Links between two cultures
By Zhao Jing
Photos by Yao Fan



8月5日, 随着两国青少年放飞的风筝, 中英文化夏令营落下帷幕. 而过去两周内, 厦门和英国学生结下的友谊, 却令他们难以忘怀.

More than 20 Summer School members visited Xiamen No.1 Middle School, one of the most prestigious local schools, on July 29th. As part of a special program, the visit aimed to help UK students experience the campus life of their Chinese counterparts during their stay in China.

Thrilled with traditional Chinese art



The young visitors from Britain, accompanied by their new friends from No.1 Middle School, were given their first Chinese art class--paper cutting. Under the instruction of the Chinese art teacher, students successfully turned a tiny sheet of colored paper into the shape of a"喜喜"(double happiness), the culturally-loaded Chinese character usually used in Chinese traditional weddings. More than just learning how to handle scissors, the UK students were also given background knowledge on the history and the folklore of the art of paper cutting.



The following Chinese music class seemed to be more interactive. Both British and Chinese students watched a video on various musical instruments only available in China. Chinese students used words and gestures to explain the instruments to their new friends. At intervals, student players from No.1 Middle School showed the audience how to play the Pipa, Erhu and other traditional instruments. Curious UK students were encouraged to touch the instruments, and the funny sounds provoked friendly laughter. The atmosphere in the class came to a climax when the video showed the China Broadcasting Orchestra playing March Slav with Chinese traditional instruments in the Golden Hall, Vienna. All the audience applauded excitedly. "It's very interesting for me! Familiar tune, but different culture!" said William, a boy from Henry Cort Community School.

Discovering something in common



A week is obviously enough for two youngsters to get to know each other and make friends. Andrew and Kyo are among these new friends across the two cultures. "Yeah, we've found something in common," said Andrew, a 14-year-old from Henry Cort Community School. "We both love basketball and computer games. We both drink tea, though British tea tastes a bit stronger than Chinese tea. I have tried oolong tea and it tasted good! I also learned that the local people love tea as much as the British." Kyo, his new friend from No.1 Middle School told us that he liked this Harry Potter look-alike friend, and they have exchanged email addresses for further contact. Hopefully the friendship will continue as long as it can.



When asked about their views on cultural traditions, the two boys both agreed that China and the UK are countries of great history and culture, which deserves to be preserved and cherished no matter how much time passes.

It is making a difference



In the paper-cutting class we got the opportunity to interview Ms. Jane Henry, project manager of the School Links Program. According to Ms. Henry, the Summer School program has proved very fruitful in the past years. Students got more and more interested in the history, geography and people of both countries. Take British Summer School members for example: quite a number of those who attended last year's summer school came to China again in order to learn more about different regions of this country. Some other students even changed their minds about their choice of subject for university. Several students have made the decision to go to the School of Oriental and African Studies.



We also learned from Ms. Henry that as the world becomes smaller, China is no longer a far, far away country, as it used to be to people in the UK. People get abundant information from the media (TV, newspaper, the internet and magazines) about both old and modern China. This March, the BBC had a special season called China Week introducing Chinese cities such as Shanghai and Chongqing. These programs were very popular among British people. As part of the School Links program, the Summer School will hopefully make British people even more interested in China.

 

 

Commemoration concert to be held
Photo by Yao Fan



Prominent pianist Yin Chengzong performed the anti-Japanese work "Yellow River Concerto" at a concert, on August 3rd. The Xiamen Philharmonic Orchestra is going to hold another 60th anniversary concert commemorating the victory in the anti-fascist and Japanese War on the evening of August 15th, at the Music Island Philharmonic Hall, Wan Shou Lu. Included in the program are March of the Brave Volunteers (the National Anthem of China), the Yellow River Cantata, the Symphonic Poem "Cow Boy Er Xiao", Theme from "Schindler' s List", and Shostakovich's Symphony No.7"Leningrad"in C Major.

 

Musical Life Museum opens
Photo by Yao Fan



Ying Chengzong's Musical Life Museum, located at the 16 Jishan Rd on Gulangyu, opened to the public on August 8th. Over one hundred articles of important historical value are on display, including photos, program lists, music manuscripts, medals, publications covering his artistic achievements, and his old pianos.

 

2005年8月17日
厦门天地开明电影城隆重上映
Batman Begins
蝙蝠侠: 侠影之谜
地点: 厦门天地开明电影城(江头北路69号) 电话: 5517918
导演: 克里斯托弗·诺兰 Christopher Nolan
主演: 克里斯蒂安·贝尔 Christian Bale 剧情简介
影片追溯蝙蝠侠的起源, 父母被杀害的童年阴影引起了布鲁斯强烈的复仇欲望, 布鲁斯求教于瑞斯·阿古--一个令人不寒而栗又肃然起敬的忍者领袖. 当布鲁斯终于回到自己的故乡哥特市时, 出现了一位全副盔甲、强大且机智的正义化身--蝙蝠侠.

Vocabulary
prominent 重要的
scissor 剪刀
cantata 大合唱
oolong 乌龙
provoke 引起
concerto 协奏曲