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2016年寻根之旅作文选登

获奖学生名单(注:部分作文不在本网页,点击阅读。如有错误,请联系info@cea-dfw.org。

  • 刘子薇Carolyn Liu,12,中国寻根之旅漫画

  • 李怡婷Elaine Li,16,10 Days

  • 张娇娅 Joia Zhang,15,Shanxi Thing ugh!

  • 杨静雯 Karina Yang,14,难忘的夏令营

  • 熊琳琳 Jennifer Xiong,12,Shanghai Summer Camp

  • 熊舒宇 Ferdinand Xiong,17,记上海寻根夏令营二三事

  • 熊若冰 Robin Xiong,11,河南寻根夏令营

  • 甘子淳 Emma Gan,13,Camp Adventure

  • 蒋文骏 Vincent Jiang,13,Discovering My Roots

  • 覃奕佳(Hannah Qin),14,寻根夏令营

  • Emily Zhang,13,Friendship of Chinese summer dance camp

  • William Shi,14,Hunan Camp Summer 2016

  • 丁肇星 Joy Ting,12,我最喜欢的夏令营

  • 余凌江 Andy Yu,15,江西上饶夏令营

  • 刘兆敏 Emily Liu,12,Root Exploration Camp

  • 王宇悦 Sophia Wang,12,矮寨大桥

  • 王曦 Deniel Wang,13,西安之行

  • 程贵贵 Flora Cheng,12,难忘的北京夏令营

  • 肖正明,14,我的亲情中华湖南夏令营深刻印象

  • 黄玫婷 Emily Huang,15,重庆营

  • 李周达 Gilda DelBianco ,13,景德镇,一座卧虎藏龙的神奇城市

  • 陈有径 Eugene Chen ,13,四川寻根之旅

  • 李梦坤夏令营

  • 1. 记上海寻根夏令营二三事

    熊舒宇,17岁,德国

                我这次夏令营过得很开心,学到了很多历史和文化知识,寻到了我们的中国之根。

                第一天,每个小孩要给自己设定一个目标。我当时自定的目标是加强我的语言能力。通过跟同学和老师交流,我的中文,英文,和法文都得到了锻炼。当然,这次除了语言以外,也锻炼了我的组织能力。

    我 这次得到了当组长的任务。当组长不总是一件容易的事。我们小组很多组员的年龄很小,无论组织节目还是出去郊游,有些年龄小的孩子经常走神,需要不断的提醒 和帮助。我们出发和每次上车时都要数队员,每次都东一个,西一个,经常很困难,但每次把他们集合在一起还是有点小小的成就感。    

    当 组长同时是一种锻炼责任感和组织计划能力的机会。小的营员已经能自由活动时,我们组长时不时还得开会,分析目前的情况,吸取教训,改变接下来的活动安排和 方法。对我来说,第一次集合是最困难的一次。我当天刚从德国到达,非常的疲倦,很早就上床睡觉了。刚睡着不久就被叫醒了,我只好困兮兮的爬了起来,重新穿 好衣服去楼上开会。

    印象最深,也是最累的是排练节目和结营仪式上的演出。我上了六次舞台:演讲、表演武术、抖空竹、小组节目、展示汉服、朗诵唐诗。每个节目都有一定的挑战和难度。所以表演结束时,我松了一口气,同时也自豪自己能够完成刚开始觉得不可能的事情。

    因 为中文不是我最熟悉的语言,所以我写演讲稿时有不少困难,幸好有同学和老师帮我修改演讲稿。排练抖空竹花的时间最长,可这也是我最喜欢的项目。教我们的扬 老师是个很友好和很尽心的老师,教会了我们很多抖空竹的技巧。为了把这些动作练熟,我们必须反复练习,花了很多心血。因为这样,我们最后才达到了在舞台上 表演没有失误的高水平。

    排 练节目时有趣但也很紧张。经常正在排练抖空竹时,武术老师同时也在排练武术。我只好经常刚练完一个抖空竹动作,马上又要到另一边去学武术动作,平行进行, 一点休息时间也没有。一有空还要和小组队员集合在一起排练小组节目。这个任务最有挑战性。为了找到一个有特色而且每个组员都能参加的节目,我还真费了不少 脑筋。最后我们决定写一首不同语言的诗歌。我们诗歌里出现四门语言:中文,德语,法语和英语。这样安排每个营员都能说自己最熟悉的语言,同时也能够代表我 们来自的不同国家和不同的文化背景,展示我们这次华裔青少年寻根夏令营的国际化。这个想法很好,但创作起来很困难。我们小组里的很多小孩不愿写或写不出押 韵的歌词,幸好我以前练习过类似的写作,也比较喜欢,最后帮他们把各国语言的歌词终于都写了出来。这个过程挺有意思,通过和来自各国的营员交流学习,了解 了他们的想法,建立了友谊。

    最好玩的活动是在玩水公园里打水枪,那天玩儿得真痛快! 每个营员都有自己的枪, 而且到处都能灌水。每个人都参加了水枪战斗,互相挑战。 有的组队配合作战,有的单独行动。最重要的是那天特别热,这时有足够的水枪会把凉快的水喷到我们身上,爽及了!大家都很快乐。

    这次夏令营虽然丰富多彩,大孩子学了不少中国文化和民俗,但与往次不同,这次可惜对城市和中国大自然山水参观较少。与德国的夏令营也很不同,上课较多,室外活动和自由活动时间较少,这对小营员不太好。游戏和旅行是孩子们假期最喜欢的。

    这次夏令营老师和志愿者都很友好,和我们朝夕相处,建立了友谊,教会了我们许多与中国有关的东西,比如书法,武术 ,包汤圆等,让我们在中国度过了一个特别的,难忘的暑假。 


    2.
    难忘的寻根之旅

    蒋文骏,13

    今年暑假,我背起背包,踏上了去中国上海的寻根之旅 没想到 的是,这短短的两个星期,成为了一趟发现与探索的旅行,一场充满欢笑和 庆祝的经历,以及一次又一次东西方文化相交的时刻。我收获的,不仅是满 满的友情,更多的是中国文化的魅力,它远远超过了我的想象力。

    从机场走出来,我一边拖着箱子,一边脑海里不停地想像着未来两个 星期的生活。到达曹阳中学以后,老师热情地带我去宿舍,打开门,眼前是 一个充满阳光的小房间。我真开心! 不久,大家都到齐了,我们这些团员都 来自美国和奥地利。第一次去餐厅的时候,大家像一群企鹅,谁也不愿意第 一个下水。 但是,当眼前出现热气腾腾的美食,谁也忍不住了。那一刻, 突然明白了美食能跨越国界和信仰”!虽然一开始大家还有点儿拘谨, 是就慢慢放松了。到后来每次我们坐在一起吃饭时,都会像大人一样互相干 杯。:)

    文化课也是一种有趣的经历。无论是诗歌、书法,还是科学、地理, 让我兴奋不已。诗歌课把音乐和中国字结合起来, 我一边唱,一边想起了小 时候曾经哼过的童谣。在剪纸课上,我们在老师的指导下,变出了一朵朵雪 花、汉字和窗花。在舞蹈课和武术课上,我们甚至尝试了演千手观音 中国功夫。每门课和中国的个个民族一样有特点, 每一个都给我留下了深刻的 印象。

    夏令营中最精彩的部分无疑是走出教室出去旅行。当我们的足迹踏上 老上海和新上海,我感觉它们好像是两个城市, 就像查尔斯.狄更斯笔下的伦 敦和巴黎那么不同。老上海让我惊叹的是精致的手工艺杰作。在城隍庙那天, 我们从一个商店流连到下一个,要不是附近的麦当劳和星巴克提醒,我仿佛 回到了明朝。 周庄好像一个东方的威尼斯, 一座座精致的小桥把两岸的人家 连起来。 新上海有令人惊叹的现代建筑和科技奇迹。我走在外滩,对岸是令 人炫目的城市天际线,东方明珠塔像宝石一样熠熠生辉。上海科技博物馆更 像我们展示了中国现代科技的先进和强大。南京路上传统的建筑和现代的品 牌和谐地存在。我突然想到,这个不断变化的世界里,当新的和旧的、东方 的和西方的结合在一起,它们可能诞生出一种更强大和有生命力的文化, 种让全世界都惊叹的文化。

    除了旅行和学习,我也收获了满满的友情。在赛龙舟的湖面上,我们 跟四、五个来自别的国家的队伍比赛。鼓声、船桨划水声、加油声,还有我 们的笑声, 传出去很远很远。大家一边击掌欢呼一边互相溅水,太阳暖暖地 洒在身上,可爱的朋友们包围着我还有什么比这个更好的呢?

    十四天的日日夜夜让我和同伴们变成了相亲相爱的一家人。我们一起 欢笑,一起聊天、一起探险、一起分享。让我特别感动的是,当我被提名选 去准备主持夏令营闭幕式时, 奥地利的团友二话没说就把我当成自己人 了。虽然他们说德语而我说英文,磕磕绊绊的中文居然变成了我们的交流工 具。在告别夏令营的那一刻,我真正体会到了寻根的意义:我们像一棵 棵树,既找到了自己的根,又彼此拉起手伸向更广阔的天空,让龙的精神保 留在龙的传人里。

    我想,这就是我来寻根之旅最终目的。


    3.
    难忘的夏令营

    杨静雯,14

    在半夜三更的时候, 我偶尔会被手机叫醒。迷迷糊糊的,一看, 原来是有人给我发微信!我心想这个人有什么毛病啊?这么晚了,还不睡觉?打开手机一瞧,原来是我非常想念的一位印尼朋友。 我笑了笑,便想起我难忘的暑假。

                两个月前,我一听到我妈要把我送去广州的夏令营,就连忙跑到她跟前叫到:不要啊!我肯定会无聊死的!我还找了好几个呆在家里的借口。我便说到:夏天的飞机票太贵了!如果我把护照丢了,怎么回美国啊?等等之类的话。不过不管我如何哀求,我妈还是把我送到远隔万里的广州。

                记得当时,一到广州,我就被周围的热气和潮气蒙住了。全身似乎沾满了蜂蜜,黏黏的;洗一个澡也只是杯水车薪。当时我就断定,接下的两个星期会很糟糕。不过好在去的路上,我交了几个朋友。我心想:再怎么差我也不会孤零零的一个在这火炉里像包子一样蒸着。至少还有人陪我讲话。

    在夏令营的第一天, 我和我的同屋起的早早的。 那时,我们正在倒时差,所以早晨非常的清醒。到了食堂,看见非常丰富的早餐,我的嘴角就稍稍的往上翘了一下。我迫不及待的拿了牛肉粉丝,豆沙包,葱油饼,饺子,等等。想一想,或许这个夏令营不会像我预测的那么无聊。

                看着我们这个星期的日程表,我发现其实我们有很多有趣的活动。每三日,我们都会去参观广州的旅游景点。不过,由于我在美国成长,我对中国并不是很了解。所以在这两个星期里面参观的地方对我来讲很陌生。其中包括闻所未闻,见所未见的广州电视观光塔, 深圳的世界之窗,孙中山纪念堂,还有广州鼎鼎有名的五羊雕塑。不过,大多数时间我们还是会呆在学校里面上草编课,雕塑课,中文课,太极课,和舞蹈课。

                慢 慢的,我才得知这个夏令营多么的有特点。在我第一眼望见电视塔的时候,它如藤曼从一根细细高高的竹子往上爬;真是好看极了!从塔的顶头望下来,我似乎看到 整个广州城市。从深圳回来之后,我好像已经走过中国的每一个角落。五只羊的雕工极其精致,我都可以想象它们活过来的样子。在这两个星期里,我对广州的历史 长了不少见识。而在我的课程当中,一天比一天更有趣。在草编课和雕塑课里,我们学会怎样做栩栩如生的蜻蜓,玫瑰,熊猫,等等。在太极课和民间舞课,我们学 会了精彩的中国艺术,也意识到它的文化。然而,我也交了很多印尼朋友们。等课结束之后,我们经常会聚在一起聊天,打牌,下棋,等等。

                夏令营的两星期比我想象中要过的快得多。似乎只在一瞬间,我爱上了我之前百般不愿意去的暨南大学。一想起每位老师的真心指导和每个朋友的欢乐与喜悦,我就不由自主的开始想念广州给我带来的美好回忆。至今,每天我都会抽时间来看一看在广州拍的照片。

    离 开夏令营的那一刻,老天好像也和我一样悲伤,开始下起雨来。暨南大学似乎变成了和天空一样冰冷的灰色。我看见空荡荡的屋子,想起我和朋友们一起哈哈大笑的 情景。望着见不着人影的教室,我怀念爱护我们的老师。去机场的半路上,我再次瞧见了光彩夺目,五颜六色的广州电视塔。在那里的周围,它好像是唯一感觉有生 命的建筑。似乎它是向我道别,欢迎我明年再来广州,再一次参加这完美的夏令营。


    4. Hunan Camp Summer 2016

    William Shi, 14


    This summer I went to a camp in China, which focused on teaching about Chinese history and culture. It was truly a unique experience, both in the material itself and the people I’ve met along the way. It taught me lessons not only about culture and history, but about socialization as well.


    One of the unique experiences lasted throughout the trip, and even a little before and after it. When I was first told about the camp, I was both eager and reluctant to go, since it’s been 8 years since I last went to camp. However, this also meant meeting strangers and interacting with them, as if you moved to a new school. Since I knew no one there, the first few days would be awkward, so I tried to make some small talk with some people on the first day, but eventually it died down. As the days went by, I eventually learned that it was best to just let things play out on their own instead of trying to control it. Eventually, everything fell into place, and I met some new friends, It was quite a nice experience overall, and I still keep in touch with some of them.


    The places that the camp took us to were also quite interesting. On just the second day, they took us to an ancient pottery workshop, and we were given the opportunity to create pottery of our own. This certainly was something that would be hard to find if you were travelling alone. However, being in this camp presented us the opportunity to do such a unique thing. We were also able to visit the home of Chairman Mao, the founding father of China, when he was a young peasant. It’s not every day that you get to see where one of China’s most prominent figures lived in. We were also able to get early access to a museum about ancient Chinese bamboo strips. We were able to learn about the use of the bamboo strips in ancient China, as well as how they were produced and “written.” In fact, we were also able to experience the feeling of writing on bamboo strips ourselves, in the form of a poem/letter. All of these experiences were fun and unique, unlike anything that I‘ve experienced before, and doing it with people I just met a few days ago only adds to it.


    As if doing interesting things weren’t enough, they also taught us about the Chinese mannerisms, bowing, and some teachings of Chinese figures. They also indirectly taught us to deal with frustration, as pottery is a lot harder than it seems. If you build up a wonderful vase, it could easily be destroyed by the smallest mistake you make, and if you mess up numerous times over the course of the two hours we were allowed, it can build up your frustration quite a bit. However, the idea of having a bowl made by myself kept me going, and eventually, I came out with a decent bowl. It also taught me patience, and so did waiting for everyone to arrive to dinner. It was an interesting feeling to have food sprawled in front of you and not being able to eat until everyone in your group was there. Certainly a unique feeling, but I feel it’s one not a lot of people would enjoy. It really does drag out your patience, though.


    While some may say that it can get boring and that you can do all of these things by yourself, the feeling just isn’t the same when you’re with family and/or friends, as opposed to people you just met. It’s also much cheaper, as you only have to pay $100 per person, with all expenses bar snacks and souvenirs covered. You also sometimes get to have a first look at some places not open to public yet.


    All in all, I was pretty satisfied with my time at this camp. It’s a really enjoyable and unique experience, and it’s definitely recommended that you try it out should you get the chance.




    5.
    江西上饶夏令营

    蓝队长,
    余凌江 Andy Yu
    15


    When I am old, frail, and weak, someone will ask me, “What was your favorite thing from your childhood?” I will not hesitate to proudly answer, “The summers I spent in China at camp, where I made new friends and gained new experiences, of course.” Then they will ask, “What is your greatest regret from childhood?” And I will sadly but confidently answer, “The summers I spent in China at camp, where I had to say goodbye to new friends, and leave the place I gained new experiences, of course.” This is how much my time in China has affected me, given to me, and shaped my future. This is how much my experiences in China have meant to me.


    One camp that stands out from the rest is my experience in
    江西上饶.
    In this camp, one thing that I will remember is the culture I have experienced. At camp, some days we would go sightseeing, where we saw many amazing views and landscapes. One of the first activities we did was go hiking up a mountain, and the fresh air along with the natural beauty made it a memorable experience. Other days we would be in class, learning the ancient Chinese arts and cultures. I remember one class in particular, and that was the calligraphy class. The artistic way the teacher moved the brush and the amazing masterpiece of text we tried to imitate was also something I have stored in my memory. These cultural experiences will be remembered as part of me for the rest of my life.


    Another thing that makes camp in China more than just a tour group is the friends that can be made. In camp, we are all foreigners in an unknown situation together, and this gives us something to relate. In fact, at camp I have made friends with nearly everybody. Friends at camp are the closest, because you are with them for every waking moment of two weeks, and some very close bonds can form under those circumstances. I recall having a group of Irish/American/Zambian friends that would meet with me every night after the day’s events, where we would have fun like the teenagers we are. (This is where I do a shoutout, Elaine, Cindy, Wei, Yan, Flygon, Deirdre, Nancy, Belle, Athena, Ciaran, Leon, Vincent, Daniel, Geo, Kevin, Henry, Andrew, Keelan, Cathy, Louisa, Anna, Junse, Lucy and her sister, you are all awesome friends!) In fact, for some of us, our experiences can lead us to be almost more than friends! The point is, our friendships added that much more richness and flavor to our experiences, and to our memories of this amazing camp.


    In conclusion, the experiences that we have gained along the way and the friendships we have made are the things that made the camp memorable. This camp is so memorable to me, and I will remember it as a best friend for the rest of my life. As a famous person one said, “The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart.” I believe this is true, and as I grow separate from my friend the camp, and my friends from camp, I know we will never grow apart. I know this because a part of each of them grows with me, in my heart.



    6.
    西安之行

    王曦,13

    我 最近参加了西安之行,此行已经真正改变了我对中国的态度和印象。在整个历时一个半星期的夏令营,我们参观了很多著名的旅游景点,了解了中国的历史和文化,认识了许多新朋友,但最重要的是,我们有乐趣。夏令营的好处之一是结识新朋友,这些朋友与我有类似的年龄和背景。我遇到了很多人,并成为他们的朋友。这是夏令营好玩的其中一个原因。在行程中最重要的时刻是看到了举世闻名的兵马俑。我听说过兵马俑并在学校的历史课中有些了解,但我从来没有想到我会在只有12岁时亲眼看到他们!

    我在夏令营期间以生动有趣的方式了解中国,同时也犯了一些愚蠢的错误。从这些错误中我要吸取经验教训,它们在未来会时刻鞭策自己。在这10天的时间里,我遇到了一些很好的老师,她们是我的领队李女士和杜老师。她们非常理解和宽容。她们帮助我纠正我的许多错误,从而有效地改进我的行为。可悲的是夏令营结束我就离开所有结识的朋友,亲切的老师和舒服的酒店。

    这不是我第一次去中国,我相信它不会是最后一次。我将努力提高我的汉语听,说,读和写,以便将来能够更好地沟通。我会永远记住带给我美好回忆的夏令营,希望将来有一天能重游陕西。

    Xian Camp

    Daniel Wang


    The trip I recently took to Xian, China has truly changed my attitude and impression of China. Throughout the summer camp which lasted a week and a half, we visited many famous tourist attractions, learned about China's history and culture, met many new people. But most of all we had fun. One of the biggest parts of the camp was meeting new people with similar ages and background as me. I met a lot of people and became friends with them, which was one of the reasons the camp was so fun. The biggest moment in the trip was seeing the world-famous terracotta warriors in person. I have heard so much about and learning about their history at school but never did I expect I would be seeing them right in front my eyes at only age 12!      


    Not only have I known more about China, I have also learned lessons from making some silly mistakes during the camp. Such lessons would later go on as life lessons, which I am going to keep and remember in the future. In those 10 days I have met some good teachers like Ms. Li, my chaperone and Teacher Du. They were very understanding and forgiving.  They helped me correct many of my errors, thus efficiently improved my conduct. The sad part was leaving all the friends I have made, the teachers I have met, and the great hotels we have stayed in.


    This was not the first time I went to China, and I am sure it will not be my last. I will make efforts to improve my Chinese listening, speaking, reading and writing so I am able to communicate better. I will always remember this camp and hope I can come back to Shanxi Province sometime in the future.



    7.
    河南寻根夏令营

    纽约石溪中文学校 熊若冰,11

    今天应该是我们夏令营以来最棒的一天!我们见到了和我们差不多大的一群中国学生,和他们交上了朋友!

    首先,我们大概6:00左 右起来去吃早餐。早餐还是一如既往的很丰富,我喝了一碗豆浆,一些小菜,还有一个鸡蛋和最喜欢的煎馒头。早餐后,我们歇了半个小时然后就去练少林拳。昨天 下午,我们已经练好了小洪拳所以我们今天就开始练另外一套拳。这套拳虽然比小洪拳要短但是动作要难很多,但我们还是基本学会了。

    午饭后,我们坐了两个小时的大巴来到了郑州88中学。中学里竟然有三百多个八,九年纪的学生在里面列队欢迎我们! 我们也按每个营队一行一行的排好,每一行营员都会有一行88中 学的学生站出来跟你配对做朋友,分别带着我们玩。跟我配对的这个女同学特别友好,一下子就跟她很熟了,她比我大,她让我叫她姐姐。她给了我一个玫瑰鲜花饼 和很多中国口香糖作为见面礼物。我有点不好意思,也给了她从美国带去的小零食。这个姐姐告诉我,我们等一下会一起玩球。跟Alex的 配对的朋友和我的这个姐姐是好朋友,所以我们两队就在一起玩。玩球前,我们几百个人站在一个大广场上照了合影,然后就各自分开玩起来了。玩球的方法很简 单,就是把球扔到一个小小的蹦蹦床上,让它弹出来另外一个人必须抓住它,然后继续扔进去给别人抓。天气非常热,但游戏很好玩,我们玩的满头大汗,好希望有 树荫啊......

    玩完球我们狂吹电风扇,狂喝水。凉爽下来后我们就去剪纸了。有一个剪纸老师教我们怎么剪出各种各样的囍字和不同的窗花。姐姐的手很巧,给我折了一个精美的小花蓝,剪了一个看起来简单但打开后复杂而又串连在一起很长的纸花,我希望我也能有一双象姐姐的那么巧的手!

    晚餐非常有意思。当我们听说是吃麦当劳时很惊讶,看见那么多汉堡,鸡翅,鸡腿,芋头饼,菠萝饼还有可乐排在大食堂的桌子上,这是多大的麦当劳啊能一下买到500多个学生的晚饭?可是,那个汉堡里面的鸡块竟然是辣的!鸡翅鸡腿也全都是辣的,而且是超辣的! 真是令人难忘的一顿麦当劳!还好那些芋头饼菠萝饼是甜的。。很好吃,我们边吃边和我们的同伴一起聊天,交换微信。可是,我没有微信,那我们以后也联系不到了,这让我有点难过。

    晚饭后,大巴又把我们带到一个剧院一样的地方,一场异常精彩表演正等着我们。那些表演者最小的只有六岁,最大的也只有17岁,可他们的表演太精彩了,我都找不到词来形容。我最喜欢的一个表演是一个叫李成宇的小男孩唱“You raise me up” , 他真的唱得太好听了,感觉比原声唱的更好听,据说曾经还上过中国儿童好声音那样的电视节目。还有一个让我记忆深刻的是一个小姑娘表演的杂技。她用嘴巴咬住 一个东西支撑着她,手和脚没挨到地,各自分别转着一个像手帕的红布,这个平衡能力和手脚配合能力真是太强了!不知道她练这个练了多久呢?

                看完表演已经非常晚了。在回来的车上,大多数人都特别困了,都快睁不开眼睛,老师让我们都睡一会,但是还是有些朋友在小声的,兴奋的谈论着刚才的表演。将近凌晨1:00,我们才到旅馆。洗完澡洗完衣服,非常累了。但是今天过的真的太有意思,太令人难忘了!


    8. Discovering My Roots

    蒋文骏 Vincent Jiang, 13


    It was a time of learning and teaching, a time for cheers and celebration, of a meeting between cultures. It was a time for exploration and discovery, for friendship and fraternity, and while it was hard to fall in love with at first, we all did in the end. Sure, the bedsprings were sharp, the mosquitos were fierce, and most condemningly the wifi was slow, but in the end the “Discovering Your Roots” camp was well worth its salt, and far exceeded all our expectations.


    When I first stepped off the shuttle bus from the airport, lugging a suitcase like a convict might lug a ball and chain, I drew a breath of apprehension. Shanghai Caoyang School - My home for the next two weeks? My mind ran wild with possibilities, each sillier than the next. But when I opened the door of the dorm, it opened to a sunlit little room, not much different than any one found in the camps scattered across the forests of America. What had I been expecting? All the thoughts that had plagued my mind a moment before fled.


    A short while later, when all the attendees of the camp had arrived, a meeting was called by the head counselors to meet in the front lobby. We were receiving instructions concerning bathroom usage, cafeterias, and rules of conduct. Once that had all been settled, our little band of Austrians and Americans shuffled like a pack of penguins toward the cafeterias, none willing to be the first to plunge off the cliff into the icy water below. Yet the steaming platters of food that we were presented with seemed no different than any meal at home lovingly rendered by our grandparents. Food truly could break apart boundaries of borders and beliefs. Though shy at first, as we supped on the same meat and the same drink, we gradually began soft-spoken conversations and discussions. Later on, by the time true friendship had been set in stone by a dozen afternoon adventures, food would yet again serve as a platform upon which we built our trust. Eventually, it became a tradition of sorts to drink toasts to one another every time we sat to dine together.


    Other times we would sit down to learn together. From science to calligraphy to geography, our days were filled with classes about Chinese culture. Poetry class combined music with words in ways that sounded charming, the nursery rhymes of our childhoods flooding back to us as we recited them. Music class did the opposite; it combined poetry with notes, so we could better match the tones, not that it helped us boys much with the falsetto of Beijing opera.  Dance class saw us all line up to create a thousand-hand bodhisattva, while we freed snowflakes, flowers, and words from their papery prisons in papercutting class. Each class was as unique as the minorities of China, which we delved into in history, and each carved lasting memories and appreciation in the seal of our lives.


    Yet the true highlight of our trip was by far the trips we took outside of the classroom, to the old and new worlds of Shanghai, which almost seemed to be two cities, as different as Dickens’s London and Paris. The old half offered up exquisite masterpieces and handcrafted marvels. Chenghuang Temple was an exciting morning spent dashing from one store to the next in search of new wonders, and it was easy to close your eyes to the McDonald’s and Starbucks and picture the Temple in its heyday. Zhouzhuang seemed an Oriental Venice, with its canals and quaintness, willows leaning to kiss the river as bridges knit the banks together. In opposition, the new half offered technological splendors and scale-defying buildings. Undoubtedly, the Bund is the finest example of such, with its towers rising to scrape the clouds above, its crown jewel of the Oriental Pearl blazing with half a hundred lights and colors. The Shanghai Museum of Science and Technology is an even better example; here, modernity triumphs over the old, outdated way of thought in a dozen exhibits. Nanjing Road served as a bridge of sorts between the two, with traditional architecture flanked by modern amenities such as M&M’s World and Swarovski. Yet truly, on the inside, all of Shanghai—and all of China—was fluid, everchanging, the old and the new melding together to create a truly unique cultural heritage, one anyone could be proud of.


    Perhaps the most notable of all the trips was the Dragon Boat Race, where amidst booming drumbeats and the slap of oars against waters we were all laughing, shouting, and splashing one another with glee. Racing around an island against four or five other teams, with the sun smiling down and the laughs of friends all around—what more could be asked of life? In fact, I think that was the true spotlight of the camp, not knowledge gained or sights toured. The true value of this camp was the friendships made, the attitudes changed, not only towards Chinese culture but towards one another. Throwing a little less than three dozen students from different countries, mostly strangers, into an unfamiliar country seems a recipe for disaster, but nothing of the sort happened but a few scrapes and scratches. Past the first day or two of shyness, camaraderie had blossomed faster than weeds regrow, and by the fourth or fifth day all of us had no qualms about sharing secrets. I am particularly moved by the fact that, when I alone of the American team was summoned to host the show at the end presented by all the schools participating in the camp, the Austrian group, who were performing at the show, took me in without a second thought, embracing me as one of their member despite them speaking German and me speaking English. Chinese became our sharpest tool for communication. That, I think, is the true spirit of this camp. New connections made along with old roots discovered, the spirit of China preserved in her children.


    9.
    寻根夏令营

    覃奕佳(Hannah Qin14

    我今年十四岁,从小在美国的俄亥俄长大。

    中国寻根夏令营,最开始我都不知道是怎么一回事, 根本不想去这个夏令营,但妈妈给我报了名,非让我去不可。所以我的夏令营是在我不情愿的情况下开始的。但是夏令营给了我很多惊喜, 快乐和难忘的记忆。

                第一天去夏令营,说实话,真的很紧张。我在那儿谁都不认识,中文水平不是很好,又没有朋友或者亲人陪着。 拿到了我的房卡后,自己在房间折腾了几个小时。终于,我的室友到了。原来她是我在美国的朋友,Alice。现在我们还是室友,那就再好不过了!

                那天晚上我们所有来自美国的朋友都到齐了。每个人都做了自我介绍,跟旁边的同学打了招呼。大家都很友好但又都很陌生。谁都不说话,谁都不看谁。那天晚上我自己感觉不是很喜欢这个夏令营。真的, 再加上那些课程,真没意思,我就想着赶紧让它快快得过去,能快快回到美国。

                但是,很快, 我的想法就变了。

                第二天晚上,我和Alice打算把大家都给请到我们的房间来,让大家都熟悉一下。没想到,那天晚上后,我认识了很多新朋友。在这些人当中,关系最好的是来自Dublin的一些大学生和Alice。在三天之内,我们组织了一个临时家庭。我和 Alice是姐妹,我们的父母是上大学的RaymondDavidDavid又高又壮,他一个胳臂可以举起一个人。 有他做爸爸让我们增加了很多安全感。当然,这只是个玩笑,但是这个玩笑也让我们跟以前不认识的孩子感觉更加亲近了。

                除了来自美国的中国孩子,也有来自菲律宾和印度尼西亚的中国人。我们跟他们都是住在同一个旅馆,一起吃饭,一起参加活动。有一天吃饭时候,我和一个来自印度尼西亚的一个女孩子聊起天儿了。她的名字叫Amy,今年17岁,比我大3岁。她很爱笑,性格很开朗。我们很快成为了好朋友。

                有了朋友, 日子觉得好过了, 我们打牌,说笑,和看电视, 我们还看中文电视,我们看奔跑吧,兄弟。轻松愉快的生活一天一天得过去,原来的那些中国的文化课也好像不那么没有意思了。 我们一起学习舞蹈, 一起舞龙, 一起划龙舟, 一起去看福建的景点。 到了第二个星期我们要去看土楼。我们要开3个小时才会到土楼。在车上时,除了我,大家都睡觉了。终于,来自加州的Steven醒 了。夏令营刚开始的时候,我对他的印象不是很好。他有的时候会跟我辩论,然后他有的时候会在课堂中玩儿手机。我感觉他不是很友好。但是这天,因为没有别人 醒着,我们开始聊天了。他跟我一样大,喜欢打篮球。跟他聊完,其实他也没有我感觉的那么不好。就这样我慢慢的了解了身边的朋友。在我感觉我对他们越来越熟 悉的时候,两个星期就要结束了。这时候我是多么的不舍啊!

                在我要走的头一天晚上,我和所有认识的朋友都一起出去吃饭了。一边吃,一边心里想着自己刚来的时候感觉有多陌生。现在这些人就像是我的家人一样。吃完饭,我们回到了旅馆,最后一次来到了我的房间,来打牌。我们看了最后一次奔跑吧兄弟,最后一起熬了一次夜。

                第二天,妈妈来接我了。 还有一个小时,我就该走了。我们都去了Amy的房间最后一次大家都聚在一起。Amy和她的朋友给我唱了一首告别歌。她唱的时候,我就在想我马上就要离开这里了。唱着唱着,我就开始哭了,Amy Alice也一起都哭了。刚刚认识的好朋友, 马上就要分开, 我真的很难受。

                临走之前,我们又大哭一场。今天以后, Amy就要回印度尼西亚了, DavidRaymond就要上大学了, 还有Steven就要回加州了。 很高兴我和Alice还都会见面。 但是其他的朋友, 我什么时候再见你们呢?两周的夏令营很短, 但我交了这么多新朋友。 感谢中国寻根夏令营, 让我们这些在国外生长的中国孩子在中国见面, 成为好朋友。有可能有一天我们还会再见面, 到那一天我们还会想起2016年夏天的中国寻根之旅夏令营。在这里,我们找到了和我们一样的朋友。


    10. Camp Adventure

    甘子淳,13


    I went to a summer camp in Shanghai this year. Expecting it to be like last year, in sichuan. While I did have fun, but I didn't interact with other camp members too much. I just kept to all the people that I knew from my state, so I didn't make many friends or special memories. This year, however, I decided I wanted to reach out to the other campers and make friends.


    When we first got to the campsite, I only knew a few people from my state,North Carolina. But soon, once everyone had gotten to the site, I started talking to the others. I first made friends with Julia, who I still talk to, even to this day. The first day wasn't just the first day of camp, but the first day of great friendships, and everlasting memories.


    Soon, after we visited a few places, (to name a few,
    城隍庙,回民中学, etc) , I was quite familiar with our group. There was Arwen, Alex (who we liked to call Michael), and Julia, who weren't from North Carolina. Each night, we would all go to someone's room, and talk, play cards, and just have a great time. It was like a sleep over that lasted forever.


    Eventually, we reached out to the other groups as well, talking to people like Miichelle, Camille, Oceane, Leo, Alexi, Anna, Casey, Alex, Lilly and Connie from
    当一天上海人, and so many other people.


    Joy, (left), Me (center) and Julia(right), at
    城隍庙。


    As time went on, so did our bond as friends. We shared secrets, stories, adventures, and most importantly, memories. We always did everything together, never leaving one person behind. We were happy, and so sad to see time move on, faster than we expected, hoped, and wanted. Last year, the trip back was more of an sightseeing trip, but this year, it was definitely more of an emotional journey.


    Joy and I acting silly and having fun.

     


    I would like to thank
    钟梅老师, for always being there for us, always making sure we were having a good time, and most importantly, making sure we were safe. Without her, I don't think I would have had half as much fun as I did.

     


    Next, I would like to thank all the people I talked to at camp, ranging from the people I knew to the people I just met. I would like to thank you for allowing me to have such a great time with you, and sadly, we had to depart. Most of all, I would like to thank Miichelle, Arwen, Julia, and Joy. Thank you guys for spending time with me, and creating good memories that will live forever with me.


    A great group hug after the closing ceremony.

     


    Finally, I would like to thank the sponsors, the tour guides, the bus drivers, and everyone who helped make this trip happen. Without all of you, we wouldn’t have been able to see great places, meet new people, and have a great time in china. Thank you so much for all the effort you put into making the trip possible, and making sure that we had a great time as well. Thank you.


    Alex (left), Eric (center), and Robert (right), hanging out together.

     


    Julia (left), Miichelle (center) and Robert (right) going down an elevator.

     


    Our whole group, From North Carolina, to Pittsburgh, to France. I miss you guys!

     


    11. Root Exploration Camp

    刘兆敏 Emily Liu, 12

    The culture, language, and the cuisine of every country is unique, and one goal of every child is to know her culture and visit her motherland. This summer I went back to China after five years to familiarize myself with Chinese culture and to see where my ancestors lived.


    At Beijing, I went to a root-seeking camp to explore my “roots” We went to the Forbidden City and the Great Wall of China where we learned about the history of China. At the Summer Palace we saw the emperor’s garden and in Tiananmen Square a portrait of Chairmen Mao is hung.  Every place told a story in China’s history and transported us to the past.


    We also had class everyday where we learned calligraphy, art, and martial arts. Everyone had to get his/her their own ink and water, followed with brushes, paper, and paint. With just one stroke of the brush, the teacher had painted a koi fish swimming gracefully on the paper. With a flick of his wrist, he demonstrated how to write the characters in Chinese calligraphy from thousands of years ago. We drew pages of Chinese art, including pandas, fish, face masks, trees, and we even tried writing on the face of a fan. Along with art, using swords and long sticks of bamboo was another part of Chinese culture that we got to experience. Following the teacher’s steps and motions, we soon learned some basic attacks on with both weapons.


    The camp took care of our meals too, giving us new Chinese dishes to try every day. At the school we had tried plates of sweet and sour chicken, lotus, buns, fried rice, red bean cake, and dumplings. Once in a while we were taken to restaurants, partaking of the famous Beijing roast duck, noodles, friend shrimp and cooked fish, tofu wraps, egg and tomato soup, and fried meatballs, each morsel with a story of its own and the traditions of China in every bite.


    This camp has shown me the beauty of China, and where we truly are from.  The counselors enriched us with the knowledge of history, then showed exposed us to songs, the national anthem, art, and cuisine. They taught us that, no matter where you are, you have to go home sometime, to where your “roots” were planted.


    12.
    景德镇,一座卧虎藏龙的神奇城市

    李周达,13

    来景德镇之前,妈妈告诉我这是一座很神奇的城市。在中国,从没有这样一座城市,可以因为一项手工艺而闻名天下1000年,也没有一座城市,因为拥有众多身藏绝技的能工巧匠而使中国陶瓷文化艺术传承永久,吸引八方来客。在英文中,中国和陶瓷都是同一个词--CHINA。据说十七世纪的时候,欧洲贵族兴起收藏中国瓷器,中国特别是昌南镇的精美瓷器很受欢迎。那时欧洲人还不会制造瓷器,因此昌南镇瓷器是十分受人珍爱的贵重宝贝,人们以能获得一件昌南瓷器为荣。这样欧洲人就以昌南作为瓷器(china)和生产瓷器的中国的代称。久而久之,昌南的本意被忘记了,只记得它是瓷器,是中国。民间传说北宋時期,時任皇帝宋真宗特别喜爱昌南的瓷器,命為御用瓷器──所有瓷器產品仅供朝廷使用,並于1004年以其年號景德把昌南鎮重新命名為景德鎮。


    13.
    我最喜欢的夏令营

    丁肇星 Joy Ting 12

    每个夏天, 我都参加各种各样的夏令营。今年, 我参加的北京华文学院舞蹈营, 是我最喜欢的夏令营。

    从 第一天开始,我就认识了很多新朋友。她们和我的年纪差不多,很友好。每一个老师,工作人员都对我们很好。我们住的宿舍干净也很舒服,像宾馆一样。校园里还 有一个小商店,那里可以买到我们需要和想要的东西。学校有一个体育中心,还有一个室内游泳池,我们有时间的时候就会去游泳,玩篮球,排球,和足球等。学校 餐厅里的饭很好吃。我们能吃出来厨师的努力,让我们像在家里吃的一样。

    在夏令营里, 我认识了各个国家的华裔青少年。跟她们在一起很快乐。我们每天都会跳民族舞。有汉代舞蹈, 蒙古族舞蹈,维吾尔族舞蹈等。虽然我们开始时跳这些舞很累,但很快就适应了。我们很努力地学,老师也很努力地教。差不多每一天我们还会有别的活动,像书法,绘画,武术,剪纸等。

    我们真学了不少中国文化。每隔三四天我们就会出去游玩。我们去了长城,颐和园,鸟巢,水立方, 天安门广场, 国家博物馆等。我们从游玩中了解到中国的古老文化和现代文化。这些地方很好玩也很著名,我们很开心,想将来再来这些地方玩!

    我们还看了中国文化表演。我最喜欢的是杂记表演,即神奇又精彩。我们也去了北京天意批发市场。在那里, 我和朋友们学会了讨价还价。真是很有趣!

                总之,北京华文学院舞蹈营是我最喜欢的夏令营。 我学习到了中国文化的深远, 还认识到学习中文的重要性。我下次一定要回来再参加别的寻根营!



    14. Shanxi Thing ugh!

    张娇娅 Joia Zhang, 15


    During the summer, I went to a summer camp in Shanxi Provence hosted by the Chinese government. It was great! I met heaps of nice and chill people. On the first day, we distributed rooms, and got to know each other a little bit. There were only nine people in my group because the tenth did not reach the required age limit of twelve. I remember the younger boys in my group to be extremely loud and obnoxious. It was okay though, because most of the time, I thought they were funny.


    On the second day, we went to a museum on the history of ancient Shanxi Civilization. We had a tour guide that walked us through each exhibit. She vaguely explained the history behind each object behind glass. The museum consisted of ancient artwork and literature. There were many models of the Terra-Cotta warriors, which I found to be intriguing. My favorite thing about the museum was the clay pottery. I thought that the shapes of the pots were cool. Seeing these pots made me reflect on how intelligent humanity can be. The Chinese have been making pottery for thousands of years! Its interesting, yet slightly frightening how technology continues to advance.


    After the museum, an old man gave the entire camp a two-hour lecture on Shanxi Provence’s history.  Personally, I did not find it interesting at all. I was very bored. Plus, I could not hear him very well.


    Later that evening, we went to a restaurant to eat Shanxi’s most famous dish: lamb biscuit bread noodles. To eat this dish, you must rip apart the circular disc of bread into tiny pieces. Next, you put these broken pieces into the broth to be cooked. After the broth with the bread pieces is cooked, the bread is much softer than before and tastes delectable. After dinner, we went to a beautiful walkway place. It had brightly lit beams, water fountains, and statues everywhere. I had a really great time there. Night is my favorite time of day, and I enjoyed gallivanting along water and lights. We stayed there until 10pm. It was great.


    After a mediocre night of sleep, the third day began. On this day, we learned to sing the Chinese National Anthem and the camp’s special song. I did not enjoy this class, because I did not think it was structured. I did not fully memorize the lyrics yet, and the teacher wasn’t very good at coordinating large groups of people. Anyways, after the singing class we all got on our buses to go to a calligraphy class at a school. It was a little boring, but that’s okay because we had a great dinner that night at a hotel.


    On day four, we went to Golden Flower hotel to practice the songs we rehearsed the previous day. After lunch, we went to go see the world famous terra-cotta warriors.  They were very cool! I would have enjoyed the trip much better if it was not 95 degrees ferienheit. Its sad how much of the statues were destroyed. War is very destructive.


    Later that night, we went to my favorite part of the entire camp. It was a show about a love story between a man and a woman. It was gorgeous! The play was very well done and practiced. The costumes were amazing and glistened under the moonlight. The fighting scenes were very cool as well. Fire shot out of the stage set. Also, the mountain lit up to mimic stars, which was beautiful as well. From the shining costumes, to the exciting special effects, this play was wonderfully made. I really liked it.


    On the fifth day, we took a test for Chinese speaking accuracy.  It was not very fun. My speaker did not work very well.  I did not see the point of this activity.


    On day 6 of Shanxi summer camp, we drove for a couple hours to a nearby county. We went to another museum, which I enjoyed. It had lots of pottery. Although, when I read the plaques, most of the pieces were made in the 2000s. Very few were older than twenty years. Never the less, I had a great time. During noon, we went to an emperor’s palace. It was fascinating! Plus, a lot of down time was available, so I chilled out with my newly made friends. The hotel we stayed at had karaoke and a bonfire at night. It was fun, but it fell short because someone through a water bottle from the top of the hotel.


    The next day, we went to the yellow river. It did not look yellow. It looked brown. To me, it resembled chocolate milk. There were these donkeys covered in flowers at the top of the riverbank, though. They were the mot ethereal creatures I’ve ever seen. Those angels were beautiful. That night, we got an ceremony uniforms to wear the next day.


    On day eight, we went to a ceremony place to celebrate “our adulthood.” We wore the red and black uniforms. I thought they were pretty cool. One girl fainted because she was so over heated. I do not think that the adults there handled the situation very well. They literally dragged her away and then made her continue with the ceremony after she woke up. She had fallen to the ground for more than thirty seconds. They did not even let her take of her thick, black uniform.


    Later on the 95 degree weather day, we practiced archery in our uniforms. At first, I thought it was impractical for long, wide sleeves may hinder archery performance; but to my surprise, it did not! It was fine!


    I loved day nine.  We went to see an ancient traditional puppet show. It was awesome. I really liked the venue it was at. It had a little pond, bamboo, and lots of little shops. It was an actual old, living space. It was very peaceful and nice. The place was veiled with flowers. I had a lovely time.


    After this, we went to another museum! My favorite thing about the museum was its jade section. Jade is a beautiful stone.


    On day ten, we went to this wall place and stayed there for four hours under the blistering sun. Some people biked around the entire wall, but I stayed under shade. After, we went to a market place. I loved this market place for I love seeing new things. I enjoy window-shopping very much. There is a tremendous amount of things you can learn just by observing. I love market places and street venders.


    On day eleven, we had another mediocre lecture lesson. This was also the day of the talent show. It was pretty interesting. Many people danced and had skits.


    People in the camp began to leave back to their home countries on the last day. We all said our goodbyes.


    Overall, camp was great! Thank you!!      Bless.


    15.
    矮寨大桥

    王宇悦 Sophia Wang12


    16.
    中国寻根之旅漫画

    刘子薇,12


    17.
    Shanghai Summer Camp

    熊琳琳 Jennifer Xiong, 12



    18.
    重庆营

    黄玫婷, 15

          重庆市侨办领导、重庆师范大学、各位领导老师、同学、大家下午好。我是代表美国达拉斯汉语学校红队的黄玫婷。
          在这十几天的夏令营里,我学了很多东西也见了很多新朋友。在夏令营的课堂上我学了武术、剪纸、汉语、书法,茶艺和跳舞。我见的新朋友让我感受到了来自不同的州和另外国家的人的友谊。
          我认识的有跳舞的、唱歌的、画画儿的和打球的 。这几天在夏令营我们都成了非常好的朋友。夏令营之后我们肯定会继续联系。领队老师们对我们也很好:她们带我们去买东西、帮助我们、还一直照顾我们。
          夏令营的第二个星期我们游览了重庆的旅游胜地。前三天导游带了我们去感受荣昌磁器、璧山温地、还给了我们机会去磁器口买东西。最后几天我们去看了中国宝贵的熊猫、三峡博物馆、版画之乡和大足昌州古城。我很喜欢这些地方,因为景色不仅漂亮,而且吃的东西也很多。有麻花、豆腐干、牛肉干和重庆有名的麻辣火锅。
          这次夏令营真的给我留下了非常美好的回忆。
          再次感谢重庆市、侨办领导、重庆师范大学、校方领导、还有筹办主持这次夏令营活动的老师们给了我们这个特别的机会。谢谢大家.



    19.
    我的亲情中华湖南夏令营深刻印象

    肖正明,14


          湖南省侨联主办的“亲情中华夏令营”是一个又好玩又有文化性的旅程。我学了好多历史,遇见了许多有趣的人,还参访了许多文化古迹。每一天都收获了许多美好记忆。让我来分享一下我在这个夏令营中留下的深刻印象。
          主办方给我们准备的课程内容十分丰富。我最喜爱的课是陶艺课。在这堂课上,我第一次学会了做陶器。在老师的指导下,我做了一个漂亮的带口瓶子。我也喜欢在简牍博物馆的竹简课。老师不仅教我们怎么做竹简,还教会了我们传统中国礼仪。我还学了一首唐代诗人李商隐写的诗。我把“雨夜寄北”写在竹简上,并把自己做的竹简书和瓶子一起带回了达拉斯家中。我更热爱中国文化了。
          我也很喜欢主办方为我们安排的宾馆。每一家旅馆都有自己的特色。长沙枫林宾馆的地理位置最好,面向湘江,背靠岳麓山。第一天,爸爸就带我爬上了岳麓山。最后一夜,爸爸带我和两个小伙伴,从宾馆走到了橘汁洲公园去买小吃。我也很喜欢安化的旅馆,因为可以看到山。哪里都有可入镜的好风景!晚上的篝火晚会,我和小伙伴们都玩得很高兴。
          这次湖南之行是我印象最深刻的一次中国旅游。我很感谢湖南政府的热情款待和精心安排。特别是侨联的向行军主任,全程陪护,尽心尽力。湖南星星国旅的导游们也给了我们无微不至的照顾。特别是为了保证我能赶上一大早的回程航班,导游小姐,清晨五点多就到客房把我叫醒,并安排车直接送我到黄花机场。感恩祖国亲人。希望将来,我还能参加更多的中国夏令营。



    20.
    Friendship of Chinese summer dance camp

    Emily Zhang


          On July 15, 2015,I left my Shanghai dance camp baes from Bie(bae) Mei. That day, my camp plus the Indonesian dance camp performed for all of Shanghai’s camps, just like all the other camps. Later, during intermission, I joined my mom’s camp to meet the campers there. We watched the rest of the show with my mom’s college friend and her daughter. After the show, we all went to dinner at one of Shanghai's top 5 star restaurants, Xin Jin Jiang restaurant. We were seated on the 41st floor, which turned slowly so the diners could get a 360 degree view of Shanghai while eating. I found my baes from the dance camps and ate with them. After dinner, there was a little (big) goodbye party for me. We took about what seemed like 50 selfies! They stuck to me like an octopus! Remembering that night makes me think of a quote I heard once: "Friends come and go like the ocean, but a true friend sticks to you like an octopus stuck to your face."
          These days, we have We Chat and Instagram so we can stay in touch after we get back to America. But that night will be a night that I will never forget. I hope I can see them again very soon. But even if I don’t, I will remember them no matter what happens. And I know that it will be the same for them. In only two weeks, we made a bond that can never be broken.


    21.
    Trip in China

    李怡婷 Elaine Li


          10 days. 10 days was what we needed to experience and create memories that are everlasting and irreplaceable. 10 days spent on submerging ourselves into the culture of our ancestors. 10 days to learn, love, and see parts of China’s breathtakingly gorgeous landscapes. These 10 days went quickly, yet slow as we embarked onto our daily adventures within Shangrao, China.
          Within these seemingly short 10 days, I was presented with an abundance of information about China’s culture and way of life. Through the various activities that were already carefully prearranged for us, I was able to thoroughly participate, engage, and appreciate these activities. Whether it be outside exhausting ourselves in the scorching heat or indoors watching stimulating performances, every single minute of exposure to the camp allowed me to appreciate and love it more than I thought I would. I remember participating in the classes at Shangrao’s First Elementary School. The teachers were not only patient, but they undoubtedly seemed to be delighted to be at school during their own summer vacation to instill onto us their knowledge of the Chinese customs in a way that most of us have never seen before. When we were learning about the Chinese language, the teacher revealed the eloquence of the language through an ancient, yet still beautiful poem. On another day, we engrossed ourselves in the learning and tasting the various local Shangrao delicacies. Following, we were able to witness the artistic history and way of calligraphy. The experience to see a professional calligrapher demonstrate for us firsthand the art of Chinese calligraphy. His graceful strokes made it seem easy, however after tenuous effort to replicate the teacher, had I realized the immense difficulty of this form of art. Additionally, we were able to skim across the vast knowledge and skill of Chinese art. This everlasting form of art was just as difficult as calligraphy, nonetheless, I enjoyed every single moment of this learning experience. Through these classes, I was able to delve into the history and knowledge of my ancestors.
         Through the course of our time here, not only did we learn in the classroom, but we expanded our interest outdoors as well. Our very first day in Shangrao was outdoors, we were venturing onto a fairly close, local mountain. I can recall that one of the first thing the tour guide said was “You’ll defiantly notice the difference in quality up there compared to here.” True to her word, as my friend and I continued to ascend the mountain, it was getting easier to breathe despite the painstaking task of climbing up to the submit. When we reached the temple, I immediately found my way to the nearest window, and peered out the window. Taking a deep breath, I surveyed the amazing landscape and city of Shangrao. It was absolutely breathtakingly, gorgeous, to say the least. However, the most stunning view in my opinion was the one on San Qing Mountain. The instance I got off the cable car, the view was completely different compared to the landscape I had known previously. It was as if I was transported to another dimension. The whole time I was present on the mountain seemed ethereal, not only did the landscape seem different, it was incredible. The mountains looked as if they were carved with delicate, intricate details in order to depict such pictures, like the Cobra or the Goddess. Being allowed to go to such a magnificent location and observing its splendid naturally carved wonder, is a gift itself that cannot be easily replaced with anything in the world. As I continue to age throughout my lifetime, the scenery of San Qing Mountain is one that cannot be forgotten.
         However, the most important aspect of these 10 days, were the bonds and friendships that were formed. The friends that I made is what made this whole trip even more enjoyable. Whether it was friendly competition or group-bonding activities, there was never a dull moment when it came to my friends from across the world. From Zambia, Ireland, Canada, and America, we were able to find a new side of ourselves and unite together because we all carry the blood of Chinese descendants. Within these short 10 days, we were able to create bonds of friendship that could last a life time. We created many memories: ridiculous ones, humorous ones, blissful ones, woeful ones, and much more. Despite the short 10-day time limit, we treated each second with care like there was no tomorrow. We would sing like no one’s listening and dance like no one’s watching. It had seemed that we would never separate after the camp. We would be like our teenage selves and do crazy dumb things, like extreme pinching. Nevertheless, taking classes and learning about the Chinese culture was all the more entertaining when there was someone by your side who was learning the same things for the first time. I remember on the last day of camp when they organized a team bonding event. It was an area devoid of any shade. Each and every single camper had to stand directly under the blistering sun as we were compelled to try to accomplish these challenging tasks. Of course, there were times when we would get frustrated at one another, wanting to blame one another for the failure. In spite of this, we were also apologized and forgiven one other, and just keep persevering until we could successfully complete the given tasks. By the time we finished, we were all exhausted, yet there was a refreshing feeling of being able to bond with my friends in completing a task for who knows how long. That night, we got together and partied like a bunch wild teenage animals. We spilled our regrets and our prideful moments onto the table. In all honesty, the chance to become friends with some of the most amazing people is truly something I am grateful for. The connections I formed within those 10 days were some of the most meaningful and closest ones I have ever formed in my life. I will truly trust them, remember them, and love them in anticipation for the day we can meet again.
          While I highlighted some of the many amazing parts of the camp I participated this summer at Shangrao, there were still many others. Such as, learning how to play the African drums, watching Shaoxing Opera for the first time, the performance at the end, etc. It was not that I did not find these events insignificant, but rather if talked about every aspect of the camp, I would not be able to finish it under the given space. If I was given the opportunity to go back, my immediate answer would be, “Of course.” The experiences and memories the camp gave me were undeniably unforgettable. Not one moment of the camp can be overlooked, not one activity, one gathering, or one joke. As I continue to voyage on through life, I can look back onto these particular 10 days and smile, because there was not a day or thing I did that I regret. Truly, I will hold these precious 10 days close to my heart, and I hope everyone else can do the same.
         This is dedicated of course to my fan in Ireland, Zambia, and China. I love you all. You’re amazing, irreplaceable, stunning people. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. muah. xoxo,
         Elaine Li


    22.
    难忘的北京夏令营

    程贵贵, Flora Cheng, 北京书画营, 12岁


          今年夏季,我去了北京。在北京,我参加了一个中国夏令营。在那个夏令营期间,我去了长城,颐和园,故宫,鸟巢和北京科学博物馆。有些天我没出去玩,我在教室里学了怎么用毛笔和墨画画和写字。
          我最喜欢去的地方是长城,因为”不到长城非好汉“。 我爬的是八达岭长城。爬长城的时候太阳很大,天很热,路很陡。我出了好多汗,终于到达了最高的点.我很为我自己骄傲。从最高的点看去,长城的景色很漂亮。
          在书画课,我学了怎么画鱼,树,山,和更多东西.我觉得画鱼是最容易的。我最喜欢画树。因为画树要很多细节。画完的时候,那棵树会看着很漂亮。我也用毛笔学写字。我用毛笔抄写小诗。我也学了怎么折纸,剪纸成扇子形状和圆的形状。
          在北京我不仅学了很多东西,还认识到一些文化差异。
          第一次, 吃晚饭,我来得晚。大部分美国营员已经吃了,所以我跟西班牙营员和些少数晚来的美国营员吃饭。在饭桌的吃饭的时候, 西班牙营员互相说话,一个美国营员听他们说话,他用英文说,“哦,你们的英文有中文口音哦!”。西班牙营员看着他,终于有一个人回答说,“我们说的是西班牙语”。美国营员的脸就变得红红的,另外的美国营员就哈哈大笑。
          这个中国夏令营带我去很多好玩和漂亮的地方。我也学了怎么用毛笔画画和写字。去中国夏令营是个很好的体验。收获很多,很开心。
          在北京期间,我还学到以下几点:
          第一,中国夏天很热,我走出机场就开始出汗。第二, 要把卫生间的厕纸放在垃圾筒里。第三,北京有很多美国没有的好吃的东西。我最喜欢喝的饮料是酸梅汤。
          这是我写的毛笔字:
    这是我画的扇子:
    这是我画的熊猫:
    这是我画的山:
    这是我画的鱼:
    这是我画的长城:
    我在鸟巢和长城:
    我和夏令营认识的朋友在颐和园和故宫博物院:


    23.
    夏令营

    李梦坤


          我觉得这次夏令营还挺好的。我在陕西省看见了很多著名景点和吃到了那里的许多特色食品。我最喜欢的景点是兵马俑因为我见到了真正的兵马俑和学到了它的历史。我对夏令营不满意的地方就是酒店。有时候房间里会有烟味和有时候房间里会很脏。还有有时候他们的食物害得我和我朋友都拉肚子拉得不停。 这就是我对夏令营的感想。

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