Kristin Performs...

Kristin had the opportunity to perform for 3 Chinese Governors at the Utah State Capitol Building. They did a performance in Chinese for these Governors. A member of the legislature met with the families after the performance to let us know how much he appreciated us being there. Apparently - in China - there are 8 Governors. This was the first time in Chinese History that 3 of them have left all at once and coming together to the US is another first. Also - Utah exports millions of dollars of things to China and they are trying to better trade relations. It was so fun to see Kristin perform and speak Chinese. She really loves it. It was almost more fun watching the Chinese guests (and there were a whole lot of them) sing along with the kids, and cheer and clap. Even if I don't understand her - they do - and that was cool. A few things about Kristin...she is UBER shy. She isn't demanding - and is a go with the flow kind of girl. She was so excited for this performance - she wanted everyone she knew to come watch her. Which - for her to verbally request - shows just how much it meant to her. Thanks to Papa and Grammy for coming - we know it wasn't fun and enjoyable and how anybody wants to spend their Saturday - but it meant the world to Kristin. I forgot my camera - so all of these photos came from my phone or from someone else - but I'm glad I have them. We are so proud of Kristin and so excited for all the things she has yet to learn! After her performance, we took her to lunch at the top of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building.

Little Chinese Girls

Jay brought my girls these dresses from China. They love them and beg to wear them all the time. They wore them to church a few weeks ago. Complete with chopsticks in their hair. Kristin had one bun, and it was easy to cross two chopsticks. Haley had 2 buns (she argued for 2) and I told her I couldn't put chopsticks in her two buns. She begged, and what could I do? It's a classic chopstick hairstyle. So grateful for Jay for these gorgeous dresses!

Chinese

Here is Kristin and her friend Karsen singing a song they learned for the Chinese New Year. Kristin gets very shy and doesn't like to sing in front of us, so I was so excited when I conned her into singing for this video! I have no clue what she is singing. By the time Kristin is in 8th grade, she will have passed the AP Chinese test. In High School, she will learn another language, and by the time she graduates high school, she will be more marketable than any returned missionary. That is what we have been told. At the rate she has gone in less than a school year, I am no longer surprised by those promises. This is truly amazing.

Kristin...

Meet Kristin...

so many things I can say about her...for one, she's a fashion diva...literally. She is VERY concerned with everything she wears, and for the most part, she's usually right...her clothes always match and look good together. I saw this outfit for her, and HAD to get it...she LOVES wearing it to school, and after her first time wearing it to school, came home and told me that everyone told her how cute she looked, and that some people told her she looked like Hannah Montana...Apparently that's a huge thing...Kristin is in a chinese immersion class. She speaks Chinese half the day. She has gone to school for 3 weeks, and has been off track for 3 weeks and is headed back to school on Tuesday. The girl would rather be speaking chinese than english. She is CONSTANTLY spouting things off in Chinese, and totally teaching Haley. Haley knows more chinese than I do. It helped that my brother David taught her a few things when he was home a few weeks ago. I absolutely LOVE the chinese immersion program, and would recommend it to anyone! I am excited for Haley to start it in first grade as well. We may have to start saving up for a trip to China when the girls are in high school.

A lady recently stated in the Deseret News in the Editorial section this: Are any other parents concerned about the "dual immersion" language program in elementary schools? Students can choose among Chinese, Spanish and French, or they may opt out. Apparently former Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. thought it was a good idea because he knows Chinese.
Did he learn it in elementary school? Where are all the teachers who know these three languages well enough to teach them coming from? And how much precious time is taken up with it?
I think it would be enough to teach good English and reading skills. There are Hispanic students in many classes, and English for them and Spanish for the rest of the class would be good, but why Chinese or French? Laura Banks Salt Lake City

My dad came over flaming mad about a response he would like to provide, but he didn't want to do it online, he wanted it printed...I just had to laugh at the ignorance of this lady and her small-mindedness. The balls she had to have to even submit that, is amazing. This was my favorite comment I found on the reply board online (link above): Are you kidding me? No foreign languages? Maybe we should adopt a new state mascot: the hillbilly. My second favorite comment is this: What do you call someone who speaks 3 languages? Trilingual. What do you call someone who speaks 2 languages? Bilingual. What do you call someone who speaks 1 language. American.

I am so proud of Kristin. She is so smart, and doing amazingly well. I am so excited she's in this program, I wish my boys would have had the opportunity as well!