Time: September 29th, 2018
Source: News Agency of Jinan University
Author: Li Xiaoqing

When JNU was founded in Nanjing in 1906, it received its first 21 students from the Indonesian island of Java -- the prelude to overseas education in China. Today, Indonesia is JNU's most important source of international students. In September, a new group of overseas Chinese students from Indonesia followed in their predecessors' footsteps to reconnect with Chinese culture.

(Li Xiurong and classmates at the traditional opening ceremony at Panyu Educational Palace)

A search for roots:I really want to learn Chinese well

Li Xiurong, an Indonesian freshman in JNU’s Chinese Academy of Chinese Studies, has been exposed to Chinese culture since childhood and established a profound Chinese complex. When I was a child, my father often told me about my story with my brother, she said. My family also speaks Chinese. I am influenced by my family. I started learning Chinese when I was very young. She said the family hopes the younger generation will be able to come to China to experience Chinese culture. Her brother also attended JNU’s Chinese Language Institute several years ago.

Compared with Li Xiurong, who has been influenced by Chinese culture since childhood, Shi Xingyu, an Indonesian freshman from the International College, has been worried that he couldn't speak Chinese well. Since coming to JNU, he has actively made friends with Chinese and seized every opportunity to learn. He uses the TV series Home With Kids as a Chinese textbook and plans to find a professional language teacher to improve his Chinese.

Germination：JNU supplies abundant soil nutrients

Shi Xinglai heard about JNU in Indonesia and was looking forward to making friends with students from all over the world on its diverse, open, inclusive campus.

Within two weeks of starting school, he had already made friends from China, South Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Although our culture and language are different, there are many things that need to be adapted, he said. We haven't fully opened up to each other, but I believe we will become good friends.

（Wu Yonghan's class celebrating two classmates' birthday）

JNU has more activities than other schools. I visited the Panyu Xue Gong (a pre-Qing dynasty temple for study and worship of Confucius), a Confucian temple and the National Institute of Peasant Movement with my teacher, and also took part in the ‘first writing ceremony,’ a recent innovation in which, in children's first class of the day, the teacher will teach them basic principles for life and teach them to read books, write and worship Confucius.

The cultural activities arranged by JNU have promoted Li Xiurong's knowledge of Chinese history and culture -- a thoughtful consideration for overseas Chinese students. In addition to activities tailored to students, the College of Chinese Language and Culture will hold an annual water-sprinkling festival in April, where students will set a stall to promote local specialties and experience other countries' customs.