By Rebecca Fraser
ENDEAVOUR Hills resident Stephanie Poole had a good reason to polish up on her Mandarin language skills last week when she helped guide the mayor of the Chinese province of Xuzhou around Greater Dandenong.
Ms Poole said she jumped at the opportunity to meet the mayor, Li Fu Quan, last Wednesday and show him and other international visitors around the city.
She said Dandenong North Ward councillor John Kelly had organised the opportunity for her and she was very grateful for the experience.
The 21-year-old recently completed an arts degree at Victoria University where she majored in Mandarin and Asian studies.
She said she now wanted to travel to China to teach English and learn more about Asian culture.
“I was a bit rusty but I was surprised by how much I remembered and understood.
“It was a great opportunity to practise the language and to learn how people in that sort of position act.
“I was really surprised by how relaxed it was and everyone was very nice and interested in what they saw,” she said.
Ms Poole said she had enjoyed lunch with the mayor and had also visited three factories with him to showcase the city’s industry and promote local product.
The mayoral visit coincided with the 10th anniversary of the sister city relationship between Greater Dandenong and Xuzhou.
Ms Poole said a dinner at the Drum Theatre and Town Hall complex in Dandenong followed the day’s activities.
The Drum’s stage was transformed into a dining room where Greater Dandenong councillors, council staff, Xuzhou officials, and the city’s business icons honoured the relationship between the two cities.
Ms Poole said she had greatly enjoyed the evening and had also met the Chinese deputy consul general Yuemina Yang.
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