The Sichuan Panda-monium trip blended a trip to the opera, strenuous exercise, community service, a trip to the 2008 Earthquake Museum, and panda keeping, all in five short, intense days. Day One began auspiciously, with everyone remembering both their passports and their airport — Pudong , not Hongqiao. We landed in Chengdu, and were met by our guides from TerraTribes, Xiao Sun, Zhi Zhi and Boer, who have worked with SAS on this Sichuan trip for three years. After getting settled at our hotel, we went to a Taoist temple for some tai chi lessons, then out for Sichuan hot pot, and finally watched backstage while members of the Sichuan cultural performance put on their make-up and costumes. Some students even had their own faces made up as Sichuan opera stars!

On the second day we travelled to Moxi, in Western Sichuan, and realized that we were on the only route to Lhasa, Tibet, resulting in frequent stops by the police, and a frustratingly long day on the road. We reached Moxi at about 5pm, and made it to the elementary school to build bookcases and share gifts and sports equipment with the children. Building the bookcases became a cooperative effort, with the small children holding nails for our SAS kids as the building took place. The end result: two grand bookcases, carried by both Moxi children and SAS students to the front of the school. Special thanks go to Xiao Sun, Zhi Zhi and Boer for organizing this.

How did this affect our students? According to Marisa Costa, Grade 9, “the experience of being with the children really made me think about how much I have and how much so many other people in the world have that they are not grateful for. When I think about how much I complain about my life I feel SO selfish! These kids didn’t have much, and yet they were so happy. They weren’t complaining or whining because it was too cold or the chairs were too hard. They were actually having fun and enjoying what they did have . . .” Afterward, all children big and small played volleyball, basketball and Frisbee together until it was dinner-time. The squat toilets in the Moxi hotel were a challenge, but students reminded themselves that they, unlike the kids whom they had just visited, were experiencing them for only one night. China Alive is an all-star, not a five-star experience!

On the third day, we continued west, and had an all-day hike in the Hailuo Glacier Park, a seldom-visited but beautiful national park. Many students were stretched to their limit in completing this hike, but a supportive atmosphere helped to make it a success for all. From the glacier we had gorgeous views of Minya Konka, an amazing peak that has never been scaled.

On the fourth day, we got back on the bus to return to Chengdu. Along the way we visited the 2008 Earthquake Museum, just outside of Chengdu. Many students were moved by the experience, especially as they connected what they saw to the fund-raising efforts put forth by SAS last year to help these earthquake victims. Mimi Liu, Grade 9, reflected on her experience:

“My mom and dad had donated 13,000 RMB (for the Sichuan Earthquake relief effort) and at that time I thought it was WAY extreme. I thought how ridiculous they were and how they’d given all that money to strangers for free rather than give it to my brother and me. But during the museum visit, I felt so sorry for the people and saw everything in a new light. I imagined myself in that situation and couldn’t help but suffer. I was grateful for my life and for having a nice home and a complete family. Each picture had a story that I’ll forever remember . . . I was deeply moved and felt that the Museum was very significant. I realized that no matter how much money is donated, the victims would still want things back the way they were before, and would want to have their family whole. The money is only to help them mend, but nothing more.”

Our final day was spent at the Chengdu Panda Breeding Center, where students served as volunteers. Working in shifts, students were able to record panda behavior, give the pandas showers, feed pandas apples and panda-cakes from chopsticks, spread new bamboo shoots around the enclosure, and yes, pick up panda poop with super-duper panda pooper-scoopers! Students were able to see pandas and their keepers in a way that a tourist never could.

Returning to Shanghai after my third China Alive trip to Sichuan made me reflect on how much the attitudes of students, chaperones and local guides contribute to having a positive experience. Some things didn’t go according to plan, some things were challenging, but students put the A (Adaptable) in the EAGLES to practice. As Joyce Ho, Grade 10, put it, “Before, my instinct would be to whine, but this China Alive trip has changed that about me. Now, I am more flexible in terms of plans. I think that as long as we have fun or learn an important lesson, nothing is a waste of time.”

The students had a great attitude, TerraTribe team worked hard and planned well, and Steven Shi, our travel agent was super as were the teacher chaperones, who worked long days to make sure our students were safe, happy and productive.

By Lucinda Edmunds, HS English Teacher, Pudong Campus