[Central Asia Line] Chinese and Kazakhstan youths welcome the New Year: I am doing well in a foreign country. China News Service, Astana, January 1st. Title: Chinese and Kazakhstan young people welcome the New Year: I am doing well in a foreign country. China News Service reporte

[Central Asia Special Line] Chinese and Kazakhstan youth welcome the New Year: I am doing well in a foreign country

China News Service, Astana, January 1, title: Chinese and Kazakhstan young people welcome the New Year: I am doing well in a foreign land

China News Service reporter Zhang Shuo

In Kazakhstan and China, there is a group of young people who study and live in each other's countries, experience each other's splendor and specialness, and combine their growth in a foreign country into a journey for the young people of Kazakhstan and China. 2024 has just arrived, and this group of young people are still in a "foreign land". They say "it's nice here" and hope that their New Year's wishes will come true as soon as possible.

On the evening of December 31, local people celebrated the New Year in Astana, Kazakhstan. Photographed by China News Service reporter Zhang Shuo

This New Year is very meaningful to the Kazakh boy Alekan. A few days ago, his parents flew to Xi'an from Kazakhstan, and the family planned to welcome the New Year in the Chinese way.

This year is Alekan’s sixth year living in China. He is currently a graduate student in Xi’an and can speak fluent Chinese.

"My mother likes to study Chinese food, and she can cook Peking duck." Alekan said in a telephone interview with a reporter from China News Service that during the New Year, he wanted to take his parents to see the Bell and Drum Towers, the City Wall, and the Terracotta Warriors and Horses.

Like many foreigners, Alekan’s introduction to China began with the movies of Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan. "I think martial arts is so cool, I must go to China to see it."

In the past few years in China, Alekan has been to Beijing, Hangzhou, Luoyang and other places, and also wants to visit Chongqing and Sanya. While appreciating China's great rivers and mountains, he also made many Chinese friends. "The people are nice" is what Alekan said about these friends. "We usually play ball, eat together, and discuss and study together."

"Xi'an is my second home. I want to stay here after graduation, and my family also supports my idea." Alekan said, "China has developed and changed rapidly in recent years. Only after living here can you discover the benefits of China. .”

A few days ago, during the New Year’s Day celebration held by the Confucius Institute at the National Eurasian University in Kazakhstan, Zhang Can, a Chinese student who came to Kazakhstan for exchange and study, performed a martial arts performance. His heroic and heroic appearance amazed the audience and attracted local martial arts enthusiasts. Learn from the experience on the spot.

On December 22, Chinese student Zhang Can (middle) exchanged martial arts skills with local martial arts enthusiasts during the New Year's Day party. (Photo courtesy of interviewee)

Zhang Can spent this New Year in Astana. "I don't have any special plans. I plan to celebrate with local friends and then prepare for the start of school." She told reporters that after completing her exchange studies and returning to China to complete her undergraduate studies, she would consider coming to Kazakhstan for further study.

　“Adapt to local life and be willing to accept different cultures.” Normally, Zhang Can attends classes with local students. “The students are enthusiastic and sincere, and I like them.”

　Zhang Can lives in the same dormitory with international students from Afghanistan and Tajikistan, and they are very close to each other. get along well. "My roommates are very interested in Chinese culture. I will introduce Hanfu and food to them, and at the same time correct their cognitive biases about China."

Like Zhang Can, Wang Mengyang is also a Chinese college student who came to the National Eurasian University for exchange studies. This is his first time to celebrate the New Year in Kazakhstan. "I made an appointment with my Kazakh friends to celebrate the New Year together and experience the local culture."

Recently, Chinese student Wang Mengyang (first from left in the front row) celebrated the New Year with his classmates. (Photo provided by interviewee)

Wang Mengyang’s major is Kazakh language. In his view, Kazakh language is “a foreign language major that is rarer than minor languages.”

In class, Wang Mengyang studied with international students from South Korea, Kyrgyzstan and other countries. "Foreign students are very curious about China. When they see news about China on the Internet, they will discuss it with me, especially issues related to the development of China's technology and manufacturing industry."

As soon as the New Year is over, Wang Mengyang will end his exchange studies and return to China. Continue your studies. He said that his New Year's wish is to learn Kazakhstan well, learn Russian by himself, become a multilingual talent, and contribute to the exchanges between China and Kazakhstan.

Before leaving Kazakhstan, Wang Mengyang wrote on his social media, I am very lucky to meet you who are full of affection in a strange country and city. You helped me read one more page of the book of the world. I hope Kazakhstan-China friendship will last forever.

Like Wang Mengyang, who also loves "reading" is Nurayi, an authentic Kazakh girl who is studying in her sophomore year. She named herself Yang Yue in Chinese.

"My major is Oriental studies, I have studied all Eastern countries, and I am especially interested in Chinese music culture." At the New Year's Day party, Yang Yue and her classmates sang Jay Chou's song "Mojito" in Chinese, winning rounds of applause.

On December 22, during the New Year’s Day celebration in Astana, Nurayi (second from left) sang Chinese songs with her classmates. Photographed by China News Service reporter Zhang Shuo

For Yang Yue, celebrating the New Year in this way "feels great", "I like traditional Chinese culture, modesty and tolerance, and I also like the development and advancement of China's modern civilization." (End)

Source: China News Network