GONGQI CELEBRATION--YONGXING VILLAGE

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It was an honor to be invited to Yongxing, a small village outside Haikou City, to celebrate Gongqi, an annual celebration of ancestors. It is a day for the families to gather together to pray for their ancestors and share a meal. Two of our students, who I taught last year through Global Volunteers, invited us to share a meal with their family. Our guides to the village, were two of our students from class this year, who also teach in Yongxing middle school. We went by taxi and, because of a big traffic jam, it took 1 1/2 hours to reach the village from Haikou City......normally it would be an hour journey. When we arrived, our two friends were waiting for us, plus two more students from last year. It was such fun to see these women after emailing during the past year. The home is on the main street and we gathered in the main room for lunch. Their were two bedrooms and a large kitchen area. Behind the house, was a brick building housing the WC (toilet). WE were served a delicious meal of 'Hainan noodles', Wengchen chicken, cooked over a 'hot pot' more noodles with mutton, fresh vegetables, home-grown, and fresh fish. We laughed and enjoyed the warmth of these wonderful people who opened their home to us & we ate till our bellies bulged

After this enjoyable meal, we walked about a mile to the village Taoism Temple, which actually consisted of two temples, one for the males and one for the females. Many were gathered there to pray for their ancestors. Also firecrackers could be heard all around town.

After returning from the temple, we were driven to the Yongxing middle school, where my friends teach -- ages 13-16 years old. We were the first foreigners they had ever seen and, to say they were enthusiastic, was an understatement!!!!! They sang lively songs for us and asked many questions.......some were in uniform. The school has 2,100 students; 1,000 board at the school, the rest walk home to the village. There were approximately 160 teachers, who also boarded at the school with their families if they were married. If the teachers are single, they room with 7 teachers. I was told they become good friends! The students room with approximately 8-12.

We learned that primary and junior school are free. High school costs about 1,000-1,500 RMB per student, per year. They have to buy their books. Colleges and Universities cost approximately 5,000-10,000 RMB per year. Drugs and alcohol are not used by the students; boys smoke, girls DO NOT. There is not a problem with drug abuse among the students in the schools.

We are very grateful for this enriching experience.

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Photos

GATHERED FOR TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEAL
SHALLY'S PARENTS' HOME WITH FOUR OF MY STUDENTS FROM LAST YEAR & HER FAMILY

SHALLY HER FATHER & HER SON
SALLY'S FATHER HELPED COOK THE MEAL!

TAOISM TEMPLE IN YONGXING VILLAGE
MALES' TEMPLE

YONGXING MAIN STREET
VIRGINIA, SHALLY, ROY, MARILYN & KATIE

MARILYN WITH STUDENTS
STUDENTS FROM YONGXING MIDDLE SCHOOL

FAREWELL PHOTO!
KATIE, LINDA, MARILYN, SHALLY & VIRGINIA