Rachel - Tang Mengwei - #0505020367

The snowstorm has spread out in 17 provinces in southern China, affected 80 million Chinese people, and had disastrous effects, causing economic loss of more than 40 billion dollars. Cities were out of power because of the freezing weather conditions. Hundreds of highways were shut down. Millions of people were stranded in train stations, unable to be with their families on the traditional Chinese New Year’s Festival. News like this could be heard on almost every TV channel.

My hometown ---- Jinxian, in Jiangxi province was also visited by the snow. Outside, the ground was all covered in white. It snowed and snowed, seemingly never stopping. Walking on the road, I was shocked by the scene in front of me. Most of the trees on both sides of the street fell down, the fallen trees destroyed many cars, and the power lines coiled like black spaghetti over the roads. People walked on the road, as if they would fall down any second. I took some pictures to memorialize this disaster.

As the proverb says, “When a disaster strikes, help comes from all sides.” Now, we could see its real meaning. On the fifth floor of my building there lived a couple. They were old and their children worked in a distant city. Unfortunately, their children were stranded in train stations, unable to get back home. Because of the bad weather, the absence of water had lasted 3 days. No electricity, no water, how could life go on? Strong young boys were sent to take water to their home from afar, while this couple should also do this, they had no choice. So they took a bucket downstairs and went straight to the well. There were too many people waiting near the well. As the wind mounted to a roar, it began snowing again. Half an hour later, it was the couple’s turn. Just as the old man was going to draw water, a young man suddenly appeared and took over the bucket, saying gently; “Old father, I can help you do this. I will carry the water bucket for you. The old man was so moved that he couldn’t say anything. The old woman answered him with eyes full of tears. Then the young man helped them carry the water back home and left without leaving his name.

So, though we suffered a lot, we’ve learned a lot. We each faced the difficulties together. Keep confident in any situation and we can go through any terrible storm.