This year, the summer camp at our institute was unique in that it took place in two shifts: the last week of June for the younger children and the first week of July for the older group.
As in previous years, the children were encouraged to attend the camp by its attractive programme. Not only did we welcome the regulars and students from our Institute's Saturday Chinese language school, but also new participants, for whom this was their first introduction to Chinese language and culture. In just a few days, the children were able to get acquainted with the Chinese language and learn commonly used Chinese phrases through playing, singing and learning Chinese hieroglyphics.
Here, they had the opportunity to learn Chinese calligraphy and to write their first hieroglyphs. But most importantly, during this camp, with the help of artist Qi Xiaoting, the children learnt a unique Chinese painting technique: idea expression or free brush, Chinese: xieyi 写意. Each day, campers deepened their knowledge of Chinese art and practised patiently learning how to hold a Chinese paintbrush and painting animals and plants in this style.
Every morning started with taiji (太极拳 taijiquan) ¬- fan practice, followed by our wonderful Chinese martial arts master Wang Junli inviting the children to play Chinese outdoor games. In the educational sessions, the children learned about the symbolism of Chinese opera masks, Chinese musical instruments, contemporary Chinese popular culture, tea-drinking culture, how to hold chopsticks, and how to knit a Chinese knot and friendship bracelets together.
Here, we not only learnt, but also made friends and had fun playing Chinese board games and watching Chinese films. The children also dressed up in traditional Chinese clothes, for which they decorated the main accessory - a fan - themselves.
At the end of the camp, the children and their parents took part in a closing ceremony, where everyone could enjoy the children's paintings, and the participants of the first shift entertained the crowd with a lively Chinese song. At the celebration, we tasted Chinese desserts, shared impressions, good emotions and the desire to repeat such vivid and unforgettable moments.
The Confucius Institute at Vilnius University is a place where Chinese culture comes alive. We, as specialists in Chinese culture, are happy to share our knowledge with anyone who is interested. Here we create a lively intercultural dialogue that allows us not only to get to know each other, but also to better understand our own culture.