Yaariyan with Yunnan

From B-boying battles to fusion Odissi, the Indo-China Teenage Cultural Exchange Programme saw it all. Twenty-five students from Qinglai School in Yunnan were in the city last month to interact with students of St. James' School and Ballygunge Shiksha Sadan (BSS).

The visiting students took part in a wide range of activities such as art and craft, alpona and cookery workshops and cultural programmes besides touring the city and shopping for souvenirs.

Besides the programme put together by the host schools, there were some impromptu moments too such as a dance battle at St. James'. "I had never battled a Chinese guy before. He was good, really good. Tough competition," said Yash Parameswaran, a Class XII student. Better known as Twinkle Toes among friends, Yash had challenged Yanz Run Shi, a Class XII student of Qinglai School.

At the closing ceremony at BSS, Shi matched steps to Badtameez Dil along with three other Chinese boys and went solo with Taylor Swift's Style.

Students from St. James' and BSS had been to China last year. "We got to learn a lot about the Spring Festival, the significance of the dragon and the peacock dance in China during our trip," said Koshi Cherian, a Class IX student of St. James'.

"In our school, the Chinese students got to know about alpona, tie and dye and taste Indian food like kebab, phuchka, chaat, lassi and gajar ka halwa," added classmate Angus Alphonso.

Soumen Kumar Mundul, the vice-principal of St. James' School, described the exchange programme as a learning experience for both teachers and students. "The aim is to bring both countries closer. Students begin to appreciate each other's culture and heritage better. Books provide one dimensional knowledge. Travel opens up a whole new arena for learning."

Agreed Sunita Sen, the principal of BSS. "We've completed a full circle. The programme has not only brought students closer but also their families and teachers. This is people-to-people diplomacy, where distance and language are no barrier."

Calcutta calling Kunming

Students from another part of China bonded with the boys at St. Xavier's Collegiate School a few months ago.

Samar Singh and Yang Xiaoyi are counting days to their next meeting. The 16-year-old boys became fast friends when 10 students and four teachers from Shida Fuzhong High School of Yunnan Normal University in Kunming visited the city school.

"We share a deep bond of friendship with all our Chinese brothers. We connected over films, hobbies, lessons and of course culture education," said Samar, who studies in Class XI at St. Xavier's.

The two schools have been part of the exchange programme for five years now and Benny Thomas, the principal of St. Xavier's, hopes it will continue "to broaden the horizon of students and each student will take back something positive from the programme".

The itinerary for the visitors included a river cruise on the Hooghly, visits to Belur Math, Prinsep Ghat, Victoria Memorial Hall, Indian Museum and a trip to Tajpur. The Chinese students also participated in football, basketball, table tennis and badminton besides attending classes in maths and English followed by yoga sessions.

Grade XI student Jim Wangjiyanu found the hosts "warm and helpful", while Yang Xiaoyi, also a Grade XI student, described the experience as "overwhelming". Both Yang and Jim boasted of their knowledge of Indian films, naming a few like 3 Idiots and Taare Zameen Par along with a few Daler Mehndi songs .

Germans go gaga

Carina Birkle, a Class XII student of Kaufmännische Schule, Aalen, Germany, knew much about Calcutta before her first visit to the city. Victoria Memorial, temple tours, hand-pulled rickshaw rides - she had googled everything and couldn't wait to explore its nooks and corners along with her eight classmates.

The nine students were here on an exchange programme with Lakshmipat Singhania Academy (LSA), which turned out to be a fortnight of fun and learning.

Rainer Schmiedchen, the German consul-general in Calcutta, dropped in to greet the students on the first day of the exchange programme. "The programme will help strengthen bilateral ties in the long run. Lakshmipat Singhania Academy happens to be one of the most disciplined schools I have visited and I hope the students of both countries make the best of this opportunity. End of the day, we strive hard to ensure that duniya mein shanti rahein and students should sincerely work towards it," he said.

Reminiscing her experience in Aalen last June, Devika Bharany, a Class X student of LSA, said she had a wonderful time there. "The host family made every attempt to make us feel at home. I got to know much about their culture and society. I am still in touch with them," she smiled.

Devika couldn't stop talking about her partner Gina Grimus. "She went crazy for bhujia . She would keep a bottle of water handy and eat bhujia, sipping water every few minutes because it was too spicy for her."

Food wasn't the only taste of India that the German students were treated too. They enjoyed a glimpse into Bengal's folk culture, thanks to a performance by Chhau dancers from Purulia.

Meena Kak, the principal of LSA, said the two weeks the Germans spent in the city had turned out to be wonderful. "I wish more students from their school would come down here," she said at a farewell programme.

Irish interaction

Mahadevi Birla World Academy was buzzing with activity as students of two countries eager to know about each other's culture and heritage got together for Communique, an immersion programme.

Seventy-five students and 13 teachers from Ireland visited the city school for a day of fun and interaction as part of and initiative of The Hope Foundation.

The Irish students mingled with their Indian friends, played kabaddi and kho-kho, ate jhalmuri and nolen gurer sandesh and also got to share their friends' lunchboxes.

"Calcutta is beautiful but the driving and honking here is crazy. It is my first time in the city and I am amazed to see so many people on the streets. We have also been to a temple and I am really looking forward to trying out some Indian food," said Rachel Fitzgibbon, Class XI, Christ King Girls' Secondary School.

The city girls, too, had their share of excitement. Ritaja Roy, Class IX student of the school, was having a rather interesting day. "I have been talking to some of the Irish students and I also played kho kho with them. I have never met so many foreigners together. I am really looking forward to lunch hour as we are supposed to share our lunchbox with them. I have brought some gola ruti and paneer," she smiled.

Principal Anjana Saha was happy that her students were getting a chance to spend time with the Irish. "This interaction is happening at an age when their opinions are not yet formed. They don't have any prejudices or bias and are meeting the Irish students with an open mind. I wanted them to learn to appreciate different cultures," she said.

Bond with British

Sri Sri Academy welcomed Frances Gertrude Claire D'Souza, the joint president of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, along with 10 more delegates from the UK recently.

The visit was aimed at giving the delegation a taste of internationalism in schools highlighting the benefits of the Connecting Classrooms and International School Award and how it has helped build bridges between young people and teachers.

"India is a country that is changing fast. My fellow parliamentarians want to see how that change is happening," said Baroness D'Souza, scientist, life peer in the House of Lords and currently Lord Speaker.

Talking about the exchange programme between Sri Sri Academy and Windmill Primary School, Oxfordshire, headmistress Sumita Bose said: "The children learnt about each other's schools and country while teachers exchanged notes too."

FOREIGN STUDENTS IN CITY ON EXCHANGE PROGRAMMES