On July 29, President Ren Jianhong, Vice President Huang Leijing, some teachers and students, representatives of municipal friendship units, and the visiting delegation of teachers and students from Puget Sound University of the United States gathered in Guling to participate in the Guling Friendship exchange meeting.
At the meeting, President Ren Jianhong, on behalf of Hwa Nan, extended warm welcome and sincere greetings to the American friends who came from afar. She pointed out that in Guling, a fertile land for cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries, we gather together because of lot. At Guling, we not only enjoy the beautiful natural scenery, but also deeply feel its rich cultural charm. She thanked Trimble Foundation for the support and help for the exchanges between the two schools, and wish the friendship is as long and profound as a continuous mountain range.
After that, nine student representatives from the Department of Culture and Education and the Department of International Business Management of Hwa Nan took turns to make wonderful English presentations on the topics of the love of Guling passed down from generation to generation, the outstanding contribution of Hwa Nan founder Lydia Trimble, the stories of Dr. Charles and Mr. Robert Trimble from the Trimble family, and the profound friendship between Hwa Nan and the University of Puget Sound. The vivid narration presented a picture of cultural exchanges between the two universities across time and space for the guests.
Shi Daochen, a well-known scholar and professor in the field of Asian Studies at the University of Puget Sound in the United States, shared his thinking and understanding of the spirit of Guling. He said, Not only is the natural scenery of Guling amazing, but the story of civilization and friendship it contains has a long history, which is deeply moving. After visiting Guling, we know that as early as more than 100 years ago, this land was already a place where men, women and children of different cultures and skin colors lived and ate together. This scene of equality and friendly exchanges is really surprising and amazing. One hundred years later, during my trip to Guling, I deeply felt the friendliness and sincerity of the teachers and students from Hwa Nan, which made me feel warm. In addition, as a pure land away from the hustle and bustle, the quiet environment of Guling provides an excellent space for self-reflection, allowing us to settle our thoughts and explore ourselves in peace.
At the end of the meeting, President Ren Jianhong and Vice President Huang Leijing presented well-prepared gifts to the teachers and students of the University of Puget Sound. Professor Shi Daochen gave a reciprocal gift on behalf of the University of Puget Sound.
In order to let American teachers and students have a deeper understanding of the culture and history of Guling, Hwa Nan also carefully arranged a tour after the meeting. The tour included some iconic places such as Cryptomeria King Park, Big Dream Library, Guliang International Public Welfare Society, Guling Historical Architecture Exhibition Hall and Guling Post Office. Through field visits, the American teachers and students have a more intuitive and profound understanding of the diverse cultures of Guling.
