The dance of the snake casts auspicious light upon the azure sky, and blessings fill the years at SUFE. On January 21st, the second floor of the university's first canteen was brimming with joy and warmth as a New Year's Eve dinner was specially prepared for the students and teachers staying on campus. Zhou Yameng, Director of the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission, Ding Liang, Director of the Student Affairs Office, Ding Jian, Deputy Director of the Office, and leaders of SUFE, Xu Tao, Yao Lingzhen, He Pengcheng, Liu Liya, Zhou Guoliang, Jin Yuying, Cao Dongbo, and Chu Hua, as well as heads of relevant functional departments, college (institute) leaders, and counselors, joined more than 200 students and teachers to celebrate the Spring Festival together. Thirty-six international students from 18 countries, including Myanmar, Norway, Pakistan, and Ecuador, gathered with Chinese teachers and students to share in the festive atmosphere of the traditional Chinese Spring Festival.
Directors Zhou Yameng and Xu Tao delivered speeches successively. Secretary Xu Tao expressed that the university, through organizing the New Year's Eve dinner for students staying on campus during the Spring Festival, conveyed the care of the warm Shufe family. He encouraged the students to "roll up their sleeves and work hard" in the new year and looked forward to witnessing their new developments and growth.
At the dinner, the tables were laden with delicious dishes, exuding an enticing aroma as if a colorful cultural scroll was slowly unfolding. Traditional Chinese delicacies such as dumplings, rice cakes, and spring rolls were abundant, each carrying the beautiful connotations of reunion and auspiciousness.
Amidst the joyful atmosphere, students took to the stage one after another to present spectacular cultural performances. The traditional Burmese dance and the multilingual chorus of the song "Two Tigers" by international students enlivened the festive mood, drawing continuous applause from the audience. They participated in their own ways, becoming part of the effort to tell China's stories well. In this process, Chinese students and international students interacted and appreciated each other, spending an unforgettable Chinese New Year together. Armando (from Mozambique), a master's student in Public Administration of the Class of 2023, said, "Today's New Year's Eve dinner is very lively and full of energy. The performances are wonderful, and the air is filled with joy. Participating in such activities allows me to understand and appreciate Chinese culture better. The colorful decorations, music, dance, and delicious food all highlight the charm of traditional Chinese culture, making me feel at home at SUFE! "
During the intermissions of the performances, fun and interactive games were interspersed, with teachers and students actively participating and laughter echoing throughout the venue. Directors Zhou Yameng and Xu Tao personally greeted the students, wishing them a happy new year and handing out red envelopes, filling the scene with a festive and harmonious atmosphere.
SUFE also prepared a birthday surprise for students who had their birthdays in January, three of whom were international students. Secretary Xu Tao presented birthday gifts to six students, and all the teachers and students joined in sending their birthday wishes. Secretary Xu and the six birthday celebrants together cut the New Year's cake, symbolizing completeness and blessings.
Before the dinner, international students participated in a variety of folk cultural experience activities. They enthusiastically engaged in writing Spring Festival couplets, making dumplings, printing auspicious paintings, and creating lanterns, experiencing the charm of traditional Chinese culture. Lan Lina, a pre-college student from Ecuador, said, "As an international student, participating in the Spring Festival activities at the university this year was an unforgettable and wonderful experience for me. When I stepped into the venue decorated with a strong Chinese New Year atmosphere, the festive and enthusiastic ambiance instantly surrounded me, making me, a wanderer far from home, feel the warmth of home. I also learned how to make dumplings. In this process, I not only enjoyed the fun of hands-on activities but also profoundly understood the meaning of reunion embodied in these small dumplings."
This New Year's Eve dinner was an event filled with joy, warmth, and communication. It not only brought the joy and blessings of the new year to international students but also vividly demonstrated the effort to "tell China's stories well." Moving forward, SUFE will continue to provide a variety of cultural experience activities for international students, carefully crafting a harmonious and inclusive international campus environment where diverse cultures can shine even more brilliantly.
