Wellington Today Wellington Today 2018 en | Page 22

2018
WELLINGTON SCHOOL LIFE
EXEPDITION AND EXPLORATION
A TRIP TO TOKYO
Get lost in the history of Japan
By Barry Cooper, Head of History, Wellington College International Shanghai
In December of 2016, ten pupils and two teachers made a trip to experience Tokyo. The
massive sprawling city has a population equal to Shanghai’s, but a very different feel.
SURVIVING BORNEO!
During the two days, the group had the opportunity to visit the local markets in the
morning, take in the hustle and bustle of Asakusa, wander around a tranquil Buddhist
temple and then the Tokugawa gardens. Visits to the local museums were also a part of
our trip, where we learned that different people tell the same story in different ways.
A geography and biology trip
By Matthew Corke, Head of Geography, Wellington College International Shanghai
During the Easter break the geography and biology departments
took 16 pupils to Sabah in Borneo. An exciting and sometimes
challenging programme lay in store for both pupils and staff,
especially considering that everyone had to cope with the sucking
mud and persistent bugs that the rainforest constantly threw
at them. As Aidan (Year 9) explained: ‘Unfortunately, hiking
through the rainforest is not as pleasant as it might initially sound.
Mosquito bites were extremely frequent, and leec hes were
present as well. Three kilometres seemed much longer than
we originally thought, as we weaved through the vegetation and
trudged through the mud in the humid tropical air.’
The core aim of the trip was to give pupils the opportunity to
understand the ecology of the rainforest, the threats that are
causing its demise and different approaches to its management
and conservation. These are critical issues that affect not just
Borneo but all tropical regions globally, which means that they
continue to have a profound effect on the world we inhabit. This
point was made particularly clear when the pupils visited a palm
oil plantation and were instructed on the benefits as well as the
potential pitfalls of the world’s growing use of palm oil.
‘We helped to replant an area that had previously been an illegal
palm oil plantation encroachment into the rainforest. To do this, we
first collected saplings from the rainforest and brought them to the
tree nursery where they can grow and be planted when the saplings
are potted and ready. By planting more trees, we can increase the
biodiversity in that area and provide more shelter for the animals.
Although we left soaking wet, overall, we had an amazing experience in
Borneo.’ – Roni (Year 9) and Victoria (Year 10)
The pupils also managed to spot plenty of wildlife during the
trip, including leopard cubs, hornbills and even orang-utans at a
specially developed sanctuary in Sepilok.
‘After the educational and very cute trip to the orang-utan sanctuary,
we went to experience the rainforest canopy walk. Here, we even saw an
orang-utan up close and in the wild. It was amazing and a first for all
of us.’ – Serena (Year 9), Amelia (Year 9) and Francesca (Year 9)
Besides these must-see sights, we were also able to avoid the beaten path, taking a
lengthy walk through the centre of Tokyo to the Imperial Palace, like a local. Getting
out of the taxi allowed us to experience the city authentically by exploring the twisty
streets we happened to find, and observing the routines of the local crowds. A night
time stroll to the shrine at Asakusa charmed us, as the dimly illuminated lanterns lit up
the temple precincts.
Food was another important element of our trip. We tried one of Japan’s many
borrowed traditions – Ramen. From the ambience of the ramen shop to their rules of
slurping, what people eat and how they eat explained a great deal about the society, the
history behind it and the general outlook on life. So did the very artful and unique Sushi
dining experience at night, which provided us with an opportunity to see how much skill
is required to make the delicacy. Only when we saw and tasted, were we finally able to
understand the fact that it takes longer to become a Sushi chef than it does a doctor.
The whole trip offered us an authentic, down-to-earth, traditional Japanese feel. But we
were also amazed by the modernness of the country with the shopping mecca Ginza,
featuring myriad neon lights.
The importance of these trips cannot be underestimated. An opportunity to experience
life in a foreign city brings with it a chance to challenge how you see the world. Different
customs, different foods, different ideas all roll into one another and give the tourist an
appreciation not only of who they are visiting, but also time to re-evaluate their own
country, lifestyle and customs in comparison.
A SCUBA TRIP WITH
QUALIFICATIONS AND MORE
By Shane Hambling, Swim Coach/Housemaster of Combermere, Wellington College International Shanghai
Wellington College’s annual scuba diving trip to Anilao was again
a roaring success, with eleven students qualifying as PADI open
water divers, six reaching PADI advanced open water diver status
and four making it all the way to PADI rescue diver and one (aged
just 10) getting her PADI adventure diver qualification. and know how to behave and react with the Wellington core
values instilled. From travelling overseas on their own, mastering
their very natural fears of the deep blue sea, to the momentous
action of diving into a vast space of the unknown, it is courage
that helps them move forward confidently.
Courage – one of Wellington’s core values, makes up the
bedrock of a Wellingtonian’s character. The trip was a great
opportunity for our pupils to demonstrate that they understand This trip has also taught our pupils to think and act independently
even in the most difficult situations. Independent - this Wellington
identity is reinforced in every dive as situations like running low
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on air, or the current being too strong, happen all the time. Staying calm when something
goes wrong is what pupils can easily translate into their everyday life.
Moreover, scuba diving is a fantastic way to teach our pupils to truly appreciate their
planet, the environment and nature. Some of us were treated to the chance to swim
with dolphins, octopus, cuttlefish, stingrays, squids and even turtles for a few enchanting
moments. The pure pleasure, wonder and awe of interacting with, and being up close
to, the amazing marine creatures deepens pupils’ conviction to make a difference in their
daily lives to benefit the oceans.
We are all looking forward to our next underwater adventure.
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