Annual event hosted by International Programs to highlight Year of the Pig

The University of West Alabama’s International Programs will host its annual Chinese New Year Celebration on Tuesday, Feb. 5, in the Bell Conference Center on campus, beginning at 6 p.m.

There are 12 Chinese zodiac animals symbolizing a variety of fortunes. Each year a different animal is celebrated, and 2019 is the Year of the Pig, representing wealth and prosperity.

The Chinese culture celebrates the Chinese New Year on different dates each year based on the lunar calendar as opposed to the American Gregorian calendar. The Year of the Pig starts Feb. 5 and ends Jan. 24, 2020.

According to UWA’s Office of Institutional Effectiveness, three percent of UWA’s student population are international students.  Thirty six percent of the international student population are students from China.

UWA International Programs sponsors this event each year, and the UWA Chinese Student Association organizes the activities.

International Admissions Counselor Meng Xu says it is important to create a multi-cultural environment in Livingston.

“That is my mission,” she said.  “I have always believed that God brought me here for something, so I bring international students to UWA and expose them to the American culture, and in the same way I want to share international cultures with American students and the community.”

Activities for the evening include entertainment, performances, cultural demonstrations, games, and karaoke.

The menu options are traditional Chinese food, cake pops, and pig themed sheet cake.

Admission is free and the event is open to the public.  For more information, please contact Meng Xu (Vicky) at xum@uwa.edu.

The UWA Vision is to be recognized nationally and internationally for providing quality education programs via traditional and alternative means and to be acknowledged as the primary agent of positive change in Alabama’s Black Belt.