Lucy, a student from the UK, came to study in China last year. At first, she found it difficult to learn Chinese. The tones and characters seemed so strange to her. But she didn't give up.
   She joined a Chinese language club at school. There, she met many friendly Chinese students who helped her practice speaking. They taught her how to write Chinese characters stroke by stroke and shared interesting stories behind them. For example, when learning the character "家" (jiā, meaning home), her Chinese friends told her that the character looks like a pig under a roof, showing that in ancient times, having livestock at home meant a warm family.
   Besides language learning, Lucy also became interested in traditional Chinese festivals. During the Spring Festival, she was invited to a local family. She learned to make dumplings, pasted Spring Festival couplets on the door, and watched beautiful fireworks at night. The warm atmosphere and people’s smiles made her feel at home.
   Now, Lucy can speak Chinese fluently and knows a lot about Chinese culture. She says, "Chinese is not just a language; it’s a key to understanding a colorful and ancient culture. I’m so glad I came to China, and I’ll keep exploring this amazing culture."