Cutlural Tour and Welcome Dinner for Yale-NAC

Cutlural Tour and Welcome Dinner for Yale-NAC

 

On March 23, Shiu Pong College (SPC) students gathered at a local hotel to welcome students from Yale University, New Asia College (Chinese University of Hong Kong) and Zhongshan University for a cultural tour. This was the second part of SPC participation in the YUNA (Yale University – New Asia College) exchange program.

 

It rained heavily on the day. Yet, our experienced tour guide lifted our spirit by linking the rain to a cultural belief that rain is actually a welcome message from the city for its special guests.

 

Traveling on a tour bus, our first stop was the Museum of Macau on Mount Fortress, where we learned fascinating stories about Macau for the first time. The Yale and NAC students were amazed by the many historical ties between Macau and the West. After this we went to the old Protestant Cemetery established by the British East India Company, the resting place for some of the important figures in Macau’s history. I have been living in Macau for about 10 years and yet I never heard of the existence of this cemetery.

 

Next up was the Ruins of St. Paul’s Cathedral, the remaining part of the 17th-century church after it was destroyed by a fire. For the first time, I noticed the face of the founder on the side. Down from the ruins, we proceeded to Senado Square, the center of Macau, which is always crowded with tourists and shoppers.

 

On the way back to SPC, we passed by the Macau Tower. The Yale students were shocked by the bungee jumpers diving all the way down from the top of the skyhigh tower. Only one among us on the bus had prior experience of the adrenaline-pumping sport!

 

Back to the University of Macau (UM), the Yale students were stunned by the extensive size of the UM campus, which, they said, looked like a luxurious mansion instead of a university. They were also surprised by the fact that UM is able to offer all UM students an opportuniy to live in its Residential Colleges since in Yale and NAC there are not enough dorm rooms for their students.

 

During the dinner gathering at the SPC dining hall, where more SPC students joined us for dinner, we had a special and fun activity, ‘Chinese Paper Cutting’, taught by a talented SPC student. Besides, our guests were also able to try a few famous Portuguese snacks and two very special desserts made by our dear Mrs. Leung, the College Master’s wife.

 

The activity was a great opportunity to learn from exchanging ideas and experiences with students from other cultures. Establishing connections with others is important for us as learning is not only about studying and reading books. I recommend you all, fellow SPC students, to join this program next year. You will not regret it.

 

By Ana Macedo

澳門文化半日遊

 

美國耶魯大學，香港中文大學新亞書院和中山大學學生接受澳門大學紹邦書院邀請於三月十六日來澳作學術和文化交流，紹邦學生透過這次活動，不但能與來自不同國家的優秀大學生對話，更是深入地瞭解到珍貴的本地文化。

全體同學下午一點半從市中心一酒店出發，參觀了基督教墳場丶大三巴牌坊丶澳門博物館丶哪吒廟和議事廳前地。同學們表示導遊的講解非常詳細到位。近六點鐘大家意猶未盡地回到邵邦書院，欣賞著澳大新校園的美麗。耶魯大學瑪德琳認為，作為一名歷史和東亞研究專業的學生，是次活動是一次非常難忘的經歷，短短半天時間，能夠深深地感受到澳門濃厚的歷史氛圍，還能和不同文化背景的同學用中文及英語交流，希望以後還能有這樣的機會。

 

撰寫人：李嘉琪

耶魯新亞學生歡迎晚宴

三月二十三日晚上，來自耶魯大學、香港中文大學新亞書院和中山大學的同學們接受紹邦書院邀請，在下午精彩有趣的文化之旅結束後，來到紹邦書院與同學們在歡迎晚宴共進晚餐。

晚宴開始前，紹邦書院梁院長致歡迎詞，並與香港中文大學和耶魯大學的同學們互贈紀念品。用餐時，學生們在輕鬆愉快的氣氛中與來自不同文化的朋友交流，分享各自對於文化的認識和在不同學校學習帶來的體驗和收穫，大家相談甚歡。同學們品嚐了由院長夫人及紹邦同學用心烘焙的甜點，紛紛誇讚其美味可口。晚餐後進行了剪紙工作坊，在同學們的幫助下，從未接觸過中國傳統剪紙藝術的外國同學們成功地剪出了“春”“喜”等象徵著美好寓意的圖案。

晚宴接近尾聲，同學們的交談仍意猶未盡。各人互相留下了聯繫方式，希望彼此能保持長久的聯繫。這次晚宴讓我們收穫了跨越國家和地區的友誼，也收穫了一份難忘的回憶。

 

撰寫人：高時捷