On November 24 (BTJ), teachers and students of Chinese and Italian universities participated in the online activity of “CEAir on Air – Around the China-Italy Generation Z”. More than 40 “Generation Z” students from Nankai University and Santa Ana University in Pisa, Italy, launched an exchange across five cities of the two countries.
During the event, teachers and students from China and Italy and the staff of China Eastern Airlines had heated communication and discussions on topics such as “behind the scenes of the airline” and “experience of working and living in a foreign country”. Through the live camera, Diego Benedetto, the Italian star captain of China Eastern Airlines, and Hu Anlun, the flight attendant who once studied and lived in Italy, led the students into the Shanghai headquarters and Wuhan base of China Eastern Airlines to experience the daily life of China Eastern Airlines “in the clouds”.
The Meeting Once in a Lifetime Ignited the Enthusiasm of Sino-Italian “Generation Z” Exchange
The relevant person in charge of the Corporate Culture and Brand Management Department of China Eastern Airlines first delivered an opening speech and extended a warm welcome to the teachers and students of the two universities in China and Italy. He said: “In 2011, the first Shanghai-Rome flight took off from here. This year is the 10th anniversary of our service between China and Italy. Today, I choose with the special intention to meet you in the cabin to recall the good memory of flying and to look forward to meeting you again in the blue sky.”
Chinese and Italian Teachers Delivered Speeches and Looked Forward to Future Cooperation between the Two Countries
Alberto Di Minin, Professor of Santa Ana University in Pisa, Italy, and Italian president of the Confucius Institute in Pisa, believes that the company nowadays plays an increasingly decisive role in world development. Today, it is undoubtedly a pleasure to enter China Eastern Airlines headquarters online and talk to the staff. It is a rare opportunity for researchers, scholars and students.
Fabiana Rita De Carlo, Project Manager of the Confucius Institute in Pisa, said: “Today’s event is a model of the cooperation not only between Chinese and Italian universities, but also between China and Italy. As a global company in China, China Eastern Airlines has made a very important contribution to the project cooperation between Italy and China. This time, it has established a bridge of dialogue, understanding and mutual respect between Chinese and Italian youth. All these are very meaningful.”
Marco Bonaglia, Italian activity coordinator from Galileo Galilei Italian Institute and doctoral student of Chongqing University, said in his speech: “I am very happy to contribute to strengthening the cooperation between Santa Ana University and Chongqing University, and help carry out research and activities with my experience in relevant fields. Today’s activity is a good example.”
Yang Lin, Director of the Italian Department of the College of Foreign Languages of Nankai University, stressed that “I believe this Sino-Italian cultural exchange activity will further stimulate the enthusiasm of Chinese and Italian students to learn and understand each other's national language and culture, and pave the way for future Sino-Italian exchange.”Learn about the Home of China Eastern Airlines Online
The flight attendant Hu Anlun digitally led the students to “walk around” the Shanghai headquarters of China Eastern Airlines: from the cabin preparation, room, gym, library, dry cleaning room, hairdressing room to the canteen. She also explained students the work etiquette, clothing, makeup and silk scarves of China Eastern Airlines. Following Hu Anlun’s footsteps, the students intuitively felt the various conveniences and considerate services provided by China Eastern Airlines for employees, and deeply understood China Eastern Airlines’ unremitting pursuit and efforts for high-quality service. “That’s why we like to call Shanghai base ‘The Home Of China Eastern Airlines’. We work here and live happily here.” The flight attendant Hu Anlun said with great emotion.
In Wuhan, Captain Diego displayed China Eastern Airlines Wuhan base and shared his personal experience of living in Wuhan for many years. He gave a detailed introduction to the whole process of pre-flight preparation, and simulated and demonstrated various activities such as alcohol testing, task book collection, flight plan discussion and pre-flight preparation meeting. Through this live exchange event, Diego hoped to inspire students’ interest in flying and in China, and contribute to the close exchanges and in-depth cooperation between the two countries.
Online Dialogue between Freshmen and Veterans, Showing the Power of “Generation Z”
During the Q & A session, Chinese and Italian students enthusiastically asked the captain and flight attendant of China Eastern Airlines about topics of “behind the scenes of the airline” and “experience of working and living in a foreign country”: “What is the experience of travelling around the world as a flight attendant?” “Can you introduce the most impressive experience of flying?” Flight attendant Hu Anlun and captain Diego Benedetto answered patiently the questions one by one.
When being asked about the previous flying experience on this route, flight attendant Hu Anlun said: “I have applied to fly many times. Every time I say ‘hello’ and ‘welcome’ to passengers in Italian, I feel like communicating with old friends. This year is the 10th anniversary of the opening of China Eastern Airlines’ Sino-Italian route. We have flights from Shanghai, Wenzhou to Rome and Milan. Although passenger flights were suspended last year due to the epidemic, the charter flights of our medical experts and materials are still up and running. I believe that in the near future, we will get rid of the haze of the epidemic, breathe freely and hug closely.”
Liu Xinrui, a student of Nankai University, asked Captain Diego: How did it feel to live in China for a few years?
Captain Diego replied frankly: “After such a long time, I feel that choosing to live in China is very correct. I admire the Chinese people’s ability of execution and they have the ability to make plans and implement them. Life here is very convenient. I haven’t been to stores for many years, because I now like online shopping and QR code payment, which are very convenient.”
Facing with the “Generation Z” college students in China and Italy, he sincerely suggested: “You should find satisfaction in the process of studying or working, just like I am telling my story to everyone. You must turn what you have learned and your sense of accomplishment into your motivation to move on.”
Shi Dou,teacher from Italian Department and Huang Jiangyi, third-year undergraduate majoring in Italian, acted as simultaneous interpreters for this event.
The “Generation Z” in China and Italy represents the future of bilateral relations and carries the mission of promoting friendly exchanges between the two countries. This event provides an opportunity for young people from China and Italy to communicate with each other, enhance mutual understanding and mutual trust in the “cloud dialogue”, learn about each other’s country and culture with a more open and tolerant attitude, and join hands to build a foundation of public opinion for China-Italy relations, and to deepen friendly exchanges and cooperation between the two countries.
