Preparation

A few months ago this trip seemed only a fantasy, a mere ripple in reality. And then, I found myself boarding the plane for a trip to the lush Shennongjia Mountains, to teach the kindest and happiest kids I had ever seen. Even now, I am still dumbfounded at what I did this summer. My name is Elizabeth Huang, and this is a story, my story of Shennongjia.

About two months before summer break, I was invited to join a group of kids in our community to travel to the Shennongjia Mountains during the summer. We would be teaching multiple subjects, and incorporating English into our lessons. Altogether, there were 4 subjects, English-speaking, Science, American History, and American Culture. Every subject was given two to three kids from our community to present around three individual units within. I picked Science, ideas already coming to mind. As for pairing, I partnered with a girl named Grace. I was intrigued. I had seen Grace around the community, but never got to know her well. It would be so exciting to work with a fresh face! Sure enough, Grace did not disappoint, over the duration of this trip, I am happy to say that she is a straightforward, honest, and hard-working person!

While working on the science units we would be teaching, I discovered through our first trial presentation that this project was not only meant to educate the children about science, or American history, but also a chance to interact with kids that lead lives on the other side of the world. It has always made me wonder what it must be like living in the rural parts of China. I’ve been to many Chinese cities, like Shanghai, Xian, and Beijing but never to the more rural, mountainous areas like Shennongjia. Based on stereotypical movies, I had always naively thought that people lived in wooden huts, had little access to modern technology, and rode on horses rather than vehicles. So, it excited me that I would get the chance to witness and experience this culture first-handedly.

Arrival

The day of the trip to China arrived, and I was a bit anxious to be riding without my family. On the plane to Shanghai, I sat in a seat without any familiar faces, thinking of how boring and lonely it would be. A few minutes later I made a new friend with my seat buddy. She was a freshman attending an international boarding school somewhere in America, coming back to visit her family over in Hangzhou. It surprised me how well she spoke English with only one year of attending an overseas school! Pretty soon we found out we had similar hobbies in art and anime, and there was never a minute of boredom or loneliness for the whole ride!

We spent a few days in Shanghai after failing to catch a flight to Shennongjia because of poorly timed toilet breaks. When we finally managed to land in Shennongjia I was blown away by the amazing view. The mountains were bright with color and the sky was the clearest it had been for days. It was almost as if I could just reach out and grab the mountains, and I really did wonder if all this was happening. After an eventfully bumpy ride of 5 hours to the specific location in the mountains, we came upon a very nice looking school.

It was a large campus, with the school’s classrooms positioned in the front of the school gate. There were two wings, the east and west wing that separated the seventh and eighth graders. Beyond that there were several more buildings. Two four-story dorms for girls and boys, a two-story building for the cafeteria, an apartment building for the staff, a convenience store for the students, a public shower with a fruit shop inside, a gigantic track and field outside, as well as a garden for enjoying the sun. It was then that I realized that perhaps my ideas about rural life were all wrong. It was further confirmed as we got situated into dorms. I guess the girls were lucky, as we found ourselves in a wide space of four bunk beds and a two-toilet bathroom with open sinks. It was far beyond what I was expecting. You could say that I was preparing for the worst…There was even a window out looking the classrooms. During the first days, many students would smile and wave at us through the window, it was quite an experience!

Upon our arrival, the kids paraded around us, as we made our way through the school. It surprised me and I admit I did feel a little uneasy. I hoped they weren’t expecting anything huge from me…

Our first day at the school passed. Many girls came knocking on our doors to say hi. They were so shy and curious at the same time, I was overwhelmed. At night, more girls came in to chat, get autographs, and exchange WeChat information. It really felt like we were celebrities.

Now, for the most important part, teaching the students. We were given 2 weeks to stay at the school. Our first presentation was my unit, Ecology. It was amazing how fluent the kids were with their English, they were only around our age as well! I was also surprised at how polite they were when I was talking and how responsive they were during the activities. Of course, not all classes were the same. Some were shyer, others were livelier.

Teaching

Over the course, I learned that you had to try and adapt to the classes personalities. Introductions at the beginning of class were a good icebreaker, and helped many overcome their nervousness to participate. However, a few classes needed a little more encouraging. It helped if I smiled and laughed more when I was teaching. Many times, I was too nervous to adapt and ended up getting swept away by the pressure of teaching classes with forty something students. There were times I felt I couldn’t keep on teaching, but as I taught more students, I realized that there was nothing to worry about. I was here not only to teach, but also have fun with the students here. Mistakes were meant to be made, expectations broken, and the joy I get from interacting with these people was definitely more worth caring for than potential slip ups.

The food was great, the staff were friendly, and the kids were so happy. Every day they woke up at 6:30 to do morning exercises which included running five laps around a track, stretching, and cardio. Then, they have classes of forty minutes each with ten minute breaks in between and thirty minute meals. They finish classes around 8-9:00. The students repeat this all day and still smile, which I personally find amazing. These kids find joy in the simple things of talking, cute crushes, sports, music, and learning. They aren’t allowed cellphones during the day at all, and do not complain. The people simply enjoy being with each other, and I could not be more ecstatic about their culture, personalities, and smiles!

Conclusion

I do not regret coming to this trip at all, if anything, I regret not being able to stay longer. It was a beautiful experience filled with newly made friends at Shennongjia, amazing scenery, and a pleasant teaching experience. I’d like to thank our parents and the Shennongjia Teaching Staff for making this trip happen! And, thank the students for showing me an adventure of a lifetime!! This is my story of teaching in Shennongjia, what will yours be?