At noon today, April 13, «The Asia-Pacific Club» at the Center for Children’s Art Vladivostok gathered local and foreign students to meet Songkran — Thai New Year. Students and pupils told each other about the culture of their country, played on wooden spoon and took part in a quiz, informs «Pacific Russia».

Surrounded by Thai lanterns at a large table with a samovar painted, Easter cakes and colored eggs gathered students and representatives of the Embassy of Thailand and Laos, students secondary school №63, their teachers and the management of «Asia-Pacific club.» Holiday in Thailand and neighboring countries marks the transition to the rainy season and the beginning of the New means, this time in 2558, the year.

The festival began with a traditional ritual — pouring water that cleans both literally and symbolically — from a negative and bad thoughts. The main purpose of the event was a cultural exchange between young people from different countries.

«Since foreign students came to Vladivostok to learn the Russian language, and the event coincided with Easter, we decided to treat their Russian dishes, meet Russian traditions», — explained the head of the «Asia-Pacific Club» and a senior teacher of the Department of Asia Pacific FEFU Antonina Golub.

Before foreigners made popular team, performing a few songs on a wooden spoon. In turn, Thai and Laotian students showed their skills on the instrument uncomplicated, and performed the song «City of Gold», demonstrating knowledge of the Russian language.

«Now from Thailand and Laos in FEFU trained five people, and in VSUES — 13. In connection with the European sanctions against Russian policy of our state is aimed at intensive development of relations with the countries of the Asia-Pacific, South-East Asia. Especially Thailand, Laos, Vietnam — our long-term partners. The issue of attracting young people is very important. Compared to last year the number of foreign students in our universities has increased. In the long term, for example, in the Far Eastern Federal University will study 25% of foreign students. Now there are more than two thousand», — shared with a reporter VL.ru Professor of the Department of Asia Pacific FEFU Alexander Sokolovsky.

Also, Thai and Lao students talked about their rituals meeting of the New Year and told about life away from home. «I am very pleased to learn in Vladivostok. Here I had a very good friend, «- told the audience Valeria. Foreign student from VSUES still hardly speak in Russian, but surely many. In talking about the people, the weather and study in the sea adds the phrase «very good». Other students in the words of a girl with a nod approvingly.

The event ended with a quiz on knowledge of the culture and geography of the two countries and a cup of tea. In the relaxed atmosphere of Russian students were able to communicate with foreign students. «In Thailand, a unique culture, but it is unusual attracts. It not only is unlike our own, but also very different from the culture of China, our neighbor. I liked the idea of ​​meeting and assemble Russian and foreign students «- shared his impressions monetary Alexander, a student of 10th class school №63.