Farewell Gift

Dandelion School

 

On April 18th, our group had an amazing opportunity to visit and volunteer at the Dandelion School.   The Dandelion School is a nonprofit educational institute located in Daxing District, the outskirt area of Beijing City. It is the first and only middle school built especially for the children from low-income migrant families in Beijing. The school was started by Dr. Hong and five other women to give poor migrant children a chance for an education.  As Dr. Hong explained, the right to education for the children from poor migrant families has been largely neglected by the Chinese government.  The current residential registration system and low levels of income are the two major barriers for these children to enter either public or private schools.  The school's mission is to "Give back the right to quality education to migrant children."

Dr. Hong and her staff have made an incredible impact in just six short years.  As a group, we expected to find a sad, run down school with little supplies.  Instead, we were swept away by the beauty of the school and the joy evident in the students.  The students have taken an old factory site and made it into a living museum of their own art work of found objects.  There are murals everywhere, some even made from plastic bottle caps.  An old alleyway is decorated on every square inch with a stunning mosaic. 

We had the chance to spend some time talking to Jimmy, an American volunteer teacher.  Jimmy, only 18 years old, has spent the last few months teaching English at the Dandelion School.  He talked to us about the ways in which the students have taught him about life and opened his heart.  Our conversation with Jimmy strengthened the sense we had that Dr. Hong had created a place of promise. 

At the end of our visit to the Dandelion School, Dr. Hong and our group exchanged contact information since it is our hope that the Darien High School Exchange program will continue to develop a relationship with the Dandelion School.  Our group talked about creating opportunities for correspondence with  students at the Dandelion School as well as a fundraising campaign to help support the school in the future.

The time we spent at the Dandelion School left a lasting impression on us.

Kristen Backus

Beijing

Rainbow Valley

Farewell Party

Tonight, the night of April 12th, 2011, many tears were shed and numerous hugs passed on. This evening marked the last night of the Darien High School student’s home stay portion of the exchange. The night started out with an introduction stated by Li Hao and a speech given by Sally to kick-off the event. Cheery followed with a note that personally addressed each and every American student; at this point, it had finally hit me that we were leaving Qingdao in less than 24 hours. I also realized how much of a connection everyone had made during their time here in such a big and beautiful city. The individual comments shared with each of the American students revealed just how well Cheery grew to know us all. With 15 students and 15 hosts, there was some challenge in creating bonds with the Chinese students; yet, somehow we managed to befriend one another within ten days. About half of the student hosts were first year students and half, second year students; because the second year students had already visited Darien, we knew some of them. However, during their 9-day stay in Darien I did not feel there was enough opportunity to form lasting friendships. Luckily, these past twelve days have provided a chance for me to mix and mingle with all fifteen host students and more. I will never forget this experience and all of the friendships I have made. The night ended with constant flashing coming from fifty different cameras. I made sure to capture photos of all the Chinese hosts, my new friends.
The sights in Qingdao took my breath away, with mountains surrounding three sides and a gorgeous coast on the fourth. My host family has provided me with a second home and made me feel welcome from the moment I stepped through the door. Patrick, my host sister, called herself “your trusty tour guide.” Starting on day one, Patrick taught me all about Chinese culture. Despite my initial thoughts about Chinese people, they surprised me by acting warm and welcoming. Everyone should seize any opportunity for exchange if it ever comes up in their lifetime. I feel so grateful to have had such an amazing experience.

Thanks,
Victoria

 

 

Valeria Rivero's Photos

Making Dumplings

This weekend my host family and I visited my host sister's (Jenny) aunt and uncle to have dinner. Jenny and her family taught me how traditional Chinese dumplings are made! We made dumplings filled with eggs and scallions. They were SO good but really difficult to make! To prepare the outer shell of the dumpling, you roll dough into a thick worm shape and then cut it into small chunks. Then you use a rolling pin to shape the chunks into small circles. It sounds easy but it requires a very specific technique! Once the circular pieces are made, you place a small scoop of filling onto the dough and then press the edges of the circle together. My host family taught me that it is more desirable to have dumplings with wrinkles in them. In order to create the wrinkles you have to pinch the dumplings between your fists. I did not do a great job! The dumplings tasted delicious even though they did not look as pretty as the ones my host family made! I'll have to practice when I get back to America!

-Julia Lang

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This is a picture of Spy, my host sister, and  me learning how to make dumplings with her mother and aunt. 

This is a picture of Hannah and me when we were visiting the Qingdao museum.

Enjoying Qingdao

I can't believe it's already been 6 days. Where has the time gone? My time in China has been so unbelievable; it feels as if it isn't real. My host family is amazing; I love them all already. My parents speak little English so they have trouble communicating with me, but they are still so much fun. I have already had so many great experiences since the start of the trip; I have trouble keeping up with them in my journal! One of the best days so far for me was on Tuesday. I went to the aquarium with my host family and saw a dolphin show; the tricks the dolphins could do were unbelievable! At the show, my host sister Cheery and I met up with Lila, Kylie and Claire and their host sisters. We walked around the rest of the aquarium and got to see all of the cool animals; it was great. We even got to take pictures with the dolphins! After the aquarium, we went to Kylie's host mom's friend’s restaurant, located where the Qingdao Sailing Olympics were held and made dumplings with our host sisters and their friends. We sang karaoke, ate such great food and met so many new and interesting people.

Making dumplings was so much fun but I must say I am not very good at it! The mothers were amazing at making them and could do it so quickly, too. I guess they have had a lot of practice. After eating dumplings and talking with our new friends, we said good bye and I went back to Lila's apartment with her host sister, Tian. While Tian did her homework, Lila and I watched a movie while her mother prepared dinner. Dinner was great and the parents were so welcoming I felt right at home. This was just one of the many amazing days I have had in Qingdao so far, and I am so grateful to have the opportunity to be here and be able to experience all of this.
-Elyssa Ganser

Flag raising ceremony

“Olivia addresses the Qingdao 58 School at their flag raising ceremony.”

Kylie's Birthday in China

“Kylie celebrates her birthday with tiara and Chinese breakfast.”  

Rhiannon Ross' Photos

Ms. Backus' Photos

Mr. Clarke's Photos

Mr. Clarke's host family

Mr. Clarke's extended host family.

Demonstration in Chinese painting at Qingdao #58

DHS students painting after a lesson.



Meg Marren's Photos

Having fun at the water's edge.

Downtown Qingdao.

Victoria Eng's photos

Here are some photos from my first full day here with my host family.

My family and I at the2008 Beijing Olympic Sailing Center. We are standing in front of the construction of what will soon be Qingdao's tallest building.

My host mother teaching me how to make dumplings.

My host mother, host sister, Mrs. Zhang (my host mother's sister), and me in Mrs. Zhang's living room.