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On Friday, we went to the bus area to wait for the bus. When the buses arrived the students prepared them for the trip and we were off on the hour long drive to the small school of Peach Garden.
The students prepared the two rented buses with signs of their club and the university. It took more time than planned because they had to find a way to hang the signs.
Last minute instructions before the trip. Evidently the red caps were supplied by one of the sponsors of the trip and the students would not be able to keep them. As we drove through Emei City, the sponsor and a marching band marched us out of town. The marching band (Chinese style) is very typical of grand openings throughout China. I think this sponsor had some kind of jewelry store but we could not be sure.
The trip to the school was fine until the last ten or so kilometers. We were in the middle of coal mining country and the road turned really bad. It was almost a one lane dirt road. The road was wet and slippery and we had to stop often to let the coal trucks get through. Finally we arrived at the school and were welcomed by the staff.
Peach Garden Primary School is nestled among the mountains and was a nondescript, typically Chinese school. The weather was cool with mist settling on the mountains surrounding the school.
The students were lined up waiting for our arrival. The smallest were on the left and the oldest on the right as one faced them. The little students were adorable.
The ceremony started with the Chinese National Anthem. The little students just stood and listened but the older kids raised their hands in salute to the anthem.
The SW Jiaotong University students then took charge of the event and addressed the students. The students applauded throughout the students' presentations.
During the presentations and speeches, Sunee walked among the youngest students and tried to get them to talk with her. Most were shy but some did respond with how old they were and their names.
As I walked by, many of the younger students looked at me as if to say "Look, a foreigner!"
Sunee gives the students gifts from the university to help in their school work.
The Jiaotong students along with Sunee and I passed out school materials for the students. These were presented to each student from the university. Here I enjoyed passing out erasers and pens.
We also passed out notebooks. The students were happy to see us and the material.
As we passed out the gifts, several Jiaotong students were taking pictures of us having so much fun.
Sunee constantly tried to get the students to speak both English and Chinese. Eventually, most of the students responded and lost their shyness.
I was asked to address the students, so I spent a few minutes speaking to them in Chinese and trying to get them to respond in English. Things like "How are you?' "I am fine." "Where are you from?" "I am from America." Successful? Probably not as the students just repeated everything I said. It was more comical than successful but we all had fun.
Throughout the event, the students all showed their appreciation by clapping and smiling.
Some of the SW Jiaotong University students then made a contest by asking the students questions and giving prizes to those who answered correctly. The students responded by raising their hands. Very cute and exciting for the students.
This boy had the answer but the Jiaoda student did not call on him so he tried to get me to see that he had the answer.
This boy also knew one of the answers but was frustrated because no one saw him or did not pay attention to him.
Here some of the female Jiaoda students present sort of an aerobics style dance without music. It was more precision steps than really dancing. This is not Chinese style!
Here some of the Jiaoda female students strut their stuff to entertain the Peach Garden students. Definitely not Chinese style dancing.
Two of the local teachers look on with enjoyment. Both were very young but seemed to be very enthusiastic toward teaching these kids. I did not get to speak to either of them, but the kids seemed to really like them.
Steven's friends and Yours Truly in the success pose.
Not to be outdone, Sunee poses with some of the older students.
As the afternoon came to an end, we ran around looking for pictures to take. Here Sunee poses in front of the school
Portraits
Many of the students wanted to have their pictures taken with Sunee and I. Here I am with several of the students.
Two Jiaoda students get their picture taken with me.
We pose for a picture. Notice the beauty in the background. The whole place was covered in a fine, cold mist that hung over the mountains everywhere
A couple of friends looking to get their picture taken. I obliged, of course.
Mother and daughter also posed for us. Do you recognize the little daughter. She was so cute that I took several pictures of her. The mother was also very cute and really did not look old enough to have a daughter.
If they pose, you have to take their picture. By this time, there was no shyness in the students. I ended up taking a lot of kid pictures.
Another daughter and mother pose. Kind of easy to see who the daughter looks like, right?
Recognize this cutie? Never did get her to really smile at us. Maybe it was because she had never seen foreigners before.
This little girl demanded a photo with me just as we were about to leave.
Here we are huddled together for the obligatory GROIUP picture. An end to an exciting and interesting day in Sichuan Province, China.
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