From Yushu to Qumalai, it is really going to the horizon, rising from 3600 meters above sea level to 4000 meters, and the sky is more and more within reach. The vast grassland, endless clouds, away from the noisy crowd, the mind is also quiet.
On this trip to Qumalai, Sister Xiaoyun sent me to a school in the countryside. There are four of us, and we travel to and from the rugged roads in the mountains for five or six hours every day. Although we are very tired, our hearts are calm.
The first stop of Qumalai is the center of Qumahe Township, a school only 150 km away from no man's land in Hoh Xil. Like when I was a child, there was only one class in each grade, and each class had only about 20 children.
Teacher Ni and I are responsible for teaching senior children and watching their long eyelashes, dirty braids and dark faces, but all these can't stop their enthusiasm for class. The girls are particularly interested in the doll teaching AIDS we brought. They are shy and curious. Burying their faces, they walked to the podium and slowly explored under my leadership. Although the girl sitting below didn't have a chance to come up, her curiosity remained undiminished.
Qumahe School is an ordinary rural school with a small campus, but far away from the world, surrounded by mountains, which has opened up a place to find people halfway up the mountain and turned it into a village. Teachers' working environment is also very difficult. They eat and live with their children and go to the county town to deliver meals once a week. The materials were not particularly sufficient, but they served us their best home-cooked dishes.
The situation of sending schools to Qiuzhi Township Center is similar to that of Qumahe Township Center. Teachers are too enthusiastic. Although we have had lunch, we still want to share their dishes with us. The children are so enthusiastic, busy helping us with our schoolbags and teaching AIDS, and so active in class, but the innocence in our eyes can't be concealed.
Maduo Township Central School (No.1 Middle School at the Head of the Yellow River) should be the farthest place we went on this trip. Sitting in Picari, we bumped on the rugged mountain road. Only the vast scenery in the mountains and the innocence of the children make us feel that it is all worthwhile.
The mountain road is rugged, and I have been looking forward to seeing the countryside and people, but all the way past, except grassland and dirt road, there is only myself left, and there is no cell phone signal.
Finally, I saw several buildings in the distance and cheered. Finally, we arrived at the farthest place of this trip-Maduo Township Center!
When I arrived at the school, I found that the teachers and students of the original school had set up tents on a grass near the school. It turns out that children are celebrating Children's Day on June 1st (because there is a month-long Cordyceps holiday on May 20th).
Perhaps our arrival upset the school's plan, but the teacher still organized the children of grade four and five to take our flower protection class at school. However, when I got to school, I found that all the children stayed in the earthquake shed for classes (the teaching building had to be reinforced because of the earthquake), and there were only a dozen children in one class, living a simple life in a simple earthquake shed.
Although there is only one blackboard in the earthquake shed, it still can't stop the children's enthusiasm for class. We turned on the computer, and a dozen heads crowded over and looked at everything in the video. Looking at the teaching aid dolls we brought, they were more curious and wanted to find out.
After giving lessons to the children, we have missed their normal lunch time, but the headmaster is still waiting for us to eat. Despite the lack of materials on the grassland, they still cook every dish with their heart. I was also lucky enough to eat authentic grassland yogurt, plus just cooked Potentilla anserina (ginseng fruit), which is sour and sweet, just what I like.
After lunch, we were lucky enough to watch the pot dance of Tibetan children. They danced in warm music, not only celebrating their own festivals, but also expressing their welcome to us. Although there are only simple apples, pears and other fruits, as well as cola and sprite, we are used to drinking them, but for them, this is indeed a very grand festival, and happiness is written on their faces.
Reluctantly bid farewell to the children dancing happily, and we bumped on the road again. The children sent to Geye Town Central School are waiting for us! The school uniforms worn by the children here are the fifth school uniforms I have ever seen. Every school has its own characteristics. After giving lessons to the children, it's long past dinner time. I'm really sorry about these children.
Seeing the poor accommodation of children reminds me of those years when I lived in school, especially in junior high school, where the conditions were very difficult. But it was really the happiest math age in my memory, which had nothing to do with money and nothing else. I just devote myself to my study, hoping that the children here can read a future for themselves.