On Thursday 3rd February, the Chinese Department took the Year 9 and Year 10 Mandarin Chinese students to London to experience and celebrate Chinese culture and to view its Chinese New Year Decorations.
Written by Esme, Caoimhe, Isabella (Year 9) and Lyra (Year 10)
After a peaceful coach ride, we arrived in London and went straight to the British Museum to learn about Chinese history. We were all fascinated by the intricate artworks and felt so lucky to see all the pieces of Chinese culture in person.
“My favourite artefact was this beautiful hand-carved fan. It was so intricate and detailed and finished with a silk tassel.” – Isabella
“Our trip was undeniably one of the best trips we’ve been on in our time at OHS; while I usually find myself restless at even the thought of going to a museum, I was surprised to find the exhibition on Ancient China was engaging, and a lot of fun to explore with friends.” – Caoimhe
After the museum, we got to explore Chinatown in groups and discover streets filled with bright red lanterns and other beautiful decorations. We even got to indulge in delicious foods prepared for us in a charming Chinese restaurant. The food was amazing and we were able to taste proper Chinese food. We were encouraged to speak in Mandarin while eating traditional Chinese New Year food. We were able to try dishes we had never heard of before, and have fun with our friends.
Following the enjoyable meal, we had the freedom to explore Chinatown and many of us bought bubble tea, Chinese snacks, and even bubble wrap waffles! On the journey home, we happily discussed the amazing day we had together and chatted about the things we had bought. We can all agree that this was by far one of the best school trips we have even been on, enriched with culture, food, and fun!
“I really enjoyed the Year 9+10 trip to Chinatown because it was extremely interesting and there was a lot to learn. The entire trip was a huge success, and I can’t wait to go again with my family and show them the amazing sites we encountered on this wonderful adventure.” – Lyra