Because of the pandemic, many non-local students of the University of Macau (UM) chose to stay in Macao for this Chinese New Year. During the holiday, they visited famous temples, specialty restaurants, and alleys to experience the festive traditions and customs of this town.
Discovering the Charm of Macao outside UM
Charlie Huang, a third-year student in the Department of Accounting and Information Management from Shandong, says that this is the first time that he has spent the Chinese New Year away from home and he thought he would be lonely, but ended up having a surprisingly good time. ‘I spent the Chinese New Year with students from different countries and regions in my residential college (RC), which is quite special,’ says Huang. During the holiday, Huang, together with a student from Brazil, visited the shipyards at Lai Chi Vun and Tam Kung Temple in Coloane. He acted as a tour guide for his friend and shared his views on traditional Chinese New Year customs as well as Macao’s temple culture and diversity in religion.
Kevin Wang, a first-year student in the Department of Government and Public Administration from Liaoning, says that there are many places to visit in Macao. During the holiday, he visited the Seac Pai Van Park with resident fellows and other students to see pandas and other animals. He also visited the northern district of Macao with some friends to observe the daily lives of Macao residents and to sample street foods. ‘As a freshman, I am very happy to experience the festive atmosphere of Macao during the Chinese New Year and learn more about this beautiful city, where I will be living for the next four years,’ says Wang.
Experiencing Different New Year Customs
Cigri Wang, a third-year student in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering from Hubei, believes that the biggest difference between the customs of Hubei and Macao is the food culture. She had her first taste of Poon Choi in her residential college during the Chinese New Year dinner. ‘On the New Year’s Eve, we organised a pot luck dinner in the RC to share the foods from our home town, which opened my eyes and gave me the opportunity to meet other students from my hometown,’ she says.
A Home Away from Home
Jeff Hui, a second-year student in the Bachelor of Science in Business Intelligence and Data Analytics programme from Hong Kong, thought he would be spending the Chinese New Year alone this year. He never expected that the RCs would organise so many exciting activities. ‘I am very happy to be able to enjoy the New Year’s Eve dinner with the rector, resident fellows, and other students. My college community is like a big and happy family,’ says Hui.
On the second day of the Chinese New Year, Winni Wu, a first-year student in the Bachelor of Education in Integrated Science programme from Hubei, had a meal with staff and students in her RC to celebrate the beginning of the Chinese New Year. She said that the meal gave her a sense of the warm atmosphere in the college as described by Hui. ‘Celebrating the beginning of a new year with a meal is a new experience for me. We usually don’t do that in Hubei,’ she says. She could not go home this year, so she was particularly happy to receive some hometown foods from her parents before the Chinese New Year. ‘I often cook with my friends in the college and share my hometown foods with everyone. It’s a place that feels like a home,’ says Wu.
Chinese Text: UM Reporter Deng Ying, UM Reporter Trainee Li Yingxi
Photo: UM Reporter Leung Chan Hong, some provided by the interviewees
Chinese Editor: Ella Cheong, Debby Seng
Source: E-My UM
