East Tennessean

Issue date: 10/9/08 Section: The Scene

Children playing with Chinese fans that were provided at the event. [Click to enlarge]

Participants in one of the many games held at the Mid-Autumn Festival which took place at the Basler Center. [Click to enlarge]

Saturday evening, a traditional celebration of the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival was held at the Basler Center for Physical activity.
Organized by the Chinese Student and Scholar Association and the ETSU Office of Multicultural Affairs, the event was planned as a night where people of all ethnic backgrounds could gather to learn a little about Chinese culture, as well as have a little fun along the way.
I attended the program expecting to feel somewhat out of place, but perhaps some good food would come of it, so it wouldn't be a complete loss. Every expectation I had of the event was quickly shattered.
I stepped into the room and was greeted immediately by two smiling Chinese women who presented me with a heart shaped badge emblazoned with the Chinese flag.
The atmosphere inside the place was alive with joy. Colorful lanterns and banners were hung everywhere, and the smell of food was heavenly.
People were talking all around creating a patois of Mandarin and English that filled every inch of the room, creating confusion for my ears.
The room quickly filled up with guests, and it was a wonderful sight to behold as people from all walks of life filed in to join the celebration.
The party opened with a short speech from Leqian Liu who is the president of the Chinese Student and Scholar Association's ETSU branch. He explained to us that the Mid-Autumn Festival is a centuries old Chinese tradition dating back more than 3,000 years.
While it is observed at the same time every year, it holds different meanings for Chinese people everywhere. Liu went on to explain that this year's celebration was in honor of the Chinese students' relatives and loved ones who are so far away at home.
"The full moon connects those far from home," Liu said. "We are all under the same moon as our loved ones, and that connects us all. The entire world is a family."
After his kind words of international unity, he summoned the crowd to go enjoy the buffet. The food which was prepared specially for the festival was delicious beyond words.
There was fried rice served with a spicy beef dish, fresh fruit, egg rolls and mooncakes. Mooncakes are a small pastry filled with dates and nuts. It is customary to eat these cakes during the celebration, and they taste a little like a Fig Newton.
After everyone's bellies were full, the games begun. It started with an intense game of musical chairs. Fits of laughter erupted from the crowd as the young, and young at heart, scrambled for the last remaining seat after the music had stopped.
After three rounds, a new game was introduced. It was a traditional Chinese game where two teams have to move an entire bowl full of beans from one side of a table to the other. It proved to be more difficult in execution, as the slippery beans bested an elderly lady who mustered the courage to go play.
Laura Terry, who is the director of the Multicultural Affairs office, helped organize the event and she was beaming at its success.
"I am so happy it turned out well," Terry said. "I am filled with joy at the fusion of people and cultures that has taken place here tonight. It is a magical thing when people who are young, old, Chinese, black and white all come together in unity."
Terry said that this was the first time that the Chinese Scholars Association had come to them wanting to create an event together, and the result was amazing.
"This kind of thing is what the Office of Multicultural Affairs is all about," Terry said. "We would love to continue to have events like this that unite people and celebrate diversity."
Wenzong Li, who worked to organize the event with the Chinese Scholars Association, was delighted at the event's success.
"I am glad that all these people came, and are interested in Chinese culture," Li said. "We want to continue to work with the Office of Multicultural Affairs so we can keep having celebrations such as these."
Hopefully, Wenzong's wishes come true, and celebrations like this can continue to flourish on campus.
When people of all cultures come together in unity it breeds nothing but good relationships and healthy diversity on campus. It is a wonderful tradition that the Office of Multicultural Affairs and the Chinese Student and Scholars Associations have begun, and luckily their message of peace and togetherness will spread across ETSU. Here's looking forward to Chinese New Year.

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