International students take a group photo with their teacher at the SUFE Chinese New Year celebration event on Jan 21. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Starting with Dance of the Golden Snake, a music piece for celebrating the Year of the Snake and Chinese New Year, Shanghai University of Financial and Economics held a celebration event on Jan 21 for students who remained on campus, including international students from over 20 countries such as Myanmar, Kazakhstan and Bangladesh.
Hsu Myat Sandi Lynn from Myanmar, joined the festive show with her friends by a traditional dance, bringing their best wishes to teachers and fellow students. "The dance I performed is from one of Myanmar's traditional Thingyan Water Festival songs. It symbolizes joy, unity, and the spirit of celebrating together," she said.
A group of Myanmar student perform traditional dance of their home country at the SUFE Chinese New Year celebration event. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
The show also featured chorus, group dances and instrument performances by both students and teachers.
Before the performance and reunion dinner, students joined in diverse craft activities such as making dumplings, practicing Chinese calligraphy, which symbolizes good luck and happiness, and making festive decorations.
"Making dumplings is very interesting, I don't usually cook on my own. It's pretty fun," Haakon Hausevik, a Norwegian student currently working on his master's degree in international finance at the university. "I think there are quite a bit of similarities between China and Norway, we celebrate the new year with friends and families, enjoying good food and drinks and sharing the hope for the New Year."
Norwegian student Haakon Hausevik learns to make dumplings at the SUFE Chinese New Year celebration event on Jan 21. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
To create a festive Chinese New Year, leaders of SUFE prepared red pockets for every student, delivering them to students from China and abroad one by one. "Don't forget to make a phone call to your family and friends and enjoy the holidays on our campus. We hope everyone will work hard in 2025, and we'll be delighted to witness everyone's efforts and growth," said Xu Tao, Party chief of SUFE.
Edwina Kakhobwe from Malawi proudly shows her calligraphic work. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
With an ambitious plan to learn the reason for China's rapid economic growth in recent years, Edwina Kakhobwe from Malawi is concluding her two-year study at SUFE for International Masters in Public Administration(IMPS). She said she was deeply impressed by the welcoming environment and people in Shanghai, "I get to understand why China has been doing so well as a country, I think that the culture of coming together is very important, which brings a certain feeling of oneness and togetherness".
Xia Miao contributed to this story.
