Chengdu, the vibrant capital of Sichuan Province, is renowned as the “Land of Abundance” (“天府之国”). Blending profound history, unique culture and modern vitality, it is also the beloved home of giant pandas.
From October 31 to November 5, Grade 11 students of SUIS Gubei embarked on an immersive “Me To We” CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service) journey here. This journey combined volunteer teaching and cultural experiences, allowing students to break down barriers through teamwork, gain “comrade-like” friendship and truly achieve a growth transformation from “me” to “we”.
CAS Trip Events
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Tracy Zhuang 11TT
The CAS Trip to Chengdu was a vibrant blend of service, adventure, and culture.
We experienced a series of immersive activities, beginning with the Dujiangyan World Heritage Site, a hike on Qingcheng Mountain, and practicing real Tai chi as a group, which established a spirit of collaboration. Of course, most iconic activity to do in Chengdu: we observed pandas up-close and actually prepared bamboo for them, which was followed by our core project: volunteering to teach at the local Guangya School. We also immersed ourselves in local culture through a cooking class; exploring Kuanzhai Alley, the integration of modernity and tradition; and a hands-on Sichuan Opera workshop.
The atmosphere was unimaginably energetic and collaborative. Although everyone was quite reserved at first, we got to know each other and develop a pathos of “comrade” from the activities. From the focused teamwork while planning for the lessons, to the joyful chaos of our talent show, every moment was filled with shared purpose and laughter.
I would highly recommend this trip for its perfect balance of meaningful service and deep cultural immersion. My favorite memory was the talent show, where everyone was so involved, dancing and singing together without reservation. It wasn’t a performance, but a pure celebration of our new community and high school life.
This experience also reinforced my love for cultural exchange. It taught me that the most profound connections are built not just through planned activities, but through spontaneous moments of joy and mutual support.
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Mia Yu 11MF
The entire CAS trip cohort was divided into two groups: Bus 1 and Bus 2. Within the buses, students were further organized into smaller subgroups (Groups A through L). As a member of Group K (otherwise known as Group Kobe), I experienced genuine teamwork and collaboration, through which we learned to solve problems and overcome challenges in joint effort.
An outstanding example in my memory would be Day 4, when all students were volunteers in teaching primary school children at the local school, Guangya. As dedicated and conscientious one-day student teachers, we had to devise a lesson plan in the two previous nights, constructing a one-day curriculum teaching about a creative subject: Art. We wanted to make it fun and enjoyable for our students — but also educational, so they can learn something meaningful in our tasks.
Looking back at a reflection I had written in the workshop that night after the teaching, the class was mostly a success. Students enjoyed our lesson and listened attentively. The atmosphere was light, yet everyone was engaged. However, there were challenges we came across: some students were shy to speak up and group with their classmates, the time was limited for all of us, and the students already did one of the drawing activities we planned before.
Nevertheless, our group communicated swiftly and effectively with each other to come up with improvised solutions. We demonstrated the rules of the games to everyone, we came down from the black board and talked to all the students, we asked them to draw as they please and with creativity fully released, and we zapped all our actions in perfect timing when the signaling bell rang. These actions and experiences has helped us improve in not only our understanding for CAS, but also the way we are as a team, as an individual, as a leader.
CAS Trip Workshops
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Hepburn He 11SED
Henry Ford once said, “Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success.” This idea perfectly captures the spirit of our CAS trip in Chengdu, where each evening workshop (held after dinner) offered a new opportunity to connect, reflect, and grow as a community. Though every activity is designed to be playful and fun, each carried a deeper message about communication, compassion, and collaboration.
We began on the first day with “The Great Wind Blows,” a lively ice-breaker that had everyone rushing across the room to find new seats based on shared traits—like “everyone wearing black socks.” It was a fun way to break barriers and quickly discover unexpected similarities among classmates, creating a sense of belonging from the very first night.
In “Fears and Expectations,” we turned inward, writing down personal worries and hopes before sharing them openly with the group. As our supervisors listed these fears on the whiteboard and addressed each one—such as guaranteeing safety during hikes—it reminded us that vulnerability is not weakness. We learned that many of our anxieties were shared, and that empathy builds stronger communities.
On the second day, we started with “Mixed Mingle.” An activity consisting of two rotating circles of students sparking quick conversations about daily discoveries and favorite things—from foods to colors—encouraging us to step beyond our comfort zones and strengthen our communication and confidence.
“Frozen Pictures” challenged our creativity. Working in small groups, we used only our bodies to form scenes and objects from given prompts, blending imagination, cooperation, and nonverbal expression.
The most memorable activity for many was “Lock Box.” Blindfolded, we walked in circles within a rope boundary, told there was a way out. The truth—only revealed later—was that the “exit” came by simply raising your hand and asking for help. Watching others continue to struggle after finding the solution was a powerful reminder that independence doesn’t mean isolation. Sometimes, the bravest thing is to ask for guidance.
Later, “Shoe Tower” turned teamwork into laughter as we built the tallest possible tower using only the shoes on our feet within our groups. It taught us to adapt to different people’s strengths, flexibility, and ideas to achieve a common goal.
Finally, our trip closed with “Touched,” a quiet reflection. Students sat in a circle with their eyes closed, while selected classmates walked around, gently tapping those who they thought had shown bravery, creativity, or kindness. The moment was both humbling and heartwarming, a reminder of the invisible ways we influence one another.
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Minju Rhee 11MF
Days without our phones were like artists without their paintbrushes, we all were anxious and impatient during our first day as we were not used to situations like this. Arguments were emerging from students accompanied by various reasons to use their phones, but all of that shattered away due to the workshops.
The most impressionable activity was the “Lock Box”, in which the name sounded complex, but the solution was only simply raising our hands for help. All of us were overthinking and underestimating the game at first, all gathering around friends, but some brave students raised their hands to give it a try, eventually finding out that this simple action was the key to success. We learned that in life, sometimes simply asking for help could bring us back to light from dark.
“Touched” was the activity that gave the most impact to the students. A simple tap received gave students confidence that they showcased bravery, kindness, and courage. We learned that sometimes warmness isn’t only expressed by words, but simple actions.
In future CAS, I would use these takeaways, utilizing not only kind words but simple yet powerful everyday actions to create a vibrant community around me. I will also actively ask for help when I face difficulties, as that was the takeaway that made me grow during this CAS trip.
