The Maritime Silk Road “Heart” Language of Overseas Students: Dreaming of Coming to China, Learning Chinese is Interesting

Tasting special snacks, experiencing the production of Peng drum (also known as “Bamboo Nail Drum“), understanding the production process and tea making techniques of Zherong white tea, visiting the “Hulunbuir in the South” – Yuanyang Meadow, and immersing oneself in romantic band singer performances under the starry sky… In Zherong County, Ningde City, Fujian Province, the 23-year-old Yemeni international student Maha (马哈) deeply experiences traditional Chinese culture while fully enjoying Zherong’s slow life.

The “My Maritime Silk Route Story” international short video collection activity recently entered Zherong County. International students from various universities in Fujian Province, students from differnt countries in the world in Fujian, among others, recorded their experiences and experiences through videos, telling their connection and insights into Maritime Silk Route culture.

Maha told in fluent Chinese that he met more friends and learned more about Chinese culture during this trip. He brought two mobile phones with him, hoping to record the beautiful scenery along the way and share it with his family and friends.

Due to his love for Chinese culture, Maha came to Wuyi University to study architecture after graduating from high school in 2018. After two years of studying Chinese, he chose to continue his studies at the college.

“Before coming to China, I heard that Chinese was difficult to learn, and I was afraid that I wouldn’t be able to learn it. My family always comforted and encouraged me.” In Maha’s view, learning Chinese is a very interesting thing. Teachers teach through games in the classroom, which not only makes learning enjoyable, but also makes it easy to learn knowledge.

“I passed the Chinese Proficiency Test Band 4 in 2019, “Maha said proudly.

When first arriving in China, besides language communication barriers, the dietary habits also became a major problem for Maha. He also brought many local snacks with him for possible needs. Through a period of life, Maha not only fell in love with Chinese cuisine, but also traveled to Shanghai, Xiamen, Zhangzhou and other places to visit the great rivers and mountains of China.

“The most impressive thing is Egg Fried Rice. In our country, there is no rice cooked with eggs. When I first ate it, I felt very strange, but after eating it, I felt very delicious.” Maha said that he planned to continue to study for graduate school after his senior year, and his family were also very supportive.

2023 is the 10th anniversary of the “Belt and Road” initiative, and Fujian Province is the core area of “the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road“.

The 22-year-old Tajik international student, whose Chinese name is Lin Yuxi (林语汐), is currently studying at Xiamen University. Unlike Maha, she began to be exposed to Chinese during high school and studied Chinese translation at a university in her own country. In order to improve her Chinese proficiency, Lin Yuxi passed the Chinese government scholarship exam and continued his studies at Xiamen University in February of this year.

Lin Yuxi told that coming to China is her dream, learning Chinese is her interest, and it is also something she enjoys doing.

When Lin Yuxi first arrived in China, she also had issues with his lifestyle and diet habits. Because she couldn’t use chopsticks, she would put a spoon in her bag when she went out. Lin Yuxi said that after several months of adaptation, eating without chopsticks is no longer a habit.

Hot pot, noodles… Lin Yuxi talks about his favorite food like a book. “I didn’t eat spicy food before, but when I came to China, I fell in love with this flavor. My family also let me learn how to cook Chinese food, and when I returned home, I made it for everyone to eat. “Lin Yuxi said. Her family has never been in China before, and she plans to invite them to visit places such as Hangzhou and Beijing during the summer vacation to learn about Chinese culture.

Source: www.istudy-china.com