CAMPUS EVENTS
Year of the Pig: Spring Festival Gala
While attending the Chinese Student Association's (CSA) Chinese New Year Gala for the year of the pig, I learned the importance of the celebration to the Chinese people. Also known as the Spring Festival, it is a time when people head home for an annual family reunion. Everyone in China typically receives time off from work and school to be with their family during this 15-day period. The Spring Festival is the busiest travel time of the year and has often been referred to as the largest human migration in the world. On this day, firecrackers and fireworks are set off, red envelopes stuffed with money are given out, and houses are decorated with red paper cut-outs. Fish and dumplings are some of the many dishes eaten on this day because they symbolize prosperity and wealth. CSA’s Chinese New Year Gala was very engaging, the night was filled with an array of colorful performances featuring traditional Chinese instruments and classical dances. Overall, I would say this event helped me better connect with my Chinese roots and has taught me the significance of this festival.
Mid-Autumn Festival Gala
I’ve taken quite a lot away from CSA’s Mid-Autumn Festival event. The harvest festival occurs annually on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, a time of the year when the full moon is bright and round. If you’ve celebrated this festival before, you’ve probably heard of the story of Chang’e 嫦娥, a legend told on this day that speaks of the goddess on the moon. The story provides a glimpse of why the festival is celebrated and the many associations it has with the moon. Similar to the Spring Festival, the Mid-Autumn Festival is a time of family reunion and togetherness which is symbolized by the full moon’s round shape. Enjoying activities like moon gazing and eating moon cakes are not uncommon. CSA in fact gave out moon cakes to all guests which was quite generous. Attending the event has made me more interested in exploring Chinese culture and has taught me a lot about this annual Chinese celebration. The delicious moon cakes, engaging stories, and night of performances made the event all the more enjoyable.
“The Lens Swept: Snapshots From My Island” Poems and Photos Exhibit
Visiting Kole Odutola's poems and photos exhibit was quite an eye-opening experience. The poems showcased in the exhibit was a reflection of the struggles faced by African countries and the African community as a whole. The exhibit expressed Kole’s cultural pride and the appreciation he has for his heritage. As someone with a cultural background different from his, the poems and photos provided me a window into the lives of those residing in regions like West Africa, South Africa, and the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. The many photos on display made the exhibit visually engaging, I remember seeing an image of kids watching workers build a school and thought the image was very powerful. The picture brought a smile to my face because I could feel the excitement on their faces and their eagerness to learn.
Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Panel
I thought the Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Panel was interesting and offered me a comprehensive view of what serving in the Peace Corps would be like. Something important I took away was the need to keep an open mind while serving because new volunteers oftentimes make the mistake of taking an ethnocentric stance on various issues. As potential Peace Corps volunteers, it is important for us to remember that we are there to serve the community and that the community usually knows what is best for them. The speakers made the panel very intriguing as they offered a glimpse of what life was like serving in Senegal and Ghana through the pictures and videos they shared. At the panel, I also learned about their struggles and achievements while living abroad in a foreign country. Although the language barrier and time needed to assimilate both culturally and socially was a challenge, the difference volunteers made through community projects provided a rewarding experience.