FROM walking through rows of life-like Terracotta Warriors to riding bicycles along ancient walls, St Martin’s Lutheran College students will be in for a trip of a lifetime when visiting China next month.
Almost 30 school students will head to China on April 16, trekking through five of the country’s mesmerising cities.
The contingent will arrive in Guangzhou for a short stay before heading to Xian, emerging themselves in Asian history, dance shows and dumpling banquets.
St Martin’s Lutheran College Chinese teacher Lester Chen said the trip was an essential part of the language program delivered at the college.
“I think it is important for students to understand and experience different cultures themselves,” he said.
“I think this trip will develop their way of understanding the world by expanding their mindset.
“It is about introducing multicultural qualities and being more accepting.”
Mr Chen said given instances of cultural conflict around the world, it was important for students to understand people are allowed to hold their own values and opinions.
“People look at the world in completely different ways to others,” he said.
“We have implemented this trip for almost a decade and it still seems to gain more interest every time we go.”
St Martin’s Lutheran College Year 11 student Lachie Smith went on the trip in 2017 and said he “had a ball”.
“I really enjoyed meeting new people,” he said.
“I remember people asking me why I was visiting and I would think ‘what do you mean, I am here to meet you guys’.
“It was cool because everyone was so different to those living in Australia.”
Lachie said he liked how the more recently-held biennial China trip incorporated a home stay aspect.
“No tourist has the opportunity to stay at the school for a few days or go to a family’s house and actually experience day-to-day culture,” he said.
“It was scary, but it was cool.”
The school will visit its sister school Shouguang Century School in Weifang – Shandong Province, interacting with several students who have previously visited St Martins.
From Weifang, the trip will venture to Beijing, visting Tienanmen Square, the Forbidden City and the bordering Great Wall of China.
Year 12 student Dylan Mednis – who will travel on the 2019 trip – said he looks forward to visiting the city of Shanghai.
“I am really looking forward to going to Shanghai after Beijing and just walking around such a big city,” he said.
“It almost has the same population as just Australia itself so there will just be so many people to talk to.
“I am excited to see the different stores and compare them to those here.”
College Year 12 student Olivia James will also join the trip and looks forward to developing her Chinese language techniques.
“It will be great to actually experience the language I have been learning for 12 years while here at school,” she said.
“I think through my 12 years of experience my Chinese has become quite fluent so I guess I will see if I can communicate with people efficiently.
“I think it will be hard as they seem to be fast talkers.”
With 11 days away the trip will finish with a visit to Disneyland before students arrive home on April 28.
