Campion celebrates Chinese New Year

Last Saturday night, February 1, Campion’s Chinese students and Jill Harlow planned a happy and meaningful event to celebrate Chinese New Year in the cafeteria and gym. Students had delicious food and played traditional games from China. Ensen Cai, a senior from China, said “Although preparing food for the cafeteria was a difficult process, and I didn’t sit down all afternoon, I saw that all the students were satisfied with the food, and I felt that all my efforts were not in vain.”

The Chinese students planned the menu and cooked the meal with Dawn Fagan in the cafeteria, and in many ways, it was a learning experience. When they were making a dessert called Tangyuan, a small ball made from glutinous rice, they tried a lot of ways to make the whole process of kneading the flour into a little ball simpler, like using a spoon or even a scoop. However, no method was simpler than rubbing directly with their hands. They learned that the simplest method was actually the most effective method.

For many Campion students, Chinese New Year is just a foreign holiday. But, driven by the Chinese students and Mrs. Harlow, students became more interested in the festival. Gregory Lang, a freshman from China, said, “This is the first time I have celebrated the Chinese New Year in the United States. Not only was the food delicious, but I also enjoyed it when I play some traditional Chinese games with others in the gym like jump rope and picking up beans with chopsticks.”

Mrs. Harlow helped to organize the event for the students, and she explained, "Chinese New Year is the most important festival in China, and it is also a time when Chinese students miss home. So, I think it’s important for our students to be able to celebrate here with their Campion family."

"I wish you all a Happy New Year and God bless."
Rain Li, senior from China