From March 22 to 30, 16 teachers and students from Vitzthum-Gymnasium Dresden in Germany flew over 8,000 kilometers to Jinan Thomas School, embarking on a one-week "heartfelt" exchange.This journey was not just a cultural encounter, but also a collision of youthful spirits.
01First Meeting: Signing amid Applause, Connecting with Smiles
On the afternoon of the 22nd, the administration building of Jinan Thomas School was filled with warmth as a simple yet heartfelt welcome ceremony took place. When the principals of the two schools spoke, their words reflected mutual admiration for each other’s cultures and a deep appreciation for their growing friendship. The signing of the sister-school agreement and the exchange of thoughtful gifts marked the official beginning of their partnership. Chinese students enthusiastically said, “In this week, we promise to make you fall in love with Jinan!” The German students smiled and replied, “We can’t wait!” The room was filled with youthful laughter and anticipation.
02Getting Along: Learning on the Go, Taking Jinan to Heart
During the week, Jinan Thomas School presented their German friends with a living “Chinese painting.” From brainstorming for filmmaking to a Citywalk through Jinan’s old town, from visiting the high-tech Xinmengda Semiconductor facility to exploring history at the Shandong Museum, from bursts of inspiration in AI art classes to a friendly soccer match on the field—each day was a “moving classroom.” By the Baotu and Black Tiger springs, the German students stared at the bubbling water, exclaiming how magical it was. At Qushuiting Street and Quancheng Square, walking on the blue stone slabs and watching the gently flowing streams, they felt as if they had stepped into a painting. A trip to Qufu allowed them to experience the profound culture of Confucius at the Confucius Mansion and Temple. One German student couldn’t help but say, “Jinan is far more beautiful than I imagined. The people are warm, and there are so many stories. Every day feels like opening a surprise gift box.”
03Staying with Host Families: Wrapping Dumplings, Warming Hearts
On the afternoon of the 27th, the host family pairing ceremony began warmly in the learning center. Chinese parents welcomed the German students into their homes with fluent English. After the ceremony, everyone gathered together to wrap dumplings. As the dumplings boiled in the pot, amid the warmth of everyday life, the German students experienced the true taste of “Chinese family life” for the first time.
04Farewell: Watching the Film We Made, Tears and Smiles Intertwined
On the morning of the 30th, a farewell ceremony was held, and a film was shown. In just one week, the works co-created by Chinese and German students appeared on screen—capturing laughter, curiosity, shyness from first meetings, and the reluctance of parting. When Jinan Thomas School presented the exchange certificates to the German teachers and students, this friendship, spanning over 8,000 kilometers, was truly etched into everyone’s hearts.
With one agreement and in just one week, a friendship took root between the two schools. This exchange was not only a heartfelt handshake between Jinan Thomas School and Vitzthum-Gymnasium Dresden in Germany, but also a genuine meeting of young people from China and Germany against the backdrop of a shared world. Moving forward, the two schools will continue their journey together from Jinan Thomas School, allowing this friendship to grow steadily in the soil of both Eastern and Western cultures, blossoming into even brighter flowers. In the future, the two schools will carry out multidimensional cooperation in areas such as curriculum development, teacher exchanges, and cultural integration, building a bridge for regular exchanges between Chinese and German youth. Through the collision of ideas, they will broaden their horizons and achieve mutual growth.
Source: Jinan Thomas School