Submitted by Jake Kalinowski the 2024 Spring program in Sydney, Australia…
I am taking Intercultural Communications at CEA CAPA where we learn about a diverse range of cultures and how that shapes our experiences. We took a trip to Sydney’s Chinatown which is just a five minute walk from our classroom building in the city for one week. We learned about Chinese culture and the celebrations around Lunar New Year which is huge in China and in Sydney’s Chinatown.
There are fireworks on the weekends and Asian restaurants are flooded with people experiencing all the tasty food Chinese culture has to offer. My friends and I saw the dragon parade since 2024 is the Year of the Dragon. There were hundreds of people, tourists, locals, Chinese, all viewing the parade which was a neat experience that so many people of different cultures came together to watch this sacred event in Chinese culture.
We learned about the significance of the color red to the Chinese people and how it symbolizes happiness. We also learned from our tour guide named Justin that white symbolizes death. This is particularly interesting because in American culture white symbolizes purity and innocence.
Sydney’s Chinatown was so lovely and special to visit, especially because it is the largest in Australia and in the Southern Hemisphere. The food is wonderful and tasty. I’ve had noodles and soup and it’s so nice dipping into Chinese culture while abroad in Australia. It creates a unique experience for me and my peers while studying and opens our eyes to new perspectives. (Submitted on March 9, 2024)