Office of Residential Student Services holds event in CAS for Chinese New Year
By Sean Calderon | Published by March 16, 2018
Dragon dance by Asian studies students in the CAS lobby. Photos by Sean Calderon
In anticipation for the Chinese New Year, Kean University’s Office of Residential Student Services, in collaboration with the student government, Asian studies, PULSE, and Working Partnerships USA held the “Ni Hao!” event in the CAS lobby on Feb. 15.
The event allowed both Kean students and overseas students from China share a little bit of the Chinese culture and to meet one another. It lasted an hour and started with a traditional dragon dance by Chinese students, which included a large flexible dragon figure as well as accompanying music. Afterwards, students were able to socialize over delicious food, traditional Chinese bubble tea, free souvenirs, and much more.
Kean has a great relationship abroad, after its partnership with Wenzhou University went into full operation in 2014, an American-style campus was built in the Zhejiang Province of China. Ever since then, students from both countries have been going back and forth studying abroad. Several students, and student government volunteered in helping run the event, including Sophomore Class President Kiara Carranza.
“Usually about a hundred students come from China each year,” said Carranza. “You come to another country and, it’s culture shock, so it’s good to give them a sense of home.”
Chinese student Yuqing Lou expressed her gratitude for the event. She said she’s excited to see all of it put together and to see people of two different cultures share it.
“I’ve made so many friends here,” said Lou. “It’s another reason why I came here, as well as to learn a new language and explore.”
Faculty members sharing traditional Chinese beverages with attendees. Photos by Sean Calderon
Kean student Onel Martinez shared his experience of the event and with the students from China.
“I’ve met a few of them and they are a very nice group of people,” said Martinez. “This event has a very good aesthetic towards it and a very interesting cultural appeal.”
This year’s Chinese New Year is the Year of the Dog and the Earth element. For all of those interested in zodiacs, the Chinese zodiac this year reads that those born in either 1958 or 2018 (both Earth element years) are stubborn and never give up. While they aren’t very connected with the world and society, they still respect others’ point of view. They also believe that hard work will help them achieve their goals.
On that note, one can say that the goal of this event – to bring two cultures together and share them – was accomplished and shows the diversity of Kean’s campus as Martinez points out.
“I think if we include multiple cultures it shows appreciation and exposure to a different people’s way of life,” said Martinez.
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