Just returned to Hong Kong after the Singapore study tour, I'm still stunned by what I have experienced with our boys. Without interviewing every one of them, I'm still quite certain that, from the way they acted and reacted, most of them would choose the school experience in Fairfield Methodist School as their best experience in the whole tour.

In these two days in Fairfield, our boys could really "live" with the local students and have a lot of chances to mingle with them. Studying in their regular classes and playing sports with Fairfield's children had been what our boys were looking forward to! Fairfield's hospitality would definitely needs to be returned...in May the soonest, when they would bring a batch of 30 students to YWPS to experience our way of education. And I'm glad that Mdm Law, Principal of Fairfield Methodist School, officially invited YWPS's students to visit Fairfield next year! I am too looking forward to bringing our boys to learn in Singapore again!

With surprises and amazement, the P.6 Singapore Study Tour has come to a close. On the whole, I'm very happy with and moved by our participants' engagement in the 5 days 4 nights with almost purely English dialogues all the way, be it with their peers, teachers or local people. And also, the concrete learning experiences, including but not limited to, the exchanges in Anglo-Chinese School (Junior), Ms Mary Ann's Workshop, and Fairfield Methodist School, were made use of fully and being highly praised.

Now, I'm looking forward to reading in detail our boys' daily reflections in their tour journal. I'm sure they are having many other unique feelings and observations in this tour. And more and more sharing of this tour, in different ways, will be conducted in school soon so that our learning will become the entire school's learning.

Thank you Singapore for showing us what a beautiful country you are! And thanks to YWPS for offering this unique journey for our boys and us teachers.

​Dr H C Lee

School experience is the main reason this trip was organised in the first place. The 9 rich hours we spent in Fairfield Methodist Primary School today has easily proven that this tour is extremely worthy.

The day was full of human touch...Principal Mdm Law gave us a warm welcome, Fairfield's student ambassadors were as helpful as could be, our boys played sports with their new foreign friends, the school treated us wonderful snacks and lunch, Fairfield's staff was friendly and willing to share, students greeted us nicely when we met them anywhere...every one of us felt this strong passion of hospitality in Fairfield.

Furthermore, the level of green in Fairfield was amazing. Their gardens and green houses were professionally organised and taken care of. The interaction and balance of human and nature was well maintained. While our boys were stunned by the opportunities to touch toads and caterpillars, I was in awe by the Singaporeans' green policy. They really put words into action.

The most touching moment of the day, however, came from the evening when Timothy, who had to leave our tour due to an illness, was invited down at the lobby to receive a gift from his peers. I'm not sure how much he had missed in this tour, I just know that he earns something very valuable which none of his peers was offered to this extent. Happy for you and get well soon Tim!

The last day of the tour, which is tomorrow, will continue to amaze us - I have this feeling.

​Dr H C Lee

Day 3 offered our boys meaningful learning experiences such as the practicality and entertainment of science from the Singapore Science Centre, green city design and earth protection from Gardens by the Bay, and the prosperity and excellence of Singapore from the observation deck of Marina Bay Sands.

But beyond all these, our boys got to learn self discipline, mutual respect, punctuality, carefulness, sympathy, and giving a helping hand. Learning takes place anywhere and anytime, be it just an ignorance to a peer who forgot to speak English in the tour, approaching a receptionist to help with a vender machine, requesting a swimming child to help with a sunken souvenir on behalf of a peer, buying gifts for a participant who was feeling unwell, or simply reminding one another of the impending meeting time. These authentic scenarios I observed today reinforce the significance of overseas exposure and getting out of one's safe zone.

Two more days to go with solid school experience. I hope there will be more unanticipated learning opportunities and memorable moments for us all. I'm sure there will be.

​Dr H C Lee

Having to wake up at 4 am (if not earlier) didn't seem to have bothered our 30 enthusiastic boys much for the start of their Singapore Study Tour (23-27 Feb).

The Kaya Toast and Bak Kut Teh didn't seem to get close to being the highlight of the day compared to our visit to Anglo-Chinese School (Junior). Their wonderful school simply redefined hospitality when they opened their sports, scout and art classes for our boys to join where we could interact with their children, followed by some wonderful snacks! We thanked their staff and school head Mrs Chaillan so dearly!

As our boys, I'm also looking forward to the excitement on Day 2!

​Dr H C Lee