For UCM student Terry Abigail Reanna, a dumpling-making session proved to be an unexpected highlight. After a Chinese classmate patiently taught her how to fold the dough and after she took a bite of the steaming dumplings, she declared them "the best dumplings I have ever eaten" and happily ate seven or eight in a row, drawing laughter from the group.

Another American student, Hines Monterica Monea, became fascinated with the local Hengshui dialect. She eagerly repeated phrases for "last night" and "warm," impressing her Chinese peers with her earnest pronunciation.