By Yizheng Wang
We had a brief interview with Huimeng Zhou who is the new Chinese CPC this year. Huimeng is a tall girl with long hair. My first impression of her is shyness. However, when the topic came to Chinese language and culture, her talkative figure really surprised me. “A girl with her own thoughts could indeed spread her own culture,” I thought.
Q1: You study at Fu Dan University right? What year are you?
A: Yes, I’m junior this year.
Q: So we are about the same age! Were you born in 1997?
A: Yeah (smile)
Q2: What is your major? In what sense does it related to Asian Culture?
A: Chinese Language and Literature. I mean this is part of the Asian Culture(laugh).
Q3: What brings you to CC?
A: I always want to experience a different college life other than the Chinese one and the United States seems to be a great choice for me. Plus, my career expectation is a teacher so being a CPC in CC is a good opportunity for me.
Q: So what do you think of your identity as a CPC? Are you a student or an assistant of the professor?
A: Half-half, I would say. I spend time taking the block courses and I also help the professors with the Chinese courses. Fortunately, students can master Chinese very quickly and I am happy to see them making progress. I guess that’s my sense of achievement. I really enjoy it.
Q4: What goals would you like to achieve in CC for this year as a CPC?
A: The priority would be Chinese learning. I also want to share some Chinese cultural things, like food, history, and songs etc. What I’m doing is to encourage more students to study abroad in my school, Fudan University.
Q5: What activities would be held in Chinese language and culture learning?
A: Language Table for sure. I encourage the students who are willing to learn Chinese come to the Language Table. Don’t be shy. Language is never an easy thing to learn, it takes time and I would like to help.
Q: Good news for those who are interested in Chinese! Any other activities?
A: Sometimes we will hold big events which included all the CPCs.
Q: You mean a CPC meeting?
A: Not really. It’s an open meeting for all the students who live in language house and we will cook different food according to our cultural background.
Q: Sounds interesting! I also heard that you always cook in Asian House during the weekends, is it only for Asian House residences?
A: Not at all, you are welcomed to join no matter where you live. 6 pm every Saturday and Sunday. No appointment, just walk in haha.
