Reform and opening up broadens China’s civilian diplomacy

Caroline explained that it is not only the discovery of Shanghai and China, but also the discovery of different cultures.“Through the platform of the Camp, my students can learn about some countries that they are not usually familiar with, for example, this time we learned more about Azerbaijan and Myanmar.”

Statistics show that this year nearly 130 campers and team leaders from 20 countries (or overseas territories) participated in the camp, including Australia, Azerbaijan, Bolivia, China, Ecuador, Estonia, Germany, Italy, Japan, Myanmar, Nepal, French New Caledonia, New Zealand, Portugal, South Korea, Romania, Thailand, Turkey and the United Kingdom. Among them, Azerbaijan, Bolivia, Ecuador, Estonia, Nepal, New Caledonia and Turkey participated in the interactive camp for the first time.

In Caroline's view, the National Theme Show held during the Camp, which allows each country to showcase its cultural characteristics, is a great kind of cultural sharing. The Leaning Tower of Pisa, gondolas, the Colosseum, Milan Cathedral, Ferrari and Prada bags... these well-known things that represent the essence and characteristics of Italian culture appear on the painting of the five Italian campers.

The painting of the five Italian campers on which there are the Leaning Tower of Pisa, a gondola, the Colosseum, Milan Cathedral, a Ferrari and a Prada bag on a pizza.

What impressed Caroline most was the homestay activity. Her five female students went to five families. They were uneasy at first, and worried that they could not communicate well with the Shanghai family, but after two days of contact with the Shanghai volunteer families, they got on well with them.“They showed me the gifts and souvenirs the Shanghai families had presented to them. The Shanghai families gave their warmest hospitality to us,” Caroline said gratefully.

Campers experience Chinese calligraphy in one Shanghai volunteer family