Companion

CHENG ShuMei   

I decided to title my note as “companion” when I was on the train back to Taiwan. Because I think this word is the best demonstration and summary of this summer.

Before my graduation, I became more and more convinced about my future as a social worker on one hand, and I wanted to expand my experience on the other hand. I paid attention to information about international volunteer recruiting. One day, Yating, one of my friends, gave me the information about EDEN volunteer recruiting. From that moment, the connections between EDEN, Da Xi Tan and me started. I wasn’t sure at the very beginning. However, I determined to join this program after I went to the illustration meeting. The atmosphere and idea conveyed by this meeting attracted me. It was my first time that I left Taiwan. And it was my first time to use my own money to get my first experience after my graduation. More importantly, I knew what I was doing and I was pround of my choice.

Before our departure, I didn’t feel much nervous or expectations. Let it be, I think. What I indeed knew was that I would do my best. In this trip, I experience my first time on a plane. It was a big step in my life because I stepped over it. This experience would help me to explore other countries more bravely. The atmosphere in the team was harmonious and happy. It was a good beginning. 

The train section in our trip was long. However, we weren’t bored. We chatted and played games together. The day we arrived Lanzhou was a nice day. I was amazed by the splendid plateau scenery. New experiences came one after another – beef noodle, toilet without door, horns, continuous mountains, sheep flock, and white yaks.

Finally we arrived at Xi Da Tan Middle School. They gave us white silk Khatag which represented that they respected us as distinguished guests. The strong welcome wine was the best annotation for a local proverb “prefer broken stomach to broken feelings”. The second day, we went to a nearby jokul. We had a leisure afternoon with delicious roasted lamb and lamb soup. And because of the delay of our car, we had a chance to walk in the mountains. Later we came to see HE Kun’s life which was a shock to us. That night, brother Yongxiang prayed for HE Kun. I wasn’t there. But I felt sorry later since I thought I should be a companion to them at least. I felt like I could have done more. However, the regret wasn’t just a sorrow but a motivation, which let me know I should be more considerate for others. This experience let me know I should provide effective way to help.   

The class time was coming. Vicky and I were in charge of 4 classes and twenty hours of English courses. This was a big challenge. We wanted to have fun with students while to meet their thirsty for knowledge. So in class, we taught according to the textbook and in the meanwhile we organized some fun games. Due to those lovely kids, we had the motivation to better ourselves. Maybe other people couldn’t understand the following words, but those were my best memories: “teacher says””When I say…, you say…””Pizza Hot song””which one is deeper, jar, pan, bowl, or plate?”, and the English name I gave to those students. I won’t forget how eager and serious when they answer my questions; I won’t forget their beautiful smiles when we play games together. In night self study class, I went to accompany those kids. Then I got to know that they had so much difficult assignments to do. They didn’t have English dictionary and they weren’t familiar with phonetic symbols. So even they recited vocabularies well, they didn’t know how to pronounce them. When those kids asked me about those questions, I felt a sense of responsibility that I could actually help. Therefore I explained every question as clear as I can.

    Even so, I gradually realized that what I could give was so little. What I can give most is companion – one-week companion with my full heart. I started to remember everyone’s name because they would feel the attention when I can tell their names; I started to chat with them more actively because they would be willing to be closer with me. I know that when I stand on the platform as a big sister or a teacher, they respect me but there is distance. Our every movement was observed carefully by them. I know that I wanted attention when I was a kid, so I tried my best to care for everyone of them.

    Liping cried when we were singing. After class, I got to know that she missed her family. Later she told me her dream was to become a interpreter. Therefore I wrote to her every other day to encourage her. She sent me a necklace and made me a garland. There was another kid named Xiaoliang. One day he gave me a note and a painting album. There was a little boy standing on the mountain. He said that I would know what he wanted to say if I saw the painting carefully. I felt sorry that I didn’t have more time to company those kids. So when they asked my signature, I wrote my impression for everyone. This way, those kids became closer and closer to me. Shoushan who hated taking pictures at first was willing to take picture with us later. Quiet Xingkui ran to me to tell me that he got the second place in the finals. Shy Wanzhen who was not participating at first joined our games later with enthusiasm.

Sometimes, I can’t stop asking myself what I can give to them since I gained so much from them. Those kids are so pure but mature. Everyone is diligent and working hard without complains for their dreams of going to the outside world. Their hearts are so pure that they keep walking towards future no matter how hard the environment is. In my heart, they are my teachers as well. I learned to cherish, to appreciate, to enjoy simple happiness. We are actually taken after by them. They have an attitude of no turning back like us, but even stronger.

    Days pasted by fast. Departure came. Farewell party, sending kids home, getting on the leaving cars – all those moments told me that it was time to say goodbye. My eyes become wet whenever I recall those moments in my head. I am surprised how deep the friendship is in such a short time. On the other hand, I feel maybe I am too selfish to think those kids are mine. Actually every volunteer group will give those kids different experience which is a good thing. But I don’t want them to say goodbye so frequently because departure always hurts. I don’t want to think they are just a type of experience in my life. They are independent and fulfilling individuals. I have an agreement with them that whenever I miss them I will look up to the moon and starts. Maybe we are just passing travelers in each other’s life, but those moving moments will stay in our hearts.

As to the fun part, it wasn’t that important. The most memorable activity was a hill exploration near our school in a Thursday afternoon. I always crave for the quiet moment with nature by myself. I need time to accompany myself alone in the nature. We didn’t follow the normal path, instead, we chose the shortcut. We walked by barley fields and marched toward the highest peek. Standing on the top of the mountain, I saw an amazing landscape. Pictures can’t seize the beauty of Xi Da Tan which I will store carefully in my memery. At that moment, if I can live here, it would be wonderful – if I want to be alone, I can climb up to the mountain to see the beautiful scene, enjoy the sunshine, and think by myself. Everything is so peaceful and beautiful. I like the peace; it is a kind of tenderness.

However what I care most is still people. I love my 16^th group. Everyone in this group is so different but the same at the same time. We have different personalities but we gathered through EDEN to work and play together. We experienced toilet without doors, we all didn’t take shower for ten days, we shared lots of stories, and eventually we took the same moving memory home. And we’ll continue our friendship in the future.