Early on the morning of January 10th, 2020, some students from SHSID travelled from Shanghai to Xi’an to begin their one-week Adventurous Journey, a crucial trip that students have to undergo to claim the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award (DOE). As a part of the DOE, the Adventurous Journey section encourages participants to travel to an unfamiliar location, then plan, train, and undertake a journey as a small team.

After arriving in the cultural city of Xi’an, students were introduced to faculty members that would help them plan and embark on their Adventurous Journey. Students distributed jobs amongst their respective teams and participated in team building games to learn the importance of teamwork. Students took first aid training classes to ensure their safety during emergencies, acquiring skills such as performing CPR and bandaging wounds.

Though there was snowfall on the first day of the journey, students persevered in following their schedules and continued to study the history and culture of Xi’an. The vigorous journey was physically demanding, as students had to carry all their belongings and cooking supplies while walking for over twenty kilometers each day. To train their survival abilities, each student played a role in utilizing his/her cooking skills to prepare a nutritious meal.

Needless to say, completing the Adventurous Journey was a vigorous task, yet students were able to overcome both physical and intellectual difficulties with laughter and an optimistic outlook throughout the journey. The DOE activity has rewarded the participants with a challenging, unique, and memorable experience.

(Written by Nina Pictures by Jenny Yu Supervised by Liu Qin)