CI Mandarin Language Assistant Hou Yanwei had her TV debut in New Zealand on 5 February, the first day of the Chinese New Year of the Pig.

Requested by the leading morning TV show, Breakfast, Confucius Institute recommended Yanwei to talk with Hayley Holt and Jack Tame in the TVNZ studio. Although being in Auckland only for two weeks, Yanwei already has a lot to share with the anchors and audiences. She talked about the meanings of the Chinese Zodiac animals, and how Chinese people celebrate the Lunar New Year.

As she was born in Year of the Pig, Yanwei is eagerly looking forward to the New Year, maybe a little bit anxiously as well. Her journey in New Zealand just started. It will be a year with challenges for her and other Mandarin Language Assistants. It will not be easy for them being abroad to work and live in another country. However, it will also be a year with exciting adventures and experiences for all of them.