Goducate … Go And Educate!

More than a hundred Lifepegs members, Chinese and foreign, filled every chair, sofa, and stool and overflowed into the standing areas behind, waiting eagerly for last Saturday’s opening concert at the new Lifepegs facility. Excited chatter in Mandarin, English, and even occasional Cantonese swirled in the air, mixing with the aroma of espresso from the busy coffee bar in the corner. Lifepegs staff members maneuvered through the crowd, welcoming students, adjusting microphones, bringing more seats, and leading tours of the facility’s four storeys. Angela, who had ridden a bus for over 2 hours to come with me, kept her hand in mine as she caught up with some of her classmates from our 2010 summer camp team. Lisa, who I’d met during a Lifepegs pizza making activity in the spring, waved at me from across the room, where she was sitting with Nicole and Will.

The “Real Life” concert featured a blend of foreign members singing various inspirational songs with guitar and keyboard accompaniment, as well as testimonies from members about the different ways Lifepegs has influenced their lives. The packed room listened intently as each speaker shared his or her favorite Lifepegs experiences: skiing trips, business lectures, rock climbing, cooking lessons, fitness and nutrition training, singing activities, and many, many others.

“I have learned many interesting things about the different cultures from the Philippines and the United States.”

“We had a chance to sell our items from the Shenyang business trip and see who could make the greatest profit.”

“I will never forget my friends from the English summer camp!”

“I was afraid to use English before, but now I can have lots of practice in fun activities with foreign friends and other students.”

Amid the reminiscing about different trips and activities, certain themes arose again and again: learning, friendship, family. Members told of foreign friends and staff members who took the time to mentor, encourage, and love them, whether through making biscuits together or training them as marketing volunteers. And as I looked around at the familiar faces singing the final song, “Pengyou” together, I had to agree with the speaker who ended with, “Lifepegs is more than a club, it is a family. I love Lifepegs; I love you all.”

Guest writer Becca, Volunteer at Student Activity Center

Lifepegs, the international lifeskills activity club in Changchun, northeast China, recently moved to a larger facility to accommodate and serve more members. I joined the host of volunteers who signed on to do up the place and had the privilege to work with many Chinese and international members and the Lifepegs staff team. The facility needed a lot of work but everyone appeared eager to face the challenge.

During my first time at the new property, the goal was to completely paint the first floor of the four-storey building. This space would serve as the primary gathering area. A member experienced in renovating gave a painting demonstration.

As I and another member painted a wall, a Lifepegs worker looked on making it obvious he wanted to help. I gave him my roller, and another member who also quickly became efficient in painting followed him. Reflecting on all the paint I used that never reached the wall, I think they learned better than I did. The day ended with several of us having a late but satisfying meal at an outdoor barbecue.

After the first floor was painted, we focused on the garden. A forest of overgrown weeds and even a large, solitary sunflower confronted us. Although there is nothing inherently entertaining about clearing garbage from a patch of earth, having fun was contagious as everyone joked and laughed throughout our effort. Having some landscaping experience, I shared my idea about building a wall to prevent erosion for a very uneven section of the yard. When a member suggested using wood for the wall, it provided an opportunity to explain which types of materials would last the longest.

After pulling out all the weeds, the volunteers discovered a lot of tile fragments, bricks, and plastic bags. These were collected in buckets, which we hauled down to empty into a large bin. As our evening ended, a truck arrived full of plants that needed planting.

It was indeed a precious and fun experience of learning new skills and enjoying teamwork as we worked together to renovate our very own clubhouse which we will get to enjoy with many others.

Guest writer Dan, Volunteer at Lifepegs