Finding familiarity in an unfamiliar land

Indeed, the teachers at the school, which pilots a composite of basic and vocational education, agree life on campus has become better over time.

English instructor Huang Xiaoyun, who has taught in the countryside for 15 years, said it was her childhood dream to become a rural teacher like her father.

She realized this ambition, but was initially disappointed upon arriving at Zhulan.

“I found dilapidated buildings and poorly equipped classrooms,” she recalled.

“But I noticed all the students studied hard despite the deprivation. They showed strong will and studied happily. So I forgot my disenchantment. I was proud of my students.”

Huang is delighted the campus has been upgraded over the past decade.

“We have new teaching buildings, and modern classrooms and teachers’ and students’ dorms,” she said.

English instructor Lai Guilan recalls sharing one room with three other teachers years ago. Teachers now have individual dorms, where they live on weeknights.

They can also get monthly transportation and accommodation subsidies of 400-1,000 yuan, on top of salaries that max out at 1,100 yuan a month.

“We feel happy,” the 28-year-old said.

Lai and her colleague, Luo Cuiyun, are qualified to work in urban schools.

“Many career opportunities presented themselves after I graduated from university, but I chose the countryside to develop rural education,” said Luo, who’s from the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.

“It’s poor and backward compared to the cities. But the students work hard. If you’re diligent, you earn more opportunities. I’m proud to teach in the countryside.”

The students agree — They, too, believe in their progress and prospects.

Ninth-grader Liu Qianyi hopes to become a writer.

“But I have to finish high school first,” the 16-year-old said. “My job now is to study hard.”