Blog 1 -- Pre-trip Akal

Hello GSL China families, faculty, and friends! 

My name is Akal, a senior member of the GSL China IV/V class and it is with great excitement and awaited anticipation that I get to kick off our first blog of our spring break trip to the beautiful Sānbǎishān (三百山）village in Ānyuán county (安远）, Jiāngxī province（江西）! In just a few hours the Chinese IV/V class will be gathering at the Sea-tac airport lugging our big blue duffels, as we file together with a wonderful buzz of inspiration for the couple of weeks ahead. Weeks filled with service, community engagement, and linguistic enrichment abroad! 

In this past week we’ve created a list of group expectations, discussed ways in which we can be active and present listeners and community members within Sānbǎishān , and engaged in inter-disciplinary education of rural villages in China, researching the impact of 留守儿童 or “left-behind children”. We learned that traditional Chinese values, customs, and traditions, are rooted from community, sharing of stories throughout generations, and hard work as a means of growth for both urban and rural developing areas.  

Outside of class, we have diligently been packing for the trip checking off basic clothing and toiletry items off our comprehensive list created by the GSL department heads. One aspect of the packing that has been brought up in many of our planning agendas is bringing gifts and souvenirs from Seattle to China! At the beginning of the packing/homestay conversation we had with our trip leaders, we learned that we would be the first Lakeside school group to visit this new site, which provides a wonderful opportunity to connect with the community members in Sānbǎishān while also immersing ourselves in the unique minority groups in China. 

At this time, I know many of us are feeling a multitude of emotions, especially as some of us may be travelling away from home for the first time, but the gratitude that we feel multiplies by the minute! 

We will check in soon with our daily blogs/photos, but for now。。。 

再见西雅图！你好中国！-- Goodbye Seattle and hello China!! 

 

Thank you 谢谢 (Xièxiè), 

Akal ( 苏爱珂- Sū àikē) 

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