On Saturday, August 29, 2026, 26 individuals gathered at South Coast Chinese Cultural Center for Chinese Snack & Chat, enjoying an afternoon of relaxed conversation, Mandarin language practice, and nostalgic Chinese and Taiwanese snacks.
This was the pilot event of the new Chinese Culture for the Next Generation program, designed for adults with Chinese heritage and those interested in Chinese language and culture.
Attendees got in the Mandarin mindset with a “This or that?” warmup, voting on their favorites:
- rice or noodles? 吃飯還是吃麵？
- sweet or salty? 吃甜的還是吃鹹的?
- breakfast places or night markets? 早餐店還是夜市？
Afterward, conversations happened naturally amongst the groups, all supported by conversation menus prompting conversations about food, heritage, and language, and a Chinese version of the Taboo card game, encouraging participants to think creatively to describe everyday vocabulary.
We were so proud and excited to see so many people come together to try something new and challenge themselves to speak in Mandarin when it often feels more natural to continue conversations in English.
Fueling these chats were the “snack” part of our event - nostalgic Chinese and Taiwanese treats like Prince noodles and Bin Bin rice crackers and more!
We then took a much deserved “float” break featuring Taiwanese-style floats with ice cream and their choice between Apple Sidra (a refreshing apple soda) and Heysong Sarsaparilla (Taiwanese root beer!).
We closed out the event by allowing some time for attendees to share lessons learned and appreciation for this programming.
People offered their suggestions for us to continue to grow and improve this event in the future and attendees also shared interest in having opportunities like this for other Chinese language dialects like Cantonese and Taiwanese!
We designed this event with the understanding that spaces for learning and practicing Chinese and meeting other likeminded people are harder to find for adults compared to children.
We recognize that second-generation adults and individuals interested in Chinese culture seek opportunities in our local Orange County and Southern California community to learn and connect with Chinese language and culture, and we are excited to continue to build this programming.
If you’re an adult with an interest in furthering your connection with Chinese culture, we welcome you to share your thoughts and contribute to our next generation programming here
Join our mailing list to stay up to date with the latest news about Next Generation programming events like these, here
About Chinese Culture for the Next Generation
In celebration of SCCCA’s 50th anniversary this year, we are launching Chinese Culture for the Next Generation. This program aims to foster community, connection, and cultural pride for adults with Chinese heritage and act as a bridge to people of all backgrounds uniting through an understanding and appreciation of Chinese culture.