Liang Shan is in the southeast of Sichuan Province, southwest of China. Because of the harsh climate and the terrible geographic position, little farm products can be planted there. The people are rather poor. Many children have to drop school and become shepherd boys. They don’t know anything about the world outside the mountains, and have to repeat the same lives from generation to generation.

When I was eight years old，following my mother’s advice , I started to communicate with a girl in Liang Shan by letter. Her name is A Yi. When she was only in Grade Five, her father died because of cancer. Since then, life has been very difficult. So she values the chance to go to school very much. She studied very hard and made a remarkable achievement. Till now, we have kept in touch with each other for seven years. With my parents’ support, I always sent my own money to A Yi as her tuitions, so that she could continue her study. Every year before a new term begins, I would always remember to buy some stationeries and send them to A Yi.

Now A Yi is working hard in Sichuan Nursing College. Last year A Yi was elected Vice secretary of the League. She wrote to me, “After my father died, I thought I would never go to school again. It was you and your family who helped me finish my study, gave me happiness and confidence. I believe that if we study hard we will meet someday …”

In 27th July, 2004, as a student of Senior One in Tianjin Experimental High School, I went to Liang Shan with my mother and many other adults who went to interview the people there. I was really very excited and couldn’t wait to see A Yi. I have waited for this day for seven years. On the evening of 27th, I met A Yi in her home – a small village which is 2800m high. We hugged with each other and were too excited to say a word. We stayed together for three days, talking, laughing and helping each other. People all said that we were like sisters in one family. Before I left, I gave a beautiful watch to her. Seeing her sweet smile, I felt very happy.

In Liang Shan, we interviewed the farmers and went into their homes. The climate there is very cold. To keep warm, there are no windows. So, in the dark room, it’ s a piece of fire that they use to light things, keep warm and cook some potatoes for food. During our interview, we gave food to the weak, gave clothes and sweets to the women and children we met and tried our best to help them.

During my journey in Liang Shan, I saw how the people there work and study in such a terrible environment. Knowing this makes me value my happy life now and teaches me that we should do our best to help others. Because helping others is helping ourselves. Love should be around our life.