Pack your bags and book your flights. International school students are off to explore the world and have once in a lifetime experiences that offer unique lessons. From volunteering missions to work experience and field trips, travel is an incomparable opportunity to learn. Hear directly from students and staff about the impressive school trips they’ve taken this year.
Concordia International School Shanghai
Penny Kim, Grade 9
Tell us about a recent trip you went on. What was the most memorable moment?
The recent trip to Nepal with the Envision Education student club was an incredible experience. We had the privilege of teaching and connecting with the children, all united by the goal of bridging the digital divide. One unforgettable moment was when students from Koseli School, ranging from kindergarten to sixth grade, wrote their names on my hand, leaving an indelible mark on my heart. Despite the challenges they face, these children display remarkable optimism and kindness, showing resilience under difficult circumstances. Their actions are genuinely inspiring and motivational. Although our primary goal was to introduce these students to the digital world, they provided us with an eye-opening experience in return.
How was this experience different than classroom teaching? What is a unique lesson that this trip brought out?
The difference between learning and teaching in Nepal compared to Shanghai was striking. In Shanghai, I have grown accustomed to good facilities and abundant opportunities; however, the two schools we visited during the trip had lack of technology, poor facilities, and limited educational resources. One unique lesson that the Nepal 2024 trip highlighted is a reminder of the different environments within our global community. The trip underscored the importance of understanding these differences and emphasized the need to close the divide, ensuring opportunities are available everywhere.
What was your goal for this trip?
The primary goal of this trip was to bridge the digital divide and provide equal access to technology and digital resources. By supplying computers and learning programs, we were able to help the children tap into a new realm of information, ultimately enhancing their educational opportunities. The students’ interest in computers and their positive attitudes towards learning clearly demonstrated the significant impact that access to technology can have.
Deutsche Schule Shanghai (German School Shanghai)
Sebastian Wolpert
Head of the Specialized Secondary School in Business and Administration, Hongqiao Campus
Tell us about a school field trip you went on. What was the most memorable moment?
From February 18 to 24 this year, 12th-grade students from our vocational school participated in an exchange program with the International German School of Brussels (iDSB). The program included guided tours of iDSB and Brussels, day trips to Bruges and Ghent showcasing medieval architecture, and an industrial visit to the Audi plant to learn about modern car manufacturing. A trip to Paris allowed participants to experience French culture. The week concluded with a visit to the European Quarter in Brussels, where students gained insights into the workings of the European Union, enhancing their understanding of international relations and political processes.
How was this experience different than classroom teaching? What is a unique lesson that this trip brought out?
This trip was significantly different from classroom learning as it involved hands-on experiences and real-world interactions, rather than theoretical knowledge. Visiting the Audi plant, for instance, provided a practical insight into automotive manufacturing, sparking an interest in engineering and business processes among us. Such experiences deepen understanding through direct observation and participation, emphasizing practical insights and thus preparing for future professional life.
What was your goal for this trip?
The goal of this trip was to enhance our cultural and professional understanding within an international context. By visiting educational institutions, historical sites, and modern industries across two continents, the program aimed to broaden our perspectives on global relations and professional fields, preparing us for future careers in an increasingly interconnected world. This experience was designed to supplement our vocational education with practical and cultural knowledge.
Shanghai American School
April Zhu, Grade 7
Tell us about a recent trip you went on. What was the most memorable moment?
It was our first day of hiking in Dali, Yunnan and on that day, we had to hike 19 kilometers. Even though it was exhausting, my friends and I were singing and chatting the whole way. Near the end of the hike, it began to rain, which soon became hail. Like small little pebbles, the hail rained on us as we took our last few steps, reaching our campsite. We set up our tent and quickly put on some dry, warm layers as the rain cleared. That didn’t last for long as after 30 minutes we heard thunder as we sat in the community tent. We sat there playing card games for up to 40 minutes, but as the storm passed a beautiful double rainbow emerged. It was a transcendent, breathtaking setting that I will never forget.
How was this experience different than classroom teaching? What is a unique lesson that this trip brought out?
This experience was more hands on compared to classroom learning, and there was more responsibility and life skills that were needed or learnt throughout the trip. We as students and kids are always told to avoid looking at electronic devices too much, but you can never realize how much extra time you spend on screens until you stop using them. I still had some time to use my phone on some days, but I never thought about going on my phone, I didn’t miss it. I noticed how much there is to see and how much fun you can have with your friends without needing any screens. I truly learnt how much unnecessary time we spend behind a small rectangular light.
What was your goal for this trip?
Unlike the others, I’m one grade below everyone else (along with two other 7th graders). I haven’t bonded before with any people who were on the trip. Therefore, my goal was to meet these people, build new friendships, and to learn about the history of the Tea Horse Road. I aimed to be more educated on the “real” China, outside of the bubble of Shanghai and international schools. I’d achieved these two goals, as now I’ve developed many new friendships, a connection to other grades in SAS, and learnt more about others’ lifestyles. Even though we live in the same country, we live entirely different lives.
Dulwich College Shanghai Pudong
Anthony Gillett
Assistant Head of the Senior School (Holistic Development)
Tell us about a recent trip you went on. What was the most memorable moment?
I recently visited Switzerland accompanying Year 9 students who travelled to one of our sister schools, Hochalpines Institut Ftan (HIF) located in the Swiss Alps. Students travelled to HIF in order to begin their term of study as part of our Ignite: Switzerland programme. There were several memorable moments on the trip. The first was seeing the excitement on students’ faces, as we drove through steep-sided snow-covered valleys. The second was watching them interacting with students from other Dulwich Colleges during the first evening. I was particularly proud of some of our Year 9 boys who were proactive in getting know students from other schools.
How was this experience different than classroom teaching? What is a unique lesson that this trip brought out?
The Ignite: Switzerland programme is quite different to the experience that students will normally have in Shanghai. Aside from the fact that they have a view of the Swiss Alps from their classroom windows, there is a strong focus on experiential learning which is linked to self and also to academic subjects. For example, students were involved in a range of outdoor pursuits whilst at HIF, such as skiing and snowboarding, and they begin to consider the impact from humans on the local ecosystem as part of their studies in Geography and Biology (later in the term they will spend time visiting the surrounding meadows). In addition, a capstone is the Passion Project, which forges a student’s knowledge, understanding and skills from their lessons by following an interdisciplinary, design thinking approach. The project was introduced whilst I was at HIF and it made me think about Passion Projects from previous students, such as an exploration of the environmental impacts from nearby farms which was communicated by learning to build a website.
What was your goal for this trip?
My goal is the same as any trip: to ensure that students are safe and feel supported in a new environment. Once the term begins, students have their new teachers and classmates, so I was then able to discuss with teachers how we can develop collaboration opportunities between HIF and DCSPD. The Ignite: Switzerland programme is growing and there are many opportunities for teachers and students to learn and improve the curriculum inside and outside the classroom.
