BEIJING, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- For Brazilian journalist Fabiana Fonseca, the first day in February, a Tuesday, should be no different from other workdays in her hometown, but as a broadcasting staff at Beijing 2022, she spent the day in an unprecedented way.
Tuesday marks the first day of the Year of the Tiger in China's lunar calendar, and Fonseca started the day by keeping her rubbish within the room.
"My friend and I are not putting our trash out today, because I read on the Internet that throwing out the garbage is related to dumping our good luck and fortune of the year," she told Xinhua with laughter.
On the Chinese New Year's Eve, the Brazilian and her compatriots stayed in their own rooms but turned on TV to watch the new year's gala.
"It was a nice experience. I got to know more about China. We were so surprised to find that it's similar to something that we have in Brazil," said Fonseca, adding that Brazilians usually watch a concert show with their family members while having dinner on new year's eve, which falls on December 31.
As the Olympics coincide with the Chinese New Year, the Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games arranged a number of cultural events for celebration.
Fonseca tried Chinese calligraphy for the first time, writing "Fu" (good fortune in Chinese) on a red paper in a square shape.
"They told me it means good blessings for the next year. Hopefully, I'll be able to get it with me to Brazil, so I can put it in a panel and hang it on my wall," said the Brazilian cheerfully.
To celebrate the special moment, Fonseca had a day off with her friend. "We just came to the Main Media Center to know more about the International Broadcast Center, to get to know some people, and buy things for my family."
She filled her shopping bag with key chains, magnets, mugs and two snowballs within which stands "Bing Dwen Dwen," the Beijing 2022 mascot, as well as a new book named "Great Wall."
"I got the book for free. It's very nice because it's about the history of the Great Wall. I am not able to go there this time, but at least I can try to read more about it," said Fonseca.
Being a broadcaster with Olympics since Rio 2016, Fonseca said the best part of the Olympic experience is to know more about people from the host country. "Even though we cannot go out of the closed loop, we have a lot of Chinese people here, who are willing to spend time with us and share about the culture. And it's really good."
The Brazilian girl was also happy to learn a local phrase from her Chinese friends that goes "Ru Hu Tian Yi", meaning in English "a tiger with wings," which blesses the strong to be stronger in the Year of the Tiger.
"I'll repeat and remember this, and try to write it though it's really difficult," she said. ■
