On the occasion of Chinese Spring Festival, Sonam Lhamo, a Tibetan student separated from families, send her New Year wishes, "Wish my family members good health and a happy Chinese New Year. And happiness to all Tibetan families". [Photo/China Tibetan Online]

When all nationalities of China are immersed in the celebration of the Chinese New Year, or the Spring Festival, some Tibetan students of the Beijing Tibet Middle School still stay at school without families get-together.
 
According to Li Shicheng, principle of the Beijing Tibet Middle School, nearly 500 Tibetan students chose to stay in Beijing during the winter vacation because of the long distance away from home, comfortable living conditions at school as well as the pressure of studies.
 
Sonam Lhamo, 17 years old, is in her second year of the Beijing Tibet Middle School.
 
Born in the Zayul County, Nyingchi Prefecture of Tibet, Sonam has studied outside of Tibet for almost six years in inland Tibetan classes. 
 
"In a bid to receive better education, I left Tibet for inland cities after finishing primary education and have already adapted to the non-Tibetan food and life without families." Sonam said, "As a 'Beijing drifter', I do miss my families especially during the New Year holidays. But I am lucky to have teachers, classmates and Beijing residents who take so good care of us here."
 
In the last winter vacation, Sonam Lhamo didn't go back to Tibet, either. One of her teachers had her and twelve other Tibetan girls to spend the Spring Festival at some local residents’ homes in the Fangshan district of Beijing.
 
She said they were greatly welcomed by the Beijing local families who taught them how to make dumplings and give New Year’s greetings. And Sonam was very happy to get red envelop with money inside as a New Year gift from them, according to the Han Chinese's traditions.

Although Sonam cannot go back to Tibet to celebrate the Spring Festival with her families this year due to the inconvenience and long-time travel on the train, she enjoyed her life here at the school during the holiday.
 
On Jan.23, the art troupe of the Xiaoguan neighborhood committee presented a performance and also donated New Year gifts such as phone cards to them.
 
Besides, the school has organized them to watch movies, Chinese Kongfu performances, Chinese comedy, acrobatics and so on in Beijing.
 
On the occasion of the Spring Festival, Sonam Lhamo, a Tibetan student separated from her family, sends her New Year wishes, "Wish my family members good health and a happy Chinese New Year. And happiness to all Tibetan families".