Imprinting this summer into our Memories

Let me begin by saying that I am truly honored to be able to represent Guangdong Province in participation of the 2006 Inner City Kids in China Program. In the ten days I have been here, I have gained experience, expanded my knowledge, established friendships, and understood differences in Chinese and American cultures.

In these beautiful summer days, the tides of time endlessly wash the shores of life. I wave furiously to my friends thousands of miles away, reminiscing on an unforgettable experience.

Chapter 1: Memories of Beijing

In the aftermath of final exams, we waved goodbye to our parents from the accelerating train. On that fateful day in June, we began our quest: first stop – Beijing .

A strange but pleasing feeling swept over me as the train drew to a gradual standstill and I stepped forward onto the platform. Memories from eight years ago seem distant, but I can still tell that China 's capital had undergone substantial change. Alleys and rickshaws have been replaced by high-tech skyscrapers and roaming cars, pedestrian walkways have given way to broad highways; Beijing is clearly making steps towards its hosting of the Olympics two years from now. Speechless, I observe the metropolis from our bus.

Chapter 2: Welcome, Friends

Having prepared for this several days in advance, we welcome our friends arriving from the airport in Boston . As we introduced ourselves in the concise welcoming ceremony, embarrassment and shyness masked our true feelings of excitement and ecstasy. It was hard to understand our guests' English as they not only loved to talk, but also loved to talk extremely fast. By the end we were completely lost, contributing minimally at most to the conversation. Outnumbered, we watched and listened as the Americans carried out their dialogues with each other. Their calmness and humor relieved the tension and lightened the mood, but added on to our already agitated mind-set. At that moment, we understood the importance and responsibilities of our role in this year's program.

I breathed in deeply as I turned to face this seemingly impossible challenge. However, I had a premonition that I would somehow learn a great deal from the guests from across the ocean.

Chapter 3: Hebei

Curiosity possessed me on the three-hour bus ride to Xinglong in Hebei Province . From a distance away, we could already see the students and teachers of the Xinglong Vocational School lined up in respect and applauding our arrival. While I experienced a surge in confidence, their eyes were filled with admiration which I later understood was a cover for envy. Our lives seemed to them like everything they have ever dreamed of.

Living conditions in the village of Xinglong were not superb. Although the locals do not possess things we take for granted such as modern technology, expensive clothes, or even enough nutrition, they work harder than we do to make life better for themselves. The school is just as poor, with ramshackle classrooms, mediocre teachers, and less than desirable materials. However, the students take their studies very seriously and do not cease to work towards their goals. Everything they have done for us has touched me: how they frantically prepared entertaining shows, how they wrote and rewrote their speeches for us, how they tried the best they could to make life easier for us, how they crowded around us for pictures, wrote to us, spoke with us… I could tell that this compassion was not just a mask; their cherubic faces confirmed that it was part of the natural honesty and consideration that the people of Xinglong are brought up with.

On the first night after our arrival, the town prepared a welcoming ceremony for us in the town square. Although there weren't any pop stars or celebrities, I felt honored to be able to watch as the villagers poured their hearts out to us through thoroughly prepared song and dance. We could not refuse when our teacher requested us to perform as well, representing our Guangdong Province . With little time to prepare and hundreds watching us, we sang a popular Chinese pop song. Much to my surprise, our finish was received with thunderous applause, especially from our American guests. During our performance I was not scared by the audience; they provided me with self-confidence that I still carry with me. The American students followed us with the climax of the night, performing a classic Chinese folk song and a dance symbolic of American culture. Their organization was remarkable, considering the fact that they are from different schools. I noticed qualities they possess that I regretfully lack myself, including self-esteem, warmness, and inventiveness. This is what I respect most about our guests, and I feel I need to learn more from them.

On the second day of our stay, we visited the bonsai farm. Nature gripped my senses as I stepped in, hating myself for not being able to recognize particular trees. Watching the process of a fruit tree becoming a bonsai was something new for me, something I cannot learn at school. After a short demonstration, we were assigned to creating bonsais with our own hands. At first my partner Breno was afraid to get his hands dirty and watched as I performed all necessary steps by myself: washing the dirt off of the roots, arranging the trees in a pot, pouring in soil, and decorating. Finally, Breno couldn't resist the temptation to join me. I asked sarcastically, “Aren't you afraid of getting your nails dirty?” To which he happily replied, “It's so fun!” I gave my finished product a name, “Brothers in Arms,” symbolizing never ending friendship.

The same afternoon, we were separated into two groups to sell our products. The proceeds would then go to the sole benefit of financially disabled families of students enrolled at Xinglong Vocational School . Being the first time any of us have experienced something like this, our job was somewhat difficult. The school also over-publicized the event so that too many people came to watch the show instead of actually buying bonsais. We took our time with each potential customer, explaining in detail how to take care of a bonsai and how they would be donating money to those less fortunate, only to end up empty-handed. In a stroke of genius, we told the spectators that anyone who bought a bonsai could take a picture with the American students. Business boomed, mostly because of the temptation to take pictures primarily with Breno and Aina. The happiest moment of my day was when Breno sold the bonsai we made with our own hands. Just as we were finishing, I witnessed the first hailstorm in my life, symbolic of a day of many firsts: My first time making a bonsai, my first sale, and my first hailstorm. I now understand that the power of one will never surpass the power of an organized team. Learning to co-operate is vital to personal success.

On the third day of our stay, we separated into four groups and visited local families. The first house, belonging to a large, warm family of a Vocational school student studying to be a kindergarten teacher, was quite small and simple and had no living room. During the interview, they mentioned that in the winter, their coal stove acted as a heater. They kindly offered us fruits and we traded stories with each other about our lives. After taking a picture, it was time to leave. The second house we went to was much larger and nicer. Later, I found out that this was the household of one of the teachers at the school, considered well off in the town. A group of nine to thirteen year-olds surrounding Breno and Aina began timidly asking questions in English. One nine year-old girl bravely told a story in English; another student played a beautiful piece on her electric piano for us. She told us that most students at the school knew how to play piano and would seek out teachers for extra classes. Even though the living conditions here are not well, they understand better than anyone to find any means possible to expand their knowledge and gain new skills. A somewhat down-to-earth life lessens the effect of the outside world on a child's upbringing and allows them to concentrate more, improve more, and want to know more. And me? I live in a city where I go to class in a good environment, have the best materials, and get whatever I want, but I am unable to block out influence from the outside world, gradually wasting away years of talent in piano. I look upon these honest, hard working folks in Xinglong and I feel guilty.

All things good come to an end, and on the fourth day we prepared to leave for Beijing . As we were about to board the bus, hundreds of students poured out of the school to say their tearful goodbyes and take a final picture. As Ashley put it, “I have never taken so many pictures before.” Teachers slowly herded us against our will onto the bus. Looking back, we watched the wet faces of the students get smaller and smaller, still yelling “Bye Bye!” and “I love you!” even though we could no longer hear them. The American students would periodically look back as well, showing that they really do care about and miss our friends at Xinglong. That bright and sunny day was filled with sorrow as the most meaningful four days of my life drew to a conclusion.

Chapter 4: Traditional vs. Modern China

Joy was our first emotion upon returning to our hotel. Beds that we previously complained about for being uncomfortable now seemed like heaven. Many things in life are like this. If we constantly view everything from a superior angle, life will only be filled with inaccuracies and we will cage ourselves in our own unhappy world. However, if we look on everything with an unbiased attitude, life will be eternally happy. Being content and satisfied with what you have is they key to bliss, not material goods outside yourself. I have learned to keep an optimistic attitude, always telling myself, “Compared to that, this is great.”

In the remaining week we spent in Beijing , we toured the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, the Summer Palace , the Temple of Heaven , the Thirteenth tomb, Luhe Middle School , Changan Street , and Laoshe Tea House. The teachers also took us shopping at Hongqiao Market and Wangfujing Street . All of this helped give Chinese students a better understanding of old and new Beijing and allowed American students to get an all-around perspective on China . However, I failed to explain to them about Chinese history, because they appeared to lack interest in historical landmarks. Our guests enjoyed the vibrant and hectic nightlife of Beijing a bit more.

Chapter 5: Photo Album

Our friendships with the American students strengthen as the tides of time push on. With each wave, however, we are pushed towards the day we must part. In the two nights before we left, we watched TV together, played cards together, ate together, listened to music together, and partied well into the night. On June 30 th , the time has finally come.

Breakfast was unusually quiet that morning. We traded e-mails and took pictures as if everything were normal. As we were boarding the bus, I broke down uncontrollably, all the while knowing that I was weak. My final impression left to our guests was a face filled with tears. There are no rules for developing relationships; it is left for our own hearts to decide. Being from different cultural backgrounds did not inhibit our friendship because we were all honest, open, and sincere with each other. I truly believe and hope that they will record this summer in their deepest memory and come to love the People's Republic of China , especially the friendships they developed here. I know I will.

The plane touches down at Guangzhou Airport at 6:30 at night. In the golden light of dusk, I slowly flip through the memorabilia. People and places become faint shadows in my mind. I lay down to sleep, thinking about the past ten days that now seem like an eon.

By: Carolina Lam in Guangzhou

 

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[Thoughts from American students]