MIANYANG, Sichuan - After experiencing the worst week of his life following last Monday's earthquake in Sichuan province, Wang Xiaolong had one of the best days of his life on Friday.
The senior at Beichuan Middle School was overjoyed when Premier Wen Jiabao and TV anchorwoman Chen Luyu visited his temporary school in Mianyang.
"He is a kind old man," Wang said of Wen, adding that Chen, "appears younger on camera and is very funny; she made us laugh a lot".
But through the support of the government and individuals, more than 500 third-grade senior high students have been able to resume classes in a local company's training center, where hundreds of other students who have yet to resume classes are also staying.
The annual national college entrance examination date was postponed for senior high school students in 40 of Sichuan's quake-affected counties and districts.
"The class schedule is the same as the original school's," math teacher Li Jun said, adding that even the physical education classes have resumed.
Also, many teachers and volunteers are taking care of students, spending time with them in their tents, and on lawns and basketball courts.
Li Ting said the most useful of her classes focused on evacuation education. She took the course on the first day classes resumed.
"The class includes drills in which 70 of my classmates try to stage an orderly evacuation," Li said.
The class offered specific pointers on surviving disasters, including tips on how to handle a leg trapped beneath rubble.
"These programs are especially helpful at this time," Wang Jian said as she sat on the grass reviewing notes with her classmates.
"The desk was shuddering when a tremor hit on Friday," the 18-year-old said. "We would now be better prepared to handle emergencies, because we have been instructed in methods to help us remain calm, including taking deep breaths and holding hands."(By Wang Zhenghua --China Daily Updated: 2008-05-24 09:18)