Swinging in the Wonderland of Culture

The World Culture Lectures, the first stage of GDUFS’ World Culture Festival, were held in Room 107 of the 7^th Teaching Building on October 18^th 2018. Thanks to the great performance of our foreign students, people who attended the lecture left with brand new ideas about many wonderful countries.

Foreign students from Indonesia, Egypt, Thailand and Philippines gave their lectures in an orderly way.

First, students from Indonesia – Youquan ZHANG and his friends – introduced their country to us. They started with the climate and seasons in Indonesia, which gave the audience a direct contact with this tropical country. He then showed the audience multiple plants and animals that live in Indonesia, including species exclusive to his country — Komodo Dragons. The students presented were all deeply drawn to this paradise of tropical species. Time flew fast during his presentation and he ended it with a vivid video advertising the colorful Indonesia.

Students from Indonesia

Omar, the second student, went on stage to introduce his country — Egypt. Apart from a basic introduction to Egypt, his lecture focused on the tourist attractions and the cuisine of Egypt. By the end of the lecture, Egypt was no longer a mysterious country of legends and myths; instead it has its own charm and the inheritance of a vast history.

Omar, an Egyptian student

Next, Mint and Kaidow, who come from Thailand, painted us a vivid picture of their country. Different parts of Thailand have their own typical landscape. People who visit Thailand are not only amazed by their well-preserved temples and exquisite sculptures, but also by the modesty and genuine loyalty rooted in their beliefs. Attracted by the friendly smiles on their faces, many students gained an understanding of the “Kingdom of Smiles” for the first time.

Finally, the students from the Philippines lit up the lecture hall. The two lecturers had a perfect interaction with the audience. They passionately described their scenic spots as “amazing” so many times that the audience burst into laughter. When they referred to the famous beaches for surfing, the students who want to have a try responded actively. Also, when referring to the traditional cuisine in Philippines, students were surprised to find that these two countries have a lot in common. For example, one of their festival dishes, roast pig, is similar to the Chinese version.

Two students from the Philippines

After the lecture, we had an interview with one of the presenters of the Philippines. She said that she and her friend only prepared for the presentation an hour ago, and she was quite nervous on the stage. But based on the enthusiastic response of the audience, they felt they had successfully presented the real beauty of their beloved countries.

As the cultural bridges between their own countries and China, they should all be proud of themselves. As for the students, they’ve stepped into the wonderland of culture and are ready to explore a fresh new world.