Journal - Day 12

After enjoying our last breakfast at Macheng Hotel, we set off to Bei An Middle School, anticipating for the final and eventful-to-be day at the school. As we arrived at the school, we were greeted by many students—Spring Blossom girls and other (non-Spring Blossom) students alike.

Once again, the day began with Yi Jung and Da Sel's daily Korean exercise, warming us up as the girls laughed, enjoying themselves. Today the Arts and Crafts group decided not to further extend their lesson so the Spring Blossom girls were split into two groups – year 7 & 9s and year 8s.

In the games group, we realized very quickly that they already knew how to play ‘Hawk and Chick', a game we were going to introduce to them, so we quickly played a round of the game and went indoors to play ‘Mafia'. We initially thought that the game would be extremely difficult to explain, but the students seem to have picked up on the objectives and rules of the game quite quickly and we managed to play two rounds before heading outside for the whole school Tug-of-War competition.

Our first game was against the female staffs and the KGV Spring Blossom team (all girls too!), headed by Catherine, won victoriously. The next challengers were ten of their strongest male staffs against all of us. Gathering all our mental and physical strength, we chanted and pulled and once again, we won. Next we were against the Spring Blossom girls. We thought this had to be the easiest of all the battles. We were mistaken. As the whistle blew, signaling us to start, other students started to join in (so it was about fifty students against us twenty girls) and we were defeated. For the next round though, we reconstructed our tactics and in the end we won. Towards the end of the games, we performed ‘We're All in This Together' and our dance in front of the whole school. Later on, we were surprised to know that we've been crowned the champions and happily received our prizes.

We had lunch with the Spring Blossom girls and, arm in arm, made our way back to the secondary school. Everyone seemed quite calm at the closing ceremony until one of the Spring Blossom girls began crying, realizing that we will not be back again tomorrow, nor the day after. And most probably never will again. A chain effect occurred as the weeping spread across the room and soon, hot tears ran down all the girls' cheeks. The scene was heartbreaking. Girls and KGV Spring Blossomers around the room were seen to be hugging and sobbing in each other's embrace, treasuring this friendship – short-lived but infinitely valuable.

Still, the final goodbyes had to be said. We boarded on our bus, waving goodbye to the students. As we drove away, the Spring Blossom girls' silhouettes slowly shrank and disappeared in the mist of dust. Although they can no longer be seen physically by our eyes, their smiles, their enthusiasm and their laughter will always stay in our memories, and it is there—in our mind eyes—where we will cherish and remember forever: Spring Blossom 2007.


3 words describing SB

 Care compassion commitment

Mission accomplished

A complete synergy

Humble life changing experience

Unforgettable

Rewarding experience again

Love love love

Amazon trust respect

Treasure every moment

[(Love+smile)/babies]*25

Its all love

Enrichment for all

Friendship

I'm loving it/ its too short

All for one

Transformation

Musical

A big family

Teamwork

Whole new world

Surprising exciting emotional

Persist last forever

Energy experience change

Tick tick bloom