touchdown
Alison Sanza
Assistant Principal
It is fabulous to have our nine VYLC (Victorian Young Leaders to China) back on home shores and back in our classes at BSC!
Our brave travellers left Australia on March 25 and spent 6 weeks studying and sightseeing in China as part of their immersion experience. They returned on May 2 and have been eager to share their experiences with us all.
We congratulate Tayler Roberts and all the VYLC delegates on a most successful trip.
Tayler Roberts
VYLC Group Leader
This year's VYLC experience was packed with highlights for us all - whether visiting the sights such as the famous Great Wall of China, meeting the locals or studying at our sister school.
The BSC student contingent proved to be fabulous ambassadors - exhibiting maturity and respect for each other and for all those they met.
I was particularly proud of how they handled being away from home for a extended period. Of course they missed their family and friends, but they also recognised and appreciated the unique opportunity they had to immerse themselves in another culture, to widen their horizons, to extend their language proficiency and develop their personal qualities of resilience, persistence and independence. They were also very supportive of each other and proved to be a tight-knit, unstoppable team!
This program is a great opportunity for students to get out of their 'comfort zone' and immerse themselves in another culture. It was great to watch the growth in these students - not just as learners, but a young adults.
Student Reflections...
Sol Laslett
Year 9
VYLC Delegate
My experience in China was many things, but dull was not one of them!
Whether it was exploring Nanjing with my buddy or the 8.00am to 8.00pm school days, every day had something exciting about it.
Even with these exciting experiences, the whole trip was a big challenge. The hardest part was probably the extremely long days. But if it wasn't for these days I wouldn't have been able to experience China in its truest form!
Jack Cumming
Year 9
VYLC Delegate
The trip to China was amazing! I cannot believe that I did not get homesick over those 6 weeks in Beijing, Nanjing and Shanghai. The people were nice, the food was good and the experience was fantastic. The best experience was going on the Great Wall and going up to the 100th floor of the Shanghai World Financial Centre. I also did a lot of bartering and got some pretty good deals! China is an amazing country.
Isabella Munoz
Year 9
VYLC Delegate
After going to China for six weeks, I have learned a lot. I met a lot of new people. I have improved my spoken Chinese so much through speaking to others, - made possible because I was actually in China.
Thank you VYLC Program for the experience and the friends I have made from it!