Sunny smile hides stifled tears

Source: China Daily | 09-08-2008 14:20

Standing in the center of the Bird's Nest, 22-year-old Li Ju looked toward the sky, lit up by fireworks to mark the closing of the Beijing Olympics.

As a representative of the venue volunteers, Li and 11 others received thunderous applause for their dedication and service during the Games.

Li's eyes filled with tears, as she thought of her mother who was killed in the May 12 Wenchuan earthquake. She felt like her mom were watching down from heaven and feeling proud of her.

Li Ju comes from Beichuan county of Sichuan province, the majority of residents belonging to the ethnic Qiang people. It is one of the worst quake-hit areas.

The Qiang girl lost 18 family members, including her mother, grandfather and uncle, all of whom remain buried under the rubble.

"Several days before the quake struck, I talked to my mother over the phone. I told her I was going to be a volunteer for the Beijing Olympics, I could sense how happy she was," Li says.

"The quake took away everything, it didn't even leave me a single photo of my mother."

Despite her sorrow, however, Li carried on with preparations to be an Olympic volunteer.