SHBS International Exchange Program

2024-11-22From : 管理员Click : 19

On the afternoon of February 24, 2025, SHBS held a unique "International Exchange Program Sharing meeting" taking the CAS event as an opportunity. By reviewing the two international exchange programs in Spain and Tanzania in the fall of 2024, the sharing session aims to guide students to understand the significance of intercultural exchange programs. At the event site, the student representatives participating in the project told their experiences and changes from the first perspective, leading the audience to feel the vastness and diversity of the world.

Spain——Valencian fireworks and warmth

"We put down our phones and bargained with a few words of Spanish and gestures!" Student Wang recalled with a smile that at the Valencia Central Market, they used the shopping list to purchase Iberian ham and bread, and the interaction with the stall owners went from raw to comfortable, and finally gained the satisfaction of "remembering a city with my taste buds" during the picnic in the square. During the exchange, we visited the archaeological museum together. From the ancient Roman road to the Muslim ruins, the students were shocked, and the text in the history textbook was vivid in front of their eyes.

"The farmer taught us how to cook saffron, and when the heat was wrong, we would burn it!" Student Wu also shared an interesting story about the "Paella Cooking Contest". Before the event, the team visited the Mediterranean orchards and picked oranges and olives by hand, feeling the rustic connection "from land to table". In the small town of Siete Aguas, with only 1,000 people, welcome dinners with host families, football matches with local children and late-night Uno poker games make "intercultural friendship" no longer an empty phrase.

Tanzania——the spiritual shock of a primitive tribe

"The moment I stepped in the cow dung, I almost broke down, but the Maasai girl laughed and said it was' mom's pride '." Student Chen used a humorous tone to describe the initial experience of the "Maasai tribe". The tribal house is made of cow dung and mud, and the bed sheets are made of cow skin. This minimalist and environmentally friendly lifestyle makes the students think deeply. The colorful star ornament she brought back now hangs above her bed as a symbol of "happiness can be simple."

"The first time I took a bath in a bucket of cold water, I shivered, but then even a beetle turned back on!" Student Kim shared the adjustment process in the host family. At family dinners, they prayed while watching '90s Hong Kong movies, and the mix of fried potatoes and Indian curry made the "cultural fusion" tangible. The locals' relaxed attitude toward time - "being late is the norm" - made students reflect on the meaning of fast-paced life.

Through this trip to Tanzania, the students understand that real growth, in fact, occurs in the "uncomfortable" moment. When students have to face the toilets, language barriers and even cultural conflicts, old prejudices are broken and new tolerance grows. Student representative Joanna quoted community leader MAMA's words: "Don't let the seeds of hatred take root in our hearts, what we want is a peaceful world."

The two international exchange programs not only let participants learn to break through in a strange environment, but also shared the harvest of "World Classroom" to the whole school through CAS sharing sessions. SHBS has always been committed to providing students with a variety of international educational resources - to view the world to form a more grand world view. As an international school, SHBS is committed to opening students' international perspectives and truly cultivating Chinese students who can integrate and illuminate the world.

Special thanks to the project coordination team, host families and all participants for making the cross-cultural trip the most precious gift of youth growth.