Strained relations

Ten Las Vegas teens recently experienced political aftershocks over the NATO bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade, Yugoslavia.

Members of the Faith Lutheran Junior-Senior High School volleyball team had planned to travel to Beijing in June to participate in an international tournament. The trip had been planned since November. But it was canceled Monday by the sponsor, International Sports Exchange, according to team coach Sarah Heislen.

"The ISE canceled the trip due to a travel warning put out by the U.S.," Heislen said.

The Chinese Embassy was mistakenly bombed May 7 by NATO. Three people were killed, and President Clinton apologized. Chinese citizens protested in Beijing, prompting the U.S. government to warn Americans not to travel to China until tension died down.

Until the trip was canceled, the team alternated between fear of not being able to go and fear of what might happen if it did go.

The team had planned to stay in Beijing, where its schedule included trips to the Great Wall and other sites.

Sophomore Kristine Northington, 15, said many of her teammates had mixed feelings about the cancellation. "I think when we first heard about it, some of us were relieved because we were scared of what (might) happen. But at the same time, we were disappointed because how many times do you get to play volleyball in China?"

Heislen realizes that the inconvenience of cancellation is a lot easier to live with than potentially risking lives. "I do respect ISE for making this decision even though it upset a lot of people. And as an educator and a chaperone taking these kids out of the country, I respect the fact that the priority is safety," she said.

But now that their 10-day trip has been canceled, members of the team are having to deal with a variety of issues and emotions they didn't anticipate.

Megan Whickham, a 17-year-old junior, regrets that there will be nothing to show for all the effort that went into preparing for the trip. "We put in a lot of time raising money to go, doing car washes and bake sales. It's a disappointment."

The trip's total cost was $20,000 plus expenses. The team raised more than $10,000 and additionally, each member contributed $1,000.

Junior Jenni Buis, 17, thinks even though they may not get to use the funds this year, the process of preparing for the trip was good for the team. "When I first heard about the trip and how much it would cost, I thought, 'Well, this is a long shot.' But we did it. Raising the money really pulled us together, and that's amazing, I think."

But the girls say they feel like they misled people who made donations because they told so many people they were going to China.

"I feel kind of bad that we took all this money from different companies and people and now we're not even going anywhere. I don't know what we're going to do with it," Kelly Rodgers, 17, a junior, said.

Heislen said the girls' families will receive refunds. Refunds also will go to as many donors as can be identified, she said. The money raised through bake sales and car washes will go to school athletic programs.

Team co-captain Brandi Whales, 18, is especially disappointed about the cancellation because she's graduating this year. "This was going to be my senior trip. When I first heard, I thought we could go somewhere else. But now we have to wait for the refund before we do anything. I don't know what I'm going to do."

Heislen said she is disappointed for the girls.

"I've traveled abroad and I really wanted them to have this experience," the coach said. "In my opinion, they were a little hasty to cancel the trip. But I respect the fact that if they canceled it, the situation's pretty serious."

Even though all of the girls feel let down about missing out on the overseas trip, sophomore Jessica Powell, 15, summed up her teammates' strongest feelings when she said, "I'm kind of glad we're not going, because if it was going to compromise our safety, it's not worth it."

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