As the Spring Festival approaches, the School of International Education of Changsha Social Work College held an activity titled "My Spring Festival in China" to celebrate the Chinese New Year. The event brought together Chinese teachers and more than 10 international students from Pakistan, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, and other countries to greet the arrival of the Chinese New Year.

Making dumplings to enjoy a festive atmosphere. Malaysian student LEE YAN JUN said, "Malaysian Chinese also have a tradition to make dumplings during the Spring Festival, but today I find out that there are many ways to make dumplings in China, which is amiable and interesting!" Many international students made dumplings for the first time. Cambodian student NHEB SEYHA quickly made beautiful dumplings under the guidance of a teacher, and said proudly, "I give a thumbs-up to my dumplings and Chinese food!"

Writing calligraphy to send blessings. International students conveyed Chinese New Year wishes on the tip of their ink brushes. Cambodian student LY SENGKONG couldn't stop writing and enjoyed it. He said joyfully, "Today I try my hand at writing calligraphy for the first time, and it is novel and interesting. I want to learn more about traditional Chinese culture." Pakistani student HUSSAIN ZAHID noted, "It is difficult to write calligraphy, but when the Chinese character 'Fu' is forming gradually, it gives me a sense of accomplishment and a deeper understanding of the Chinese Lunar New Year."

Speaking Chinese to learn culture. Staying in school for the Spring Festival is also a vivid lesson in traditional Chinese culture. During the activity, Vice Principal Wang Qingguo shared Spring Festival customs with students and guided them to recite ancient poems to feel the charm of Chinese culture and its humanistic aspects. The international students applied what they learnt immediately and sent festive greetings to the teachers in Chinese. The party was brimmed with a strong festive mood.

Wang Qingguo also presented a New Year gift package to the international students. The students said, "We feel the joy and warmth of the Chinese New Year here, experience the depth and richness of Chinese culture, receive the care and love from our teachers, and feel a sense of family affection and warmth."

The Changsha Social Work College has formulated a detailed work plan for the management of international students during the winter vacation, and the School of International Education has synergized with the Student Affairs Department, Logistics Office, Security Department, and other departments to demonstrate a holistic approach to address various aspects such as safety, catering, internet access, and electricity. The School of International Education and the college's Communist Youth League of China (CYLC) Committee have also organized activities for international students staying on campus, including a series of hands-on cultural events, the "Warm Winter Action" Spring Festival volunteer service, and HSK courses during the winter vacation. The efforts aim to provide the foreign students with a safe, peaceful, and fulfilling winter vacation and Spring Festival.

This article is from the Hunan Provincial Government www.enghunan.gov.cn.

Translator: Xiao Juan

Chinese source: hunantoday