Social Practice Summary

It's been several days since I returned from my summer social practice. I'm enjoying the cool comfort of air conditioning and watermelon at home, free from the shadow of all-nighters studying for finals, and relieved of the fatigue from the practice. Although the process of the practice will gradually fade from my memory, this week in the countryside will remain in my heart.

On July 3, 2009, I joined the Rural Practice Team of the School of Information Engineering, Hangzhou Dianzi University, to conduct a social practice activity in the countryside. During this activity, we brought the knowledge of the Scientific Outlook on Development to Fuwen Township, located in the eastern part of Chun'an County, Hangzhou, guiding farmers to learn about the Scientific Outlook on Development and paying attention to left-behind children and vulnerable groups in the local rural areas. During our week in Fuwen County, we carried out a series of activities around the theme of this social practice, including: bringing medical care, performing arts, and cultural activities to rural areas, and we also strengthened the promotion of the Scientific Outlook on Development by distributing leaflets and banners. These activities received a very good response from the villagers. Below is my personal summary of this social practice activity:

I. Accommodation

Having grown up in the city, I had heard about rural conditions to some extent, and my parents always told me how fortunate I was to live in the city. However, having never been to the countryside, I didn't fully grasp this point until this social practice experience.
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On our first day in Fuwen, we stayed at a "farmhouse" in the village. Although the name sounded nice, the conditions inside were actually quite basic. There were four rooms on our floor, and apart from beds, there was nothing else in the rooms. Our room didn't even have electricity. The day before we left, our forerunner (the person who arrived in the village a day early to do preliminary work) had advised us to bring our own electric fans, but we hadn't paid much attention at the time. Carrying such a large appliance as a fan was really inconvenient, but once we arrived, we realized that not only were electric fans scarce, but even power strips were a rare find.

There was only one toilet in our accommodation, and not only did it take a long time for 15 people to shower, but even washing up and using the toilet were very slow. This showed the unity of our team; not only did the men display gentlemanly manners, but the women also changed their "slow" image and tried their best to speed up.

Although the accommodations were simple, it made our team more united, allowed us to experience rural life, and made us appreciate the conditions we have in the city even more.

II. Dietary Section

"Food is the first necessity of the people," a saying that illustrates the importance of diet to human beings. On the way to Fuwen, a team member who had been there last year said that the dishes there were all chili peppers because chili peppers would make you eat more rice. I didn't really believe it at first, but when we arrived in Fuwen, I found it to be true. Although it wasn't as exaggerated as saying that everything was chili peppers, it was true that every dish contained chili peppers. In Fuwen Township, except for the first and last meals when we had special meals prepared by special chefs, we ate three meals a day at a standard cost of 10 yuan each.

In addition, we always find bugs on the vegetable leaves during meals. We jokingly say that whoever finds the bugs gets "extra meat treatment," so we don't really care about this natural "extra meal."

Although the food wasn't as good as in the city, it taught us to conserve food and recognize its preciousness, which is a valuable asset for our future hard work.

III. Daily Life

Coming from the city, we mostly slept in, except when we were at school. But after arriving in the countryside, we were deeply impressed by the healthy lifestyle of the farmers. Every morning, we were awakened by the sounds of them exercising. While I was still half-asleep, the hardworking farmers had already begun their day's work. At night, they went to sleep as the sun set, while we would often stay up until midnight, sometimes even causing the farmers to yell at us. We corrected our mistakes promptly; although we didn't go to bed earlier, we made sure to be quiet and still.

This reminded me of my childhood, when I had a morning routine. But as I've grown older, mornings have become increasingly distant, and although I've tried many times to change this, I haven't succeeded. This social practice activity allowed me to experience the lifestyle I aspire to for a week, and I hope this good habit can continue, and that more people can become practitioners of healthy living.

IV. Daily Life

On the way to Fuwen Primary School, we passed farmhouses, fields, and a stream. In the early morning, we saw women doing chores in their little "villas," farmers working in the fields, and occasionally children playing in the stream. At midday, women prepared their specialties, waiting for the farmers to return. In the fields, although most of the time the rice paddies were a vibrant green, we could still occasionally see a few farmers working under the blazing sun. The stream was most beautiful at midday, shimmering in the sunlight like twinkling eyes. In the evening, the village quieted down; some people bathed in the river, others washed clothes, preparing to end a long day's work.

They find endless enjoyment in the repetitive cycle of life. This is something those with privileged circumstances who still find themselves bored should ponder. The joy of life depends not on how much you possess, but on how much you focus on it.

V. Environment

Fuwen Township, nestled deep in the mountains, may not be economically developed, but its environment is truly beautiful. The rice paddies stretch to the horizon, blending seamlessly with the distant mountains, with a small river flowing through them – such scenery is commonplace in Fuwen. The air here is also top-notch, unlike anything you can breathe in the city, especially in the mornings. Looking at the misty mountains in the distance, taking a deep breath of fresh air can truly invigorate you.

This kind of environment is not only popular with humans, but also with small insects like geckos, spiders, and moths. Sleeping with these insects at night is uncomfortable, but it also has its own unique charm.

VI. Climate Section

Perhaps due to the rainy season, the weather in the mountains is unpredictable with large temperature differences between day and night. We experienced this firsthand on our first day. It was a high of 37 degrees Celsius during the day, but by night it was freezing cold. Some people, including myself, were caught off guard and spent the night feeling cold. Since I hadn't brought long-sleeved shirts or other thermal underwear, I ended up sleeping in my socks the next day.

During our fieldwork, we witnessed a fire. I suspect the excessive heat caused the wooden structure of the house to suddenly catch fire, burning for nearly half an hour until the entire house was reduced to ruins. We had hoped to do something about it, but the fire spread too quickly inside the wooden house, leaving us with nothing to do. To make matters worse, dark clouds gathered in the sky, and a heavy thunderstorm followed. Back inside, watching lightning strike the house outside our windows, we felt our own insignificance and the grandeur of nature.

VII. School Section

The primary school in Fuwen Township was built with funds raised by the villagers. At the foot of the school building is an honor wall engraved with the names of the donors, and the school's facilities, such as televisions, were also donated. Although the facilities aren't great, the school's location is absolutely first-class; from the windows, one can see mountains, farmland, and a stream. A kindergarten is right next to the school, creating an almost seamless connection. Children here can attend primary school from kindergarten, but for middle school, they have to go to the town, a half-hour drive away. While this environment is challenging, it fosters friendships among the students, not only within their own class but also across grade levels.

VIII. Children's Section

Like other children, the children here are innocent, cute, and mischievous. However, compared to children in the city, they are more mature and can demonstrate their wisdom in handling certain problems. Although their growth and education environment is not very good, it is clear that they are not content with reality and have the courage and ideals to go out and explore.

Although I didn't participate in the teaching portion of this volunteer teaching activity, I could feel the children's thirst for knowledge. They were working hard to learn and improve themselves, something many children in the city have lost. Although there are many learning opportunities in the city, and parents spend all their time enrolling their children in this and that class, the children's thirst for knowledge and desire to learn are gradually lost. Learning becomes a burden, oppressing the children's young minds.

In fact, ideals are the best motivation for learning. We should guide children to find their own dreams and ways to achieve them in order to fundamentally solve the problem of education difficulties.

Riding in an air-conditioned bus, bumping along the road back to the city, I reflected on every detail of this social practice experience. The details will gradually fade from memory, but the various experiences of this activity will become an important asset for my future endeavors.