Envelope #3: Open after you have had a particularly productive day related to your fellowship

Prompt: What made this day productive? Was the success more for you, the agency, the community, or another individual?

In answering this prompt, I am thinking back to my second time in Anlong village, when I had the chance to convey what I learned during my first visit to a group of high school students in the program Where There Be Dragons. The students stayed in Anlong for a total of 4 days, getting a taste of rural life as they helped prepare steamed buns for breakfast, did some farm work, and even participated in the nightly plaza dancing. I enjoyed getting to know the bright and enthusiastic students over meals with them, answering their questions while also hearing their own impressions of Anlong. Anlong is the village that CURA has directed much of their environmental efforts these past few years, installing biogas digesters, compost toilets, wetlands, and empowering farmers to switch to organic farming. Though this is just one village among many, it is meant to serve as a model to encourage other villages to follow suit, ultimately improving the water quality of the rivers that serve as the source of drinking water for millions in Sichuan. 

During the group’s time in Anlong, we arranged for them to have the chance to talk with the organic farmers and hear their experiences firsthand. That day, reporters from the local newspaper also came to meet the high school group. On top of that, another group students attending China’s Southwestern University of Finance and Economics also came to the village to implement a project of their own. This made for an especially interesting afternoon conversation as we gathered in the spacious CURA classroom. After a round of introductions, giving the high school students a chance to practice their newly learned Chinese phrases, we moved in to the Q&A session. The students had prepared questions ahead of time, and took turns asking. This is where I came in, translating their questions into Chinese for the panel of farmers, listening to their answers given in Sichuan dialect, and then translating it back into English for the students. It was a bit daunting translating the farmer’s responses; as they were not used to having a translator, they answered the question all at once, rather than stopping to let me translate every few sentences. Nevertheless, it went quite well overall. It was rewarding to know that I was able to help the students, serving as a literal bridge of communication. Seeing the students eyes widen in disbelief as I translated that one of the middle-aged farmers was in fact 73 years old was priceless. Even better was the collaborative environment that afternoon. When one student inquired about the health system in China, one of the reporters piped up and answered her question. This goes to answer the second question—that day the success was shared by all who were present. I considered it productive not only because I had a chance to challenge myself and serve as a translator, but also because I learned a lot from the questions asked and answers posed, as did the students and reporters. And, although the farmers largely answered questions, they enjoyed having the chance to share their experiences with the students—both the good and bad.

The man front and center in the picture is the 73 years old; 

the man in the back left is holding his grandson. In the middle back 

wearing a green shirt is Dong, a CURA staff member. 

 Later that night, the exchange continued as both groups of students joined in the plaza dancing festivities. Given the special visitors, the ladies continued dancing long past their standard 1 to 2 hour routine. Even better, no translation was needed for this activity; the lively synchronized movements and laughter could be understood by students and villagers alike. 

Plaza dancing!

 A particularly capable and bold villager dancing with the women