Hundreds of Cultural Flowers Contend in Beauty with Chinese One Outshining

Every year, May is the Asian Heritage Month in Saint John, when all the major Asian cultural associations will organize a series of activities to display exotic culture, and promote multi-cultural exchanges. Grasping the mainstream opportunities and carrying forward the Chinese culture are the persistent development policy of Confucius Institute of New Brunswick (CINB). This year is no exception. At the opening ceremony of the "Asian Heritage Month" held in May 7th, CINB prepared the Chinese cultural exhibition tables to explain and demonstrate various cultural objects to the audience who came here to experience it. Under the guidance of language teacher Zhang Xiaoyu and Volunteer teacher Li Nannan, the whole team of CINB presented a visual feast--- world-renowned Chinese folk music "Two Springs Reflect the Moon" and beautiful fan dance "Chun Xiao" to Saint John.

This year is the fifth year of CINB to offer Chinese courses in three high schools in Saint John city, and the first year to open Chinese courses in elementary and middle schools. With the full support of the Education Bureau and the principals, Chinese curriculums have formally entered the school teaching system of Millidgeville North School and Barnhill Memorial School since February and received a warm welcome from both teachers and students. For this big celebration, CINB volunteer teacher Li Nannan, together with 11 students from local schools, read an ancient poem Chun Xiao to the audience and presented a wonderful fan dance, accompanied by cheerful music, dressed in the colorful costumes, which got warm applauses and cheers again and again.  The chairman of Asian Cultural Association gave a high praise to children's dance.

CINB language teacher Zhang Xiaoyu's father came to New Brunswick for a visit and participated  in the "Asian Cultural Heritage Month" activities to support the patriotic promotion of Chinese culture. He and a local musician presented an Erhu and dulcimer ensemble--- "Two Springs Reflect the Moon". Everybody has been touched by its exquisite and soft melody, and lingering sadness. Languages are different, but music is beyond boundaries. The traditional Chinese melody played on the other side of the ocean is not only an enjoyment of music, but also draws closer the friendship between China and Canada. It accords with the spirit of " shared harmony and beauty” advocated by Confucianism.

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