and they look very busy. American students have a variety of activities or tasks to do with. American students are lucky because they have a very good learning environment, with more advanced equipment—textbooks like dictionaries, reference books in its library and laptops for them to surf the internet etc. They have the ability to get the information they want. When in trouble they can turn to their teachers and classmates for help. Cooperation and teamwork are also vital to them. Their courses are also more practical, in which students can learn how to be a good carpenter, a blacksmith, a painter, a designer,an artist and even a businessman… After class, some students will study on online school. They also take part in some clubs for example physics clubs, chemistry clubs and biology clubs. So in my opinion, they are hard-working and diligent. American students have various activities, like a basketball match and swimming match. We watched a wonderful basketball match, in which they fight dauntlessly. We finished the first busy day and I threw myself in bed tired and felt I had a fever. But I felt really excited and amazed.
   Next day, all the host families got together to have lunch, during which we brought our school’s gifts to the leaders and after which Chinese students shared our culture with American students and families. They had done a very good job since they were just in grade two in junior school.  Because they had a small vocabulary, so I had to stand behind them to do explanation work and translation work. After the cultural communication, students in two countries shared their opinions about environment protection. And I was interviewed by a local newspaper reporter.

   On the third day, we visited the city of Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh is famous for its bridges ,rivers and  hills. Many houses are built on hills and most roads wind its way up and down. I just felt I was talking roller coaster. Monongahela River and Allegheny River meet here. So the scenery must be more beautiful in summer. Differently we saw the city in the big snow. And the Allegheny river was in the mist and snow， which made it very mysterious.  And then we visited Carnegie museum, where I learned about how the ancient Americans lived and we were amazed at the dinosaur fossil show. And later on we had a quick look at Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh.

   We ended our trip in Pittsburgh. 
   Next day we said goodbye to the friends, all the host families, the lovely school and my favorite breakfast in Pittsburgh. 
   Next morning, we were taken to take a bus called megabus. (very cheap but very practical in America, we can use Wifi and toilet on the bus) On the sides of the road was snow.  It took us more than six hours to go to Philadelphia. We were picked up by Pat, a Chinese language lover, who knew a lot of Chinese and culture. At night, we met our host family, a family with five people and two dogs and two cats. They had their own house and cars. Americans love cars very much. Almost everyone drives a car. In the next few days, SunYing and I lived with this family. The hostess is a ballet dancer, who has her own training school, where we saw a lot of energetic dance lovers. They are really good at dancing. And there was a training class for fathers and daughters.

   On the first day in Westchester, we met the CEO of and were welcomed by the leaders and teachers. And we sent our school gifts to PLACS.
   And then we visited West Chester University, where we talked with the professor who is in charge of international communication. And then we were shown around the university. The university has a very good environment for students to develop themselves. They have all kinds of courses including online courses. We listened to the university’s online course, which three teachers introduced to us. Two professors are from Chinese, who were very kind to us. And we also listened to a period of Chinese lesson, where our Chinese students made dialogues with American college students.
   On the second day, we met the biggest snow in America. They canceled all the schedule on that day. So we got a day off and we enjoyed the American life in snow.
   On the third day we went the city of Philadelphia where we saw Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, Betsy Ross House , Franklin Court and Elfreth’s Alley. And then we went to China Town for Dinner. You know what, I saw the portrait of Dalai hang on the wall together with Nelson  Mandela, which made me feel uncomfortable. It was an interesting and tiring day when we knew more about Philadelphia. 
   The next day, we went to school to listen to some lessons about American festivals and culture, where we shared our culture. And then we went to Lancaster to see the Amish culture and we had an hour to go shopping in outlet.
   On the last day, we went to New York, where we saw the real metropolis. We were to see Today Show at Rockefeller Center but what a pity we couldn’t because of the Winter Olympics. Time Square, the statue of Liberty and a view of the whole city from Observation Deck at Rockefeller Center. We visited the Metropolitan museum, where we saw many art projects from the world.                     
   This is our American trip, which gives us a good impression. It is a long and tiring trip but we have learned a lot and introduced Chinese culture and made many good friends as well. We love this journey.