December Updates

Sherap has just come back from a 2 weeks visit of his home and the grassland school.
I have just talked to him on the phone.

The class is up and running and everything is going smooth at this stage.

Both Chinese and Tibetan class are being taught and the children (I should say "students") are all enjoying their class, as well as the new school room. Some of them can concentrate better and eager to learn, while some of them are still learning to concentrate at class.

Sherap has bought some badmonton bats and gloves for the children.

The next construction phase won't start until next summer. This will include a basketball ring.

I have told Sherap the next stage, what people like us in overseas can do is start gathering some old or new picture books (english or chinese). This can help them to start a small book corner (mini library) later. Later this is can be done by either sending the books to sherap's address at labrang monastery or getting someone to bring them over if chances are there.

So please starts checking your book shelves! anyway it's the end of the year, I should do that soon too!

Also welcome any idea or comment!

(p.s: The prime concern is also let the school run by itself and friends from overseas won't intervene too much.)

Monday, October 16, 2006 Photos Taken by Anja and Jules

Photos Taken by Anja and Jules


Sherap, father, mother, sister-in-law, brother, nephew.....
Beautiful people...

Monday, October 16, 2006 school update

Here are some fresh photos taken by Jules and Anja last weekend. I met them last night in HK, had dinner with them.They went to Labrang and visited Sherap's grassland hometown in Choni (Zhuoni county), about 5 hours drive from Labrang.They had a look at the school building and they said it looks good! There is no chair and table at the moment, they will take the old furniture from the old school room up on the mountain. School shall starts after golden week holiday.

Wednesday, October 04, 2006 Grassland School progress report no.2

Grassland School progress report no.2


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Following a phone conversation with Sherap (Xizhu) yesterday, please be noted that "Phase 1" of the grassland school construction at Kajiacun village has been completed.
Now the main school building is up and running. This single building includes 2 class rooms, 2 bedrooms for teachers and 1 bedroom for visitor. The next phase (in which fund raising is still in progress) will include the ground work for the playground, playground facilities, as well as fencing wall for the school premises.
There is now 1 teacher sent by the county government and 33 students all together starting from grade 1 level. Sherap is in the process of applying for one more teacher to be sent by the county government.
Some Dutch friends are now visiting Sherap at Labrang. They are planning to visit the school this Thursday (5 Oct). I am looking forward to chat with them when they stop by Hong Kong late next week.

Wednesday, August 23, 2006 Grassland school progress

星期一晚上收到西珠的电话,说已经收到我们在香港筹到的经费了.他说很感谢我在香港的朋友,我说只要他能好好运用这毕(少少的)经费,让学校建设工程顺利进行,那就是最好了.[其实要完成整个工程还欠一些经费呢]西珠说他第二天便会赶回老家,几天后要赶回寺里开学.十一月的时候正打算去夏河看小活佛坐床仪式,到时候看看能否顺道去一躺草原.看看这个学校的情况

...On Monday night, I received a phone call from Sherap, and said he's already received the money transfer I gathered from here. He said he was feeling so thankful and I reminded him that as long as he spends the (small amount) funding wisely , and enables the construction to go smoothly, that will be all he needs to do.[actually funding is still running short to complete the whole constrcution of the school!]Sherap said he will travel home the next day for the construction inspection as he would need to rush back to the monastery for the new classes which starts very soon.In the coming November, there is a plan of visiting Labrang to see the enthroning ceremony of this new Rinpoche. If there is enough time, let's see whether a trip to the grassland school is possible...

Monday, August 21, 2006 Letters continue

My letter to Sherap:

我会叫我的朋友把钱转给你那天之前和之后给你打电话的.十一月的事情现在还不能决定.到时候再看看吧..我的时间也可能会有点赶..你也用功学习啊不要被寺罚啊!:)

美琪[translation]I will ask my friend to call you before he transfer the money to you.Still not sure about the November visit plan, will update you when the time comes.as my time is a bit tight.well, you should also work hard!Don't get punished by the monastery!Maggie


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Sherap's reply:好的,谢谢您美其姐,我会努力学习的您放心吧,我收后我要回家看看学校,爸说窗和门都做好了我要过去看看.下个7月分在寺里开始学些东西.保重;西珠

[translation]Sure, thanks Maggie, don't you worry, I will work hard. After I receive the money, I will need to go home to see the school. Dad said the window and the doors are all made. I need to go back and have a look. Next month (7th month under lunar calendar) there are some new learning in the monastery.Take careSherap

Friday, August 18, 2006 Letters

"原来是牛羊..."
" Oh Is the Yak and mutton"

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My letter to Sherap:
西珠
记得把你工商银行的卡号在电邮发给我..我那位在深圳工作的朋友要到下个星期才有时间帮我到深圳的工商银行把钱发给你.希望这么的一些钱能帮到你们盖学校吧...还有,围墙有必要吗? 是不是保安的因素?美琪

Sherap
remmember to let me know your bank account no.My friend who works in shenzhen can help me to transfer the money to you next week.I hope the money can help your school construction...Also, is the fencing wall necessary? is it for security purpose?Maggie


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Sherap's reply:

您好!美其姐!我的卡号是(中国工商银行夏河县支行,9XXXXXXXXXX 这样就可以了谢谢您牛羊也会进来的,因为有了院墙一方面卫生二方面安全,暫时没办法这能等段时间才可以做起来.今年十一月分的时候您能去就太好了,不过那时候气候太冷您也知道的,每年最好的气候是四月二十直八月这时间是最好的.保重;
西珠

How are you!Maggie, here is my bank account no. (China gongshang bank... just like this.. thanks)Yak and mutton would come in. So with the fencing wall, one reason is for hygiene, another is for safety, now cannot do much, so just need to wait for it to be built later then.It will be great if you can come this November, but it's gonna be cold by then as you have already known. The best weather is usually from April to August.August is the best.Take care;
Sherap

Monday, August 14, 2006 Monk friend "Sherap"

Old post about Sherap, a monk friend from Labrang:http://meikei.blogspot.com/2006_02_01_meikei_archive.html

Saturday, August 12, 2006 在草原上兴建小学

我在拉卜楞寺认识的喇嘛朋友西珠正在他的草原老家兴建一所小学,好让村里的小孩不会失去上学的机会.
这是七月夏天草原的境况,村民正在把工地弄平,石头和砖都搬过来了. 草原的景色跟我上一次二月份去的时候真的是很大的分别. 那时候天地都是雪白一片.现在草地上布满小黄花.
他们还是很缺建筑材料的经费.如果您有兴趣给他们一点的帮助,请别忘了告诉我!多少也感谢万分啊!
The above photos show the latest progress of the school building project organized by my Labrang monk friend "Sherap" at his grassland hometown in July. The villagers have been working on leveling the site, as well as collecting stones from the near by area. Materials such as bricks have been transported to the site; however they are running out of financial help in buying all the necessary building material. If you may want to support his project, please contact Sherap or let me know. :-)
[Village views during winter/ 冬天的境况: http://meikei.blogspot.com/2006/04/blog-post_29.html ]



Below shows e-mail from Sherap 西珠 on 13.08.06:
您好! 美其姐!
真不好意思昨晚没回邮件,因为昨晚没电. 我刚刚看到了文件写的很好谢谢您.
在家乡那边弄地平的这些都是我自己找亲戚和朋友帮我的,第一次回家的时候他们都说弄地和木料还有石是头这些说帮我,到时就变了都没了.
现在这能靠亲戚和朋友们,而且砖也涨价了到那儿每个砖4角2分没想到这么贵现在有点难处,可是我不会放弃的一定要该起来让这些小孩得到点文化这就是我这辈子最大愿望.
保重; 西珠
Translation of the e-mail:
Hi, Maggie sis
Please excuse me for not replying your mail last night as the electricity was out. I have just seen the document you wrote about the school, thank you so much.
At the hometown works such as leveling of the site were all done by my relatives and friends. When I went home the first time, some villagers promised to help on the foundation works as well as gathering the timber, but everything have changed when I went back this time.
Now, I can only rely on relatives and friends, also the price of bricks has increased to 42cents each. I never thought it would be that expensive. Now there are some difficulties, but I won’t give up. I must get this school built so that the children here can be cultivated as this is my biggest life long wish.
Take care; Sherap