Samoan College students in cultural exchange

By Adel Fruean 08 October 2018, 12:00AM

Students from Samoa College and Hualuogeng Secondary School in Huizhou City in the Guangdong Province took part in a cultural exchange programme recently. 

A group of 11 comprising three teachers and eight students from Samoa College travelled to China for a 12-day education exchange programme which included the students teaching their host school the Samoan language in the form of a song. 

Students from Hualuogeng Secondary School showed the Samoan students the skills of a traditional Chinese dance, which were performed to honour the visit of Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi to the school.

Another part of the cultural exchange was students from Samoa learning the art of Chinese paper-cutting, which is one of the most important types of Chinese folk art. 

One of the students from Samoa College, Paulo Setefano said learning a new skill that is significant to the Chinese culture was both exciting and informative. 

“Paper-cutting is both interesting and requires great skill but overall the end result is always worth it,” he said. 

The students from Samoa also learned a form of traditional Chinese painting, where each student took part in painting a face mask, which they could take home as souvenirs.

 “Painting has never been this hard; there are certain procedures you have to follow, like the colors allocations, the precision in coloring so that it will not be messy or unattractive.

“But then it was a great challenge as it brought out the imaginative side for us, we did our best and I am quite proud of my mask,” said Samoa College student Henry Tuiafiso.

 The highlight of the cultural exchange for the students from Samoa was the opportunity to be hosted by a Chinese family. Each student was allocated a family that they celebrated the Mid-Autumn’s festival.

Students had the chance to eat their first mooncakes, which were rich pastries typically filled with sweet bean paste or lotus seed paste are traditionally eaten during this festival. The significance of this festival to the Chinese people is that it brings families together.

Samoa College student, Marina Tolo had the chance to learn how to cook Chinese food.

“I learned how to make Chinese dumplings and pancakes. It’s really a first time for me to learn a different country’s cuisine. There is a great difference between the Samoan and Chinese food but I am happy to admit that I have discovered some new favorite Chinese dishes,” she said.

By Adel Fruean 08 October 2018, 12:00AM

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