By: Eric Omorogieva
Edited By: Sophia Pradels
A Dinosaur, Mona Lisa, and Patrick Bateman. These were just a few of the characters that made an appearance at this year’s Hopkins-Nanjing Center Halloween Party. The event, a long-standing tradition at the HNC, is a unique opportunity to bring the community together and celebrate a popular American tradition. For many Chinese students, it was their first time celebrating Halloween. With campus fully reopening this fall semester, the planning and coordination that went into putting everything together represents the enthusiasm, dedication and spirit of the student body, as well as the comradery being established between Chinese and international students at the Center.
Photo Credit: Kang An
The planning of the event was headed by the campus banwei, a group of four elected students (two Chinese and two American) who represent the student body and organize campus activities. The banwei recruited dozens of students into subcommittees along the way to assist with decorations, setting up the haunted maze, handling food and drinks, working different stations, and hosting events throughout the night. Student mobilization and banwei coordination across different subcommittees led to the participation of dozens of students, while professors and staff also lent a hand.
Photo Credit: Zhuang Yuan
However, the festivities were actually scaled back from original plans due to the recent passing of former Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. Li’s sudden death sparked a period of grief for the nation, and in an effort to not appear too celebratory, the HNC decided to limit the number of outside guests previously allowed and re-centered the party on students, staff, and alumni. Li’s passing served as a reminder of cultural differences between the U.S. and China in terms of how institutions and society may feel they ought to respond to tragic events national in scope.
Photo Credit: Zhuang Yuan
Despite the setback, the night was still a success as students, professors, staff, and their children all joined in on the festivities. The haunted maze, borne out of an elaborate reshaping of the HNC fitness room with dividers, props and boarded up windows, was a must-see event brought to life by carefully placed volunteers and props to spook visitors. The main portion of the event ended with a costume contest, which drew participation from current students, alumni, and children. The contest was hosted by two students, each serving as English- and Chinese-speaking hosts, offering the opportunity for participants to answer questions in the language they felt most comfortable speaking.
Photo Credit: Zhuang Yuan
Even though Halloween is a celebration largely popularized by American culture, the night wasn’t without the inclusion of a popular Chinese activity, Karaoke Television (KTV). Students gathered in the HNC lounge to perform their favorite songs and showcase the multilingual character of the HNC community. Songs ranged from English, Chinese, and Spanish to Korean and Japanese, with no shortage of volunteers delivering their best performances in front of supportive audiences. The performances ran for hours and were the icing on the cake of a wonderful night of community bonding, offering a welcome break from the usual academic grind.
Photo Credit: Diao Ruobin
One of the few points of agreement between the American and Chinese governments these days is the importance of people-to-people exchanges and their ability to override wider geopolitical rifts. Events such as the HNC Halloween Party are great examples of cultural exchanges which, though seemingly trivial, help to foster a deeper understanding between various cultures.