Filipino students residing in Beijing celebrate Christmas while balancing academic commitments. Despite missing traditional festivities, they find joy in bonding with international friends.
BEIJING — The day before Christmas means last-minute grocery shopping and gift-wrapping in the Philippines as everyone comes together to celebrate one of the world's most anticipated seasons.In China, it is just an ordinary day. In Renmin University of China (RUC), one of the country's top educational institutions located in Beijing 's Haidian District, many students still have classes the day before Christmas as the fall semester will end on January 12, 2025.
Students go about the day going to class, writing academic papers, and studying for the upcoming finals week. The scenario is different from what Andy Tan is used to in the Philippines, where Christmas unofficially starts in September. But instead of feeling sad over missing the usual Filipino treats served on the dining table during Noche Buena, Tan chose to surround himself with the friends he gained in the months since he moved to study in Beijing. 'My plan is to spend some time with my international friends here in Renmin because I know they also feel the holiday blues,' said Tan, a Filipino-Chinese student currently taking a postgraduate degree in finance. On Christmas Day, Tan enjoyed a respite from classes and exams and went bowling with his friends from Sweden, Indonesia, and France. They traded stories over dinner after the game.Tan, who hails from Binondo, has fond memories of going bowling during the Christmas season with his friends from church.'Bowling is a fun activity that doesn’t judge a person for lack of skill or knowledge about the game. It’s beginner friendly. It's the best kind of sport to be played in a group, the more the merrier talaga. The competition brings out the best in everyone,' Tan said. A Christmas tree graces the venue in the international school where teacher Castillo Mapo Jr. celebrated the occasion with colleagues and students. As Beijing's weather dipped below zero, Filipino teachers like Castillo Mapo J
Christmas Beijing Students Philippines International Friends Education
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