Carellynn Lim Hui Li, 1st year DFS student shares her experience about representing Singapore at the Hanyu Qiao Competition in China
”I was delighted when I clinched first prize in the Singapore Chinese Bridge trials; hence, I felt honored to be able to represent Singapore in the 7th Chinese Bridge Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students in China. This was a rare opportunity indeed; therefore I would like to express my gratitude to Singapore, Nanyang Polytechnic, and the Singapore Hanban for their faith and counsel.
This international Chinese competition was one of the big events which are hosted annually by China. This year, it was even more exciting as the tournament was held prior to the Beijing Olympic Games. The competition included public speaking, a talent and skill performance, a rapid Q and A session and also a test on our general knowledge of chinese. Although it wasn’t a bed of roses, the competition itself provided plenty of fun. In fact, I am more than happy with the Outstanding Prize which I had managed to obtain on behalf of Singapore.
The competition may be important, but as far as I am concerned, it is the spirit of the game that matters most. Hence, I left for China with this goal in mind, and that was to learn from people of different background and culture while widening my network of friends. Through our daily communication, we learnt about each other’s culture and this allowed the world to understand Singapore a little better.
Although the competition was held in the Hunan Province this time, the cultural experience expedition was first carried out in Beijing. We visited the headquarters of the Kong Tzu Institute, the magnificent Bird’s Nest, the beautiful Water Cube and many other scenic spots and historical locations such as the Great Wall and the Imperial Palace. We even tasted the famous, local Peking duck.
Next, we stopped by at Hangzhou. Immersing ourselves in the local and cultural experience was part of the competition’s criteria as one of the sessions; the rapid Q and A section involved a comprehensive understanding of the local culture. In Hangzhou, we went to the thought-provoking Xihu and other tourist-famous spots such as the Lei Feng Tower, the Silk Museum, the Lingyin Temple, the historical Qinghe Street and the Hu Qing Yu Tang Chinese Medicine Museum. The television broadcasting coordinators of this event also arranged for me to make a self-introductory recording of myself at Hu Qing Yu Tang. The entire recording process was not easy; but I had enjoyed myself throughout the process. Hence I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincerest gratitude to the coordinators.
The last station was at Hunan Province’s Changsha. Our entire journey and competition process throughout Changsha was recorded by the Chinese Hunan Satelite Television station. In addition, all our activities in Beijing and Hangzhou were overseen by the Hunan Satelite. There were many rounds in the competition. Although it was no mean feat, but the pleasure one gained from it really provides food for the thoughts. The friendliness and the care shown by the contestants, staff and volunteers in the competition moved me and left me with a warm feeling. We treated this competition as a friendly match and therefore we supported and encouraged each other! Perhaps, this was more meaningful than the competition itself?
This competition helped me to mature mentally and spiritually besides leaving me with a memory of unforgettable experience and newfound friendships. Finally, I must thank my beloved family, lecturers and friends who had supported me along the way, before and during the competition, and also my mentors, school and country for shaping me into the way I am today!”
