In Mandarin, the 8th graders wrote pen pal letters to us. We got to choose who we were going to respond to, and I chose to respond to this letter:

你好。我叫罗壵春，十三岁，你呢？我的家有五个人。我的头发是深棕色，我的眼睛也是深棕色，你呢？我的头发不长，不短。我喜欢穿运动衫，裤子，和运动鞋。我的眼镜是黑色。你有眼镜吗？

你有宠物吗？我没有那个宠物可是我想有一只狗。我喜欢鱼和猫，你呢？

我喜欢垒球(softball)和排球(volleyball)，可是我不喜欢打篮球和高尔夫球(golf).

我是美籍华人，你呢？我的爸爸和妈妈是中国人。

我喜欢中国菜系！我最喜欢的中国菜是干炒牛河和饺子。你喜欢中国菜吗？你最喜欢的菜系是什么？我不喜欢吃汉堡和热狗。你不喜欢什么菜？我喜欢喝奶茶。

我最喜欢的颜色是紫色和黑色。你呢？我最喜欢的课是体育。你最喜欢的课是什么？我不喜欢作业。我喜欢看书，你呢？

Once we chose our letters, we wrote letters back. In my letter, I talked about food, pets, my family and other things too. This is the letter that I wrote:

你好罗壵春！

我叫左玉， 我今年十二岁。我上六年级Lynne的班。

我是美国人。我的妈妈是美国人， 我的爸爸是美国人。我会说一点中文，也会说英文。

我的家有四个人。我有一个妈妈，一个爸爸,一个妹妹和我。我的妈妈最喜欢的颜色是黄色。我的爸爸最喜欢的颜色是橙色。我的妹妹最喜欢的颜色是紫色。

我最喜欢的颜色是粉红色。

我最喜欢跑步。你喜欢垒球和排球，  我也喜欢垒球。

我的朋友是Kate, Ruby, Emily, Dora, 和 Margaret。 Kate有咖啡色的头和咖啡色的眼睛。Ruby有咖啡色的头和咖啡色的眼睛。Dora有咖啡色的头和咖啡色的眼睛。Emily有钱咖啡色的执法和咖啡色的眼睛。 Margaret有黄色的执法和蓝色的眼睛。

我有一个狗。她叫 Midnight。她是黑色的。

我的最喜欢吃是巧克力蛋糕。我喜欢中国菜。

你的笔友，

左玉

Translation:

Hello (Pen Pal’s name)!

My name is Zoe and I am 12 years old. I am in 6th grade in Lynne’s class.

I am American. My mom is American, my dad is American. I can speak a little Chinese, also I can speak English.

My family has 4 people. One mom, one dad, one little sister, and me. My mom’s favorite color is yellow. My dad’s favorite color is orange. My sister’s favorite color is purple.

My favorite color is pink.

My favorite sport is running. You like softball, I also like softball.

My friends are Kate, Ruby, Emily, Dora and Margaret. Kate has brown hair and brown eyes. Ruby has brown hair and brown eyes. Dora has brown hair and brown eyes. Emily has light brown hair and brown eyes. Margaret has blond hair and blue eyes.

I have one dog. Her name is Midnight. She is black.

My favorite food is chocolate cake. I like Chinese food.

Your pen pal,

Zoe