Shoulder Action In Action
June 30 – Why we came.
Today we build libraries. Or more accurately, we “build” “libraries.”
We left the hotel at 7:30 for our 90 minute drive along a windy, bumpy road to a small town 10 miles from the Burmese border. We later learned only a few years ago, there was no paved road to this town. In fact, the school is close to the border that most students have dual citizenship. After a quick orientation by the principal and an introduction to some of the teachers, we were divided into groups. Sue, Tom & Tyler got the two classes of second grade while Evie worked with the first graders with her new friend Marissa (who speaks mandarin).
Building a library consisted of unpacking the books, having the students apply stickers assigning them to a classroom, and putting them into the pre-assembled bookcase. The kids were SUPER excited about the books, grabbing them like a long awaiting Christmas present.
After the bookcase process, we played games with the kids. We sang BINGO and taught them “head-shoulders-knees and toes.” We tried to teach them how to say “my name is ___” but many students couldn’t grasp the ‘insert your name here’ concept and kept saying “my name is Tyler. ”
Tyer bounced back and forth between Sue’s class and Tom’s class and was an invaluable translator. Everyone has a hilarious time, students, teachers and us. After 40 minutes, we combined classes to show what they had learned. Much to his chagrin, Sue’s class significantly out performed Tom’s class in head-shoulders-knees-toes.
Classes complete, we reconvened in the staff lunch room for a simple but delicious lunch. After lunch and a nice visit with the school principal, we joined some of the students during PE class and the little ones were hilariously scared of Tyler. Him walking into a group of them sent them squealing with yelps of delight.
Around 1:30pm, we were off to our next school an hour back toward school. We thought we were doing the bookcase exercise, but instead we learned about the school and just did a lesson.
This school was smaller, 7 full-time teachers for 150 students compared with the 20 teachers and 400 students at the earlier school. Once again the students were excited to see us and enjoyed the head-shoulder-knees-toes game. This group was 3rd and 4th grade students and they did a better job of understanding the “hi, my name is” practice.
Around 3:30pm, as the clouds opened up and rain poured down on us, we loaded into our vans to head off to our next destination. 15 minutes later we pulled up in front of a large museum dedicated to the Anti-Japanese War and the creation of the Burma Road.
It was incredibly educational as our western education spend virtually no time discussing the atrocities committed by Japan before and during World War II. Beginning in 1933, Japan launched a systematic assault on China and by 1941 had control over 70+% of China. Further, Japan had control over all of the major seaports creating an effective blockade of the remaining holdout, the Yunnan province. With control of Vietnam and Thailand, Japan was launching a fierce attack to secure the remaining section of China. In response, desperate for a supply line to the outside world, China set out to turn the southern silk trade route into a full fledged road. They mobilized 250,000 workers and within a few back breaking years, the road was completed.
As supplies began to trickle in, Japan increased its assault on the region, and this is where the US came to the rescue. A retired Air Force colonel had been retained as an advisor to the Chinese military. At China’s request, the colonel assembled an all volunteer force of 100 US pilots and equipped with 100 P-40 airplanes began and assault on Japanese positions through the region. Their bravery and skill earned them the nickname “The Flying Tigers” and it is no exaggeration to say without their efforts China would not have defeated Japan. During their short tenure, they shot down nearly 300 aircraft while only losing 14 of their own. More info here.
This history lesson explained the many tributes to America throughout the region, including a huge stature we had seen just after arriving at the airport. As a final note, the loss of life during this time is staggering. For example, in Tengchong alone almost 60% of the population die from fighting or disease. Villages were systematic burned to the ground after the Japanese soldiers brutalized the inhabitants. It is no wonder that elderly Chinese still harbor great animosity towards Japan.
Our sobering visit behind us, we went back to the hotel to rest before heading our to a lovely dinner at the nearby town. During dinner, Debra (one of the Americans of Chinese descent) suggested that we go to the local “hot springs” after dinner rather than the next morning as scheduled. Quick to agree, Danny, our lovely tour organizer said it was possible and within minutes we were scampering back to our hotel. At 8:30, the vans had arrived and by 9pm were in the lobby of an immense hotel spa complex. The “hot springs” were indeed fed by underground springs but rather than being the cauldrons of sulfur we come to expect, there were a collection of 15 cement hot tubs ranging in temperature from 95-108 degrees. We later learned that the hotel was in fact a Hyatt!
After enjoying the pools for 2 hours it was finally time to go home. At nearly midnight we passed out in our comfy beds. While the day was long it was incredibly fulfilling, further validation that coming all this way was worth it.