Student comments 2012#

Although students had found it tough adapting to the living conditions, the experience of meeting new people and making new friends made the trip a great success. Here are some comments by students at the end of the trip.

The Baiwan trip has been an incredible experience. Opportunities to engage in life in such rural areas are rare, and being able to interact with the children and teachers at schools in Qingyuan and Baiwan has been eye opening. Most students were willing and eager to learn, and getting to teach such enthusiastic kids was an honour. It also felt fulfilling, knowing that for 40 to 45 minutes a day, you had brought creativity and life to the classrooms in Baiwan. This was the perfect last CAS week at Island School.

Baiwan was an amazing trip. It was a whole new experience. We were able to have fun, relax as well as lots of teaching experience. Nothing could prepare us for the lessons or the experience of staying in Baiwan – it was unique and challenging. It was great to meet students from such a different background and to get to understand a new culture. It made me realize how much luckier our lives was compared to their simple, different lifestyle. It was a very fulfilling experience and would hope to come back one day if given the opportunity.

Living in Hong Kong we don’t really notice how fortunate we are but the children in the town have humbled me. Though they are young and less fortunate, they are so friendly towards us. The enthusiasm the kids had for their education was also really incredible. This trip has taught me so much, most importantly that community service can be very rewarding but also at the same time fun.

Many things on the trip were a challenge; such as battling with sickness and walking double the distance we were expecting, however it all accounted for a sense of achievement we will all cherish. The littlest gestures from the children we taught, from the friendly greetings to the handwritten letters acknowledged that we, as Island School students have made a small difference in someone else’s life.