Several overseas Chinese students in Canada, who attended the Spring Festival Gala held by the Chinese Undergraduate Association at the University of Toronto on Jan 25, talked about how they celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year abroad and their wish to reunite with their families.

"I think the most important thing for me during the Spring Festival is to get together with my family," said a Chinese student with the English name April.

"For me, the most important thing about the Spring Festival is the reunion, a group of people celebrating together," said Wang Yang.

"I think the most important thing about the Spring Festival is to get together with family and friends to start a New Year and a new self," said a Chinese student with the English name Oien.

They also talked about how they created Spring Festival vibe overseas.

"I came to Toronto to go to high school, and then I met a group of good friends. Every time before the Spring Festival, we make an appointment to get together in advance and make dumplings for New Year's Eve dinner. So we are not lonely. Although I can't reunite with my family, I am very happy to have a group of good friends to accompany me," said April.

"We usually cook with our friends or go out to eat together. We will call our family at midnight. It is the happiest thing for us to get together with friends," said Zhou Yang.

"I feel that during the Spring Festival all the Chinese friends get together. My friends and I went to Datonghua Chinese supermarket to buy some hot pot ingredients and made hot pot at home," said Oien.

The students said that they longed to spend the next Spring Festival with their families in China.

"I want to say something to my grandparents because every time I have a video chat with them I feel that they just can't hear what I say clearly. I feel that they are suddenly much older and I haven't been at home for so many years to accompany them. In a twinkling of an eye, they were already very old. I wanted to tell them, 'Grandma and Grandpa, I miss you very much and I hope we can spend the Spring Festival together next year,'" said April.

"I haven't returned to China for two years. I miss my family, my grandparents and other people. I'm going back to China this year. I miss them very much. I hope to go back and have a good reunion," said a Chinese student with the English name Kris.

"Of course, it's my family. I miss them very much. I'll go back to China soon, so I hope to get together with them again," said Oien.