Cross-cultural experiences are highly encouraged at Yew Chung International School of Beijing in different ways. Since food is an important aspect of any culture, we sent Year 4 students on a field trip in June to offer them an ultimate culinary experience at the well-known Indian restaurant Taj Pavilion. Students were treated to a buffet of Indian specialties such as samosas, curries, aloo jeera, kheer, butter chicken and basmati rice.

To complement the Discovering India Unit of Social Studies, they also learned about different holidays of the country and their importance, famous landmarks and learning pattern designs. They also had the opportunity to see a tandoor (a clay oven originally used in India and Pakistan) and watch a demonstration by the chef on how to make Indian breads like naan. Students also got to attempt at making one, an experience that they really enjoyed to share with their classmates, an international blend of students from all over the world.

Food truly has the ability to bring people together and the field trip to Taj Pavilion proved it. We are grateful to the restaurant that continuously shows their generosity to our school by supporting community events with wonderful foods.

At YCIS Beijing we do not only endorse academic excellence. Other objectives such as promoting cultural exchanges and raising global citizens are equally important. And what is the most apt way to do this other than with food?