Report_2003

3/24 早上八點出發從成都到南充，去幾所學校發放助學金給學生和學校，總共有三百多個學生。工作包括檢視紅榜，對照每個受助學生的名字和個人資料，給他們貼名牌，這些工作令我這個新手有點手忙腳亂，加上有些學生因種種原因沒到，還得派人去找，張溫洳是這次唯一有經驗的人，在她的教導有方之下，再加上我們又都絕頂聰明，所以一切都做得圓滿功成。
On Monday the 24th of March, we left Chengdu at 8:00 A.M. and traveled to Nanchong to begin our work. We visited a few schools in this area and distributed tuition aid to students and financial aid to the schools. It was a very busy day for us as there were more than 300 students to process. The necessity of identifying each student, verifying their background and grades, etc. became quite taxing because, of course, some children for one reason or another didn’t show up and their teachers had to send people to find them.
In the end, however, all worked out fine, and we were happy to have accomplished our mission for that day. Thanks to our EEP team leader who was the only experienced worker on this trip, and due to her planning and tutelage (a crash course) we all managed to finish the day looking like experts.
3/25和3/26，這二天我們都去考察新建成的學校，在嘉陵區附近一共有十二所左右，我們給分成三組，我的一組坐上中國出品的小麵包車，開上高低不平的山路，一開就幾小時。對這些國產車我非常敬佩，居然可以顛上山下山幾小時而沒散成碎片，有一段路陡得厲害，僑聯的孫先生要下車幫忙推一把才過得了，真夠勁！
On Tuesday the 25th and Wednesday the 26th, we went to the Jin-Ling district to inspect new schools that had been completed since last November. There were 12 schools to review and we were divided into three groups. Workers from the local education department drove us in a mini-mini van, and for several hours we traveled over very bumpy country roads to visit four new schools and one old disintegrating school that had requested EEP help. I was quite amazed that this mini van could do all of this rocking & rolling without breaking into pieces after just one hour. It managed to take us up and down mountains; crossing over from one village to the next and at one point where it was just too steep to get over the top on its own, one guy simply got out, gave a mighty push, and off it went. Very impressive, indeed.
3/27 今天是至今最辛苦的一天，我們在早上八點出發分成兩組，去查看在申請資助的學校，山路比前兩天的更夠性格，有些山路真的沒法開車過，只得下車走，雖然只需走30分鐘，但因是山路，比較累人，幸好沒下雨，不然就更難了。
有兩所學校已太破爛，村民要把全部小學生分散去民房上課。另外有一所學校是建在1949年，現在只有一間教室還可以用來上課，當然這些學校在我眼中都達到需要資助重建的，我希望在不久的將來那裡有所結實的、光線充足的學校給當地小孩上學用。我很高興地發現當地鄉村的小孩，三、四歲就開始上學，他們一年級的學業都很深了。

The 4th day’s schedule was a hard one. Divided into two groups, we left around 8:30 A.M., as usual, and began visiting the schools that were applying for construction aid. Using the same mini van, we went over an even bumpier road than the day before, and at one point the van was useless and so we all had to get out and travel the last thirty minutes on foot. This road was a very difficult walk, (for us city walkers) and luckily, it had not rained for weeks, so at least it was not slippery as well. Finally, we arrived in a beautiful little village.
One of the school buildings was falling apart so badly that they had to move the kids to a farmer’s house to conduct temporary classes. Another large school with two buildings, while still standing, was in terrible shape. I was surprised to see that local children start school at a very young age, some only 3 or 4 years old. The 5 years olds are in first grade, their reading and math skills are quite advanced. How nice to see these children give their full attention in class. The third school that we visited was built around 1949, and now only one room can be used as a classroom. Of course all these schools qualify for rebuilding aid and so we took many photos and had them complete the application forms. Maybe in a year or so, there will be a decent road that leads to a little new school building complete with windows and all.
3/28 今天很輕鬆，我們去了兩所大學，發放助學金給不少大學生，那些大學生在十年前就開始接受燃燈助學幫助，見到他們能繼續在大學中上課，我都感到有成就感。
今天是四川工作的最後一天，領隊說我們的假期過完了，明天去貴州才是辛苦的工作，哇！不得了，我們可真是來練工夫的。
The fifth day was fairly easy work. We visited two colleges and distributed tuition aid to quite a few students. Some of these college students were under the EEP program for as many as 10 years, and to see them get into college (some already graduated) have good grades and then be ready to serve their own community when they graduate, makes me feel so good.
That was the last day we worked in Sichuan Province, and our team leader told us that our vacation was over! Next comes the real work (or should we say work out?) apparently Guizhou Province is the walking work out.
3/29 我們本應乘中午班機去貴陽，可惜中午的班機已滿座，只能乘4:30的，這下我們有半天可以走動，看看成都。
It is March 29th, and we are supposed to leave for Guiyang, Guizhou Province in the morning. Alas, the plane we planned to travel on was full and we had to take the 4:00 P.M. plane instead, so we finally got a half-day free to roam the city, see Chengdu, and do some shopping!
3/30至4/6 到貴州，我們一人跟一組，我跟遵義來的張科長一組，去遵義縣。
在貴州就比較累了，雖然中國政府造了不少公路，但我們去考察的學校都是公路去不到的，我們去的路都是高低不平非常夠性格的小山路。全貴州都是高山，第一天我們坐了五小時車在山上一路顛滾過去，我正好做做白日夢，想你自己是在國家地理探險隊中，在貴州我們坐的是SUV，我想如我們能實地給那SUV的汽車公司做宣傳廣告一定會非常成功。
March 30th: last night we met the people from Guizhou Province. We were divided into 4 groups to visit four different districts in Guichou and I was assigned to the Zun-Yi district with Mr. Zhang as my guide, protector and buffer so that the local villagers won’t be offended if I don’t drink or smoke with them. Therefore, off we went first thing in the morning and drove all the way from Guiyang to Zun-Yi. In the afternoon, we met up with the Zun-Yi education minister, and went to inspect one typically run down school that needed help badly.
Guizhou is all mountains and anywhere you look or stand, you were just surrounded by mountains. One has to cross over mountains to get to the next town, next village, next whatever. Moreover, these mountains are quite high, from 200 meters to 1400 meters above sea level. The mountains are not rich for farming and on top of that the weather is always poor. This is one of the poorest provinces in China. Which is a good reason for the EEP to help build schools there.

Through out Guizhou the government has built miles and miles of highways, or paved roads, but most of the schools the EEP helps or wants to help are in the most remote areas. In the villages we visited, most roads are just rocks and mud. On that day we drove along these roads (for 5 hours), we were lucky to have a SUV and all along I was imagining myself in some kind of National Geographic adventure trip. I also thought that if I took the right photograph I could sell it to that SUV manufacturer for an advertisement; they will be thrilled to see how well their cars perform.
當然每天除了坐車鬆骨外，我們還得爬山，第一天我們走二個多小時，第二天我們是上山二個半小時，當然考察完了學校還得花一個半小時下山，第三天又是走四小時左右，我平常走不少路，(這是住在紐約的好處之一)但走山路是完全二回事，其中有一天下了點毛毛雨，那天下山後我的鞋子上至少積了三磅泥，有一所學校因下雨，路太陡太滑，沒能上去看。
We have to walk a lot in Guizhou too and although living in New York City I am used to walking 2 or 3 hours on a regular basis, hiking uphill in the mountains is a very different story. On the second day in Guizhou I had to hike for two and a half hours, the next day 4 hours, and the following day was another 4 hours of huffing and puffing.
驗收新建成的學校都建得非常滿意，(除了有一所造得非常不夠標準，張科長見了比我還生氣)。那些學校因車上不去，所以建築材料都是村民們背上去的，有一座山上小學的老校長更親自帶頭背磚頭上山建校，另一所學校的校長連中國新年都不休息，天天不停的工作，直到學校建成為止，當我見到那些造得結實、光線充足的新學校時，真是說不出的高興。
All the new schools here are great, except one. Since I visited so many good ones, I knew the one that was not up to our standard was an exception. Mr. Zhang was more upset than I. I was really happy to see that most of the school buildings were way past my expectations, and it was very moving to see the kids, the villagers and teachers all pitch in together to build their new school. The principle of one school worked through the Chinese New Year in order to complete on time so that the kids could return after the New Year break. Another principle carried bricks on his back and walked 1 and half hours everyday to help in the building of his new little school.
These are just a few examples of the many stories I could tell about these villages. I was overwhelmed to see those new school buildings, some small with only four class rooms, but they all stood solid with big windows and good ventilation. The children sat happily in their new school, eager to join in the class work.
在貴州工作了七天，看了幾所建成的學校，也考察了不少很破爛、需要資助的學校，本來以為會走得累垮，但我居然越走越來勁，真可以再走上七天。
During my seven days in Guizhou, we visited six new schools and six or seven old ones that needed help. I thought I might collapse from fatigue but instead I became more and more energetic as the day went by. At the end I felt I could hike for at least seven more days.
貴州的考察完成後，下一站廣西省，因是新開始的省，所以只有二天工作，完成後我們各自安排回美國也。
The people there were extremely hospitable to us. They wanted to give us their best, and would do their utmost to accommodate our every wish. There were times when it might not suit us, but I was always grateful for their efforts. One important thing to remember in Guizhou is not to accept an offer to drink if you cannot polish off at least half a bottle of Maotai (a highly alcoholic drink that the locals consume in such vast quantities that it is a miracle they can still stand up and walk, not to mention WORK). Also, do not tell them you like spicy food, because they eat hot pepper as if you eat candy. A “little spicy” for them will be burning a hole in your stomach.
This kind of work seems very addictive, I was back for only a month, and I am planning to go back.