Student Corner

MPI International Students Experience the Culture of Chinese Spring Festival

In order to promote and pass on the excellence of traditional Chinese culture, and provide international students with opportunities to experience the festive atmosphere of the Chinese New Year, the Student Affairs Office (SAO) of Macao Polytechnic Institute (MPI) organised a series of activities to celebrate and welcome the Chinese Spring Festival. International students from Portugal, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, São Tomé and Príncipe gathered together to have a reunion dinner, make dumplings, write and post Chinese New Year couplets and learn about the long history of Chinese customs and culture. The atmosphere was very festive.

MPI’s international students were very appreciative of the Institute for organising celebration activities during the Chinese New Year. Cumba, a Guinea-Bissau student of the International Chinese Language Education Programme, especially enjoyed making dumplings because a teacher told her that dumplings symbolise “The beginning of a new year” and with the meanings of “Happiness” and “Reunion”. As to Cumba, they were not only a delicious and traditional food for Chinese New Year, but also represented the profound heritage of Chinese culture. Patrick from Cape Verde, also a student of the International Chinese Language Education Programme, wielded the writing brush with golden ink and wrote the wishes of “Dumpling blessings” and "Happy" on the Chinese New Year couplets, wishing all the teachers and students of MPI good fortune and good health in the Year of the Tiger.

Macao Polytechnic Institute is committed to promoting excellent traditional Chinese culture. In addition to the Spring Festival, the Student Affairs Office will organise festive activities on major Chinese festivals including the Dragon Boat (Tuen Ng) Festival and the Mid-Autumn Festival, to allow international students to experience different Chinese festive traditions and culture.