Children of China

Trip Start Sep 17, 2006
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Trip End Aug 2007


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Tuesday, November 21, 2006

Teaching 80 19 years olds in China is not at all what you'd expect...they're more like your average 14 years olds in the UK, which is really sweet. They get so giggly if you mention boys, and only when its really dark you can spot a few extremely brave couples at the back of college - holding hands!!!!!! I love my students to bits and even the 1 out of 5 boys whos abit of a jack the lad, makes my lessons more interesting! They have lessons in the morning, afternoon and evening (finishing at 9.30pm) and when I ask what they did at the weekend most say study! I was once asked whats the most important thing in life and they were shocked at my reply (to be happy)and said what about Studying!!!! At that I climbed up on my soap box and declared that the most Ive learnt in my life isn't written in any book! Dont get me wrong they're normal kids too, some of my students have been really lazy recently, and I called one at mid-day on Sunday and woke her up! When I met her she was having breakfast at 3pm and said they'd had a party til 7am the night before
10 years olds
10 years olds
! I do miss little kids though, as I walk to my flat I go through a little archway and theres the old retired teachers looking after the babies of young teachers, its a real little communtiy. I also visit a local Middle School and the kids just go crazy! (see pics)
A few weeks ago I found a Street Children's Project in the West of this Province. I went to visit to see if I can help in any way. The kids were amazing, happily playing and laughing. I then heard their stories which were so chilling their happiness amazed me more. Most had been abused physically and sexually, some forced to beg, cutting off their fingers to provoke sympathy from passer-bys. You may not have wanted to hear that, but it needs to be said. No-one says it in China and so it continues! I spent the weekend producing a Calender for 2007 to raise money for the project, This is the first and only place of care for street children in the whole of CHINA! please let me know if your interested in buying a calender! And their website is www.xinxingaid.org.cn
I left Baoji thinking how cosy my job and life is in Shangluo, I had been exposed to the dark side of China which most Chinese are also kept from. I also left inspired and my passion for Development revived.
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