A Drizzle Day with Delightful Experience
It was a day with a drizzle. We got up at the dawn of the day
and got together at dormitory-06 compound of CCNU to start an event doing
something, but expecting nothing. This is my maiden experience as a volunteer
in Wuhan, China. At the day end, I re-defined myself what volunteering is, it
is nothing but dedication, kindness and cross cultural understanding. I hear
all the way, some people are making comments on some cultures and people. But,
we do not have good and bad cultures or good and bad people in the world in a
deep sense. Instead, there are different cultures and diverse people. It is not
a matter of the continent or the color of the skin, but it is a matter of our
perception and attitude. The day was extremely divers in terms of the cultural
experience and in terms of the events undertaken. The languages of volunteers
were different. Our geographical experiences were almost different, but at a
particular point, we all were the same as the intention was selfless.
In order to accomplish the expected intention, the language
was not a barrier and the culture was not at all a barrier. This teaches us a
new lesson; volunteers are universal citizens. We first arrived at Optics
Valley which is surrounded by flowery landscapes and isolated green mountains.
The constructions of the area were amazing as they were really environmentally
catered. This must be called as sustainable development which invites for a
green city. Though we were not similar in language expressions, understanding
each other and mingling were truly meaningful. Therefore, the expected event
took place without any trouble. The day also was decorated by pleasing smiles
of Chinese university friends.
And the lunch encounter was another new cross cultural
experience to understand what human empathy is. The drizzle day was gradually
transforming into a moderate rain but it was not very much conscious for us as
we all engaged with the scheme of work.
The event followed by the lunch was in a lake scenery where
we all paddled bicycles as a camaraderie competition. Paddling bicycles for
seven kilometers along the East lake dam was not at all tired for us as we
really were enjoying the event. What is extremely fascinating all out of the
all is the punctuality of our team. As agreed, everyone got together before
9.00 am and dispersed by 3.00 pm. Eventually, the event inspired me and my team
into another such interesting event where we may help people or where we could
extend our support for whoever it is required.
Contributor
- Upul Gamage
- Athurugiriya, Western Province, Sri Lanka
- A person who is willing to work with challenges to find new paths where the others have never been. I have been in the field of linguistics for a certain period with a very keen enthusiasm in search of new lines of the field. My foremost study areas are applied linguistics, psycholinguistics, phonetics and metalinguistic. I am also into some other fields as well such as customer care training and personality development.