I am Ashlesha, and I study in American International School of Lusaka. I’ve been living in Zambia with my family for six years now, because of my dad’s job with Netherlands Development Organization (SNV) Zambia. Originally we are from Khotang, Nepal.
This year I got an opportunity to participate in the Global Young Leadership Conference (GYLC) program. I chose to participate at the program in China instead of the US and Europe because I already had some idea about the Chinese culture and had always wanted to know more about it. I also had a feeling that the program in China had more to offer than that in the US and Europe. [break]
There were about 160 high school students from over 30 countries participating in the program, divided into four groups. I was in group four and my group members were wonderful and kind. I was the youngest in the group but I was always encouraged to take part in group discussions and no one ignored by opinion.
Since I travelled alone to China, I felt independent and nervous at the same time. But as soon as I landed, all my fears turned into excitement. The atmosphere in China from the very beginning was friendly.
On the first day, Rosanna Lin gave us a speech in which she briefed us about the Chinese culture and the difficulties Chinese people face. It was a great start to our tour as we developed a general idea about the cultural background of the Chinese people.
There were beautiful pagoda temples and palaces all over Beijing. One of the most gorgeous palaces that we visited was the Summer Palace, built for the Dragon Lady to spend summer. It was a grand palace, with many gardens including a big man-made lake. The palace had many visitors and was crowded. The painting in each and every corner of the palace wall shared stories of the Dragon Lady.
The hardest yet the most victorious moment was hiking along the Great Wall of China. The view from the Great wall was indescribably beautiful. Green hills surrounds the wall, and it stretches so far that your eyes can’t figure out where it ends.
Likewise, Hangzhou is known as the paradise on earth. It has lot to offer for tourists, such as ancient Buddhist temples, Chinese style boat ride and shopping. It is also known for the world’s best green tea. Seeing the hills full of tea plantation, I remember our very own Illam.
We also watched an acrobatic show in Shanghai. It was jaw dropping. The acrobats had flexible bodies and were jumping and swinging like they had no bones.
On the last day of GYLC, we focused on youth empowerment. It began with a session by Richard Brubaker, Founder of Collective Responsibility – an organization that provides insight to individuals, organizations and businesses on economic and social responsibility. His speech inspired me to be a moral person and make changes in my own habits to change the world.
The journey to China opened my eyes about the world around me. My experiences at GYLC have made me open-minded and I’m now able to accept other’s culture more easily. It has helped me set my foot on the path towards becoming a future global leader.
The writer is a class 10 student at American International School, Lusaka Zambia, Africa.
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