Foreign teachers in Dezhou University celebrate Spring Festival like locals

DEZHOU — Due to concerns over COVID-19, many foreign teachers in universities across China chose to stay put to spend their winter holiday.

They celebrated the Spring Festival together with the locals, making dumplings and enjoying traditional cultural activities.

In Dezhou University, east China’s Shandong Province, eight foreign teachers and a foreign student celebrated the Year of the Ox together.

“In our country, we make dumplings during the Spring Festival,” said Kim Joo Young, a teacher from South Korea. “This is the first time that I celebrate the Lunar New Year in China. Together with other foreign teachers and local staff, I am not lonely,” Kim added.

“In Ukraine and Russia, we cook dumplings together. So it’s not difficult,” said Swtlana, a teacher from Ukraine. “But the shape is different. It’s the round-shape, like the sun.”

“My feeling is nice, like I’m at home and in my country,” said Naif, a student from Yemen.

(Credit: Xinhua Global Service)