what the kids are saying...

the monies we've raised have already made a differnce!!! newick house school has been able to purchase a minivan to transport the kids to a nearby leisure center. this means the kids get their much needed physical activity. they also use it for day trips to get the kids out in the real world.

Jamie Connell posted the following comment on the trekchina0907 trekker's blog...

I really like the new mini bus. I've been in it 4 times already, 3 times to go swimming to the triangle leisure centre and once for our class day trip to the wildlife centre with Mr Brown.I saw wild cats,rats and stroked a barn owl. I like the mini bus because it's got speakers in the back.
Jamie,
Jubilee 1, Newick House School

12 October 2007 12:10

the chicken dance...

the students at xi'an huiling love having visitors. however, they are very shy and keep to themselves except when they are performing! and then they want everyone to join in. here we are at xi'an huiling doing the ol' chicken dance - in chinese!

xi'an huiling for persons with learning disabilities...

as you may know, i stayed on for a week after the trek with intrepid. intrepid practice responsible tourism and find a way to give back to the local community. it could not be more fitting that we spent an afternoon at xi'an huiling - a school for persons with learning disabilities.

xi'an huiling is a community-based, non-governmental organization. the students are over 16s and they all live at the school where they receive training to develop their life skills. activities go beyond reading and writing, they are taught how to use public transport, how to cook for themselves, proper social skills, etc.

when students are ready to live on their own they move together as a family (in groups of 3 or 4) to an unsupervised flat near by where they continue to develop their skills.

the students earn their own money by creating arts & crafts to be sold at local markets or by selling their paintings - even by participating in traditional dance performances.

before we ended our visit, we were treated to a live performance culminating in the a group rendition of the chicken dance! (video to follow soon)

please click here to view pics from my visit at xi'an huiling and the rest of my time in xi'an.

we are the champions

kevin's trekkers star in their second hit video... catch the preview here!!!



it is a bit dark but if you tilt the screen at just the right angle...
hope i'm not video overloading!!!

video of the little b@$t@rd...

not that the title in any way reflects my feelings toward the climb to this tower... it is actually called that!

i thought it would be nice to share with those at home ;-p

trekkers blog

there has been a lot of activity on the trekker's blog... comments from the folks supporting us from home as well as post-trek comments by the trekkers.

there is some really moving stuff in there... please have a read!

pics from the great wall...

as promised, some pics of our trek on the great wall and out and about in beijing. to view my picture gallery click here.