Katherine Michonski, from Chicago University, USA, joined Lotus 6 weeks Summer program at BLCU in 2005.

My host family was very kind and helpful in every way. They always offered to help with my homework when I was having difficulty, and every night at dinner our conversations provided me with ideal listening and oral practice, as well as a lesson in Chinese culture! I really enjoyed having them as a resource to ask all the inevitable questions that arise when traveling. In turn, having the answers to these common questions made me a reliable resource for my classmates and other travelers. In addition, doing the homestay through a program made the trip much more enjoyable and hassle free. I felt that everything I needed was provided for by Lotus; from cabs to and from the airport, to a dictionary, map, and most importantly enrollment at the University, health insurance and a visa! I feel that this made my stay less stressful than my classmates, who constantly had to deal with these important issues using their beginning Chinese. My advice to anyone planning an intensive language course and homestay in China is to coordinate your stay through a program, and Lotus Study is the best one to use!

Lotus Study is an excellent program for anyone who would like to learn Chinese- the correct way. While classes provide students with the necessary grammar background, family life gives homestay participants constant listening and oral practice that any native speaker receives when learning a language. This combination intensifies your language study giving you an unbelievable advantage over the rest of the class. Living with a family also educates you in everything from Chinese history and culture to common idioms and cooking.

Lotus was amazing. From the initial stages of my planning until the very end, the employees at Lotus were always prompt in their responses to my inquiries and very detailed in their answers. They were also very flexible and dedicated in helping me to achieve my goal of traveling to China. I honestly did not have a single problem, miscommunication, or bad experience with Lotus. I highly recommend this program. The employees are all incredibly kind and devoted to making Lotus Study the best program for travel and study in China. As the program continues to grow in popularity, they are definitely succeeding!

Meagan Smith, from the University of Michigan, USA, joined Lotus 5 weeks One on One program in summer 2005.

My host family was wonderful! They were extremely helpful and welcoming that I felt like I was with my own family. They were extremely hospitable and opened their home and their hearts to me. Also, the family had a good grasp of English but only allowed me to use it when I did not know how to say something in Chinese. They were very helpful and patient with me as I struggled with the language. After only one month, I speak and understand a great deal and I contribute that to the family's assistance. However, they did not stop at teaching me Chinese. They also introduced me to the culture and customs. I went to so many places I can hardly count them, including the Summer Palace, Great Wall, Tian-an-men Square, and the Forbidden City. We also went to many restaurants with food from the different provincial regions of China. What we couldn't experience in person, we discussed in great detail and great length.

Some of my best memories are the intellectual conversations we had during dinner. After only a month, I really bonded with the family and we became close. When it was time to leave, I was very disappointed. However, the family and I have been keeping in touch and they would like me to return. Hopefully, I can next year!

My tutor was wonderful! She was very patient and helpful. She really worked hard to make the most out of my lessons and find the appropriate textbooks that catered to my level of understanding. My only regret is that I did not take more lessons while in China.

I speak several languages, each of which took several years to learn and master. However, one month in China was more helpful for me to learn Chinese than two years of class for any of my other languages. Lotus' program is invaluable to my education in Chinese and I could not be able to thank them more!

Besides the actual experience in China, my encounters with the Lotus staff prior to my trip were very good. The American based office made sure all of my needs were met and all of my questions answered. My decision to go to China was very last minute but Patrick and Henry really helped me to understand all that I needed to obtain before I could go to China, and helped to pair me with a compatible family. Once in China, the Beijing office frequently emailed and called me to check on my status and ensure that I was enjoying myself. I felt very safe and well tended to. The staffs that picked me up from the airport and took me back were extremely friendly and weren't daunted by my enormous bags. :-)

Overall, my experience with Lotus was a wonderful one. I learned so much and enjoyed myself so immensely that I want to return to China via Lotus. My advice to students going to China, stay for as long as you can and make full use of what Lotus Study has to offer. It will be the best experience of your life!

Meagan Smith

Zoe Quan, from Chicago, USA, joined Lotus for a 4-week summer program at BLCU in 2003.

Educational Background
Bachelor of Arts from Harvard University, Doctor of Philosophy from The University of Chicago.

Profession
CEO, Qingchu Thinking, LLC; Chicago

A Thank-you note from Zoe to our staff in the US:

Dear Pat:

I just wanted to thank you very much for the excellent program that Lotus Educational Foundation provided to make my stay in China so successful. I was seeking an efficient and cost-effective means to learn Chinese, that would allow me to learn Chinese and still get some work done, but between the demands of my business and the SARS outbreak earlier this year, I was unsure whether I would be able to realize this objective on such short notice. Thanks to your program, my Chinese has improved significantly, in ways that would not otherwise have been possible. Your unique home-stay program not only accelerated my learning of the language by constant exposure to its use in day-to-day living, but also gave me a much better understanding of the rapid changes that are now occurring in contemporary Chinese culture.

I appreciated your willingness to accommodate my schedule, your arranging for tutors geared towards my specific business needs, and the help of your Resident Directo