The Xavier China experience

As parents, it is our greatest satisfaction to see our children bloom and grow into well-rounded, independent, positive and productive individuals. It is our duty to give them encouragement, to expose them to the fullness of life, allow them to pursue challenges head on and provide them an education that will equip them with the necessary skills they need to survive in an ever-changing world. Vital, too, are parental guidance, constant prayer and spiritual direction in order for their souls to thrive.

 Hence my co-parents and I are very grateful for the opportunity given to our sons who recently completed the Xavier China Experience trip to Yunnan or XCE Yunnan. This is a program offered by Xavier School to second year high school students, held in the third quarter of the school year.

The following is the long and short of their XCE experience. My son Vincent excitedly told me about their memorable stint in China. I glow in delight as I share with you the thoughts of my son of the Xavier China Experience 2011.

It is true that experience is the best teacher. For six exciting weeks, our son Vincent and 82 of his batch mates visited places we had never even heard of. They lived far away from us, in Yunnan, where most of their parents had never been. Their course outline included an intensive language program set in the vibrant city of Kunming. They had a specialized curriculum, featuring courses like ethnic minorities in China, Chinese religions, ethnobotany and travel writing. To supplement their coursework, they visited numerous sights around Kunming, such as the Kunming Garden, Dinosaur Valley, the ethnic minorities village, the famed Stone Forest and Jiuxiang Caves. They interacted with Chinese locals, tribes and counterparts.

Unique to the program were two excursions, each a four- to five-day duration.  

The first one was a four-day adventure to the city of Lijiang, the only Chinese city listed on UNESCO’S World Cultural Heritage list. The trip started with a nine-hour overnight train ride from Kunming to Lijiang. They boarded the sleeper cars around 9:30 p.m., slept and woke up in Lijiang refreshed and ready to visit the Black Dragon Pool, the source of clean water in Lijiang’s Old Town, set at the foothills of the picturesque Black Dragon Snow Mountain. There they learned about the cultural and religious traditions of the local people namely the Naxi and their priests at the Dongba Cultural Museum. They spent the second day at the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Our boys were lucky as they arrived the morning after the first snowfall of the year. Every thing around the Snow Mountain was covered in a fresh blanket of powdery white snow.

Their second excursion was a trip to Xi Shuang Ban Na, known as the only oasis on the same latitude of the world. A 30-minute plane ride took them to a tropical wonderland where they ventured into mysterious rainforests, wild elephant reserves and extensive botanical gardens. They gazed in wide-eyed wonder at the proliferation of plants and wild animals, including the awesome scene of a huge, colorful flock of peacocks in flight.

What made this entire six-week program even more special for our 15-year-old boys? The Xavier China Experience was not just a trip to China, it was a journey within. As they took note of the world around them, they were made to pay attention to their inner world as well. They were guided to reflect on their relationship with God, attend to emotional experiences, develop life skills and come to a greater appreciation of family and friendship.

All together, our boys had the time of their lives and their dedicated teachers looked after them like they were their own sons. As teammates and roommates, they forged deep friendships, looked out for one another, showered each other with brotherly care and kindness that created priceless bonds and memories to last a lifetime. Indeed the learning was rich and varied.

Finally, with all the participants safely back home with their families in time for Christmas, the program officially closed with a beautiful thanksgiving Mass in Xavier School, which was celebrated by Fr. Guy Guibelondo, SJ, who also accompanied the boys to China. 

I would like to thank the teachers from the bottom of my heart for all the endless caring, sharing and patience.

And to my dear co-parents, let us not allow this experience to simply end. Let us continue to nurture and pray for our boys. We must remain hopeful that in God’s good time, the sparks ignited by the XCE program in their hearts, souls and minds will continue to burn brightly until a higher purpose is achieved — that they truly become great men, devoted not just to themselves but to go beyond borders, as true men for others.

(Merry Christmas! Would love to hear from you at miladayjewels@yahoo.com.)