Foreign Students sat in four groups, with their cheerful chatting accompanied by traditional Chinese music filling the illuminated classroom in the 7th Building on the North Campus. It was the eve of the Mid-Autumn Festival, September 14th, and they were participating in the Mooncake Making Party organized by the Global Society.
The party began with an introduction of the festival. “It’s fascinating how different cultures explain the moon,” said Luis Perotti, an Italian student. After this followed a video which taught them how to make their own snowskin mooncakes. “Pour hot water. Stir the mixture. Knead the dough until smooth. Round the stuffing and put it into the dough. Mold the dough,” the instruction on the screen said. Shortly afterwards, many succeeded and tasted the fruits of their labour. “It’s very fun and interesting. I love eating mooncakes,” remarked Kendra Ness, a US freshman. Later, the party culminated with a team game which caused mirthful laughter.
CHOI WonHee, a Korean student, said that Koreans also celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival, but it's her first time to make a mooncake and it was great fun.
Besides, Sonya Rice, a Canadian student who had just been in China for three weeks, added that it was also an opportunity to meet people from different countries.
From some Westerners’ perspective, Mid-Autumn Festival is somehow similar to Thanksgiving Day when families gather and have a feast of turkey with cranberries, while Chinese would have mooncakes instead. “It’s a tradition to hold the party.” stated LI Miaomiao, a member of the Global Society. “This year’s party is better prepared with more seats and enough ingredients,” praised an Indonesia student ZHANG Jiaqian, who also took part in the party last year.
The Mooncake Making Party gave foreign students a glimpse into Chinese traditions, while enriching their school life. Probably someday, when it’s Mid-Autumn Festival again, participants of the party will recall this remarkable evening when they got a chance to taste the mooncakes that they made.
