[Palestine] Anood H.A. Albayyouk, Nanjing Tech University
I am an international student from Palestine. I would like to share with you the story of my beautiful encounter with China.
Prelude of the dream
In 2011, on my 10th birthday, my dad proposed to take the whole family to have a tour to China, which I knew nothing about at the time. I was so excited that I ran away to pack my bags, not realizing how much this trip would change my future life.
We flew to Beijing, the capital of China, for the first time. My whole family went to climb the Great Wall to enjoy the natural scenery and stroll around Sanlitun to feel the city’s prosperity. I was curious and happy to see everything here. “Do you like China?” asked my dad. “I like it. China is so beautiful, Chinese people are so friendly, and I hope to live and study here one day,” I replied. “I will help you make your dream come true, but only if you study hard and keep on dreaming,” my dad responded. I was so delighted that I kept imagining my life in China and staying awake all night.
Working hard on my dream
I began to study hard after returning to my homeland. When I graduated from senior high school, I won the award for the most outstanding student in my class. My classmates asked me which college I wanted to study at. I expressed my wish of studying in China. My classmates laughed at me for my daydreaming. However, my dad encouraged me, “Don’t listen to anyone who says you can’t dream but believe in yourself.”
After applying to more than 20 Chinese universities, I was finally accepted by one. With great excitement, I asked my dad to accompany me to the embassy to apply for a student visa. The visa officer asked, “Are you planning to study abroad alone when you’re only 16?” “Yes, I’m going alone,” I replied. The officer advised, “You can’t do that, you’re too young, and Chinese is hard to learn.” I responded, “My native language is also one of the hardest languages in the world, and I can learn it well, so I believe I can learn Chinese well too.
Not only do I love Chinese, but I love Chinese culture. Studying in China is a dream I’ve had since I was 10 years old, and it’s my dream country.” After hearing that, the officer asked me to go back and wait for the result. Two days later, the embassy informed me that I got the visa. I was ecstatic because my six years of hard work had finally led me to my dream trip! I couldn’t wait to come to China.
The dream comes true
When I arrived in China again in 2017, I found that China had changed rapidly. I struggled to adapt to the life of studying abroad. At daytime the study in the classroom fully occupied me and filled me with joy. At night I often went to sleep with tears in my eyes because of missing my family. But I didn’t give up.
After studying Chinese for one year, I decided to apply for a second-year study. One year is far from enough since Chinese language is so profound and its culture has very long history. I would like to explore more and deeper.
In my second year of study, I began to gradually enjoy my life in China and made many Chinese friends. They taught me to cut paper, write calligraphy and act in Chinese operas. We visited scenic spots and enjoyed food together.
In the process of experiencing the local customs, I harbor deeper feeling for China and the Chinese people. After two years of language study, I applied for my undergraduate degree majoring in Chinese International Education. I want to return to my country to be a Chinese language teacher and let more people learn Chinese and culture of China. On the day I received my acceptance letter, I cried tears of joy. I was so happy that the two years had not been in vain and that I had never stopped on the path of pursuing my dream.
The future of the dream
During the winter break of 2020, I came back to my home country to get together with my family. I had fun sharing what I saw and heard in China with my mom and dad and teaching my younger siblings Chinese. But a week later, I heard the outbreak of COVID-19 epidemic in China on the news. I asked my dad, “What should I do? Can I go back to China?” Dad said, “You are independent now and can make your own decisions.” Thinking of my teachers and classmates in China, I decided that I couldn’t just run away from my dream country, so I chose to go back to China. My father was very supportive of my decision.
When I returned, many of my foreign friends had left China. They told me it was not safe. But China took quick measures to curb the spread of the epidemic, and safeguard people’s lives. In this battle of epidemic prevention and control, I witnessed China’s speed, power and responsibility as a great nation. After vaccination, I continued my education and received a first-class scholarship with excellent achievements. My friends, who once had doubt on my decision, concluded that studying in China was the right choice after hearing my story.
In the summer of 2021, I came to Beijing once again. When I climbed up the Great Wall and saw the great rivers and mountains of China, I couldn’t help thinking highly of the spirit of China, which is as strong as the Great Wall that stretches for 5,000 kilometers. Chinese people are united as one. When I saw the slogans on the Tiananmen Square, I realized that broad-mindedness of China is revealed by sharing the same destiny with the world’s people to achieve great unity.
Ten years ago, I was filled with curiosity about China. Ten years later, I am full of confidence in China. I believe that no matter what nationality, age or gender you are, China, the land of dreams, will welcome you to fulfill your dreams. I believe that neither my future nor China’s is a dream. We will get better and better.
The story is from "My Beautiful Encounter with China" Essay Competition organized by the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchanges (CSCSE).
