ZHEJIANG NORMAL UNIVERSITY INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS FIRST INDIAN AZALEA FLOWER FESTIVAL IN YA FAN ZHEN TOWN
YA FAN ZHEN (雅畈镇) is a village situated in Jinhua. March 30th ,2016 was the day set aside for the opening ceremony of “Indian Azalea Flower Festival”. In order to give this festival a lively and colorful touch, the international students were invited to display their cultural diversities through songs and dances.
The journey started by 9 am, when the international students all got into the bus heading to Ya Fan Zhen. Various sounds and rythmes could be heard from within the bus ranging from young energetic echoes of songs to the tunes from the drums. This was just a foretaste of what they had to display in Ya Fan Zhen. The delegation was made up of 28 international students and 4 teachers.
After a thirty minute drive, the delegation finally got to the ceremonial ground. The arrival of the international students completely changed the atmosphere of the town. Everyone ranging from photographers, young and old was greatly thrilled. Snapshots could be perceived at every angle.
The ceremony thus started with the performance of a variety of Chinese dances, African dances as well as Arabian dances.
AFRICAN DANCE PERFORMED BY CAMEROONIAN STUDENTS
The flexible twisting of their waists and the swaying of their grass-weaved skirts did not leave the onlookers indifferent.
THE ARABIAN DANCE
The Arabian dance was performed by a group of eight handsome and good-looking international students originating from four different countries namely: Sudan, Mauritania, Egypt and Gabon. 
Finally the ceremony came to an end but the day had just dawn for the Zhejiang Normal University’s international students’ convoy. Next on the schedule was the Jinhua’s “bullfighting” competition. Hence, the group moved straightaway to Xiang Yang farm to watch the animals fight. “Bullfighting” is part and parcel of the Chinese traditional civilization, and as such the Chinese people hold it in high esteem.
“Come on!” “Hush!” ; these sounds could be heard from the crowd of onlookers. The international students were not indifferent.After this thrilling performance, the international students once more got into the bus but this time around they headed to a secondary school in order to a have some cultural exchanges with young Chinese students. It was a wonderful experience teaching Chinese students few words in French for example “bonjour” which means “good morning”. The Arab international students equally taught the Chinese students some basic expressions in Arabic.
The Chinese students in turn showed the latter how to write some Chinese characters.
Singing, cracking jokes and displaying basketball skills were some of the extra-curricular activities displayed by the international students.
The students were so happy and they expressed their joy by asking international students to sign on their pullovers and books as souvenirs of their passage in this place and of all the great moments they shared together.
‘All’s well that ends well!’. Till we meet again, it’s bye for now.
