Friday, the Erasmus Student Network organized its official kick-off event for the new Erasmus students at HiMolde and emphasized the university’s international makeup by celebrating the Chinese New Year’s Eve.
By RAPHAELA OSSBERGER (text & photo)
What comes into your mind when thinking about China? Well, the world-famous spring rolls are definitely one very typical item. ESN’s Vice-President Sienna Li therefore took the chance to teach some international students how to prepare spring rolls. All you need are shaved vegetables as carrots, cabbage, mushrooms, boiled Chinese glass noodles and, if desired, chopped meat. These ingredients are mixed together and wrapped in a special spring roll pastry. Finally, the ready-made spring rolls get deep-fried in hot oil to become crispy brown.
“Usually, we eat a lot when celebrating New Year – but not spring rolls”, Sienna admitted with a laugh. Instead, Chinese families enjoy a great banquet consisting of chicken, fish and loads of other delicious dishes.
The days before New Year regularly turn out to be a tough “competition” among the Chinese people as everyone heads back home to the family.
“No matter how far you are, you celebrate that evening with your family. So that days, there is always a big fight for train and flight tickets”, Ting Chao, a Logistics student from Beijing explained. “For me, this was unfortunately not an option now because of the university.”
According to current figures, around 356 million Chinese use the train and almost 60 million go by plane these days.
At New Year’s Eve the national TV station in China broadcasts an entertaining gala show that is an almost institutionalized viewing everyone in the country loves to watch. At midnight – just as all over the world – big fireworks light up the sky and welcome the New Year.
As it is a long tradition in China, every year is characterized by a sign of the Chinese zodiac. Right now, the year of the rooster was rung in. Together with everyone’s own Chinese zodiac sign, depending on their year of birth, this determines your horoscope for the year.
“People born as dragons, meaning for example in 1988, or those born as monkey in 1992, are supposed to have a good year now. Roosters, meaning people been born in 1993, or rabbits with a year of birth of 1987, however, should be careful because the current year is thought to bring bad luck for those”, Ting Chao gave an insight into the Chinese astrology.
During the Welcome Party the students could therefore find out their Chinese zodiac signs – and of course having a lot of fun playing the newly-forged chopstick beer pong.
