Grade 11 China Trip:

17 AISG eleventh grade China trip to Lijiang, Yunnan Province took place on September 24.  Students were asked to meet at the AISG Ersha campus at 6 AM, then take a 45-minute bus ride to the airport. As there were so many students, the grade was divided into 3 groups: A, B, and C.

“We got the opportunity to connect with people we may not have spoken to before, it presented us with a chance to make new friends and bond over new activities. Although, it was hard to spend so much time away from friends back home, and in the other groups. I wish we had more time together as a grade” Said Meenu Senthil.

After the plane ride, the students took a long bus ride to the south of Lijiang, where the groups separated and got to know the instructors. The hotel was visually appealing, with interesting architecture and antique designs all throughout. Mainly the rooms contained two beds, a television, and a bathroom.

Each morning, the staff served a traditional Chinese breakfast at 8 AM, including rice, generic cereal, dim sum, potatoes, and many other local foods. Although the food was a bit plain in taste, the lack of variety each day left some students feeling underwhelmed.

“I had a difficult time being away from home and my family and friends, however, I really enjoyed the hike, especially the end of it, “said Sophia Lopukhin. “The food wasn’t very pleasant, but I think it’s because I wasn’t used to having traditional Chinese food for every meal, every day. I hated the plane ride because of the delay for six hours.”

Each day consisted of a traditional breakfast, then students typically participated in a group activity or game, then another outside activity (like hiking, cycling, scavenger hunt etc), followed by lunch. After the meal, students played another game, had free time, did an evening activity, had dinner, and then a reflection. The most demanding activities were the three-hour hike through the mountains, the two-hour bike ride through the city, and farming for corn in the sun. However, many students agree that the most rewarding activity was spending time with the school children.

“I think this year the China trip was very fun. We went up in the mountains and saw nice views, like the sunset, which we can’t see in Guangzhou,” said Kyung Taek Lim. “The food was nice, probably the best out of all the China trips that I’ve been too, and spending time with the kids was a cool experience for everyone.”

The use of phones was not encouraged but students were allowed to capture a view here and there if they needed to. Student photographers were selected in school before the trip and said students brought their actual cameras, providing high-quality pictures for everyone to enjoy. Javin Liu had alternative ideas for photography when he decided to bring his electronic drone. This drone was able to fly hundreds of feet in any direction, proving an excellent source in capturing both distance and quality in every picture.

Of course, no travel experience is complete without a few hassles to spice up the adventure. The plane ride home was delayed for six hours, two of which were spent on the aircraft, trapped in the seats. Despite the delay, most students agreed that the trip was both exciting and rewarding. The food was traditional but new to many of us, the instructors were optimistic and enthusiastic about almost everything, and although the outside activities were hard, they had moments of pure enjoyment.