On a beautiful day in May, Year 11 students of Yew Chung International School have been busy producing beautiful murals and public art pieces inspired by world literature. Under the guidance of artist-in-residence Luke Homitsky, the students have beautified many areas on campus.

At the same time, in a Chinese class at the Shanghai Singapore International School, the pupils are learning stroke order rules and pinyin, writing Chinese characters stroke by stroke following the teacher and practicing the pronunciations of the words they wrote.

At the Shanghai High School International Division, students are proud to show us their own magazine Cool Kids. On the art festival held by the school, students of different colors played in one orchestra, and after one piece, with music lingering around, a slight fragrance has permeated on and off the stage.

Shanghai, a diverse city by the sea, with the pace of internationalization, is hosting more and more international expatriates to work and live here. They all love Shanghai and made homes and extended roots here; their kids have all become genuine "New Shanghaineses". International schools, in the process, have definitely contributed much to the establishment of happy and peaceful lives of the oversea families.

After ten years of steady and continuous development, the international schools in Shanghai have managed to form a relatively complete education network that covers from pre-school to high school. Up to now, Shanghai has had nearly 30 international schools of various kinds that are specifically built for the children of foreign passport holders, including kindergartens, elementary schools, junior high schools, senior high schools and tutoring centers. Apart from this, the international divisions of the Shanghai local schools (senior high and kindergarten) and 150 special-licensed schools, which are allowed to recruit a limited number of foreign students, together have enrolled nearly 20,000 oversea students who live and study in Shanghai from more than 50 different countries.

The Reason for Choosing Shanghai

As soon as Shanghai is mentioned, the Principle of the Livingston American School of Shanghai, Edward, a friendly foreigner who has been in Shanghai for two years, exclaimed three "excellent"s in a row. Edward said he never felt a sense of alienation living in Shanghai. He joked that his Chinese was not good, even worse than his kids', but even though he had never had any communication obstacles in Shanghai. "Shanghainese speak great English, and they are sincere and always willing to help and understand us."

The superintendent at Shanghai Yew Chung International School, Mr. Ulmet is an experienced educator who has worked and traveled through more than ten countries in the world. He chose to base in Shanghai as his final stop because of the special "atmosphere" of the city. He thinks Shanghai's soil of diverse culture blends very well with his belief in "greater culture" in international education. The urban humanity of Shanghai has rendered him sufficient growth space and unlimited possibilities for the advancement of his educational career.

The parents who sent their children to the Shanghai international schools also foresee a bright future full of opportunities with the Chinese economy growing steadily. The children at the same time are benefited from being able to build a good foundation of the language and culture while studying in Shanghai.

As early as when Shanghai became a city, it started to be very acceptive of different kinds of cultures. Everyone is brought up in their own culture and the Shanghainese understand this. Citizens of this city have always been tolerant and respectful in dealing with a different culture. This very tolerance has imparted Shanghai ever-lasting vitality and affinity and at the same time attracted numerous expatriates including educators to work and live in Shanghai.

Have Fun in the City

The days in the international schools are spent away from home and as "New Shanghaineses", but they are never boring or awkward. On the opposite, they are always fun and lively.

The Canadian girl Tiffany who came to Shanghai with parents two years ago is a senior-high at Yew Chung. She plays very good piano, and loves playing Chinese folk music using her western instrument. She has made her mark in the school concerts, and became a little star on campus. Tiffany was a little shy in the beginning of the interview, but when the topic changed to shopping, she all of a sudden got excited and couldn't stop talking about it. The pretty girl loves shopping for clothes on Huahai Road for she can not only find the well-known international brands readily there, but also lots of original Chinese folk-art outfits. With no doubt, Shanghai is a heaven for girls who enjoy shopping and dressing themselves.

Joyce is nine years old and came to Shanghai two years ago with her parents from France. When being asked if she liked studying at Yew Chung, Joyce couldn't hide her excitement and replied with fluent Chinese, "Of course I like it. Here I get to know friends from different countries and have the opportunity to learn different languages and cultures!" To Joyce, living in Shanghai means that she could enjoy her delicious wonton whenever she likes and lounge about in the splendid Shanghai Museum from time to time. Although not well-knowledged about the history of bronzes and jade seals, standing silently in front of the Da Ke Ding (a kind of ancient cooking vessel), the blue-white porcelains and the bell set chime and staring at these traveled-through-time but still beautiful antiques itself is already a huge satisfaction for the little girl.

Here, you are able to touch the pulse of fashion, listen to the echo of history, experience the prosperous material world and enjoy the pleasure of feeling spiritually contented. The all-embracing Shanghai style has imparted here a cross-border charisma and a fresh vitality through the time. No wonder the "New Shanghaineses" from the international school are able to not only live here but also have fun, love the city, and fit in whole-heartedly.

From Here to the World

Nagai Yoh from Japan is a student at the international division of the Second Secondary School Attached to East China Normal University. The Mapo Tofu lover came to Shanghai alone three years ago to study as he believes Shanghai is a city full of energy and a place to make his dreams come true, and now he is already able to speak very fluent Chinese. Nagai Yoh's classmate Matumoto Shinnosuke is another student from Japan. Spending most of his leisure time discussing Ping Pong skills with his classmates, Matumoto Shinnosuke dreams of studying law at Fudan University and becoming an international lawyer. The other student who shares the Fudan dream is Chen Renzheng, a Canadian Taiwanese, who has a cousin made her Fudan dream come true two years earlier. Ren Cheng loves noodles and enjoys walking around Xujiahui.

The spirit of education in these schools is to combine the precise and solid eastern education with the critical and exploratory western one to allow the students to learn easily and develop their own personalities and hobbies at the same time. The international school student are absorbed in their pursuits of life and casting their youthful passion and sweat in this land of opportunities and challenges. They are the talents who are exposed to both the east and west, internationally thinking and tolerant. The international school students have become the little ambassadors across cultures Shanghai, the energetic and lively land, has given these kids a brand new starting point of life, lightened their passion for their pursuits of dreams, and also witnessed their courage and faith in succeeding. On the other hand, these foreign dream chasers have also infused Shanghai with new colors and rhythms.