Cycling day！

by Vivian Yuan – Captivating employee, Shenzhen China

A few months ago, Rita, one of our dearest volunteers who worked with us last year before returning to Ireland, came back to Shenzhen over Christmas/New Year for several months. One Sunday morning Rita organized for the Shenzhen based Seng girls to go cycling. Actually, it ended up becoming quite a group. So, the simple trip turned into a weekend of activity.

Firstly, it was a bus load of people travelling out to Project Eden at Dongguan on the Saturday night for a BBQ.  Even though it was raining, everyone had a great time and got back to Shenzhen very late and exhausted. They were also quite traumatized by Andrew’s rendition of the New Zealand Maori Haka – scary. Everyone woke early still excited to go cycling. Stella (Pema Lhamo) and 2 girls went to my apartment to pick up some bikes because Andrew and Julie only have 3 bikes – not enough for 7 girls. One of the girls, Dawa, was still recovering from sickness so she was not allowed to do too many sports, so we let her to sit at the back of one of the bikes. Poor Dawa got a painful bottom after we came back from what turned out to be 3 hours cycling. When Julie asked her if she was in pain, she said no, buy immediately touched her bottom, so we know actually she does. P.S: – When we came back from the cycling, we heard such a lovely news. A QSI teacher, Ron Dewitt, surprised the girls by donating new bikes.

We found out Alice (Yeshi Lhamo) didn’t know how to ride a bike as we started leaving. I tried to help but we only have 10 minutes before meeting other cyclists. So, I needed to double Dawa, as the girls are not that confident themselves at riding yet. Rita and Con (partner) decided to help Alice learn how to ride the bicycle, and so I lead the girls to Shenzhen Bay Park for cycling.  We rode about 20 minutes, stopped by the bridge, and I ask the girls if they want to continue, they said yes. I didn’t tell them I was willing to give up at that point. 40 minutes later, they still wanted to continue. Two hours later, they still wanted to continue and this is the first time I learn how persevering they are! This is the first time they ride after they had been in Shenzhen. Eventually we went back to meet with Rita and Con for lunch, we had lunch in an Inner Mongolian restaurant. The food they have is mostly same with Qinghai where they are from. Thanks to Rita and Con for this lovely lunch the girls really enjoyed the food which made them remember home. And one thing I have to mentioned, Alice learned how to ride bike during that 3 hours with no major injuries.

At the time it was not that easy to communicate with the girls as they didn’t know too much Chinese and English, and I don’t know how to speak Tibetan. So the replies I heard back were mostly smiling face, but it’s such a lovely smile. When I ask them to jump up for the picture, the first time they are quite shy, but later they opened their heart and I can see they free themselves at that moment.  Their hearts are so pure. It’s hard to believe what they got through before, and what a blessing it is for them to get into the Seng Girls Home program. I really hope to see more open smile from them, and that they get a better future. They greatly appreciate what they have, and work so hard to learn.