What happened to us??

The students weren't the only ones who were impacted on the trip. Like Mrs. Staab mentioned in the video, many students are profoundly impacted by their experiences in Baojing. I'm no different from any of these students. I was affected in a number of ways. On the most basic level, I have learned about appreciation for what I have. Traveling to a rural area and adapting to the situations we faced was an constant exercise in flexibility. There were times when we had to go beyond our comfort zones (Miao Village), but these challenges only made us tougher. Having seen another side of the world makes you appreciate what you have. Trust me, only after an experience like this can one appreciate the miracles that are modern conveniences.

Being in China for a month also gave the Hawaii students a chance to practice their Chinese with native speakers. The best environment for learning a language is not necessarily a classroom. It can be anywhere, as long as the learner is immersed in both the language and culture. Any foreign language teacher will agree that the surroundings are equally as important, if not more, than textbooks and lectures. For it is in everyday usage that you really see how the language works, especially among native speakers. I'd say that the many people saw their Chinese improve over the trip.

But there is even more beyond that. Seeing the disparity between the countryside and major cities is a lesson in economics. When you think about it, it's startling how large the gap is. However, the gap will just continue to grow as the major cities in China leave the rest of China in the dust. It's up to people with the knowledge to try to bring about change. I believe that we did our share of the job by going to Baojing. It's possible that our efforts have inspired a handful of students to shoot for the stars. That's all it takes for our efforts to have been successful.