Celebrating Chinese Language and Culture at the Ferguson Library in Stamford

From: http://stamford.patch.com/articles/stamford-families-celebrate-the-year-of-the-rabbit

The Chinese Language School of Connecticut and the Chinese Language School of Fairfield County held a Chinese New Year Celebration Sunday at Ferguson Library.

As the program began, Daisy Laone, principal of the Chinese Language School of Connecticut moved around the room at lightning speed, engaging the children in conversation about the celebration.

“What year is it?” Laone asked.

“2011,” a few of the adults in the room replied.

“The year of the rabbit,” Fiona Bischoff said.

Fiona Bischoff and her twin sister, Caoilainn Bischoff, attended the Chinese Language School of Connecticut in the past and frequently attend programs at the library.

“When you greet people at the Chinese New Year, you say ‘gong xi gong xi — best wishes,” Laone instructed the crowd.

The children quickly repeated after Laone — she then went around the room and helped them each to identify and pronounce their Chinese zodiac sign.

“This is the second year we’ve held this event,” Laone told Patch. “It’s a good chance for children in America to experience the celebration.”

“I hope today that the residents of Stamford can embrace Chinese culture and learn something new,” Yelena Klompus, world languages librarian at Ferguson, told Patch. “Our goal is to make everyone aware of other cultures.”

Klompus chairs the Diversity Task Force at Ferguson Library and is responsible for many of the cultural programs seen throughout the year.

Later in the day, the Chinese Language School of Fairfield County presented a martial arts demonstration and a dance performance.

Dance instructor Erica Hsu’s young students demonstrated a Taiwan aboriginal dance. Their costumes were made by parents and teachers at the school. Martial arts instructor Anastasia Lebrun led four students through a series of moves. Lebrun has been working with her students on and off since September.

“We are a very serious school,” Yulin Tsao, principal of the Chinese Language School of Fairfield County told the crowd. “But when we have fun, we have fun.”

The Chinese Language School of Connecticut will host their ninth annual fundraiser, a Chinese New Year Festival, on Jan. 23 at the Stamford Plaza Hotel and Conference Center. Visit their website for more information.