Most of the mornings begin with immersive Mandarin lessons, where the students focus on talking about their a wide range of topics: from their school in London to hobbies, describing delicious dishes, and navigating travel all in impressive mandarin. They explored how to describe the size of their school and its facilities and discussed specific subjects and their timetables. They also shared which lessons they found most interesting and explained why. Teddy confidently shared his opinion about his favourite subject—Maths, well done Teddy!
Outside the classroom, the cultural adventures have been as rich as the language. The students have shown true artistry in calligraphy sessions, proudly curated their own Chinese knots, and learned the disciplined basics of martial arts. Yesterday, we had interschool sports day which was a spirited affair, with our very own Central team emerging victorious in the tug of war. It was a battle of strength and strategy and possibly a bit of stubborn determination.
And last night, the trip reached an entirely new level of cultural immersion. We ventured into the depths of Beijing’s metro system and emerged in a local square to take part in Chinese square dancing. Raphel, Gaston, and Jupiter deserve special mention for their unexpectedly dazzling footwork. Their moves were equal parts traditional and TikTok-worthy.
We’re immensely proud of how well the students are embracing this opportunity. Their curiosity, adaptability, and willingness to try new things be it calligraphy or public dancing has been wonderful to witness.
On Tuesday afternoon, we attended the official opening ceremony where we were introduced to our hosts and had the opportunity to meet students from other schools. This was followed by our first excursion: a captivating acrobatics show that left the students thoroughly impressed. Afterwards, we visited the iconic Bird’s Nest Stadium, which the group greatly enjoyed.
Our second excursion took us to a local school, where students experienced what daily life is like for their Chinese peers. They were treated to a variety of performances, including music and dance, and had the chance to learn about the traditional art of Chinese tea. The visit concluded with a thoughtful gift exchange—CFBS students presented treats from London to their Beijing International college (BICC) counterparts. We ended the day on a high note with a birthday celebration for all students with birthdays during the trip, complete with plenty of cake and laughter.