Teach in Asia 2012
The final week in Yong'an, Fujian
After an emotional and elaborate farewell, we left Yong'an for Fuzhou, the capital city of Fujian province. It was the morning after the graduation ceremony which was held in the school premises. Students of all seven classes showcased their talents at the program. They performed dances, sang songs and performed one act plays. We 'the foreign teachers' helped them prepare their shows for which they worked many hours in the third week of the program. My class prepared a skit named 'Rob the Bank'. It was a humorous enactment of bank robbery. I was asked to play a bank robber while three students played bank employees and a customer who tricks the robber and steals his money. The play was liked by the audience including the Mayor of Yong'an city. The Yong'an city government supported the program in which students from rural areas also participated.
On the morning of Saturday, July 28, all students gathered at our hotel. A number of students brought presents for their teachers. We got together for group pictures, hugged each other and became emotional. We boarded the bus with tearful eyes. As the bus slowly rolled out of the hotel, students waved at their teachers. The atmosphere was enveloped with sadness of separation. Leaving many tearful eyes behind we left Yong'an with deep emotions.
We were quiet in the bus which took three hours to reach Fuzhou. I was immersed in Chinese culture for three weeks and experienced it up, close, and personal. I had touched the hearts and mind of many young people and was touched by them. This bond was symbolic of strong human relations which has existed since ancient days. No boundaries of politics of geography can break it.
It was remarkable to see the level of support that the Chinese society provides to educate its younger generation. Parents and officials work together to offer opportunities to younger generation competing in all areas of their studies. Even if they were learning English, they were using their expertise to research and experiment in other disciplines, such as, science.
I visited China under the program initiated by Crane House-Asia Institute located in Louisville, KY. Crane House partnered with Association of Science and Technology of Fujian province. This association functions for promotion of science in schools and is supported by local chapters called societies. Thus the goal of promoting eduction is shared by all members of the association who work together to meet their objectives. A number of officials working in the foreign affairs department of the association are highly educated people who possess international perspective on education. These officials are helping students from rural areas compete with students who live in cities and have access to better education.
The association's goal is to promote
English as a foreign language along with promotion of science. The
Chinese people display great love and commitment for their language. It
was not easy to find an English speaking person in the capital city of
Fujian. The education leaders of China are convinced about the
importance of English as an international language. China wants to
compete with the West in all areas. It wants its younger generation to
learn English but not at the cost of their own Chinese language. It is
evident that China has a clear cut goal to succeed in the 21st century.
The final week in Yong'an, Fujian
After an emotional and elaborate farewell, we left Yong'an for Fuzhou, the capital city of Fujian province. It was the morning after the graduation ceremony which was held in the school premises. Students of all seven classes showcased their talents at the program. They performed dances, sang songs and performed one act plays. We 'the foreign teachers' helped them prepare their shows for which they worked many hours in the third week of the program. My class prepared a skit named 'Rob the Bank'. It was a humorous enactment of bank robbery. I was asked to play a bank robber while three students played bank employees and a customer who tricks the robber and steals his money. The play was liked by the audience including the Mayor of Yong'an city. The Yong'an city government supported the program in which students from rural areas also participated.
On the morning of Saturday, July 28, all students gathered at our hotel. A number of students brought presents for their teachers. We got together for group pictures, hugged each other and became emotional. We boarded the bus with tearful eyes. As the bus slowly rolled out of the hotel, students waved at their teachers. The atmosphere was enveloped with sadness of separation. Leaving many tearful eyes behind we left Yong'an with deep emotions.
We were quiet in the bus which took three hours to reach Fuzhou. I was immersed in Chinese culture for three weeks and experienced it up, close, and personal. I had touched the hearts and mind of many young people and was touched by them. This bond was symbolic of strong human relations which has existed since ancient days. No boundaries of politics of geography can break it.
It was remarkable to see the level of support that the Chinese society provides to educate its younger generation. Parents and officials work together to offer opportunities to younger generation competing in all areas of their studies. Even if they were learning English, they were using their expertise to research and experiment in other disciplines, such as, science.
I visited China under the program initiated by Crane House-Asia Institute located in Louisville, KY. Crane House partnered with Association of Science and Technology of Fujian province. This association functions for promotion of science in schools and is supported by local chapters called societies. Thus the goal of promoting eduction is shared by all members of the association who work together to meet their objectives. A number of officials working in the foreign affairs department of the association are highly educated people who possess international perspective on education. These officials are helping students from rural areas compete with students who live in cities and have access to better education.
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