Our last day with the Spring Blossom girls and for many of us was filled with anticipation, enthusiasm, weariness, (half of the group had stayed up to 4:30 folding and stringing cranes) and in all could only be described as an unpredictable emotional roller coaster.
 

Eating at the best...and one of the only restaurants in town with Chairman of Women's Federation for Spring Blossom in Qing Hai.

The bus ride to the school was sombre as many of us attempted to catch some last minute Z’s. The first activity, power walking was led by the ever enthusiastic Benson, out and around the school as several KGVers used the opportunity to delicately move and not tangle the  

1000 cranes of gold and red, strung with fishing wire on our own handmade hanger (courtesy of Katie and Emily) from the bus to the school.

A thousand cranes representing the theme of our trip, "Wings of Hope"

Less than 50 meters and with 3 people carrying the contraption the long strands still managed to become beyond the ‘untangling’ state.  ‘Safely’ tying it to an electrical wire from the ceiling we waited for the power charged girls to arrive.

Seated in the dirt courtyard the Crane Ceremony began, where the significance of the 1000 cranes was explained and then displayed among the trees. The traditional ‘Jie Mei’ (Sister) song was sung while cranes made by the KGV students were given to each individual girl. After posing for camera after camera, ‘I want one too’ was a particularly catchy phrase, all the KGVers rushed off in order to prepare the next activity: mural painting.

In our very efficient and most organised fashion, in rows we laid out two canvases each 25 feet in length; distributed one colour each from the 50 bottles of paint we HAULED from Hong Kong into various margarine tubs and palettes and ensured all 70 of us had a paint brush. The aim of the activity was to represent in any form, this includes hand and feet painting, the theme ‘Wings of Hope’, this four-day experience and the friendships that emerged.

After thoroughly covering the canvas with paints, everyone slowly dispersed and set off into groups of newfound friends. We exchanged addresses and ‘hung around’ conversing in hand gestures and using sometimes a mix of various canto-mandarin phrases. Eventually everyone understood.

By 1 o’clock the Sharing Session had begun. We sat in a large circle and in turns we stood in the centre and gave our views of the experience we had shared. KGV students presented 3 girls with gifts of stationery, red envelopes and various gifts we had brought.  We were warned of the emotional impact of the session and I felt overwhelmed. Holding my breath in my seat to stop the tears was no problem but as I reached the centre table, I turned to speak and tears trickled down my face, I choked and the feeling that your heart needs a hug swept over. It’s difficult to comprehend and though most of us shared different thoughts and feelings, the feeling seemed to touch everyone. By the end of the session most eyes were damp, red and everyone felt a sense of change. The Spring Blossom girls were equally and perhaps more emotional, many of them simply stood and cried, their words soft and muffled by tears. However they delivered the similar message that they would not forget us and hoped we would return to teach them more.

Awestruck. We had taught them only simple almost forgotten games from our childhood and until then we couldn’t understand the impact we had on their lives and reflecting now we know we too learned as teachers. Learned the true meaning of hope, ambition and even hardship. Though maybe a little clichéd, they honestly taught us more than we were able to offer them in those four days.

After the Sharing Session one student from Spring Blossom made a speech, thanking us for visiting and teaching them at their ‘humble and ordinary’ school. The girls then presented each person with two pairs of handcrafted embroidered shoe soles.

By 3 pm we were seated in a classroom where the words ‘Friends Forever’ were written in colourful chalk on the traditional blackboard. Our last meal was filled with presentations, toasting with our strawberry and orange juice, thank yous, the last singing of ‘Jie Mei’, many tears and little eating.

As the last of the announcements were made and we stood to leave, many of the girls cried openly. Biting back we tried to comfort those around us telling them not to cry as we would meet again soon. Fifteen minutes and we moved no further than the classroom door, we all huddled in a mass as the teachers tried to coax us down the drive. As we neared the front entrance and the bus came into view sobs grew louder and everyone seemed lost.

On and off the bus everyone continued to cry and many of us held out hands from the window to comfort the girls. This was it, the end of the four days and as the bus drove off we waved until the school gate could no longer be seen. The atmosphere on the bus was subdued many of us were upset, and emotionally and physically exhausted. In another clichéd phrase it was simply an unforgettable four days and is and will be branded in our memories.

However that was not the end of the day.

After we drove back towards Haibei we made a quick visit to a local school. Performing an impressive programme of modern Indian dance, Acapella, ‘Jie Mei’, Line dance and Hokey Pokey we still could not compete with these meticulously rehearsed flexible wowing primary schoolers. Though performing this time on carpet and somewhat softer than natural outdoor facilities, with Sumire’s amazing back flip entrance the atmosphere definitely lacked the ‘umph’ of the Spring Blossom school. However all in all we enjoyed ourselves and this left spirits higher.

Leaving the school there was no feeling of attachment as to the Spring Blossom girls and we were given ‘free time’ meaning a choice of showering at the communal showers, staying at the hotel or returning to the grassland for horseback riding. Benefiting everyone we went our separate ways with no regrets.

Meeting again at dinner everyone was completely revived. After dinner several people from the horseback riding crew went for showers.  When they returned to the hotel all of us were in shock when Ronaldo (Jonathan Wang) and a hairless Ani entered. Boasting and strutting their four-dollar haircuts we gathered around ‘Can I touch your head?’ They almost started charging us. After the surprise and the most positive uplift of the day we went back to our rooms to turn in.

The day to be simply put was an ‘eye opener’. It was difficult to explain and I hope this entry gives the day enough justice for everyone. For the readers I hope you can catch a glimpse of the light we bathed in as you may be viewing this from a slit in the fence looking into our backyard.

By Janet Lee

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