On 24th May, the 15th Shanghai Region and the 3rd Yangtze River Delta HEIs International Student Dragon Boat Invitational Race started passionately at Fengxian Campus of East China Universityof Science and Technology. Through the shared passion of dragon boating, international student teams from 33 universities across Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shanghai, and Anhui converged in Shanghai, immersing themselves in the allure of traditional Chinese culture.
Artur Miller, Samuel He, Avognon Gauthier, and Souriya Southiphong, 4 International students from the AEBS actively participated and competed with great determination. Their team ranked third in the preliminaries with a time of 53'78, successfully entered the finals and finally won the third prize in the finals.
With every stroke of the paddle, the crew moved as one—united in rhythm and purpose—propelling the dragon boat through surging waves. During Race, international students from diverse cultural backgrounds forged cross-cultural teams, confronting challenges while embodying the educational philosophy of the "Boundless Classroom."
Student Voices
Artur Miller: I am glad to be a part of the Dragon Boat Festival because it's an amazing opportunity to meet a diverse group of people. Everyone here is so friendly and open-minded. We come from different countries and have unique stories to share. The atmosphere is incredibly welcoming, making it easy to strike up conversations and form connections. I've already made several new friends who share my enthusiasm for this traditional Chinese activity.
Samuel He：Even though we did not get the result we wanted, our entire team tried their best and that’s all that matters. We really appreciated all our schoolmates, previous teammates, and teachers coming out to cheer for us and support the team, their voices gave us the strength and power needed to give it our all. Losing is part of life; accept it and move on. Thanks to my teammates for everything. We fought with everything we had and lost together, and there’s some beauty in that as well.
AEBS remains steadfast in its mission to cultivate globally minded talent equipped with cross-cultural communication skills. As a hub for civilizational dialogue, the school actively fosters cultural exchange. This dragon boat event not only provided international students a profound immersion into Chinese culture but also, through their eyes, showcased the contemporary appeal of China's traditional heritage to the world.
