English Teachers through the Storm

Wednesday, July 18th was, as usual, a hot, humid day in Jinan. I, along with three other  teachers, had been working for about a week with nursing students at Shandong University, helping them improve their conversational English. Just as our last class for the day was finishing, there was a terrific rainstorm! We crossed the street to the student cafeteria without getting too wet.

We thought it would stop soon, but by 6 PM it was thundering and lightning and raining much harder. We waited, believing the rain would soon stop, but instead it rained even harder. Soon the streets of the campus were rivers and the stairs to the buildings were waterfalls! The flat roof over the kitchen was leaking and rain was blowing in the doors of the cafeteria, making the floors very slippery. The water was knee-high in places in the streets.

By 7 PM there were five of our students who were trying to help us get back to our hotel, which was about a mile away.  One student took command of the situation and she sent two students to each of the two main gates of the University to try to get us a taxi. Shortly thereafter, we lost the power at the University and we all sat in the dark in the wet cafeteria. After about 45 minutes in the rain and lightning, they reported back by cell phone that taxis were refusing to take passengers because of the high water and traffic jams. They returned with borrowed umbrellas for us and a sturdy bicycle. They informed me that they were going to take us, one by one, seated on the bicycle, with two students pushing us through the rain to our hotel! I told them, “No”, we were too heavy and maybe we would get our shoes wet, and we only had one pair. Immediately, two students responded, “Don’t worry, teacher, we will pool our money and buy you new shoes!” Fortunately, about that time, we got word that the Nursing School had gotten the driver of the University van and he was coming for us. About 8:30 he arrived and drove us to the hotel. It was still raining and it didn’t quit until about 11 PM.

A few days later, we learned that 29 people had died in the city, and many homes and streets were badly flooded. Many cars were washed away by the waters and the large underground shopping center, the Silver Plaza, located close to the campus, had been flooded with over four feet of filthy water. The National Guard was called out for clean-up, and it may be several months before the shopping center can reopen.

The relationships that are forged between China Service Ventures volunteers and those they meet are life impacting.  Partner with us as we continue to build these bonds.