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There are 30 five-nut filling mooncakes and 30 lotus seed paste mooncakes to be prepared, a festive banner to be made for the tea party, and some special decorative items to be embellished for the cultural evening party… As the Mid-Autumn Festival is getting closer and closer, Emily, a Malaysian employee of the Malawi office of China Railway 20th Bureau, has already started to get busy. Her desk is piled with a checklist of items for organizing the Mid-Autumn Festival. the Mid-Autumn Festival activities.
"This Mid-Autumn Festival marks the second time I will be spending it with my Chinese colleagues. Unlike previous years, I am serving as the chief planner for this year's Mid-Autumn party with nearly 30 participants." On September 11th, Emily said that because she had studied abroad in China and was familiar with traditional Chinese culture, before the arrival of this Mid-Autumn Festival, she volunteered to take on the planning work for the Mid-Autumn activities.
Emily on the Beijing Technology and Business University campus, fall 2018.（2018年秋天，艾米丽在北京工商大学校园留影。）
Emily knows that mooncakes are the "core" of the Mid-Autumn Festival, representing reunion and longing. "In order to let my colleagues taste the best mooncakes, I have tasted no less than 30 pieces." said Emily, who went to several supermarkets selling Chinese goods in the capital Lilongwe to book mooncakes early.
The supermarket offered a dazzling array of mooncakes, making Emily's shopping task exceptionally smooth. However, planning the Mid-Autumn tea party took her considerable effort. She said, "I believe that apart from inviting local employees to perform Malawi's traditional dances, it is also imperative to invite both Chinese and Malawian staff to sing a Chinese song together, namely 'Wish you all the best'." During her three years studying in China, she learned this song and understood its beautiful wishes for reunion. While studying abroad in China, she and her friends visited Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, and Sanlitun, experiencing the ancient Chinese culture and modern fashion vibes.
After working at China Railway 20th Bureau for 3 years, and living and working with colleagues from Shaanxi every day, Emily now loves Shaanxi cuisine. "Most of my Chinese colleagues are from Shaanxi, and the dishes in our cafeteria are mainly Shaanxi cuisine." Emily said. Under the influence of people around, she learned to make hand-pulled noodles and can easily steam several servings of Liangpi.
Emily making dumplings with Chinese employees from China Railway 20th Bureau.（艾米丽和中铁二十局中国员工一起包饺子。）
Since joining the China Railway 20th Bureau, Emily spends every year celebrating different traditional Chinese festivals with her Chinese colleagues. Besides the Mid-Autumn Festival, she also celebrates the Dragon Boat Festival and the Spring Festival, understanding the significance and customs of each festival. "Our company organizes various activities for each festival and also prepares holiday gifts for Malawian employees." said Emily. She hung a sachet made for the Loong Boat Festival in her car and wore a five-colored string bracelet symbolizing luck on her hand.
Emily: "These mooncakes are delicious."（艾米丽说：“月饼真好吃。”）
The Mid-Autumn Festival falls during the dry season in Malawi, with moderate temperatures and less rainfall, making it a good time for construction work. Many people will be stationed at the front line of construction. "I have prepared 150 gift packs, including mooncakes, osmanthus cakes, and some fruits, which will be delivered to the front line of construction on the Mid-Autumn Festival day." said Emily. Although the technical personnel stationed at the site cannot participate in the Mid-Autumn tea party, their care cannot be overlooked.
The asphalt pavement laying for the road from Kaphatenga to Benga in Malawi, which is being constructed by China Railway 20th Bureau Group, is currently underway, with nearly 150 construction workers stationed at the construction site. This 60-kilometer road is a part of Malawi's M5 National Road, and upon completion, it will play a positive role in promoting local tourism and agricultural development.
"How long will the full moon appear? Wine cup in hand, I ask the sky..." During the spare time when busy preparing for the Mid-Autumn tea party, Emily will practice singing "Wish you all the best" with several local employees. She hopes to express her wish for everlasting friendship through a joint performance.
译文：
一个非洲女孩的中秋茶话会
五仁月饼和莲蓉月饼需要各准备30份，茶话会需要制作一个喜庆的主题横幅，文艺晚会需要用一些特别的装饰物品点缀……距离中秋佳节越来越近了，中铁二十局马拉维办事处的马籍员工艾米丽早已开始忙碌起来。她的办公桌上，筹备中秋活动的事项清单放得满满当当。
“今年中秋节将是我和中国同事一起度过的第2个中秋。和往年不一样的是，今年将近30人参加的中秋晚会由我担任总策划。”9月11日，艾米丽说，因为到中国留学过，熟悉中国传统文化，今年中秋节到来前，她主动请缨担负起中秋活动的筹划工作。
艾米丽知道，月饼是中秋节的“核心”，代表着团圆和相思。“为了让同事们能品尝到最好吃的月饼，我试吃的月饼不下30块。”艾米丽说，她早早就前往首都利隆圭的多家售卖中国商品的超市预订月饼。
超市里月饼琳琅满目，艾米丽的采购工作异常顺利。但中秋茶话会的活动策划，让她花了不少心思。她说：“我觉得除了请当地员工跳马拉维当地的舞蹈以外，一定要请中方和马方员工合唱一首中国歌曲——《但愿人长久》。”2017年，在中国留学时，她就学会了这首歌，并且知道这首歌是对团圆美好的祝愿。在中国留学的3年时光，她和朋友去过天安门、故宫、三里屯，感受中国古老的文化和现代的时尚气息。
在中铁二十局工作了3年，和来自陕西的同事天天工作生活在一起，如今，艾米丽爱上了陕西美食。“我的中国同事大部分来自陕西，我们食堂的菜品以陕菜为主。”艾米丽说，在大家的熏陶下，她学会了扯面，蒸几份凉皮也不成问题。
到中铁二十局工作后，艾米丽每年都会和中国同事一起过不同的中国传统节日。除了过中秋节，还有端午节、春节，她了解每个节日的意义和风俗。“我们公司会在各个节日组织不同的活动，也会给马拉维员工准备节日礼物。”艾米丽说，她在车里挂了端午节制作的香包，手上戴着象征幸运的五彩绳。
中秋节正值马拉维的旱季，气温适度、雨水较少，是施工大干的好时节，许多人将坚守在施工一线。“我准备了150份伴手礼，有月饼、桂花糕，还有一些水果，在中秋节当天送到施工一线。”艾米丽说，虽然坚守现场的技术人员不能参加中秋茶话会，但是对他们的关爱不能落下。
由中铁二十局承建的马拉维卡帕滕加至本加公路正在进行沥青路面铺设，近150名施工人员坚守在施工现场。这条60公里的公路是马拉维M5国道的一部分，建成后将对当地旅游业和农业发展起到积极的促进作用。
“明月几时有，把酒问青天……”在忙碌准备中秋茶话会的空闲时间，艾米丽会和几名当地员工一起练唱《但愿人长久》。她希望通过共同演绎，表达友谊天长地久的愿望。
