Recycling in Jinan China!!

6 months ago, I arrived in China with the blessed commission to do all within my abilities, and beyond, to begin the monumental task of Cultural and Ecological Regeneration in the small northern chip of Jinan. The great Puertorriqueño poet, Victor Hernandez Cruz, speaks to me these days, with a soft and gentle reminder that can only come from a comrade,

"..Camara
You gotta have your tips on fire..."

Sorting through our in-class-brought-from-home recylcables

You see it all begins by first scoping out the state of the union. Jinan is a place where first impressions deceive one into thinking that there is no RECYCLING program. In the best case scenario you have the classic recycling recipients that no one honors or else the century old ALL IN ONE dumpsters. Fresh on the block, and with only a humble NI HAO to get by with, I kept a close eye on the activity of these dumpsters. It didn't take long to stumble upon the army of individuals that dumpster dive within literally seconds of any recyclable material tossed carelessly into them. So, there was my solution for our home: We continued to separate our trash into organic, glass, metal and cardboard just as we always had, but set these outside of the trashcans as a gift to those who usually had to dive for them. Now, this behavior came at the price of many-a-onlookers disapproval. Their glare seem to question how come having come so close to the dumpster, I was not able to put it inside. I'm sure that more than one of them assumed that this was yet another strange and inappropriate behavior from the west. On one occasion I saw one of the caretakers, take what my family had carefully separated at home and toss it all into the trash. I waited for him to leave and did my share of dumpster diving and then kept careful watch of my re-recycled-non-trash, until spotting one of the official dumpster divers that in order to put food on the table were inadvertently doing you and I and this world so much good!

Our talk to the kids was a push for them to lead at home!!

My next trial was that of bringing a recycling culture to my gang of Kindergarteners. To my surprise, many of the momma's quickly joined in on the operation. Week by week, kids would randomly show up and show me the boxes or plastic bottles they had avoided throwing out. Another initial concern of mine, in terms of setting up a Holistic Kindergarten that aimed towards the regenerative expectations of the wonderful organization I represent, was avoiding the exorbitant purchasing of arts and crafts materials that go into Kindergarten programs worldwide. So our collection of recyclables was systematically turned into an 8-ft long cardboard Dragon (yet to be finished) that is dormant in the corner of our classroom, an entire entourage of Halloween decorations, as well as our very own special version of the ever so popular Caine's Cardboard Arcade, which we recently paid tribute to upon honoring Santa's Elves and his chilly but spirited workshop.

Little Kaby and Theo hauling the NOT TRASH!!

Nonetheless the recyclables were beginning to take over our classroom working space, with an insurmountable amount of tiny used and reused pieces of paper and cardboard. It was time to seek out my old dumpster diving messiahs!!

I hereby share with you pictures from our class yesterday where we took to sorting through the goods and made it presentable for our good friends who had WE JUST HIT THE JACKPOT grins when we asked if they could use what we had used for our first 6 months of pre-school.

I know this is only a small little effort in bringing upon regenerative living to Jinan, but it is one I am proud of...especially when I ponder deep in thought the ripple effect in the little hearts and minds of the kids I get to play with each day in Caillou Home.

Merry Christmas everyone!! I am certainly feeling the spirit despite being so far from those who celebrate the Christ mass

Our Caillou model, Alan, with a great backdrop!

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