Shebri, Year 11, Century Park Campus

EOTC week, or Education Outside of the Classroom Week, is the week spent by students in Years 7-11 away on a trip to further our learning outside the classroom, with the programme completely integrated into the school’s curriculum. Students in Years 7-11 go to various locations in China, and for many of us embarking on these various opportunities, EOTC is definitely one of the most looked forward to events of the school year.

Our trip to Hubei province was a bit on the frosty side, and in the Northern cold we spent our week, cooking our own food, washing our own dishes, and experiencing life in rural China. Just as my resistance to the cold and wilderness faltered, I felt my Mandarin skills grow as I spoke with the kids at the local school we visited.

When I returned home and slept in my own bed, I truly appreciated the life I live in modern Shanghai. However, even when I’m far away from home, like during the EOTC trip, I truly appreciate my host country, including all of its vastness and diversity.