Bracken's "China Alive" to Shangri-la

Every year the Shanghai American School takes its students on a "China Alive" trip to explore different areas in China. Starting their freshman year, the school gives the students several different choices of where they would like to explore. This year, Bracken and other 9th/10th graders went on a trip of a lifetime to Shangri-la near Tibet. They were told it would be a physically demanding backpacking trip, but Bracken was up for the challenge. The fifty mile trek allowed them to experience nature at its greatest. "The views were amazing, and even though the hike seemed to go forever, it was a great learning experience for me." "There were a few days we went to a small village in Niru. We were able to do some service here for students in a small school. There were at least 100 students with two teachers. The classroom was very old fashioned, and a bit dirty. It was a great experience to be able to spend time with the older kids outside playing basketball, while some of the other people read stories to the younger kids. We all brought a small gift to give to one student in the group. My student was a little girl about 8 years old. She was happy when I gave her a set of new writing utencils and a diary book. That evening all the children dressed in their traditional Tibetan clothes,and danced for us. The thing I will always remember about this trip is how little some people have in life, but how happy they still are."