Gao Qiang is a 15-year-old student. He lives in a small village in Hebei
Province. His father is a farmer. Every day, Gao Qiang has to walk for an hour to get to school. When school ends, he has to walk for another hour to get home. But this week is different, as Gao Qiang is staying in Beijing.
As part of an educational programme, students from the city are swapping (交换) places with students from the countryside. Many students from Beijing have left the city and are living in the countryside for a week.
Wang Wei is staying at Gao Qiang's house. "Life in the country can be hard, "Wang Wei said. "I usually go to school by bus, but here I have to walk. When I finish school, I help the family on the farm. I often feel very tired here. "
Gao Qiang is enjoying his time in Beijing. "As I don't have to walk to school, I have more time to read all kinds of books, "he said. "But I still miss my family. "
It looks like all the students are learning about other ways of life.