Dear friends

How are you? I try to keep you updates.  aftershock updated  May 19.

This is the eighth days after the earthquake in Sichuan province.  I was planing to share with all of you about my experiences of last days. It was on hour ago, There were emergence broadcast from TV and radio that here would be a big after shock  in a few days we should prepare for it. Then, people were flooding out the streets and roads were filled with cars. The whole Chengdu city was in a big chaos. Most of our teachers and some parents and children come back to the school start to came again.( They had just gone home). We wanted to make sure all our teachers got the information and be prepare. It is a hard time for all of us. People' are emotional, nervous  and despair to face such challenge. 
waldorf
Last two days,  I was invited to join in a group of psychological therapist that are organized by the Minister of the Education and professors from Universities. We are trying mediate traveling activities, psychological rescue and make a brochure and guide book for the Minister of the Education to distribute. I felt it was very special being invited to join in such a speciality group as a waldorf teacher. Some of the experts who know about Waldorf education  highly value our work in the hospital. Zewu and I have been participated in many meetings and training courses.

Today, there were over dozen teachers from our school also joined in the group as volunteers went to Mianyan, a serious damage area in the earthquake, where most casualties are sheltered now. There was a "Ten school" opening to the children. There were three hundred children lead by our teachers playing games, singing songs in a huge ten. And,there were hundred of parents, volunteers, journalists surrounded us. Can you image, there were hundreds of children who did not know each other doing games together? There were more children continually brought into the group during the game. We could not fulfill our original plan because we were the chaos, noise and steaming hot ten. But, our brave teachers wouldn't not give up. Children were led to move chairs and tables in a good order, and sit on the ground as a circle. Teachers tried to use body language as much as they could for those were far way from teachers. They sang, clapped, stepped , greeted to each other without knowing each other by names. It was incredible how they managed to do that. It turned out much better than one can imagine. Children were happy, exciting and more to play more. But, there were some children were not much involve , especially those who have not yet found their parents. The older children had suffered from their heart much more and they are urgently needed therapy.

I have learned from the experts that f those who are "normal" so far are only in the first stage. All they need are safe environment, basic living, and  rhythm of life, so if they felt beloved, can play game, receive some presents, have a new school bag and can go to school they are fine. But, as long as the whole crisis has gone, everything back to normal live. Then they would find out things have been changed. The psychological hurt become obversely. There are great challenge lies ahead, especially for those who had lost the love ones or  become disable. It is my pleasure there are many individuals and organizations, including government agents have working on this areas.

 I have deeply touched by working and meeting with government officers last few days. I was not interest in politics and have a flat view of government. But, this was the first time that I saw and felt there is a bright side of the government and the effort that they have made are great. I believe that the beautiful, goodness, truthful, a part of human been have been brought out through this natural disaster, thought it has been a result of many lives lost. I hope that those who are in the spiritual world can witness this moment, a moment that are filled with true love among us. They would feel a kind of peace if they saw the wonderful  souls who alive.

I beg you love lives, and love very one who around you.

Chengdu waldorf school

 Li Zhang
2008-5-19