SMIC takes field trip to Haiwan National Park

On Friday the 30th, all SMIC students and teacher took an hour-long bus trip to Haiwan National Forest Park for the annual field trip. After several years of rainy field trips days, the sunny day and warm weather was a nice welcome for all students and teachers. Students from all grades in middle-high school came to the field trip to enjoy the beautiful weather and a day off from school.

Upon arriving, the students were given three ticket stubs, maps and the freedom to go wherever they pleased. The forest park was enormous and basically composed of acres of trees, grass and wildflowers. It also had its very own tiny amusement park, which had rides like the pirate ship, bumper cars and a haunted house. There was a go-karting range too, that was popular among all students and teachers. There were restaurants and small shops, where you could buy toys, kites, drinks, ice cream and all sorts of other food and eccentricities. Even though there wasn’t much to do other than exploring or playing on the rides, the students still enjoyed having time to eat together and talk to one another.

However, many students did find it a bit boring, Sophia Lee (10B) said, “I wish we could go somewhere different every year, instead of always going to a park. I was glad that the weather was sunny but me and my friends kind of had nothing much to do.” Brandon Nam(10A) also thought that the location of the field trip was quite dull and that the school should have chosen somewhere else to go, somewhere with more things to see and do, “I wish we had gone somewhere more interesting like a museum or something.”

It has always been a discussion among students to have choices other than forest or wild animal parks. This year, most students preferred to go to the Shanghai Aquarium, which was the location we would have went to if it rained. “The aquarium would have honestly been so much more fun because it has so many more enjoyable things to see and do,” comments Angela Tan(10A). There were many students who thought that the location and other things could be improved, however many should also know that the field trip provides students with a chance to relax from school, make new friends and hang out with old ones.

Featured image – Students ride the pirate ship at the park Courtesy of Anouckjin Jayasuryan