The First and Last Experience

I stood squinting in search of the end of this magnificent structure, but all I could get was a small glimpse of the serpentine steps slithering through the forest of green mountains . I couldn't believe that I was climbing up steps that people, more than fourteen centuries ago, had sacrificed their lives for.

The man-made wall was one that was dusty and yellowish giving the formation an ancient, but grand look. The wall was old, but was filled with the young generation, which included me, touring in awe through it. The aged structure stood exposed among the forest of orderly shrubs that looked as if each row was measured to an exact measurement of one eighty degrees by a very accurate protractor.But no, my eyes and mind were not fooling around with me, and it was true that I was actually standing on one of the greatest wonders of the world, The GreatWall of China! I felt honored and imperial but also diminutive, as I stood on that massive and noblewell-known Wall of China.

My journey to and fro, tested my endurance and will power to the max, and now I am proud to say that I passed the test with flying colors. The first few lengths were exciting and I got through them like abreeze because of my awe's blindness. Near the middle,I got extremely exhausted and decided to turn back,and crawled a few jagged steps, but then I stopped in my tracks and thought, "Will I have another chance?Was I sure I wanted to go back?" and right that instant I knew that I wanted to get to the top and prove to myself that I wasn't a wimp and that I could achieve any goal I set, so I spun around and ambled a few more steps. I was determined to go up, and kept telling myselfthat the way down would be much easier and that itwould more much more fun and enjoyable, since there isthe saying that to go downhill is much easier than going uphill. With these types of self-encouragements I finally stumbled to the top! It was a dazzling and striking view that swept my breath up and along with the breeze. That exact moment, I knew that all thehard work had paid off, and that the journey up was worth the physical toll on my body. I spent about halfan hour, ignoring the blistering rays of the brightly shining sun, and purely enjoying the once in a lifetime view and letting my mind swallow the beautiful moments. All I could really think about was how inspirational the whole excursion up had been. It certainly had lit a spark of hope in my perspective of life.

Finally, I decided that the time had come to go down.I barely got even four steps and knew that I was wayover board about the whole "coming down was going tobe easier" thing. The uneven steps caused my knees to lock at unexpected times and the mountain was so steep that the gravity, that was pulling my bodyoutrageously, caused my locked up knees to shiver torestrain from the tension. I started bawling as the pain seared through my knees like a Chinese soldier'sarrow. The way down felt much shorter, but was definitely much more painful.After I managed to drag myself off the wall, I decidedI was definitely certified to own a t-shirt thatquoted "I climbed the great wall", so I grabbed andpaid for the first one I saw. Once everyone who I had come with managed to get down,they proudly bought a shirt too, and went and plopped their tired selves onto the bus to leave, just like me.

On the bus, I sat, silently, reflecting over the previous event of the day, and how honored I felt tobe able to climb such a magnificent wall, but I also thought of my feelings through the experience and about how frightened I was and of how much physical stress it took me, and so I finally concluded with thefact that this would probably be the first and last time I would ever climb the Great Wall of China.

Hey Guys, that's not written me! Its my neice Sandya (12yr old mulifaceted personality on her visit to China, leading the choir for a Violin concert)