I realized I probably should have prefaced this blog with when I actually landed in China, where I am/what I'm doing here, and some general A's for most of your Q's. So.
I arrived in Beijing about 10 days ago after a few long and exhausting flights. Although I had no idea what was being said or where exactly I was going, a driver from NDC picked me up from the airport and took me to the site I will be living at for (now) the next 10 weeks. The "village" of 30,000 is just outside of Beijing and is called Qing Yun Dian (Ching Yoon Diahn). The place I am working is a foster home for orphans who have some form of disability and are in need of surgeries and/or serious medical attention. The foster home is currently one of the main facets of NDC, but it started out as a factory producing fridge magnets. The company is still functioning and plays an important role in the continuance of the foster home and other outreach programs NDC is involved with.
My primary role will be with outreach programs, which means connections NDC creates either in the small community or with other Beijing-area organizations. For example, NDC sends volunteers to the middle school weekly to help give English lessons in the hopes of improving students' English skills. This also helps NDC's relationship with the community and creates strong bonds with faculty at the middle school. Both of these connections can help generate ideas for how else NDC can become involved in community activities. I'm very eager to learn from the staff here and witness how much progress can be made in just one summer with people who are so passionate and dedicated to what they do! I will also be working with the many volunteer groups that come to NDC this summer and will help coordinate their activities during their stay. This will also give me the chance to maintain involvement with all aspects of NDC and learn about this amazing place and all it has to offer!
Additionally, I have the extreme pleasure of establishing a bond with one child specifically in the foster home (NDFH)! I have been matched with a little girl who I get to work with one-on-one each day for an hour in the morning. I have only spent a few days with her so far, but I can already tell that I will fall in love with this child. She is just so sweet, and she loves to clap her hands. If she claps and I don't immediately join, she will put her tiny hands over mine and clap my hands for me. I've decided to start saving up all of my tears for the day when I have to say goodbye to her at the end of the summer, but until then I can't wait to show this beautiful girl how much she deserves to be loved! For her own safety and privacy as an orphan/foster home child I will not name her, but will warmly refer to her as "My Girl" in future posts.
Currently there are 8 other Summer Staffers at NDC. Sarah, a Senior at Grove City College and is from Pennsylvania, and Rob, who is from Dublin, Ireland, are both here for the whole summer just like I am. Cara (Junior @ Grove City College; Pennsylvania), Hannah (Sophomore @ Baylor University; Texas), Katherine (Sophomore @ University of Colorado; Colorado), Grace (Junior @ George Mason University; D.C.), Orla (Senior; Dublin, Ireland) and Brandon (Elementary Teacher; Tennessee) are here through the end of June, and all of us have already gotten pretty close over many dinners and an intense trip into Beijing on public transportation (GASP!). It was a big deal for me because it was the first time I've ever had to use public transportation. Not only was it overwhelming doing so in a city of over 13 million, but also my lack of Chinese language comprehension was a bit nerve-racking at first. I am living with Sarah, Orla and one other volunteer named CatherinewithaC ;).
I can already tell this is going to be a wonderful summer, and thank everyone who is keeping me in their thoughts! I miss you all back home very much, and hope to keep in touch as much as possible over the next couple months!
I arrived in Beijing about 10 days ago after a few long and exhausting flights. Although I had no idea what was being said or where exactly I was going, a driver from NDC picked me up from the airport and took me to the site I will be living at for (now) the next 10 weeks. The "village" of 30,000 is just outside of Beijing and is called Qing Yun Dian (Ching Yoon Diahn). The place I am working is a foster home for orphans who have some form of disability and are in need of surgeries and/or serious medical attention. The foster home is currently one of the main facets of NDC, but it started out as a factory producing fridge magnets. The company is still functioning and plays an important role in the continuance of the foster home and other outreach programs NDC is involved with.
My primary role will be with outreach programs, which means connections NDC creates either in the small community or with other Beijing-area organizations. For example, NDC sends volunteers to the middle school weekly to help give English lessons in the hopes of improving students' English skills. This also helps NDC's relationship with the community and creates strong bonds with faculty at the middle school. Both of these connections can help generate ideas for how else NDC can become involved in community activities. I'm very eager to learn from the staff here and witness how much progress can be made in just one summer with people who are so passionate and dedicated to what they do! I will also be working with the many volunteer groups that come to NDC this summer and will help coordinate their activities during their stay. This will also give me the chance to maintain involvement with all aspects of NDC and learn about this amazing place and all it has to offer!
Additionally, I have the extreme pleasure of establishing a bond with one child specifically in the foster home (NDFH)! I have been matched with a little girl who I get to work with one-on-one each day for an hour in the morning. I have only spent a few days with her so far, but I can already tell that I will fall in love with this child. She is just so sweet, and she loves to clap her hands. If she claps and I don't immediately join, she will put her tiny hands over mine and clap my hands for me. I've decided to start saving up all of my tears for the day when I have to say goodbye to her at the end of the summer, but until then I can't wait to show this beautiful girl how much she deserves to be loved! For her own safety and privacy as an orphan/foster home child I will not name her, but will warmly refer to her as "My Girl" in future posts.
Currently there are 8 other Summer Staffers at NDC. Sarah, a Senior at Grove City College and is from Pennsylvania, and Rob, who is from Dublin, Ireland, are both here for the whole summer just like I am. Cara (Junior @ Grove City College; Pennsylvania), Hannah (Sophomore @ Baylor University; Texas), Katherine (Sophomore @ University of Colorado; Colorado), Grace (Junior @ George Mason University; D.C.), Orla (Senior; Dublin, Ireland) and Brandon (Elementary Teacher; Tennessee) are here through the end of June, and all of us have already gotten pretty close over many dinners and an intense trip into Beijing on public transportation (GASP!). It was a big deal for me because it was the first time I've ever had to use public transportation. Not only was it overwhelming doing so in a city of over 13 million, but also my lack of Chinese language comprehension was a bit nerve-racking at first. I am living with Sarah, Orla and one other volunteer named CatherinewithaC ;).
I can already tell this is going to be a wonderful summer, and thank everyone who is keeping me in their thoughts! I miss you all back home very much, and hope to keep in touch as much as possible over the next couple months!