International students at PKU
May 27, 2015
Peking University, May 24, 2015: Every year, thousands of international students come to study at Peking University. They have experienced a fascinating cultural exchange through various activities held by PKU International Students Division and known more about China. Luo Yinzhen, Shi Tianlong and Zhu zhaoxue, as three representatives of these international students, exemplify how the unique group helps bridge China and the world in their own ways.
Luo Yinzhen: language as a bridge
In 2014, Luo Yinzhen, a Korean student from Guanghua School of Management at PKU, got the third prize in the Chinese speech competition for international students. Her fluent Chinese and impressive ideas in her speech made her a standout in the competition. In many other aspects, Luo’s fluent Chinese has been a great help for her to get involved in PKU life. Earlier in 2013, Luo and her husband worked on a DV “Our Chinese Dream” and won the first prize among hundreds of international students from colleges and universities in Beijing.
The activities that Luo has taken part in since she came to PKU deepen her understanding of Chinese culture. Last December, she showed her culinary skills in Chinese cuisine competition among the international students in Beijing. The northeastern speciality “Disanxian” (made by eggplants, potatoes and green pepper) that she cooked impressed the judges and won her the second prize of the competition.
Through language and cooking, Luo is getting to know more about China.
Shi Tianlong: volunteering as a panda keeper
Shi Tianlong, a senior from Yuanpei College majoring in international studies, had a great summer in 2014 at Ya’an Bi Feng Xia Base of China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP). He and his fellow students took part in an activity organized by the International Students Division at PKU, headed for Sichuan province, and volunteered for caring the pandas at the base.
Though Shi had seen pandas before, it was the first time for him to get so close to them. He and other students as amateur keepers worked and lived with the staff at the base, observed panda’s daily life and learned about panda raising and biodiversity.
In Shi’s last day of volunteering, a panda named Qingqing was about to labour. The staff and the students took turn caring Qingqing and recorded its health condition every five minutes. Having to leave as scheduled before the baby panda’s birth, Shi felt a great weight off his shoulder after he heard that Qingqing’s first baby panda was born. Shi said he hoped for a longer stay at the base next time to see the birth in person.
Shi said this trip was a special experience in which he could have a multifaceted view of China, getting to know nature, culture, and people here.
Zhu Zhaoxue: making Chinese friends
His active participation in activities and his talent in swimming has helped him to fit into the life in China smoothly. He values his friendship with PKU students and professors very much. His extroversive personality also helped him to make friends. “I am active and easy-going. Everyone can be my friend. Without this personality, it is impossible for me to blend into Chinese society.”
Apart from swimming, Zhu also participates in many other activities on campus. He has entered the semi-final of “PKU Voice” twice, the most popular singing competition at PKU. He has also taken part in the annual International Cultural Festival for three years. To Zhu, International Cultural Festival has become a part of his life at PKU. During the festival, all Indonesian students at PKU gather together to present Indonesian culture.
Various kinds of festivals, competitions, visiting tours and lectures have given international students a chance to show their talents and have a taste of overseas study in China. In proportion to the internationalization of Peking University, the number and quality of activities for international students are on the rise. As a crucial part of PKU life, international students will hopefully play a more active part and enjoy more exciting lives at PKU.
Written by: Xu Penghang, Wu Zhangxin’an
Edited by: Yan Shengnan
