The Northern California Chinese School Association held its 47th annual Thanksgiving dinner on the evening of December 8th (last Sunday), in the South Bay, to express sincere gratitude to overseas Chinese leaders, association colleagues, principals, teachers, and volunteers who have strongly supported Chinese language education over the past year.
The event attracted over 80 guests, including the Director of the Taiwan Representative Office in San Francisco, Lai Mingqi, and his wife Yun Wenzhen, the Director of the San Francisco Bay Area Overseas Chinese Cultural and Educational Services Center, Zhuang Yashu, Overseas Chinese Affairs Commissioners Li Hanwen, Wei Dezhen, and Li Wenxiong, Overseas Chinese Affairs Advisory Commissioners Lu Yuzhen and Lin Meilian, Councilmember Shao Yang from Fremont, Eva Air’s San Francisco Branch General Manager Zeng Yuping, and Fremont Unified High School District Board Member Kou Huifeng, among others, who all joined the celebration.
President of the Northern California Chinese School Association, Li Naya, mentioned that despite the challenges of teaching Chinese overseas, the support and companionship from everyone make all the hard work worthwhile. She expressed that seeing everyone’s smiles validates the efforts and brings her happiness. President Li Naya thanked all the guests for their attendance, emphasizing that the most important aspect was everyone gathering together to share good times.
Representing the government, Director Lai Mingqi of the Taiwan Representative Office in San Francisco expressed deep appreciation to the Northern California Chinese School Association for their long-standing efforts in promoting Chinese education overseas, preserving Chinese culture, and assisting the government in advancing overseas Chinese education. He stated that the association not only brings together the strength of overseas Chinese, but also encourages active participation in the inheritance of Chinese education. It is this selfless dedication that allows Chinese education overseas to continue and flourish.
Director of the Overseas Chinese Education Center, Zhuang Yashu, expressed profound gratitude to the Northern California Chinese School Association, stating that the association is the greatest support in promoting overseas Chinese education for the Overseas Chinese Affairs Commission and the Overseas Chinese Education Center. She emphasized that without the association, there would be no overseas Chinese education center. Over the years, the association has worked hand in hand with the Overseas Chinese Affairs Commission and the Overseas Chinese Education Center to promote the inheritance and development of Chinese language education. Director Zhuang, on behalf of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Commission and the Overseas Chinese Education Center, offered sincere gratitude to everyone present.
The atmosphere at the Thanksgiving dinner was lively, with several upbeat songs prompting guests to dance along, including the beloved Taiwan baseball champion support song, “Taiwan Braves On.” In addition to fine food and wine, the event featured exciting performances. Yun Wenzhen performed “Stand-In” with deep emotion, while Director Zhuang Yashu sang “Love Me Again,” receiving enthusiastic applause.
The event also included an exciting raffle section, where every participant went home with prizes. The karaoke session at the end of the night reached its peak, closing with the song “Heart of Gratitude,” leaving a poignant and emotional resonance to the entire evening of laughter and surprises.