A BIRTHDAY TO REMEMBER

For China Pavilion volunteer Chen Qiaoqiao, May 12 was both her 27th birthday and the second anniversary of Wenchuan earthquake.

Chen, from Dujiangyan City, one of the worst-hit areas, still remembers that "terrible day."

It seemed that "heaven was suddenly torn open, accompanied by rumbling noises from beneath the earth." With her colleagues, Chen fled from her office building.

"It was like a Hollywood disaster epic. Almost all the houses were rubble, and many people were buried under the ruins. We stood by, waiting for orders."

After half an hour, they were rushed to Dujiangyan Hospital of Traditional Medicine to assist those in need.

That day, Chen forgot about celebrating her 25th birthday.

On the third day after the quake Chen finally ate a bowl of rice transported from Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province. Everyday, she slept for four hours at most.

Her family suggested that she change her birthday date.

However, it never occurred to Chen that she would have her birthday in the Shanghai Expo Park with other volunteers, nicknamed "little cabbages" because of their green uniforms.

Chen, a junior procurator in Dujiangyan, applied to be a volunteer at the Expo because she wanted to help Shanghai, which formed a sister-city alliance with Dujiangyan after the earthquake.

Over the past two years, Shanghai has offered financial assistance and human resources to Dujiangyan to help with its revival.

"You would hardly believe your eyes if you visit Dujiangyan today, as new buildings have risen thanks to the selfless help of Shanghai people."

Chen kept her personal birthday wish to herself, but she had a bigger wish. "I sincerely wish Shanghai Expo a great success and the quake-stricken Sichuan a bright future."