When I accepted my position at BASIS International & Bilingual Schools Chengdu, I did what many teachers do before starting at a new school: I went online and started searching. I wanted to know what I was getting myself into. While there was a lot of positive information, some of what I found wasn’t particularly encouraging. I came across a few negative comments about BASIS International Schools in general and BASIS International School & Bilingual Schools Chengdu in particular.
As I prepared to move to a new city and begin another chapter in my teaching career, I naturally wondered whether I had made the right decision. Then I reminded myself of something I often tell my physics students: Don’t make your conclusion before you’ve done the experiment. So, I decided to come to Chengdu and collect some evidence of my own.
And I’m very glad I did.
One of my first impressions was the campus itself. The red-brick buildings, clock towers, classical columns, and landscaped grounds give BASIS International & Bilingual Schools Chengdu a distinctive character. There is something almost university-like about walking through the campus, and it immediately gave me a sense that I had arrived somewhere built around learning. But buildings are only the beginning. What really changed my perspective was the people.
From my first interactions with the BASIS International & Bilingual Schools China team, I found colleagues to be welcoming, professional, and genuinely willing to help. Starting a new job is challenging enough; doing it while moving to a new city brings a whole collection of smaller challenges with it. I expected challenges. What I didn’t expect was how quickly I would feel supported. That was perhaps my first real lesson in the difference between reading about a school and actually experiencing it.
Finding My Own Experience
I don’t want to suggest that every negative experience I read online was wrong. Every teacher has a different story, and no school is perfect. But my experience has reminded me that someone else’s experience does not have to become your experience.
For me, one of the most exciting parts of BASIS International & Bilingual Schools is the academic environment. I have taught physics for many years, and what I enjoy most is working with students who are willing to be challenged. Physics is not simply about remembering equations. It is about asking why, questioning assumptions, solving unfamiliar problems, and learning to think carefully. That is what makes teaching exciting for me.
BASIS International & Bilingual Schools is academically demanding, but I see that as a positive. If you know your subject, care about your teaching, and genuinely enjoy challenging students, I believe there is something very rewarding about working in an environment like this.
Discovering Chengdu
Joining BASIS International Schools has also given me the opportunity to discover Chengdu.
Before arriving, I mainly knew the city for pandas, Sichuan food, and hotpot. I have quickly discovered that Chengdu is much more than that, but also a modern, energetic city with a remarkable connection to its history and culture.
One of my favorite experiences so far was visiting Du Fu Cottage and People’s Park, with its traditional teahouses and relaxed atmosphere, offers a glimpse of everyday local life. At the same time, the city’s modern architecture, shopping districts and impressive development show just how much Chengdu has evolved. It is a city where history, culture and modern life come together beautifully.
The Results So Far
I came here having read plenty of things that made me question my decision. Instead of allowing those opinions to decide for me, I chose to come and collect evidence of my own. And so far, the evidence has been warm, inspiring, and reassuring. Sometimes the picture you see from the outside isn’t the reality you find when you walk through the doors.
I came to Chengdu with questions. I came ready for a new chapter. And I came prepared to make up my own mind. Taking that leap has proven to be the best decision of my teaching career. The experiment is still running and so far, the results look brighter than ever.
