Feestzaal stadhuis Blankenbergse. Afscheidsplechtigheid leerlingen en leraressen BEIJING QIAN XUESEN HIGH SCHOOL.

Toespraken van burgemeester Björn Prasse, onderwijsschepen Dennis Monte, een lerares van de BEIJING QIAN XUESEN HIGH SCHOOL, leerlingen van de Pekinese school, een ouder van een leerling van SJSP¨ én ELONA METAJ, die zoals alle anderen in het Engels haar toespraak hield. Aandoenlijk was het die te horen:

Good evening everyone. Today we sit here together at our last moment as a group which may sound sad, but actually, it’s a beautiful chance to appreciate everyone and everything that made this exchange unforgettable.Almost a year ago, when we first heard about this project, none of us could have imagined how much it would impact us. It started with an application then doubted if you would get selected or if you should really go that far. And now here we are, at the end of something truly meaningful.
The first visit to China was full of excitement and nerves. We didn’t really know how to act or what to expect. But I remember how quickly those feelings changed. The hospitality of the host families, the kindness of the students, the richness of the culture all made us feel welcome. Whether we were visiting temples, learning calligraphy, making dumplings, or simply singing during bus rides every moment brought us closer.
Saying goodbye to China was hard. Not only because we were leaving a beautiful country behind, but because we were leaving you all behind. But we knew it wasn’t goodbye because here we are. Now it our turn to return the favor
This past week in Belgium has been full of laughter, sharing, learning and eating lots of fries of course. For us Belgian students, it was an honor to show you our favorite places: from the beauty of Bruges and Ghent, to the small streets of Blankenberge and the comfort of our homes.
I myself really enjoyed showing my city, Bruges, to July. Seeing her liking the food in restaurants made me really happy. And as a group,we’ve made more memories in a year than the years before that. . And even when things didn’t go exactly as planned, we always found a way to enjoy it.
What I find most beautiful is how this group grew. We started out as strangers from two very different worlds, but by now, we’ve shared meals, jokes, selfies and maybe even tears. and saw people step outside of their comfort zone. That’s what this project was really about: connection.
To me, personally, this experience has taught me so much. About culture, communication, patience but mostly about people. It reminded me how important it is to be open, to listen, and to share. I’m truly grateful to have been part of this, and I know many of you feel the same.
So I would like to give a personal thank you to Stef and Martine, you have helped us all through good and not so good times, the chinese guest teachers, the host families, and most importantly each and every student here . You’ve made this exchange more than just a school project. You’ve made it a memory that we’ll carry with us, for our whole lives .I hope we can stay in touch and not forget these important friendships.
Because what we have seen across cultures and continents is truly something special.
Thank you for listening