Well, I haven't posted in a while because I've been waiting to get a subscription, but that doesn't seem to be happening anytime soon unless I start using dA more often, since I won't get another one until I find it worth my while.
Anywho, I've been doing pretty well. My summer was awesome and I can't wait until next summer. My summer was most definitely life changing. I went away for a little more than 7 weeks, longer than I've ever been away from home without my family (my previous record was 10 days and I was in the same state).
I first went to an amazing christian camp in maine for 3 weeks and 2 days (I had to leave early to get to my second camp). At the christian camp I got everything I had ever hoped for: My belief in Christ greatly incresed, I made absolutely amazing friends I suspect I'll have for the rest of my life, and I kinda had a summer fling (which almost got in the way of one of my best friendships, which I'm so glad it didn't...So I guess it's not so bad that the guy, who was also almost everything I'd ever wanted in a boyfriend is now dating someone else...even though I feel like punching a wall). Everyone at that camp wasn't judgemental at all and was totally loving, thus I found my true self, someone I find difficult expressing fully when I'm at home, in a town I've lived in my entire life (with schoolmates that have learned to think of me as the way I always have been: quiet, good student, so-so christian...). Turns out I'm pretty damn funny and pretty damn loud once I've had some time to get to know everyone else first. I mentioned this earlier, but my faith in christ is now solid and only growing.
The second camp I went to was in Minnesota to learn Chinese. It was my first year and made some great friends there too. As weird as it would sound, that camp really solidified my belief in christ because although it wasn't christian in the slightest, I was able to begin preaching my belief openly whenever asked about it. People would ask me after looking at my faithinfive bracelet if i was 'really christian or something' and by saying 'yes, I am very religious, not because my parents are, but because I truly believe', I was able to show myself that I could carry on my belief outside a place where averyone would share my christian belief. I showed myself that I could show the world I was Christian and was willing to have my belief challenged because that's how much I'm willing to risk for Christ, my saviour. As it was my 1st year of Chinese and the camp being an immersion camp, I learned a ton. I got high school credit for the four week camp and learned a lot of speaking, even more listening/understanding, some writing and less reading (characters). I love the language and by beginning to learn Chinese, my hope of learning a bunch of other languages too has grown from a hope to a future reality.
Now at home, I'm taking Chinese class on Saturdays and am continuing on my faithful journey in Christ. Although it takes effort at first, I'm making it a goal to act more like myself, like I did at the camps, at home too. It's hard sometimes to not be quiet when I'm so used to it at home and even more so at school, but the more I work on it the sooner it will become second nature to act truly like myself here too.

I have more to write about: More about since schoolhas started, however, I've written a lot for tongith and I don't want to bore you all, for any of you who've actually read.