Source: School of Chinese as a Second Language
Written by: Liang Xiexin
Edited by: Wang Dongmei
On April 16-25, the “2014 Chinese Bridge: Chinese Spring Camp of the Confucius Institute at Autonomous University of Yucatan (CI-UADY)” was held at Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU). 21 Mexican students participated in the the event funded by Hanban and undertaken by the School of Chinese as a Second Language (SCSL) at SYSU.
During the one-week Chinese language course and Chinese cultural experience activities, the Mexican students learned Chinese paper cutting, made Chinese knots and wrote Chinese characters. They also had a badminton match with Chinese students. Meanwhile, they visited the Guangdong Museum and Lychee Bay Park, took part in the Pearl River night cruise, and had Cantonese morning tea, experiencing a full taste of Guangzhou.
CI-UADY students attending the Chinese Spring Camp at SYSU
The closing ceremony of the spring camp was held on the afternoon of April 24. Wu Xiaoyan, Deputy Director of Office of International Cooperation & Exchange of SYSU, Luo Jing, Deputy Dean of SCSL, and Deng Shulan, Director of Training Department of SCSL attended the ceremony. The Mexican students showed their calligraphy works, made Chinese knots, played Tai Chi and sang Chinese songs. Finally, with the melodious Mexican folk song "Cielito Lindo" (beautiful sky), the students spread joy to all the people present at the ceremony.
Mexican students showing their Chinese calligraphy works at the closing ceremony
As Luo Jing said in the closing remarks, “SYSU has a fine tradition: as long as you have studied at SYSU, for one day or one year, you are our alumni. You came to SYSU across half the globe to learn Chinese. This is called “yuanfen” in Chinese. I hope we can meet again at SYSU.” Under the beautiful sky, the Chinese Bridge connects Guangzhou and Merida. SYSU will always be waiting with open arms for learners of Chinese.
CI-UADY was jointly established by SYSU and Autonomous University of Yucatan. As SYSU’s second Confucius Institute, it officially opened in September 2007. This spring camp is CI-UADY’s first Chinese Bridge event held on South Campus of SYSU.
