American students feel Sichuan pain, offer support

(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-06-04 07:56

In the aftermath of last month's 8.0-magnitude earthquake in Sichuan, countless Chinese across the country have shown tremendous support for victims.

But, the Chinese have not had to endure this pain alone.

People from across the globe have been reaching out to China since the May 12 tragedy.

Students at the International School in Portland, the United States, have jotted down their feelings and concerns about the quake - some have even written notes to children in the quake-hit regions.

On Monday, the overseas edition of the People's Daily published three of the letters written by the students who study Chinese in the United States.

In her letter to grandpa Hu Jintao and grandpa Wen Jiabao, 12-year-old Hannah Rudoff expressed her respect for the two highest-level leaders of China.

The Chinese-American girl said she learned about the quake from watching TV, using the Internet and her foster parents.

The scenes, especially those about the children, made her very sad. Wen and Hu's visits, which brought confidence and courage to people in the quake-hit areas, have also touched her heart. She also wrote about her appreciation for the leaders' deep concern for the people.

Rudoff also said that the Little Dove of Peace art troupe - a Chinese dance and choir she participates in - gave a benefit performance for China's quake victims at Portland State University on May 16.

Twelve-year-old Elizabeth Krasch, whose Chinese name is Wang Li, is also a student of the school's Chinese track. She wrote a poem expressing her gratefulness to the People's Liberation Army soldiers.

Krasch said jiefangjun shushu (uncle PLA) was the first Chinese word she learned after the quake.

She further thanked jiefangjun shushu for rescuing people from the debris, helping families reunite and for spreading hope to every corner of China.

Yzmari Duran, a 13-year-old Mexican-American student, wrote a letter to the children in the quake-hit areas.

Duran said she felt sad and frightened after seeing the quake destroy people's homes, schools and cities.

She further wrote how she thought the children from the quake-hit regions were so courageous - she hopes to learn that trait from them.

She also tried to comfort the children who had lost their parents, relatives, teachers and classmates. She reminded them there are children around the world who love and care for them.

Duran, who started learning Chinese at age five, can speak fluent English, Spanish and Chinese. She hopes to make friends with children from Sichuan.

Their teacher Liu Yafei, who assisted the school in developing the Chinese program and also director of the Little Dove of Peace art troupe, helped the young students forward their voices to the Chinese media.