Intercultural exchange: A week full of discoveries with students from the German School Shanghai

In a week full of intercultural encounters and cross-border cooperation, we had the honour of welcoming students from the technical secondary school of the German School Shanghai. This exciting experience was not only an opportunity to explore cultural differences, but also to forge new friendships and broaden horizons.

The first day began with a warm welcome at our school, where the students from Shanghai had the opportunity to get to know our facilities and familiarise themselves with their hosts. They then explored the sights of Brussels together on a city tour, which included both historical and culinary aspects of the Belgian capital.

On the second day, the medieval cities of Bruges and Ghent were on the programme. The picturesque canals and historic buildings of these towns offered a great insight into Belgium’s rich history and culture.

Wednesday was characterised by technological innovation when we visited the Audi plant in Brussels. There, the FOS students learnt more about the latest developments in the automotive industry and were able to experience the advanced technology up close.

An absolute highlight of the week was the trip to Paris on Thursday. The students were fascinated by the charm of the French capital and enjoyed exploring famous landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower.

A varied programme awaited the students on Friday with a handball tournament in the morning, a visit to the European Quarter including the European Parliament and lunch at the German Embassy. The day ended with a joint dinner, where the experiences of the week were discussed once again and friendships were deepened.

On Saturday, the time had come: together with our FOS students, our guests from Shanghai set off for their home country to spend another exciting week together. We will all remember this week of intercultural exchange for a long time to come and it has strengthened our bonds across continents.