Wen Jun, A tough yet memorable journey in China.

Dare to Dream 2012 , China
7 Jul-15Aug 2012
Organised by AIESEC AU UIR
Written by Yu Wen Jun, LC UPM

On 28.11.2011 , I have made an important decision that is going to ripple my summer in year 2012. My EP form was raised. Roughly 6 months later, I found myself in Beijing, roughly 4352.35km away from my comfort zone in Kuala Lumpur.

I joined a project which focuses on child education in rural area. Expectation was go to a rural school in Xi’An , Shan Xi province to teach. Plan did not go well, a scandal happened in the district which happened to be our original destination involving national image of China and human right groups.The local government closed down visiting of foreign in an attempt to black out the media, according to the locals. The organizing committee had to make plan just 1weeks before 20 exchange participants arrival and omit the planning for around 5 months. ( lobbying with local authority, gaining permission, activity planning, site surveying, communication with the school and local residents, accommodation planning, logistics planning, sponsorship finding and ETC ) Seemed and sounded gloomy and bleak for an intern who has just arrived with big hope
and enthusiasm.

First week, training and teaching plan making. We too, went sight seeing around Beijing whenever our time table permits. The interns and local Chinese buddy bonded. Miscommunications happened but it is a learning curve for everyone. Dropped my wallet and experience an emotional roller coaster ride for 12hours before getting it back from a beautiful soul. Losing wallet in a foreign country with people around you who you have
met for less than a week is no joke. Gotten tonnes of help from friends here. Met some other interns from LC in Beijing.

Second week, departed and arrived at Shipu, Ningbo province, The plan B. We interns were surprised that our target audience was actually tuition centre students instead of regular day time student. Another issue arose was homestay planning, the moment we arrived, we were not assigned to respective homestay family beforehand. It was done hastily, rich family discriminates on race and place of origin of the interns and some
interns were left unattended at the end of the day. Tears dropped and argument happened. Recruitment had to be done days before our teaching starts. The respond was unsatisfactory. Way below expectation.

Third+forth week, teaching in Shipu started. The age range of our recruitment is from 4-17 years old. Arranging for time table was a hassle. The students assigned to me was mostly high school students with low English proficiency. Generally, English teaching in China focuses in writing and grammar which is far from appealing and interesting from a student point of view. It has become a burden, a task, rather than a platform to diversed and global knowledge. An intern was hospitalized due to food poisoning and two Chinese buddy headed home earlier due to a fist fight involving locals. Tears dropped and argument happened. Crisis happens every other day, literally.
.
Fifth week, bid goodbye to Shipu, the project officially ended. But all the interns stuck together for travelling. We went Shanghai for around 5days before leaving to Beijing. I got myself another project to take part in, result of networking during my days in Beijing. The project in Tianjin was a proper one. Farm surrounds the school. Only one water source in the school, but its not in the toilet. Drinking water has to be fetched approx. 300meters from the school. We take bath in student’s place everyday after school. Three meals was prepared by ourselves from the crop harvest brought by our students. Daily routine was simple and meaningful.

Sixth week, bid goodbye to Tianjin. Back in Beijing again, reunion with some of the interns who was still there. Spent a few days exploring Beijing with some company before returning Malaysia. Despite the abrupt change of plan, AIESECer and local organizing committee committed in delivering an incredible exchange experience for all the interns. Their effort and hard work was undeniable and applaudable. Words cannot describe how indebted I am and how I appreciate all the bonds I have made in China. I miss them now and will be always missing all of them.

I cannot stress enough that the journey was meaningful and packed with unexpected events and happenings. When everything is smooth and in favor of us in any of our undertaking, there is not much learning curve and discovery along the way. On the contrary, I experienced otherwise in my 42 days in China. Am proud of myself with the decision back in 28.11.2011.

THE END.

I will definitely remember this for a lifetime.