During the last week of term three, a group of 11 students and 3 teachers participated in a great escape to the diverse land of China. Over 15 days, Ms Chow, Mr Trimble and Mrs Frick accompanied students to six cities – Guangzhou, Lanzhou, Xian, Beijing, Shanghai and Hangzhou. The group visited many famous attractions, including the Bing Ling Cave, Terracotta Warriors, Tiananmen Square, The Great Wall of China, the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace and the brilliant cityscape of Shanghai.

Whilst these incredible sights were amazing, the true highlights of the tour were the many interactions our tour group had with Chinese people. Attending Chinese schools, our students had many experiences to interact with local people their own age, and they were made to feel like celebrities in the schools they visited. Our students also participated in two homestays with local Chinese families, and their homestay “parents” went the extra mile to provide them with a rich experience of Chinese language, customs and culture.

Not only was the trip a great learning experience, it was a journey that will be remembered for the rest of our lives.

In February next year, a group of 12 students are planning to visit our school from Lanzhou, providing us with an opportunity to reciprocate the hospitality that was shown to us. If any families would be interested in hosting some Chinese students for a few days next year, please email Ms Chow at leichowk@scbc.wa.edu.au