“Chinese New Year” in the Eye of SEU International Students

A Bite of Chinese New Year!

What do you prefer as delicacies for the Spring festival, Jiaozi (dumplings) or Tangyuan (sweet dumplings)? “Adults don’t do ‘either-or’. I want both!” At the beginning of the Year of Rabbit, Karren, an international student at SEU and her friends learned to make Jiaozi and Tangyuan from their teachers, took a bite of the “New Year” in cheer and laughter and wished for a happy and reunited New Year.

Although Karren is from Indonesia, the Chinese language and culture are not new to her. “My family and I celebrate the Spring Festival, Lantern Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival and other traditional Chinese festivals together every year. Understanding and integrating into Chinese culture is not hard for me.”

What impressed Karren most about the Chinese New Year was the interesting “dos and don’ts”. “Every Spring Festival, we prepare fruits and meals to offer sacrifice to our ancestors. My mother tells me that cutting hair and cleaning the house before the festival means a farewell to the difficulties of the last year. However, the first day of the Chinese New Year is not a good time for home cleaning in case the new year’s luck is swept out of the house. Mom also asks me to wear red or other bright colors, symbolizing fortune and luck.” Among all customs, Karren’s favorite is receiving red envelopes (Hong Bao). “I believe what is wrapped inside is not only money, but also love and expectation of the elders, which is both a material and spiritual gift.”

Though Karren celebrates the Spring Festival every year, this is the second time that she has celebrated it in China.

“The first time I came to China was on the eve of Chinese New Year in 2008, when we went to Haikou, Hainan Province, to spend the Spring Festival with relatives there.” At that time, Karren and her family spent two weeks in China visiting many places. She later learned they had visited only a small part of China. That year’s trip to China gave 8-year-old Karren her first taste of the large land area of China and the wonders of the Chinese language. “Although we spoke Chinese in Indonesia, the locals speak it quite differently. There are a lot of different dialects. I don’t understand them, but I find it very interesting.” Karren said.

In 2019, Karren came back to China to start her university at SEU. Karren has different experiences in this journey from her trip at 8 years old. Transportation is the most impressive aspect. “In Nanjing, I can go anywhere easily and safely, and it only takes a short time.” As an international student, Karren says she does not feel lonely or isolated here.” There are many international students from different countries, and I’m happy to meet them, to learn about different languages and cultures, and my Chinese friends welcome us international students. All of these make me feel very happy.” Karren said.

At the university, Karren meets a group of like-minded friends and starts a food-searching group (foodie group). “We are from different countries and gather together for our love of Chinese food.” When they find something new, members of the group send out invitations. On weekends and holidays, they travel, play games and try out new delicacies together. “When we heard about this activity of making Jiaozi and Tangyuan, we were all excited and decided right away that we had to come and experience it.” Karren said.

Unlike the year she celebrated the New Year with family and friends in Hainan when she was 8 years old, Karren’s Chinese New Year memory this time in China is to travel around Nanjing with members of her foodie group, so as to explore more Chinese food. “We’ve made quite a few travelling plans, expecting to learn more about Nanjing and China during this holiday, ” Karren said.