In the wake of the devastating Xizang earthquake, over 15,000 volunteers have been working tirelessly to rebuild communities across affected areas. One of them is 33-year-old Ju Dan, who chose to skip her wedding to serve the community during this time of need.
Thirty-three-year-old Ju Dan is a government worker at Quluo Township in Xizang's Dingri County. January 15 was her wedding day. But only her groom was present at the ceremony, apologizing to guests on her behalf.
YE YUJIE Ju Dan's Husband "Many apologies to meet everyone like this. Both of us were supposed to be here to receive your well wishes and enter this happy chapter together, but because she is on the frontlines helping with earthquake relief efforts, she couldn't be here. I've received a message from my wife, asking me to convey her sincerest apologies to you all."
Ju's family wanted her to record a message for the wedding, but Ju couldn't even find time for that. She ended up making a video call to her wedding.
JU DAN Staff Member Quluo Township, Dingri County, Xizang "Thank you all for attending my wedding with Ye Yujie today. I'm very sorry that I myself am unable to attend this ceremony. I also hope that everyone enjoys the food and drinks today."
Judan and her husband have known each other and been in a relationship for over a year. They had carefully planned the wedding together.
On January 7, the day the magnitude-6.8 earthquake hit Xizang, she was on her wedding vacation in Gansu Province, where her husband's hometown is.
JU DAN Staff Member Quluo Township, Dingri County, Xizang "I couldn't sleep at all that night. I kept thinking about this place. I felt worse and worse as I was watching the news. I can't put it into words and I don't know how to describe it, it was just really really painful."
After some struggles, Ju Dan decided to give up attending her wedding in Gansu, and returned to Xizang.
Since the earthquake, Ju Dan has been busy going door-to-door to collect data on the extent of the damage. She and her colleagues work over 10 hours a day, often compiling reports until 1 or 2 a.m. When asked about missing her own wedding, the outpour of emotion was contagious.
LYU XIAOPIN CMG Reporter "Maybe for a girl, her wedding is the day she dreams about the most in her life. (You had to miss it, but) you seemed to be in good spirits during the video call."
JU DAN Staff Member Quluo Township, Dingri County, Xizang "That's right. I was pretending that I didn't care."
Throughout the interview, Ju Dan kept saying that her colleagues deserved more attention than herself.
JU DAN Staff Member Quluo Township, Dingri County, Xizang "Everyone either has their skin peeling off, or they suddenly look very old even though they are young. I may have a unique situation, but honestly they work harder. My case is not worth mentioning. I mean yes I might be a little sad, but really it's nothing."
In the half-day our camera followed Ju Dan, the 33-year-old was constantly on the move. Her small figure darting from one task to the next. Her honeymoon remains on hold for the time being.
Reporter: Do you have any wishes right now?
JU DAN Staff Member Quluo Township, Dingri County, Xizang "I wish time could go back. Yes, I truly really wish this earthquake never happened. But I know that's impossible. I just hope everything gets rebuilt as quickly as possible."
On January 16, nine days after the earthquake, the local government announced that the earthquake-stricken areas were entering a new phase of transitional settlement. Comprehensive damage assessments and the construction of prefabricated houses will be completed before the Spring Festival, which is less than two weeks away. Chen Mengfei, CGTN.