(Chinese New Year at the Grassroots Level) Foreign students' "early experience" of the Chinese New Year: delicious dumplings, strong taste of the New Year
Chinanews.com, Qingdao, January 29th, title: The "first experience" of the Chinese New Year for foreign students: delicious dumplings, strong flavor of the New Year
Author Hu Yaojie Cai Yaqun
"This Spring Festival we went to the seaside to watch the gorgeous fireworks show. The scene of fireworks in full bloom is rare in my hometown. On New Year's Eve, I ate dumplings with my Vietnamese friends from the same school, which were specially sent by the instructor. , I like stuffed eggs and leeks..."
Talking about the first traditional Chinese festival, the Spring Festival, which he personally participated in, Ruan Shicao, a 2022 graduate student in regional economics from Qingdao University of Science and Technology, is still full of thoughts.
This is the first time for Ruan Thicao to celebrate the New Year in China. There are six overseas students in her school this year who are from Tajikistan, Vietnam, Thailand, Georgia, etc., and many of them are celebrating the New Year in China. The Spring Festival that I experienced personally is full of flavor, which is different from previous cognition and imagination, and I am full of praise for the dumplings.
"During the Spring Festival, the outside of the school is very lively, and I like to go out to join in the fun." Talking about the Spring Festival, Ruan Shicao couldn't hide her excitement. I went shopping in Taitung Pedestrian Street, tasted candied haws, etc.; went to the beach in the second day of junior high school, and went to the light show at night..."
Ruan Shicao (first from the right) and other foreign students experience traditional Chinese opera costumes.
Photo provided by the interviewee
Just after the Spring Festival, Ruan Shicao has planned to visit the Forbidden City in Beijing, climb the Great Wall, eat roast duck, and go to more places to experience China's customs, food and beauty.
She also plans to make plans for her younger sister, helping her to apply for a scholarship like herself to study in a university in China.
Chen Tianchi, a Chinese-Thai mixed-race foreign student from Thailand, and Ruan Shicao had similar but different "first experience" of staying in school for the Chinese New Year.
He began to study mechanical engineering graduate courses at Qingdao University of Science and Technology in 2019. He returned to work in China due to the epidemic in early 2020, and returned to school in 2022 to complete his unfinished studies.
Chen Tianchi said that this Spring Festival he tried Chinese dumplings, which were different from those bought in Thailand in the past. The texture and taste of the dumplings this time were "very delicious" to his liking.
He said with a smile that he would share this new experience with his Thai friends.
"Because my grandfather's native place is Hainan, I have known the Spring Festival since I was a child. The impression that the Spring Festival gives me is that it has rich cultural connotations: people will return to their hometown, respect and be grateful to their elders and ancestors." Chen Tianchi shared his perception of the Spring Festival Say.
Chen Tianchi said frankly that his younger brother studied computer engineering at a school in Harbin, Heilongjiang, and has now graduated and returned to work in Thailand.
He himself came to China to study abroad mainly to learn Chinese language, and understanding Chinese culture and making new friends are additional rewards.
Because his father is a businessman and owns a company, Chen Tianchi plans to return to his father to learn more about business from him after finishing his studies, and is determined to develop in the business field.
"China is one of the largest economies in the world, so businessmen need Chinese skills." In the new year, Chen Tianchi hopes to improve his Chinese level, meet more good friends, and plans to go to Guangzhou to inspect the market.
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