Hi Dear APLPers!

Thanks for remembering my joke still. This time I would like to share some very COOL experiences during my last week.

Last wednesday, I went to Hangzhou for a 5-day environment friendly summer camp as a volunteer. I stayed with the children and other teachers in my friend’s environmentally friendly hostel. We did many interesting indoor activities, such as painting on the stones, using a piece of wood to make a key ring, and had a garbage classification competition. The most popular one is called True Man Library in the evening. We invited the experts to give workshop for the children. One night a veteran mountaineer shared many breathtaking stories with us, introduced the professional equipment, and trained us how to make knots. It reminded me of Yuan a lot. Another night, three musicians taught us to play ukulele, woo, we were in Hawaii at that moment! Where were you guys? ；）

We were learning how the make the basic knot from the mountaineer. It is called Eight Knot. It looks really like a “8”

Ukulele workshop.  Woo, we can play together!

We also had many wonderful outdoor excises. The children picked the vegetables in the family farm and cooked them at the dinner by themselves. Really delicious! We went to the Pit Park to learn basic geology. 

The colorful Five Senses Children Jungle in the Pit Park.

On the last day, we went to the top of a mountain that is around 800 meters height to fly by para-glider! I flew in the sky even though I had a fever. Since I didn’t have any fear, the coach taught me the extra difficult flare maneuver, that made me even more excited.

Fly Fly Fly!

Besides the unforgettable experience of summer camp in Hangzhou, I had the chance to enjoy two other exhibitions. One is called Celebrating 90 years of dreams by Disney; another is called Yuanmingyuan Imperial Garden-- The Most Beautiful Dream of Qing Dynasty Emperor. Have you guys heard about Yuanmingyuan story? It was the most beautiful garden in the world during Qing dynasty of China (around 150 years ago)  and  it was destroyed by western army from eight countries and Chinese people. It is a very shameful history part of ancient China. The interesting thing is those two exhibitions are all about human’s dream. The former dream is warm, happy and wise; the latter dream was powerful, greedy and sad. Human beings need dreams to create the courage to explore the secrets of the universe, but greedy and selfish dreams could lead people to the hell. I am lucky to have a dream to make the world better by good education. What’s your dream?

What’s your dream?

A magical birthday gift!

Since I was super busy after the Hangzhou trip I almost forgot it is my birthday today. Anyway, I got a magical birthday gift from my students! Please look at the photos!

He is one of my 4 years old students. My teachers told me he has a problem to fall asleep during the nap time for the last 3 months since he came to our school. This noon I told him I am a Kungfu master and I could teach him Kungfu. First I asked him to sit up and play for a while silently instead of lying down. Then I asked him to sit cross-legged. I said: “Now let’s focus on our breath.” As I breathed deeply and slowly beside him, his breath went deeply and slowly also. Then I asked him to close his eyes. He sat by the position that shows in the photo for more than 10 minutes! I could really feel his mind calmed down and we both felt very peaceful.

I thought he might feel tried sitting so long, so I said: “Now you can practice another Kungfu position. Please lie down at right side, put your left hand on your chest, and close you eye, focus on your breath.” He followed my “coaching,” and fell asleep very naturally and peacefully after 2 minutes!

Actually it was my first time to use Yoga to help a young child to sleep. It works so well! I even got shocked by his reaction. I was deeply moved by the peace from the child’s heart.

It is really a magical gift for my birthday from him. If you guys have the problem to fall asleep, maybe you can try Kungfu to help? Or come to China to practice it with our children?;)

That’s all my stories for this July. Thanks for spending time to read them. Wish you guys would like them. Actually I still have many nice or worth things to share with you. But, the time flies too quickly, and my typing is sloooooow, when I am writing this right now, it is already the last day of July.  

So, let’s say Aloha to Matt, the Blogger of August.

Alooooooooooha Maaaaaaatt! How are you dooooooooooing? Where aaaaaaaaaare you now? Now I am moving my slooooooow typing to you. We are looooooking for your adventure stories. 

(Note: This has been posted on Duan's behalf, as she does not have direct access to the blog. - Ahila)