GDUFS Students Interpret for GZ Sister City Delegations

March 21 - Nine students from the English, Spanish, Russian and Italian departments of GDUFS were selected as volunteer interpreters to assist the foreign delegations during the Guangzhou Sister Cities Joint Meeting from March 11 to March 16.

Each volunteer acted as a liaison for the delegations, attending to the various needs of the individual members. The volunteers were required to research the backgrounds of the various delegations in order to better anticipate and understand the needs of the guests. The professionalism and cooperation of the volunteers were highly appreciated by the Guangzhou Foreign Affairs Office, as well as by the participating delegation members from 22 different countries across the world.

According to the feedback gained by lead volunteer Xiao Rui from the delegations, what impressed the guests most were the smiles and kindness of the volunteers. Xiao assisted the Vietnamese delegate, a very humorous gentleman named Mr. Pham Tran Thanh Thao. Mr. Pham let it be known he has a love of photography and shared with Xiao many interesting stories concerning his life and work in Vietnam. Xiao was very happy to assist Mr. Pham during his stay in Guangzhou.

Xiao Rui with Pham Tran Thanh Thao next to the Pearl River 

Sun Yue and Ding Hui, two volunteers from the GDUFS Spanish department, said they had felt nervous and excited as they faced their first encounter with foreign affairs representatives from overseas. The two students put their Spanish skills to good use during interesting conversations with members of the Peruvian, Brazilian and Cuban delegations. They patiently answered all the questions that were raised about the city of Guangzhou while touring the Higher Education Mega Centre and Nansha Port District.

Ding Hui and Sun Yue with Cuban and Brazilian delegates at Nansha Port

Speaking of the two British delegates she assisted, who direct a museum in England, Qiao Fei said, "Philippa Haynes and Julia Carver go into raptures at the mere mention of Chinese artistic and cultural projects." The two women were deeply impressed by the Chinese puppet show presented by Guangdong Puppet Troupe at the evening gala. Compared with their previous visit to China fifteen years earier, Philippa found China had changed completely. She expressed her desire to exchange views with young Chinese people more often because of their original ideas about art. She also wishes to cooperate with Chinese art and cultural communities on future projects.

Mr. Magnus Petersson, Chief Officer of Sweden's Department for Industrial and Commercial Development, was very happy to share his views with Yu Jing, a volunteer from the GDUFS Russian department, on the usage of environmental technology and the importance of pollution prevention. Mr. Petersson said Sweden pays great attention to environmental protection and is one of the world leaders in forming a national policy of ecologically sustainable development. There is much both countries can learn from each other and Mr. Petersson stated Sweden would like to introduce advanced knowledge in environmental protection to China. Mr. Petersson expressed his high opinion of the student volunteers during the joint meeting for their kindness and hospitality. This was his fourth visit to China and each time he has received a new impression of the country and its people. He thinks it important for people from Western societies to learn about Chinese history and culture so as to develop a better understanding of Chinese thinking.

Yu Jing with Swedish delegates at Garden Hotel

Each and every one of the GDUFS volunteers will cherish their great experience with the representatives from Guangzhou's sister cities. Having met people from all corners of the world, they broadened their knowledge of global perspectives and enhanced their personal development.

Photos provided by Linda Yu