Chinese Exchange Student

Last night we welcomed in the new member of our family for the next 3 weeks! She is a 7th grade student from Far East China School outside of Beijing China, her name is JingYu Ye or her American name, Shirley. We didn't have a whole lot of notice of her arrival maybe 2 weeks. In those few weeks we prepared by cleaning Grace's room and making a bed for her. We also shopped for a few gifts which we got her a Wisconsin Tshirt, photo frame and some tea. Upon her arrival yesterday they kept us updated via text on their pending arrival into OHare airport. They landed about 5pm and got into Janesville via coach bus service about 8pm. She seems to be a very shy modest girl. Not sure if the shyness is due to her overwhelmed feeling of being in a new place or the language barrier. She seems to understand us fairly well but has a hard time communicating to us in English. After getting her settled into Grace's room I spent some time trying to find a good translation app on my phone. She wanted to ask us a question but was having a hard time finding the words. After playing with Google Translate I was able to figure out that there is a note pad that she could write the Chinese symbols on and it would translate to English. She told us she would like to have our wifi hookup so that she could contact home! Later on as I was showing her how to use the app she told me she likes me very much. That made me relax a little bit and know that it will all come together and that she was happy to be here! She brought me a couple of gifts one of which was a Chinese fan that has an old photo of her home town the other was a bottle type thing that you drink out of. This morning her and Grace are still asleep. I may try and rouse them about 11am to have some lunch and take Shirley with us to the grocery store. I am happy we ended up on this adventure, I think it will be a fun one!