Intl volunteers take a bite of Chinese New Year
(english.jsjyt.edu.cn) Updated：2020-01-22
Local children show off their New Year decorations in Nanjing on Jan 19. [Photo/jschina.com.cn]
Nargiz and Norman are international students studying in Nanjing. They have kept offering volunteer services to local residents in their leisure time. Recently, the students were invited by a local residential community and joined locals in a series of Spring Festival celebrations.
They were attracted by fish-shaped rice cake, meaning a good harvest every year, and sweet sesame stick, which extends the wish to rise joint by joint like sesame flowers on the stem.
They also worked together with local children on making fish-shaped decorations, using the block printing technique in traditional New Year paintings, and trying the movable-type printing in various festive poems, such as Dawn of Spring, one of the most popular lyrics in China which indicates and praises the coming of spring.
"Although I can't get much of the New Year traditions, but it is really fun and I'd like to learn it," said Nargiz, a 22-year-old Russian student and has been studying at Nanjing Tech University for three years.
She said she will cherish the handmade traditional works and bring them back to her family.
"Your fish belly is too thin, lack fuqi (good fortune)," joked Norman, a Pakistani young man studying at Hohai University. He suggested Nargiz to practice more on her needlework.
"The rapid development of Nanjing is really impressive, and I'm also touched by the warmth and kindness of Chinese students and teachers," said Norman.
"I love Nanjing and I like to spend the Spring Festival here."
