By Sarah Stone

Youth take blinders off to embrace China trip

Apr 25, 2015 | 4:03 PM

It’s another adventure for the Prince Albert Youth Travel Club (PAYTC).

Last week the group of 56 students and six advisors returned from China with stops in Beijing, Xi’an, Yangshuo, Shanghai, Hong Kong.

Taking part in the 16-day adventure was 16-year-old Brynn Ursu.  She got to experience one of the great wonders of the world—the Great Wall of China – as well as the Terracotta Warriors, and Summer Palace.

“It was one of those breath-taking moments that you say you’ll never forget,” she said.

But the smaller things really peaked Ursu’s interest.

SIGA

SIGA and Northern Lights Casino main sponsors of the 31st PAGC Fine Arts Festival

15h ago

Workplace incident

City of Prince Albert pleads guilty to workplace safety violation, handed fines

16h ago

Lighting it up

P.A.'s Zablocki leads Regina to victory on Day 4 at Esso Cup

Apr 24, 2024

“Getting a different take on China we got to see how a farmer, like, did his rice fields, to getting to see people going down bamboo rafts going down river, so it was kind of nice to see more than just the face of China, you got to see a little more depths of it,” she said.

This allowed her to learn a lot more than expected. “While we were there, like, I learned so much more there than I ever could in a classroom.”

Founder and director Donna Dalziel said the PAYTC has been running for 20 years and this is only the second time it’s been to China.  She said she was concerned people in Prince Albert weren’t ready to embrace China.

She said a lot of the friends of the youth were shocked to hear they wanted to go to China, but Dalziel said not to brush this country off.

“Everyone take [your] blinders off, allow yourselves the thrill of going to China because it really is a trip of a lifetime,” she said.

“I think China has a bad rap because of pollution, because of child labour and we tend to focus on the negative … we can make changes.  We can go into China and we can bring our education and our youth and they get to see how other youth live and really by embracing it all we can make changes and we can grow as individuals,” she added.

In addition, Dalziel was excited to see how the trip changed the youth.

“When we were in China we saw more growth from more kids and that’s wonderful.  You see this teen who’s never travelled before and all of a sudden they’re taking control [and] their manners improve enormously,” she explained.

Ursu was a little apprehensive at first, she said, but quickly found herself relaxed.

“I was definitely nervous because I‘m more of one of those tropical people, but, like, once we landed, I don’t know, I felt a little more comfortable,” she said.

“By the end you feel like you’re one of them [Chinese citizen], you’re saying their hellos and goodbyes.”

Coming home she said she realized she picked up on a lot of the culture, society and history.

“We got to see so many sides of China, like, you go in thinking it’s all these big skyscrapers and bright lights and crowded little areas … but [we] got to see the things that, maybe in five years, won’t be there,” she said.

Now with another trip under her belt, Dalziel said the PAYTC is looking to the next one to Australia, New Zealand and Hawaii.

Dalziel said they have 11-13 spaces still available for students.

“Some families need to participate in a lot more fundraising than others, so the club offers fundraising for those who want to,” she said.

They have a meeting for people who are interested in learning more on Monday at the Messiah Lutheran Church.

For more you can talk to Dalziel at 306-961-5101 or click here (paytc.ca)

sstone@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @sarahstone84