On February 4th, the New Year’s Eve of Chinese Lunar Calendar, the Shenzi Yuan Canteen of the Central Campus of Jilin University was full of festival atmosphere, decorated with lanterns and festoons, reechoed with songs and laughers. 300 students, who stayed on campus during the festival, were celebrating the Spring Festival together.
（Script by LIU Baiyi, Photos by CIE）
The New Year’s Eve Dinner
On the party afterwards, Professor Zheng Weitao, JLU’s deputy president, gave a speech on behalf of Mr. Yang Zhenbin, the Secretary of JLU Party Committee, and President Zhang Xi, wishing all the students a happy new year and expressing their gratitude to the administrators and supporting staff who had been sticking to the post. The students, Chinese and int’l, gave wonderful performances together and pushed the party to its climax. With warm greetings and delicious food, the hall was enveloped in a cheerful and rejoicing atmosphere.
Yang Liguang, the doctoral candidate of School of Marxism from Xingtai City of Hebei Province, stayed on campus during the holiday to prepare for the dissertation. He said, “I will send photos of today’s dinner and party to my parents. I will tell them not to worry about me. I am fine and enjoy myself here in Jilin University.” When the performance was over, Mr. Zheng gave red packages to everyone at present, and wished them a prosperous new year ahead and a rapid progress in studies.
International students learnt making Jiaozi
One of the most exciting parts of the party was to make jiaozi. All the students were itching to have a try. The rolling pin moved and the wrappers slipped out; fingers kneaded and pressed, a dumpling thus made. Putting them into the boiling pot, and after a while, the smell came out. That was the smell of the festival. International students also enjoyed making jiaozi. You could tell it from their beaming eyes and curious looks.
Aibo from Nigeria had been in China for half a year. He said, “It is the first time for me to spend the Spring Festival in China and to make jiaozi. China is amazing; Chinese people are warm-hearted, and I like my life here. I am happy to be able to celebrate the festival with all the others. We are a big family.” When the party was approaching the end, each student was allowed to present his or her most satisfactory jiaozi on the stage, some of which were even praised by the chef: “It is such a big surprise to see foreign students so good at making jiaozi. We always organize some activities on food to teach students more practical skills in cooking.”
Fifteen Years’ Companion to Int’l Students at the New Year’s Eve
A rough survey shows that in 2019, there are 30 Chinese students and 300 int’l students staying on campus during the Spring Festival. The event of celebrating the New Year’s Eve with students has continued for 15 years in JLU. Staff from Student Affair Department said, “For the int’l students, it is more than a dinner. It is a symbol of home, making those who are away from home feel the warmth. That is the significant meaning of the dinner.”
Present on the occasion were also directors from Postgraduate Office and College of International Education. To give students a wide selection of tasty food, the Diet Service Centre had started the preparation half a month before. Mr. Liu Xiaosen, the Manager, confirmed that about 100 staff remained on their work and served the students.
