[Subjected to this flood of unfamiliar sounds, Baker and his classmates soon found themselves trying to stay afloat in the same boat.] Friendships and camaraderie quickly grew, ... We did everything together: lunch, studying, dinner and then socializing.

[Though it might sound unorthodox, Baker sees Chinese as his entrée into the business world. He is working full-time for D.K. Designs, a company that imports jewelry from China.] I would even consider moving to China, ... If a business opportunity arose.

[As an American, Baker was well treated, although some Chinese stereotype Americans as being fat and loud, while others characterize them as] living in a bubble, unaware of other cultures. ... even when they don’t mean it.

I'm like this yo-yo with a three-thousand-mile string." - Tai

It's all we can do to stay afloat. We're not going to be building anything for a long time.

I was telling him to keep kicking his feet to stay afloat.