The 10-day U.S. summer camp successfully concluded with everyone feeling happy but reluctant to say goodbye.  At the summer camp, through sensory perception and various activities, the children of the choir learned to express their imagination and creativity, developed their appreciation for arts, and strengthened their ability to live and work with others.   It was not a simple task, but we did it.

Tolerance and respect for others in a group setting is a very important lesson of this summer camp.  Living with many other children over 20,000 kilometers away from home requires discipline and control in overcoming the obstacles of one’s own emotions and the challenge of interactiing with others.  To follow the activities of the group in an unfamiliar environment,  there is no “I”, but “we”:  We take care of each other; we share good things with each other; we are respectful and follow the rules; we do our best to get things done.  It is an invaluable wisdom to “remain true to oneself while being considerate of others.”  This the kind of lesson could not be learned in a book or a classroom, and the children of “Singing” grasped the concept during these 10 days.

During the U.S. stay, the children of “Singing” had lessons and lunches at the La Jolla Country Day School and experienced a different learning environment.  Lilly Cheng, Managing Director of the The Confucius Institute at San Diego State University , made a special trip back from China to be with the students as they experienced American culture and life style.  Joe Rowling and Wendy Clemente, both music teachers from La Jolla Country Day School, introduced the students to the history of American music and let them take turns trying out the basic notes and tempo of jazz music on the xylophone.  We were grateful for and moved by the teachers’ professionalism and passion for teaching.  The children were fortunate to be their students.

Then there was the performance at the Four Flowers Theatre.  With their pure angelic voices and their earnest and lovely faces, the members of the “Singing Children’s Choir” delighted the audience immensely.  People could not believe that “Singing” had only been established less than three years ago but was able to present such a professional performance across the ocean.  All the hard work and persistence finally paid off and the accomplishment was for all to see.  Not only did the children of “Singing” learn a lot from this summer camp, all the teacher and volunteers also realized that, in life, attitude determines altitude, and attention to details makes the difference between success and failure.

As an old Chinese saying goes, “It takes ten years to grow a tree, but it takes a hundred years for education to bear fruits.”  The upbringing of children takes time, and good habits and healthy mentality are extra meaningful when they are rooted in real life.  It is our hope that the children of “Singing” will influence other children in a positive way so that there will be better hopes for the society and the country.