An introduction to fall

 Dave and I are a host family to three Chinese girls at Curtis, the school of music. Yesterday two of the girls were available to get out of Rittenhouse Square, see the suburbs and experience fall in America.

This is there second year at Curtis. Zitong (left) is only 14 years old, and Ying (in black shirt) is turning 16 next week.

 We packed all 6 of us into our car and headed out to Linvilla Orchards. The girls have never been out of the city, other than Ying spending 2 weeks in a suburb of Boston.
Sadly the drive along 95 and through Chester was not very pretty, but we took them through some neighborhoods near Linvilla to get an idea for what a suburban neighborhood looks like.
They went on their first hayride. Alex and Zitong covered Ying in hay at the end.

 The girls had the BEST time on the playground. Although they were slightly older than the recommended age, they sure acted like little kids. Dave and I were commenting how we felt like we had 4 kids.
A typical Chinese childhood does not involve a lot of play time. As soon as they start school children come home and do more school work beyond their homework. They are pushed very hard academically.
With Ying and Zitong studying piano at Curtis, this probably means that much of their childhood was also spent playing the piano most evenings. Curtis has a very high standard. In fact it is the top music school in the world. Only 160 students are selected to go there and they go for free. It is a very prestigious school, so you have to be the best to get in. Being the best comes with much hard work and perseverance.
I'm glad the girls had an afternoon to run around, play and enjoy themselves.

Alex initiated holding hands with Ying.