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It has been a memorable experience for me to take care of the CHIJ girls. They are all very friendly and outgoing. We began to mingle and mix very soon. We spent pleasurable moments together, touring around the school and having lessons together. I learnt a lot from them too. In fact, I came to know more about school life in Singapore and I now know the difference in the method of teaching and the school environment between Hong Kong and Singapore.

We seemed to have established a kind of bond between us. I am still in touch with Clarissa. I believe we have all enjoyed the programme very much.

Genevieve Yu 3A

I remember that week like it was yesterday… It flew past so fast! It seems unreal.

It was an amazing experience. A very special experience I am sure I will never forget. It was so much fun... I got to know so many new people. The Singaporean girls were very friendly and open. They fitted in with the rest of us very well. In just five short days they felt like one of us. I was very sad on the last day of their visit. I had to try very hard to hold back the tears stinging my eyes. I got myself a very special friend.

I learnt a lot about Ariaga. I learnt a lot about her family, parents and friends. I learnt a lot about her friends and school. Their school and lessons are very different from ours. Their learning environment is totally different from ours. I learnt a lot about the culture and traditions of Singapore. I learnt a lot about how the differences in our background affect our upbringing. I actually understood the cultural barrier there was between us and I loved it. I loved every second I spent with her. I hope our friendship would still live on regardless of the miles that separate us. I hope we still keep in touch.

This was something very nice, a very good experience and something new and fresh. Something we all liked and enjoyed, something that none of us will ever forget. I hope we get to experience something like this again. I hope students from other countries would come and join us in lessons. Or maybe some students from our school could go to other countries. This is something worth experiencing…

Rida Shaikh 3A

This is certainly an unforgettable and fruitful week. I was really excited about the Singapore students visiting our school. When I noticed that I was chosen to be their buddy, I was overjoyed and I promised myself that I should do my best to take good care of my new friends. And I think I did it.

On the first day of Erin’s arrival, she was shy and quiet. I guess I would be shy as well when I was in a new environment. So I tried to talk to her and ask her more questions. I also told her things about myself so as to let her feel more comfortable. I introduced her to my class and encouraged her to interact more with my classmates. They warmly welcomed Erin and approached her actively. Erin gradually became part of our class. After understanding her more, I found that though she is shy, she is a very kind and gentle girl. We quickly became good friends in five days’ time. I wish that I could be an exchange student to Singapore and visit her in return as well as to learn more about the Singaporean culture.

Gabriella Kam 3B

It seemed like yesterday that I first met the CHIJ girls and my buddy, Melody and now they have already left. Overall, I think both our visitors and schoolmates learnt and benefited from this visit. During the week, I discovered that the girls have learnt ahead of us in a number of subjects despite the fact that they are younger. Therefore, sometimes I learn from Melody.

From their expressions when watching Natalie So and Samantha Lee perform a scene from the musical “The King and I” and their interest in learning more about the “The Pink Revolution” after the Student Council Meeting, I could see that the CHIJ girls especially enjoyed the programmes organized during 2nd half lunch and CCA time slots.

The buddy system was an effective way to ensure that each visitor was well taken care of. Being a buddy, I understand that my main responsibility is to make sure the visiting student feels at home throughout her stay.

If any improvements could be made, I would suggest arranging activities for them during Chinese, Chinese History and Mandarin lessons, such as watching the video of “The King and I” since they are only able to understand Mandarin and read simplified Chinese.

And if I were given the chance to take care of another visitor, I would do my best like what I have done this time. I also realized that there is more for me to learn about Hong Kong.

Not only have I made new friends with CHIJ girls, the list of things I have learnt from Melody would go on and on: Singapore’s culture, climate, landscape, its four main ethnic groups, CHIJ’s way of learning, its school life... and I believe that Melody feels the same about MSS and Hong Kong as well. Last but not least, I hope if time permits, MSS would organize similar programmes more frequently.

Velma Law 3C

Being a buddy for the visiting Singaporean students was indeed a great experience. At first, I thought I would feel uneasy and awkward when I first met them. Surprisingly, we seemed like close friends soon after they arrived, in spite of the communication problems we encountered at first. On looking back, I find the times we had lessons, did experiments and spent our lunch hours together most memorable.

We were overjoyed when they joined our Talent Quest practice and gave us some useful advice on our preparation for the competition. Most of all, I would never forget the time when we took a photo with our Singaporean friends as members of 4A. We would surely treasure all the joyful moments we had together. I really hope that we would have the chance to meet again!

Christie Wu 4A
I am really glad to be chosen as a buddy of the CHIJ girls!

When I was told that I was to be a buddy, I was quite shocked as my academic results are not as good as the other chosen buddies, nor am I exceptionally fluent in English. And as I am not an aggressive person, I thought it would not be easy for me to become friends with a “stranger” within the week. But then, I realized that I was wrong!

My buddy is Melissa. I was responsible for accompanying her during the Geography, P.E. and R.E. lessons. Our first lesson was GEOGRAPHY. I was very nervous because I was afraid that I would not be able to communicate with her. But then, after a little chat, I found out that Melissa is actually a very nice person. She is very friendly, too. Most importantly, I found out that she is only a day older than I am! It is really FATE that God let us meet! We became friends very quickly, maybe because we are of the same zodiac sign. Anyway, Melissa is very special for she knows how to speak Cantonese. I was really happy that we could communicate in Cantonese.

Regarding the lessons, I think that the CHIJ girls might have felt bored as they actually did not know what we were learning. It was not easy for them to follow. If there is another similar programme in the future, I think the teachers should prepare activities for the exchange students so that they can be more involved in lessons.

On the last day, we exchanged our Facebook accounts and e-mails. We also took pictures with each other. I hope that we can still keep in touch, and that we could meet again. Throughout the week, I enjoyed being with Melissa. It was a pity that time flew. I did not actually have enough time to know more about her.

I MISS HER SO MUCH!!!!!! I DO HOPE TO SEE HER AGAIN SOON!!!!!!

Vanessa Tsang 4B

I had a great time with the students from Singapore. I think that the programme was very successful for it gave both the exchange students as well as students from MSS the opportunity to explore different cultures and broaden their horizons. We bonded very quickly and in just one week, we managed to create so many memorable moments which will never be forgotten.

I think the programme has been very effective for it gave the exchange students the chance to learn using approaches other than the ones they use at their school in Singapore and in a different environment. I believe it was an enjoyable week for all and I hope that MSS students can also have the chance to visit Singapore for a new learning experience.

Shereen Khemchandani 4B

I was excited and nervous on that Monday morning – a big day for us at MSS – as the Singaporean students from CHIJ were going to visit us. I tidied the teacher’s desk, the book shelf and the notice board, cleaned the blackboard and cleared up all the bits and bobs in my classroom before going down to meet the girls.

The girls were friendly and we immediately bonded together well. We continued to chatter about our school lives, family lives, society and culture as we went down to the Auditorium to attend the special assembly. Throughout the day, and the entire week, we discovered a lot of things about our “buddies”. The more we got to know them, the better we liked them, especially Natasha Kleinman, my buddy in Chemistry and Biology lessons.

The visit was a success. I have made new friends, attended lessons with them and enjoyed different specially arranged activities together. On the last day, a lot of our classmates were very sad to see them go. We exchanged gifts, took pictures, hugged and swapped our email addresses. I had great fun throughout their visit to MSS and I will definitely cherish this wonderful experience for many years to come. Thank you, CHIJ girls, for making this visit so special and memorable!

Stefanie Au 4B

This is not the first time I study with students from a different country, but it is the first time I serve as a student host, making sure that the CHIJ girls feel like home, showing them our school and having classes with them. Generally speaking, even students who did not play the part of a host were nice and helpful to them. Indeed, we all enjoyed the classes together.

Due to our different education systems, we have finished topics and chapters they were learning and they have finished topics and chapters we were learning. So some classes might have been a bit boring for them. Anyway, I heard from them that they think our school is fun as we have more activities than they do. They have learnt more about Hong Kong, too, as most of them have not been here before.

We enjoyed the time learning and playing together. It was a great chance to make new friends outside Hong Kong. Although we have been together only for five days, we have become great friends. I just wish to have more time with them and hope to see them again soon.

It would be great if we could be exchange students at their school. It would then be our turn to experience school life in CHIJ and the culture of Singapore.

Amanda Chan 4D
I am so glad to be one of the buddies of the CHIJ students. I have paired up with two of the Singapore students. The time we had our lessons, recess time and lunch together was wonderful.

We have only known each other for five days but we have built up so much friendship in such a short time. Although some of the lessons were boring for them, such as the topic on rocks in Hong Kong, they enjoyed learning with us.

I would love to go to Singapore and experience the way of learning there so that I could bring back something new and fresh to share with my classmates at MSS.

Cynthia Wang 4D