Ni hao ma!

My name is Ayayou Xi Fong.  I live in San Francisco, California.  I have lived here for the past three years.  I was adopted three years ago, when I was seven.  I was born in China.  I live with my family, who call me their own.

At times it is still hard:  I think of my friends back at the orphanage back home in China, and how much I miss them; but then Mother-Here-In-America reminds me that I now have a much better life here.

I sure hope so!

I have two brothers and one sister.  All are younger than me.  I am now ten years old.  They were adopted, too.  All but one came from China.  The one who did not was my baby brother.  He was adopted from Russia.  He was adopted six months ago.  He is very noisy.  I love him, but he drives me crazy!

I go to school, where I take ESL (English as a Second Language) classes.  It is very difficult: so many rules, so many things to remember!  It was much easier when I spoke (or wrote) in Chinese!

I am a typical girl.  I like to write stories or poems (I usually write them in Chinese, but for school and ESL, I write them out in English, so I can practice my words or my spelling), read (I read books with pictures and few words; I someday hope to read harder books), watch television, help Mother and Father with the cooking, dance (ballet and Chinese dance), sing, go to church, where I learn about Jesus, and collect butterflies, as well as go to the mall with my friends.  My favorite places to go to are Chinatown and Fisherman's Wharf.

Well, I have to help Mother and Father cook supper, so I will go.  I hope you liked reading about me.  I will write in here again soon.  Until then, this is Ayayou Xi Fong saying goodbye!

~Ayayou.