After a huge welcome party put on by the orphanage in Urumqi, we acquainted ourselves with children of seven different ethnicities including Uyghurs, Kazakhs, and Mongols. Our students spent an immense amount of time and effort on designing the American curriculum and teaching it to the children every day. In return, the children taught us the art and beauty of their culture including their language, music, and dance.

After the orphanage principal honored our students with the volunteer recognition award, they faced the biggest challenge of their journey – saying goodbye. Some orphans gave their most precious gifts, dolls that they professed their love of our students. Others gave our students their stationary, which was their only belonging. Love has no boundaries. Children from both ends of Earth broke into tears for hours – the sight was touching and the warmth will be kept in all our hearts for a long time.

As part of experiencing central Asian culture, our students rode huge, two hump camels on the ancient Silk Road in the burning Turpan desert, experiencing how the caravans traveled in the old days. They also roamed around the chilly steppe with the local nomads on horseback and much more.

According to our students, everything about this trip was simply remarkable, from exotic food such as mare’s milk and lamb kebabs to the heart-to-heart connection with children 6500 miles away. More importantly, our students have not only been part of a unique volunteer experience, but they also experienced the take away of unprecedented love for their parents and appreciation for what they have.

Apprentice Education is very proud to have launched this program.

Remarkable Silk Road Summer Camp

John Ma

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