It was every teacher's dream -- walking into a classroom and hearing students cheer in excitement, being invited to dine in students' homes, having pupils beg to remain in class after the bell rings, seeing a child's eyes light up with the love of learning.

What seemed a dream was day-to-day reality for Floral Park residents Harriet Feiner and Frances Glasser and former Roslyn resident Joyce Oppenheim, who recently spent three weeks volunteering as English teachers in Xi'an, China.

Feiner is a retired Yeshiva University faculty member and social worker; Oppenheim, now of Palm Beach Gardens, FL, is a homemaker/sculptor/jewelry-designer; and Glasser is a retired businesswoman and appraiser. This diverse trio was part of a group of 14 North American volunteers who taught English to eager Chinese students young and old. While some of the schools were outdated and rustic, the students' warmth and charm more than compensated.

Says Oppenheim, "The most difficult experience I had was my first -- and fortunately -- temporary school assignment at the Industrial and Commercial College. For three days, I worked in an outdated, smelly, broken and filthy building with no running water to flush toilets. The stair railings were caked with dirt. At least, the students were enthusiastic and interested. It was an experience I never expected!"

By immersing herself into the Xi'an community, Oppenheim came away with rare insights into the people and culture of this country long shrouded in mystery. "All the relationships I formed were warm and friendly, and I gained deeper insight into the myriad problems the Chinese face," she said.

Feiner primarily taught English at a Xi'an business college that attracts students from outlying rural areas. "Three of us volunteers placed together at one school formed a good relationship with one teacher who used his own free time to have lunch with us several times," said Feiner. "Discussions with him were particularly poignant during the time following the bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade."

"The opportunities to meet and interact with our Chinese hosts were invaluable," said Feiner. "We gained significant insights into modern Chinese history and its current way of life there. Life in China is changing rapidly and we gained an understanding of the process."

"I was fascinated by the progress made in this country -- its growth and expansion. The construction work seems to be constant (in Xi'an)," added Glasser.

"This was a worthwhile experience. I felt I helped bridge our relationship with the Chinese people," she added.

During free time, volunteers had the opportunity to tour the world-famous Army of Terra-Cotta Warriors, a collection of thousands of life-sized statues -- each bearing a unique expression -- that was discovered in the 1970s near the tomb of emperor Qin Shihuang. They also visited the Banpo Neolithic Village, a Huxian peasant painting village, Buddhist temples, museums and other cultural sites in this historically rich area of China.

The program was coordinated by Global Volunteers, a private, non-sectarian, nonprofit international development organization based in St. Paul, MN. Each year, Global Volunteers coordinates more than 125 teams of volunteers who work on development projects in 21 countries. Projects range from construction to health care to English teaching.

In China, volunteers are assigned to "conversational English" classes in several participating schools in Xi'an, the province capital, and at a summer program in the upland city of Baoji. Teaching experience is helpful, but not necessary. Global Volunteers also has initiated a business-teaching program as a way for US entrepreneurs and executives to share their skills.

This people-to-people partnership between a nonsectarian, short-term volunteer organization and Chinese schools is the first of its kind in 50 years, according to An Wei, president of the Sino-American Society, the host for Global Volunteers in China. Founded in 1984 by Burnham Philbrook, Global Volunteers' goal is to build bridges of understanding and respect between people of diverse cultures. "The work project, wherever or whatever it is, is the vehicle for fostering this understanding," Philbrook explained.

Two-and three-week programs are scheduled throughout the year to China, Indonesia, Tanzania, Cook Islands, Vietnam, Ghana, Poland, India, Romania, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Vietnam, Jamaica, Costa Rica, Mexico, Spain, Italy, Greece, Ukraine, Turkey and Ecuador, with one-week programs offered in the southern United States. Each volunteer pays a service program fee ranging from $995 to $2,395, excluding airfare. (One-week USA programs are $450.) This tax-deductible payment covers all meals, lodging and ground transportation in the host community, volunteer orientation materials, project expenses and the services of an experienced team leader. For a current schedule and more information on each program, contact Global Volunteers at 1-800-487-1074, 375 E. Little Canada Road, St. Paul, MN 55117.