Before our visit, we were divided into groups, with members ranging from different levels of Mandarin, and each group had different schedules for the day. Upon our arrival, we were greeted by the principal of the school whom was very welcoming and she was very eager to show us around the school, introducing us to their different facilities and classrooms.  I felt overwhelmed by her great hospitality as she provided us with fruits and water after our tour whilst we waited for their students to arrive. Each group then separated into their designated classes where we would be spending the first two lessons.  The students at Wen-Lai School were evidently very friendly and we tried communicating to them with Mandarin, which proved to have some problems but it definitely improved our Mandarin skills. They were also extremely helpful during the classes and tried their best to make us feel as comfortable as possible, especially if we are unclear about what the teachers are talking about. I found that Wen-Lai School had classes that most of us had not experienced before; like mechanics (making cars and robots), which proved to be very interesting.

After the two very educational lessons, the BISS students all met up in the canteen for lunch; which was kindly provided by Wen-Lai School and all the students of both schools spent lunch-time interacting with each other; playing sports, taking a stroll and just getting to know the other school better.  I felt that the two schools bonded very quickly and some students even found buddies that they were closer to. After lunch, we then moved on to appreciating a Calligraphy lesson from one of the teachers. He introduced us to Chinese paintings and educated us with the different materials used for this type of art (brushes, inks and papers); telling us background information of each one of them and the process of which they are being made. He then continued to painting one of his own and many students agreed that it was indeed very beautiful and unique in its culture. The BISS students certainly learnt about a new kind of art that wasn’t seen a lot in modern culture.

Sadly, by the time this ended, it was almost time to leave. However, there was still one more thing to do; the exchange of books between each school as a form of respect and gratitude for each other. The students and teachers then reflected on their feelings and experiences during this exchange program and the general feedback would be that each student had a great time and we learnt many new things from each other whilst having an enjoyable experience. Although it was time to go after that, friendships were made and emails were exchanged. All the students are also very much looking forward to the return visit of Wen-Lai School to BISS