As the Spring Festival approaches, the festive atmosphere is becoming more and more intense. On the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month, which is the "Minor New Year" in northern China, the School of International Education organized all international students to write the character "Fu" (blessing), compose couplets, and send blessings... They learned about and participated in the traditional Chinese Spring Festival customs, experiencing the "Chinese New Year" in advance. Attending this event were Zhou Zengkui, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee, Tao Yu, Dean, Gao Shuiqin, Secretary of the Party General Branch, Zhang Weizhong, Vice Dean, Zhou Qiaojun, Deputy Director of Student Affairs, Sun Yansong, Director of Foreign Affairs, and all full-time teachers of the Chinese Language Teaching and Research Office.
Party Secretary Zhou extended his New Year greetings and best wishes to the international students. He engaged in warm and friendly interactions with them, encouraging them to integrate more smoothly and quickly into the large family of ZIME. He also patiently inquired about their life and safety on campus during the holiday, reminding the students to take good care of their health, use the holiday time to learn more Chinese, gain a deeper understanding of Chinese culture, and study their professional knowledge to continuously enrich themselves.
The international students have a great fondness for traditional Chinese culture and thoroughly enjoy the process of learning calligraphy. Under the guidance of their teachers, they concentrate intently amidst the faint scent of ink, wielding their brushes to write the character "Fu" (blessing) with great care. Despite their novice brushwork, each couplet exudes a festive atmosphere and conveys heartfelt wishes for a prosperous life. Couplets such as "Spring fills the land with a thousand miles of beauty, and in prosperous times, ten thousand families thrive" and "Three Yangs bring fortune and joy to the world, and the five blessings herald spring across the land" were written by the students. Although their calligraphy may be somewhat awkward, the festive spirit and warm wishes shine through in every line. The joyful activities during the Minor New Year allowed the international students to truly experience the flavor of the Chinese New Year. Even though they are far from home, they felt a sense of warmth akin to being with family.
"We originally planned to buy couplets at the market, but this year we wrote them ourselves, which makes them especially meaningful," said one of the international students.
Subsequently, all the teachers and international students gathered to share a meal on the eve of the Minor New Year, jointly celebrating the Spring Festival.
The School of International Education has always encouraged international students to take full advantage of various opportunities to gain a comprehensive and authentic understanding of China. As the saying goes, "After the Minor New Year comes the Spring Festival." Moving forward, the School will continue to organize cultural study tours for international students, allowing them to savor the traditional Chinese "New Year" flavor and enabling them to fully understand China through its "New Year" culture.
