Skip to main content
Communication, Art + Technology › Communication
SFU Co-op Student

two skeletons standing side by side
Credit
unsplash.com
Not only has this experience fostered a greater understanding of communication and business styles, culinary tastes, and ideologies, but also of traditions.

Upon leaving Canada, I knew I would miss a few of the western holidays I love to celebrate, like Thanksgiving, Halloween and Christmas.  What I didn’t realize then, and have only come to realize now, is that the Chinese people understand very little about western holidays and traditions.

Halloween is very much a western tradition.  Most of the students here know a little about the holiday and the activities that accompany it through other foreigners they have met, but they have never experienced the festivities themselves.  This is in contrast with my co-workers, most of whom know nothing at all about the holiday.  To inform our co-workers about western holidays, and to alleviate a bit of our own homesickness, the other co-op students and I decided to plan and host a Halloween party.

Carlie smiling with a group of friends

It was fabulous!  We explained to our coworkers where the original idea of Halloween came from and how children in Canada celebrate the holiday by dressing up and going “Trick or Treating”.  So to show them what it looked like, we all dressed up in costumes.  For the party we blacked out all the windows of my classroom and prepared a haunted house for smalls groups to pass through. There were scarecrows jumping out at people, a gross feeling station, and a dummy that grabbed people around their feet as they passed.  I think the most excitement we had was when my roommate lit her mummy costume on fire with a candle!!  The “stop, drop, and roll” technique we learned in elementary school finally became useful, and she managed to put herself out; but not until after she had rolled into more of the candles.

Carlie in a scary skeleton costume un between two people laughing

Following the haunted house we carved pumpkins.  I was quite surprised that there were pumpkins in China, mind you they were a little on the expensive side.  At first our co-workers didn’t know what to do, and they just looked at the pumpkins and knives in confusion.  After we demonstrated how to carve one, they really got into it and made some pretty good looking jack-o-lanterns!  Everyone was amazed at the activities and all the costumes.  I think the best part of the celebration was when our cake became ammunition during a massive cake fight.  Everyone was covered in cream!

Carlie's students carving pumpkins

The feedback we received from all the Chinese guests at our party was terrific, they really enjoyed themselves and were able to experience a bit of the western holiday I love.  The lack of knowledge I have regarding Chinese holidays is comparable to that of my co-workers regarding western holidays, except I’m the one in China.  I’m hoping that during my time here I can also gain experience and a greater understanding of the traditions and meanings behind the holidays the people in China celebrate.

Carlie in a cake fight with friends

Working and living here has really become an exchange and mingling of cultures that encompass every aspect.  Not only has this experience fostered a greater understanding of communication and business styles, culinary tastes, and ideologies, but also of traditions.  Enjoy the holidays and try to take some time to learn how other cultures celebrate their holidays, I’m sure you’ll find it an enlightening experience.I’m currently in the midst of planning a few parties for Christmas, a few for my students and one for my co-workers.  I’m hoping to further expand their understanding of my favorite holiday of the year through these events; as it seems ironic that on bus windows and in the supermarkets there are signs in English saying “Merry Christmas”, when most of the people seeing them can’t read them or understand what they mean.

Merry Christmas!

Beyond the Blog

SFU Co-op Student
visibility  95
Mar 8, 2011

You Might Like These... Co-op Reflections, Professional Development, Career Exploration, Seeking, Work Term Extension

author, courtney, smiling
A Second Term in Government: More of the Same?

Having completed my first work term for Health Canada as a Communications Officer Intern, I was eager to try something new, and the government was not where I believed that was going to happen. That is until I was offered a position at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada...

picture of glichelle pondering a though
Surviving Workplace Politics

Ever been peeved with workplace politics? Have you ever been a victim of office politics? One student shares her experiences from the workplace with tips on how to survive.

 

person with their head in a book
Responsibility and Success

One of the most memorable parts of my time in co-op was the collection of accidents, errors, mistakes, and mix-ups that happened in the course of working in the laboratory.

 

You Might Like These... Co-op Reflections

Image of the Author during the Internship
It’s Part of My DNA: An Interview with Amber Funk Barton

An interview with the artistic director of a contemporary dance company. Brittany speaks to Amber about her upcoming solo work, past work and background in dance, thoughts on opportunities for emerging dancers, and more!  

A photo of 3 raccoons on a tree
Raccoons: The Perfect Career Role Models

Raccoons are wonderful creatures - and as worthy of praise for their career-navigation skills as any other creature I can currently think of. So, let us appreciate the greatness that is the raccoon, and think of them the next time we're pondering our next career move.

Image of the author
Alumni Spotlight: Almira Bardai, the Globetrotting Communicator

A globetrotting communicator, Almira Bardai is a PR and communications professional with over 17 years of experience in the field working all over the globe from Vancouver to Australia. Read on to learn more about her journey!