A glowing report of this week’s Chengdu Sports Aid trip from second-time volunteer John Fowler:
The Sichuan weather gods were smiling down as the CSA bus, kindly provided by EtonHouse International School, trundled up towards Luoshui. Onboard were a bunch of familiar faces as well as a group of volunteers from the South-West University of Nationalities (Minzu Daxue). There had been some concern that impending exams might prevent the kids from being able to take part in the day’s activities. However, after an announcement was made, and the word had got round that the students from Minzu Daxue had generously brought early Christmas gifts for all the children, the number of beaming kids playing in the sunshine swelled dramatically.
The children were soon taking turns at human bowling, then panda bowling, followed by the rather more painful experience of panda bashing — such was the popularity of the Chengdu rugby team panda hat! Other children were gleefully occupied with a game offering a welcome variation on skipping. It involved a volunteer standing in the middle of a circle and spinning round with a rope that the kids on the outside of the circle would have to jump over. A riotous time was had by all with the exception of the poor CSA volunteer in the middle who tended to suffer from a combination of dizziness and nausea (thank you Tom and Penny!).
Before leaving there was just time for the university students to distribute their magnificently hand-wrapped gifts. The children disappeared off with big Cheshire Cat grins on their faces, and so did the volunteers. The day was an unmitigated success and a big thanks to all those involved!
