Chinese Cultural Organization celebrates Mid-Autumn Festival

Troy's Chinese Student Cultural Organization and Troy's international programs held a Mid-Autumn Festival at the Baptist Campus Ministries building last Thursday.

The Mid-Autumn Festival is a traditional Chinese celebration for the beginning of the Autumn season. The event consisted of planned performances of singing, dancing and music. After the performances, all guests in attendance were welcome to dinner, made up of Chinese dishes traditionally eaten during the holiday.

"These students are a part of the 1-2-1 program, so they do their first year in China, their freshman year, two years in Troy, and they go back for their final year in China," said Austin Deal, assistant director of China Operations. “While they're here in the U.S. we like to have these activities; it kills two birds with one stone, and they get to experience a holiday while they're away from home.

"It would be like if I was in China and someone put on Thanksgiving for me."

For many of these international students, it will be a while before they get to see their families again. This event aimed to make America feel more like a home away from home.

"It's kind of like a chance for us to cure our home sick, they can gather all the international students together, and we can have fun together and share the moon cakes like a big family," said Miranda Zhou, an international student from China.

While the event is a traditional Chinese celebration, many local students also got in on the action. They participated in dances, karaoke and general mingling with their international peers. One local student even acted as a co-host alongside an international student, further pushing the inclusivity of the event.

"I thought the event was fantastic,” said James McAlister, a freshman electrical engineering major from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. “I wasn't expecting this amount of talent, especially on a random Thursday, Friday, just to come out and see the level that these people were performing at.”

In February, they will hold another event to celebrate the Chinese New Year, giving both local and international students more opportunities to learn from each other and about each other.