Sometimes I wish i could simply upload a fluent Chinese speaker's language skills into my brain! That way I can just speak fluently without going through all the frustrations. I think the hardest part about learning a language is getting enough exposure (speaking, listening, reading, writing) every day, consistently. But trying to keep a disciplined schedule of studying just 30 minutes a day seems like a tall order -- especially with the busy lives that we all have. And language constantly evolves, making it seem like a losing battle. Come to think of it, just having the fluency of a 7 year old would be great. But I keep trying - for the love of the Chinese language and the personal challenge of becoming better at it. And ultimately I actually do like the process of seeing a bit of progress each day -- and enjoying the small victories along the way. I hope that through our exchange, even across the vast Internet, we can help each other get a little further ahead in our journey.