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“As an international student, I can help more people understand both Chinese and Brazilian cultures by organizing cultural activities, providing translation and interpretation, and engaging in various practices,” said Caroline Ramos Pamponet (Chinese name: Ziyan), a Brazilian student majoring in International Economics and Trade 2024 at the Business School of Hubei University. She was awarded “Star of Cultural Exchange” among the titles of“Qinyuan Outstanding Student” selection at Hubei University on April 16.

In 2024, Ziyan participated in the activity : An Invitation from Brazil: 50 Letters to President Xi Jinping, organized by the Confucius Institute of Hubei University at São Paulo State University in Brazil, by writing a personal letter in Chinese. In her letter, she expressed her heartfelt support for cultural exchanges between China and Brazil: “I hope to help more Brazilians understand and appreciate Chinese culture.” She also shared her touching memories of setting foot in China for the first time and her experiences of studying Chinese at Hubei University. For Ziyan, communicating with classmates from diverse backgrounds and gaining a deeper understanding of Chinese customs and lifestyles has been a valuable and unforgettable experience.

From 2021 to 2022, Ziyan studied Chinese systematically at the Confucius Institute of Hubei University at São Paulo State University in Brazil. Since arriving at Hubei University in 2023, she has been actively committed to promoting cultural exchange between China and Brazil. At the Brazilian Culture Festival at Hubei University, she amazed her classmates with passionate dance moves in a golden samba costume, showcasing the vibrant spirit of samba. Her performance also integrated elements of Carnival and football, two vital parts of Brazilian culture, in the hope of sparking greater interest among her peers in Brazil’s rich traditions.

During the Fourth China-Africa Future Leaders’Dialogue, she performed Tai Chi routines as a member of the Dragon & Lion Dance Art Troupe and the International Tai Chi Team of Hubei University, demonstrating the philosophical essence of Chinese martial arts to African youth. When receiving the Latin American and Caribbean countries’ diplomatic envoys delegation and Hungarian media delegation, she accompanied martial arts performances with traditional Chinese instrument Guzheng and taught the guests basic Guzheng techniques with enthusiasm. Seeing their amazement as they gently plucked the strings, she felt deeply gratified: “It is truly a happiness to introduce more people to the charm of traditional Chinese instruments.”

Ziyan is not only an enthusiast of Chinese culture but also an active participant in experiencing it. Last year, she conducted a field research in Yingshan County, Hubei Province. “Local tea farmers taught me how to gently yet firmly pluck tea buds, just like the balance of softness and strength emphasized in Tai Chi,” she said. This unique cultural experience deepened her understanding of rural China. Over the past two years, from her experience in Chinese villages and fields to the Hubei Province International Chinese Language Day; from the CCTV program Reading Classics on Dragon Boat Festival: Youth China Festival to the Hubei TV Education Channel’s Celebrating the New Year with Chinese Characters and Decoding Chinese Characters, she has been tirelessly engaged in cultural exchange events. Reflecting on her journey of China-Brazil cultural exchanges, Ziyan said with firm conviction, “I will continue to explore innovative ways that resonate with the spirit of our time and serve as a bridge for mutual learning between Chinese and Brazilian civilizations.”