It seems more sudden this year, since we just had a homecoming last spring, but the change is good.

But commercial offerings are now so vast, she says, that ''in order to have a level playing field, they have to end up doing some of the same things.

I'm going to be practicing my Chinese before I go. Probably just in basic conversation around the house. I hope to gain useful insight that I can bring back to my peers and community. I want to be able to share my knowledge about China with the students in my school and tell them about everything I learned.

It was hard because there was no one around here to practice with, ... But I have tapes that I can practice with along with worksheets and booklets from camp.

I remember a time/A time of mine/When the whole world stopped. The air was still and cold/I felt, no longer bold/The world stopped.

China is becoming a major player in the global economy, and it's great that Minnesota is going to be a part of it. We're taking the initiative to be a part of it and it will be something that will help both our economies grow. I think it's going to be great for the state.

Unfortunately, PBS has a really hard path to forge.

I know it's going to be a major culture shock, ... From little Hibbing to big Beijing.