---- Farewell Party for 2009-2010 AFS International Students 

       June 19, 2010 was the departure day for 2009-2010 AFS international students. On June 18, Shijiazhuang No.42 Secondary School held a warm and brief farewell party for them. A student each from Italy, Germany, the United States, Switzerland, Thailand, members of their host families, and the Director of the Foreign Affairs Department, Ms. Zhang Xiuying attended the party.
      Ms. Zhang Xiuying gave her opinion on the productive year the students had in China. She also expressed her wish to see them again. Director Zhang then showed her gratitude to all the host families for their dedication throughout the past year. There wasl time for students and host families to have an exchange. Felicitas Landau from Germany said to the host mother, "Thank you very much, my Chinese mom and dad! I will miss you after returning home. " Her host mom, with her arms around Felicitas’ shoulders, said: " Felicitas is a very sensible girl, who is very quiet and polite. The whole family loves her very much. I hope she will have the opportunity to come back. We will miss her. "  The host mother of Laura Jeane Conigliaro from the United States hoped that Laura would continue learning Chinese after returning home so she wouldn’t lose her learning achievements in China. The other AFS students and their host families also had a sincere communication with each other and said goodbye.
      Director Zhang later presented National Council Appreciation Awards to all AFS host families. After the award ceremony there was one final emotional photo session. As the farewell party came to a close, all who participated thought of all their experiences and all their learned in the past year. “Friendship is without borders. Friendship lasts forever!”