Students visiting from Sanmei School of Nanning have formed new friendships with students from St Luke’s Anglican School while sharing a lunch of classic Australian dishes.
Prepared by the St Luke’s students, the meal served as an icebreaker when they hosted the middle-school aged Chinese student delegation as part of recent Sister City delegation visits from Nanning, China for Lunar New Year.
St Luke’s grade 7 student Tina Gambanga said they chose to serve foods from around Australia, including those that were featured in the storybook ‘Possum Magic’.
“With Adelaide we made pavlova, with Melbourne I think we made pumpkin scones, then we also made steak sandwiches,” Tina said.
“I think it’s something that really shows what part of Australia likes.”
Tina struck up a conversation with Nanning Middle School grade 7 student Lyu Qianbei, eager to learn more about her hometown.
“I was very excited because I want to travel the world and see lots of new people,” Tina said.
“I think she’s a very nice girl and I really want to get to be her friend.”
Lyu said she was enjoying her first visit to Australia, which included a visit to Alexandra Park Zoo where they had the opportunity to interact with the Zoo’s resident dingoes.
“The animals are very fantastic and magic,” Lyu said.
“The air here is very fresh and the space are very beautiful, the trees and the grass are green, and I think it’s a good place.
Lyu said she enjoyed the lunch prepared by the students, even gamely trying a vegemite sandwich.
“I never tried it, it’s good,” she said.
“I think she’s (Tina) brave and confident because she is the first one to talk with me.
“She took me to get food and introduced me.
“I feel very happy.”
The students from Nanning later took part in the Lunar New Year celebrations at the Bundaberg Multiplex.
