Mingda School: Delayed Enrollment

Mingda School pays attention to rural education in northwest of China, in particular English education. The School provides a relaxing and healthy education environment for the left-behind children living in rural areas.

It rained a lot this summer holiday. We planned to enroll students on the 8th, and begin classes on the 10th, but the rain lasted for several days. We had prepared for the students to come enroll, but they could not access the school from the village. On the 5th rainy day, we went to the village, but it began to rain the next day. We were not sure how long the rain would last. The weather forecast was confusing. The experienced villagers said it would rain for many days. 
                         
A volunteer from Shanxi Normal University could not afford so much leisure time so she asked to leave early. She agreed to stay for one more week, but we still could not start to enroll the students. The children had just started their holiday, and they needed to rest for some time. The rain added many inconveniences to life in the village. The volunteer decided to walk 3 kilometers to the village, the only place that has a bus to the city. She told me she didn't need me to accompany her to the bus station. It rained the whole night, and it was still raining in the morning when she left. Luckily, she sent me a text alerting me to her safe arrival in Xi’an.

The students at Ningxia Normal University are taking their final exams. The final exams come late at this school. Perhaps these students need more time to prepare. Most of the university students went back home afterwards or found summer jobs. I am wondering when the volunteer teachers will come here. I cannot get a confirmed answer whenever I call. Maybe they need more time to take care of their own things.

Original article written by Fangding Zhang, translated by Maggie Li, edited by Yanyan Zhang

The road to school that must be passed by the children

A Volunteer