Summer volunteer activity at Ping Tou Shan
On the day of the 24th of July, sunshine finally breaks through the shadow of dark clouds and illuminates on the ground of Kai Yuan, Yunnan, a place of endless greenness and freshness. Our team of Zhe Jiang University Xin Xi Xi Bu association volunteering teaching program has finally finished the preparation of necessary supplies and sets off for the journey to Ping Tou Shan in the morning.
How fortunate we are able to have the acquaintance to the people from the well-known cooperation of Qi Ye Yun Hua Tian, they have offered us zealous support after knowing our purpose of the trip: not only have they offered us vehicles for transportation, but supplies for our duration of stay; most importantly, they have shown us a passion of being responsible for the support of education of the youth. We ride through mud and sand yet we still enjoyed the nice views along the road to Ping Tou Shan. “How important it is to feel the hope, responsibility and action?”, we have been thinking about this question during our ride.
It has been an endless sightseeing for the picture of continuous mountain belts beneath the blue sky; there are the freshness of soil and mud, cattle trying to get away from flies, endless barking of dogs and songs of cicadas. We have heard about how the villagers once were identity-less people and how had they lived generation by generation by only relying on crops. We have been nervous along the way for we know little about the school and people there, yet the answers lie ahead in Ping Tou Shan.
After entering the school in Ping Tou Shan, we have a sense of familiarity among the unfamiliarity. The flag of China swings in the wind, bringing up a thin layer of dust. A ping pong table lies in a small basketball court, it is simple yet useful. Following the cracking sound of wooden door of classroom, everything lays surprisingly in order; desks and chairs are aged, the drawing of the students on the walls are exceptionally organized; a message of last class meeting before the summer break is still on the black wall. A few students show up in front of the school door and watching what their big friends are doing. They always like to run away from eye contacts with us, and they run from the outside to the inside to play, it can be seen they are having fun!
Smiling is such a wonderful way to break ice between people. Those kids are not as shy as before, and one of the leaders from our team gives them some fresh fruits. While we are making lunch, some girls have made those beautiful flower rings for us to put on, what an unforgettable moment that is. We start to look forward to the time we are going to spend with those kids.
We have had the experience that we will never have in cities on the first day of our volunteering teaching program. One of the main goals we are trying to realize is how hard is it for someone living a well life to feel the lives of the poor. Tomorrow will be a big day that we cannot wait, kids with smiles on their faces, their eagerness of learning …
