Wednesday 26 September - B

The library atrium

The Red Wing delegation watching 

student activities

This entry is the continuation of the day’s visit by the delegation from Red Wing College, Minnesota.

In the afternoon there were a number of  organised activities for the students to demonstrate some of their skills and talents.

This was held in the library which has a large atrium and lots of natural light filling the building.

The activities included calligraphy, stocking flower-making (a Japanese tradition) and traditional Chinese watercolour painting – each delegate was presented with a bouquet of these flowers and a painting.

The tea-making ceremony

Stocking flower-making

There was also a demonstration of traditional tea-making by the Tea Art Society, a group of students who practice this art.

They use ‘pu-erh’ tea, a locally grown and processed tea, similar to oolong or black tea.

The ceremony involves washing and heating the cups with boiling water, and pre-washing the tea. Boiling water is poured over the tea and then poured off and discarded. The pot is then refilled with boiling water and the tea poured and served… and it was very nice.

The singers and dancers

Photos with the 3rd year
class monitors

Finally there was a singing and dance (as in break dancing) performance by some of the students.

It could have bee a bit cheesy, however the students were really enthusiastic and genuinely proud of showing off these aspects of Chinese culture.