On the morning of April 15, GXNU's International Exchange Office lavishly celebrated the 8th "International Culture Festival" and Songkran (Thai New Year) at the library square of Yucai campus. The attendees included Mr.Cai Le and Mr.Chen Dawei, the General Consul and Consul of Consulate General of Thailand in Nanning; Ms.Kaisulin and Ms. Allen, Education Counselor and Vice Consul of Consulate General of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar; Mr.KuangYongqing, Deputy Party Committee Secretary of GXNU; staff members of International Exchange Office and more than 1,000Chinese and foreign faculty members and students.
A parade of Thai students initiated the festivities. Mr.Cai Lemade a speech and composed an impromptu poem to wish all a happy holiday. Then, Mr.KuangYongqing made a speech, reviewing fondly the achievements of our international exchanges and overseas education programs and the history of the "International Culture Festival," before extending his festive greetings and best wishes to our foreign students from Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and other Southeast Asian countries. Then,Thai students performed a ritual to the leaders and guests which included pouring scented water into the hands of elders and parents as a mark of respect while seeking blessings from them. Shortly after, Thai students performed a traditional dance unique to their culture, while Chinese students performed a folk dance, "Why Are the Flowers So Red?"
After the opening ceremony, faculty members and students were drawn to a series of fun games and the foreign culture exhibition, and even got to try Thai, Laotian and Cambodian food. The food prepared by the foreign students, which included favorites like Thai chili sauce, Northeast-style shredded spicy meat, Thai chicken curry, Korean-style sautéed rice cakes and Vietnamese spring rolls, made attendees linger on and reluctant to leave. Before anyone knew it, our enthusiastic and energetic foreign students had taken up their water ladles, pistols and pipes, ready to revel at the party. Then, the Chinese and foreign guests soon joined the water-pouring celebration. The square was filled with laughter and joy.
In the evening, a celebration party was held at the lecture hall of Tin Ka Ping College of Education. Mr.Su Guifa, Vice President of GXNU attended the evening party, the theme of which was "the most popular Miss Thailand." Foreign students from nine countries including Cambodia, Laos, Korea, Sweden, Indonesia,Vietnam, Kyrgyzstan,Nigeria and China, actively participated in the party and danced together to celebrate the festival.
Foreign and traditional Chinese cultures actively come together to form a diverse campus culture at GXNU and the "International Culture Festival" is the perfect example of this As one of our hallmark activities, the "International Culture Festival" has been held successfully for 8 times since 2009. And it has now become an annual event to exhibit foreign customs, to promote communication between Chinese and foreign cultures, and to strengthen the bond between faculty and students. This "International Culture Festival" commenced with the celebration of Thai New Year,Songkran. With more diverse ideas, more creative concepts and more novel content, we,as hosts , have organized a series of various Chinese and foreign culture activities to highlight the vigor,vitality, and diversity of our faculty and students from home and abroad.
Thai Students Dancingto Celebrate Songkran.
Celebration Parade onYucai Campus.
Student Representative presented a bouquet to Ms.Kaisulin.
Thai Students' Performance atthe Beauty Pageant.
Lin Yihe (Swiss)Won the Beauty Pageant.
Group Photo of Foreign Beauty Pageant Contestants