Letter: It takes a village

Thursday, July 27, 2006

It was not long ago that 18 Winchester High School students and two chaperones returned from a rich and full 12 days of experiencing China. We began our journey with a service-learning project at the Dandelion School. This newly founded school for middle school children of migrant workers opened last summer with 60 students and has grown in less than one year to a bustling center of enthusiastic learning for more than 400 students. Winchester High School students taught these Chinese students English, taking charge of two English classes each morning. In the afternoon the Winchester visitors had classes themselves. We learned the Chinese language, were introduced to Chinese calligraphy, and heard Chinese orchestral melodies from Butterfly Lovers. We also got instruction in tai chi and had an opportunity to have a foot massage. WHS students lived with Chinese students during their stay at the Dandelion School in warm but rustic dormitory rooms.

We also visited historic sites in Beijing including the Temple of Heaven, the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace and a section of the Great Wall outside the city. On the last leg of this journey, we traveled on an overnight train from Beijing to the ancient city of Xian, on the Silk Road. In Xian we rode bikes along the restored wall surrounding the city, visited the excavation site of the first Emperor's terracotta army and meandered through the Great Mosque and nearby bazaar.

This experience in China was nothing short of phenomenal, from beginning to end. We were more than tourists, we were immersed in a rich cultural exchange that none of us will ever forget. And, most importantly, this journey would not have been possible without the dedication and support of numerous individuals and organizations in Winchester. On behalf of our entire group, I would like to thank all of those who supported this trip in donations and gifts. Without your support for this exchange, we never could have gone.

Thank you to: Pam Reeve and Paul Egerman; Andrew Anderson of Frame Haven; the John and Mary Murphy Foundation; Judy Manzo of Bookends and the Rotary Club of Winchester; the Winchester Savings Bank and the Winchester Cooperative Bank; Debe Holland, for raising funds for T-shirts for the Dandelion School and WHS visitors, and, orchestrating the gift of a laptop to the school; Amanda Gordon and Wendy Jebens and the service learning organization in the High School, Connect and Commit; Annie Wang, Tom and Carolyn Eynon, and Kai Chen for participating in our orientation session in June before our departure-your introduction to the language and culture, as well as travel tips, were invaluable; Robert Gillis for the creation of a power point on Winchester to share with the Dandelion School; and Jim Marini, Tom Gwin and the Winchester School committee for your endorsement this adventure from its inception.

Thank you for this total village effort.

Margie Harvey

Jefferson Road