CHINESE STUDENTS CELEBRATE NEW YEAR AWAY FROM HOME

BY NURUL SHAFINAZ

KANGAR (Perlis, Malaysia), Jan 29 (Bernama) -- Being away from home can be
trying for many, especially during festive holidays like the Chinese New Year.
H
owever, not so for 31 Chinese students enrolled at Universiti Malaysia
Perlis (UniMAP) here as the hospitality of locals has eased their homesickness.

Although the environment and weather are different, they admit the Chinese
New Year celebration in their motherland is the same as in Malaysia with the
traditional grand feast and visits to kin, relatives and friends.

The students, who are from the Xinjiang district in China, are currently
taking up an English course at the university before pursuing degrees in
engineering in the July intake.

A student, Feng Yunk Fei, 21, when met, said this was his first time
celebrating without his family but expressed joy at having a special new year
function here.

"Previous new year celebrations consisted of a grand feast and family
visits. This is the first time I am celebrating with friends in a lively event,"
he told Bernama here Wednesday.

He said he was happy that UniMAP had thoughtfully organised a Chinese New
Year celebration for them on Monday although they were a minority, and added
that they were honoured that the event was graced by the university's
chancellor, the Regent of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Jamalullail who
was accompanied by his consort, Her Highness Tuanku Hajah Lailatul Shahreen
Akashah.

Another student, Li Yan, 19, said she felt lucky that the university
demonstrated such care and concern for its students by organising a Chinese New
Year function for students who could not return home to celebrate.

"Although far from home, my sadness being away from the family is lessened
by the presence of friends and concern shown by UniMAP Vice-Chancellor, Prof
Dr Kamarudin Hussin, who is like a father to us," she said.

She added that the students also held a lively grand feast at their
residence on Chinese New Year's eve.

--BERNAMA