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HOPE -The splendid land on which I was born and raised teems with hope
My name is Ricky..I feel so luck,honorable and grateful to be chosen as a volunteer to participate in the China Service Ventures' activity in rural remote areas near Xinyang.After the whole week field trip,which is considerably impressive to me,I believe that I have been taught a great deal in my long and adventurous journey from the innocence of childhood to the responsibilities of adulthood.New ideas about the world we are living in and the future challenging and stressing life we are to be confronted have been presented since the start of the whole event.Here,I would like to explore the experiences and awareness I have received from the recent activities.
... I would like to share with all of you is a touching story happened between me and a mentally challenged girl who always has a comely and shining smile on her face.She is really beautiful and polite.What is more,she was the only pupil that had ever,ever said THANK YOU to me whilst I delivering the crayons and stickers.She should not be pitied for.What she really deserves is just some respect and love,which weighs much more than giving her some extra condescending help.She was ecstatic after I told her I would like to take a picture with her.She drew the house where she lived in on the paper with rectangles that are the only patterns she could draw.But,she did not feel down or depressed at all.Instead,she drew carefully and happily,of course with some explanations to me about what she was drawing.She wrote her answers down on the paper carefully.The only Chinese characters she could write are her name.She wrote her name with great pride and pleasure,though not in a correct way.I had an unsayable feeling every time I talked to her.The pristine humanities provide me a more accurate and objective perspective to observe the surroundings we see in every part of our mundane life.When chatting with a challenged person,it is not so easy and obvious as we assumed.This kind of chatting occurs between two humans’ heart,without all sorts of disguise or masks.You can feel the most precious emotions inside human body.It is the appreciation for being helped and the motivation to help others.
Now,I would like to discuss something about the poverty in China,especially in some remote mountainous areas like we visted in Xinyang,which is located in the deep southern part of Henan province the most populous province in China.Poverty in China does not simply mean some poor people do not live as well as other citizens...
It means means malnutrition and deprivation for hundreds of thousands of children.It means because of poverty,a great number of children would probably have to quit school.It means great susceptibility to disease,to victimization by criminals and to mental disorders.It also means means... in adequate medical facilities,shortage of drinkable water and shortened life expentancy...
...The longing look for knowledge can be seen clearly from their limpid and bright eyes.I,here,feel extremely fortunate because I can enjoy a family who can support me to travel,to go to university,even to meet up some luxurious demands.If I was not in the team,I would perhaps continue to pursue more extravagant demands for entertainment and personal satisfaction.From the very first minute I visted the local school,I decided to drop some habits.Some money do need to be used in another way which can make more people happy and pleased not only myself.A famous educator says youngsters should concentrate on what they have,not what they want.Our desire is limitless,so,never could me meet up the boundary of my needs and wants.In my life,I have never treasured my comfortable and prosperious life as I do now.Holding a thankful heart will always remain in my mind.
During the trip,I also found some other facilities which requires our attention.The most impressive image of mainland China might be the unpleasant hygienic condition of the restroom,where people need to go everyday.I would rather not to describe what I have seen in the restrooms I went to.Undoubtedly,it is absolutely beyond your imagination....
Accompanying the booming economic development and remarkable material prosperity,a majority of Chinese masses do not understand and view the poverty problem correctly.They wrongly hold the opinion that we have already achieved what we need.There is nothing worse than ignorance.It is imperative and indispensable for us to improve the understanding and boost awareness of more common people....
...I shall tell as many friends of mine as possible about what I have seen and been in during the trip of hope.After I returned to Zhengzhou where I live,I could hardly stop thinking about the children who gave me the invaluable memory and experiences.The local children celebrated every minute we spent together as a holy festive event,which touched most of our volunteers.
...We can also call on more class mates,school mates and,eventually,more normal social members to join us in the meaningful program.Eventually,I do have a better understanding of the slogan of China Service Ventures,‘Not To Be Served,But To Serve’.Every human being is well connected with some other hunman beings.We are ordained to serve the world and blessed with challenge and opportunities to help. Please never forget that the land we are standing on is teeming with hope.Boys and girls,let us join our hands.The efforts will pay off and we human beings will definitely enjoy a better future!
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How much better would our world be if we all got involved with projects and people who help us to change our paradigm, our view of the world? There are many, many more "Rickys" for us to meet. Won't you help with the introduction?
