Celebrating internationalism with a taste of the world at Wellington

Wellington College International Shanghai once again became a delightful and educational place for international sights, sounds and tastes during its third International Food Fair on Thursday 27 October. Wellington takes great pride in our internationalism and more than 40 nationalities from the college community were represented.

The day started with activities in the classrooms. Distinctive customs, traditions and languages of different countries were taught to pupils in interactive and fun ways. 

In the afternoon, an impressive parade of nations was the highlight of the day. Dressed in costumes that identify their countries of origin, pupils proudly marched with their flags accompanied by their national anthems. Parents and staff welcomed and applauded each group of pupils with great excitement.

Following that, it was a culinary journey for everyone, with dozens of stalls offering an incredible range of international cuisine. The exquisite delicacies were shared among the community, so were the cultural and historical stories behind them.

Pupils from over 40 countries learn, play and live together at Wellington. Allowing Wellingtonians to immerse themselves in this extraordinary multicultural environment is a crucial experience to prepare them to be tomorrow’s successful global leaders with a truly international outlook. Important skills such as cross-cultural communication and resilience to changing environments are developed.

The International Food Fair is an amazing opportunity to recognise Wellington identity and values. Pupils were given an insight into different cultures, taught to respect diversity, and learn to be inclusive of people from all kinds of cultures and backgrounds.

At the end of the event, the Master Gerard MacMahon thanked all volunteer parents and the Friends of Wellington committee for delivering such an amazing event, ‘The International Food Fair is an opportunity to celebrate our inclusivity and, in particular, our internationalism. As the college grows, so does the number of countries represented. It is also great fun ’

Amid these celebrations, the Mayor of Pudong visited us with a large delegation.  He was extremely impressed by our vibrant community.

This was a huge event that couldn’t have been accomplished without dedication from our Wellington parents, who strove to ensure it was a cultural celebration enjoyed by all.

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