China Tour

I recently had the pleasure and privilege of sharing in an amazing international cultural tour to China with Shelley Parkes (Assistant Principal – Head of Junior School) and Ashlee Scott (Middle School Pastoral Coordinator) and fourteen students from Years 6-8. An incredibly positive and memorable experience, this 10 day trip took us through Beijing, Xi’an and Shanghai.

Whilst there are hundreds of photos to share, there were many great experiences that will be remembered for years to come. Highlights included our hands-on experiences at world-renowned specialist cooking and martial arts schools, and sampling different teas in a traditional tea house, or undertaking a tai chi class. In addition, visits to stunning traditional gardens, viewing acrobatic and Kung Fu shows, or travelling on a bullet train were all enjoyable.

Beijing, with its iconic sites such as the Temple of Heaven, Tiananmen Square, The Forbidden City and Summer Palace stood out, with the added absolute highlight, climbing (or running for some) up The Great Wall of China.

With strong links to the Year 7 Individuals and Societies, exploring the Terracotta Warriors in Xi’an truly brought the curriculum and the idea of “the world as a classroom” to life. As one of the IS teachers, standing with the students here was a real personal buzz.

The value of international travel in a large group of people beyond the family cannot be underestimated. This would include navigating immigration and customs, managing your way through very large crowds, sharing a meal together whilst trying new foods, and embracing unfamiliar experiences like using WeChatPay or AliPay for the first time when bargain shopping in the markets. As we learn about the history, customs and cultures of other places, this also allows us time to reflect upon and appreciate our own identity and culture.

I am incredibly grateful to Mrs Parkes and Miss Scott who accompanied me. Their support and guidance to the students were exemplary. We also had a brilliant local guide, Li. All three of them helped make the journey special.

Reflecting on the tour, I am very confident to be able to report that all our students grew in confidence, maturity, self-awareness and intercultural understanding and were excellent ambassadors for our school and their families. Most of all, I hope the experience has sparked a curiosity about the world and inspired them to continue travelling.
 

Peter Dickinson

Deputy Principal