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School

Simao No.1 Primary School

In May 2008 Freda began 10 days of intensive dance practice in preparation for a minority dance competition hosted by her primary school. This event, like those being held in all Simao schools, was in celebration of International Children's Day - actually more like Children's Week. Her and 17 classmates had the expert guidance of Chen Wenli, the College's Wa nationality dancer and choreographer, before going on to win first prize for their performance. Frankly I think it's the parents who deserve the prize, for getting up at 5.45 a.m. just to get the children to the make-up studio on time. It was worth it.

            
(left to right) Freda fitting homework in between dinner and dance practice; Freda waiting in her Hani dance costume at No 1 Primary School minority dance competition; Freda with classmates and fellow dancers (left to right) zhu siyu, Li gege and cai peiyan

Freda is well settled into her school routine at Simao No. 1 Primary School, so she has had lots of new experiences, including having to walk alone (apart from 2000 other school-kids) across the huge Tiananmen-style playground to her classroom after Ali drops her off at the school gate at 7:20am.

   
 Here she is (above) getting picked up at lunchtime - she's in Grade 1, Class 2, and sits beside the School Director's daughter! There are 6 other Grade 1 classes, each with about 60 pupils.

   
L to R: 'Young Pioneer' Freda at the school gate with her pals; Freda's Teacher, Yin Laoshi

It is difficult buying English materials here. In fact, we cannot buy reading books for Freda so if you have any spare reading books PLEASE consider sending them out to us. THANK YOU!

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