Been in China for a Decade: Fluent Chinese Reveals Deep Chinese Hearts 来华十年的他们，流利的中文里流露出深厚的中国心

RACHELE, from Italy, first came to China in 2013 and fell in love with the culture and life here. In 2016, she bade farewell to her families, set out east along the Silk Road to Xi’an, China, and began her studies at Northwestern University of Technology.

她，RACHELE，中文名叫瑞丽，来自意大利。2013年初次来到中国之时，便深深地爱上了这里的文化和生活。2016年她告别家人，沿着丝绸之路向东出发，来到中国西安落脚，在西北工业大学开始了求学之路。

Figure 1. Italian Rachele living in China

图1. 意大利姑娘瑞丽在华生活

Kawana Starlin from Zambia, whose Chinese name is Dalin, has always been fascinated by Chinese Kung Fu. Ever since he was a kid, he’s been curious about why Wong Fei Hung is so good at fighting. So, with his determination and interest in China, he came to Xi’an in 2014.

他，Kawana Starlin，中文名叫大林，来自赞比亚。酷爱中国功夫的他从小就很好奇“为什么黄飞鸿这么能打”。于是怀揣对中国的执着与畅想，2014年的春天，他拎起行李箱，手攥飞往西安的机票，来了一场“说走就走”的旅途。

Figure 2. Zambian student Dalin studying hard in the school library

图2. 赞比亚学生大林在学校图书馆认真学习

When they came to this country, learning and using Chinese became a common challenge for them. However, they are not limited to classroom learning and after-school practice and they all have their own ‘masterstrokes’ and ‘tricks’ to learn Chinese.

来到这片土地，中文的学习使用成为他们共同要面对的挑战。并不拘泥于课堂学习、课后练习，其实他们还都留有学会说中文的“绝招”和“窍门”。

In 2014, high-speed railways covered almost all of China, while Dalin’s education just begun. It is better to read countless people than to travel thousands of miles. Whenever he remembers the time he spent studying, he is always excited to tell us about the Chinese friends he made and the Chinese stories he heard on the train.

2014年的中国，高速铁路已遍地开花。搭乘着既便宜又便捷的火车，大林的修行之路才刚刚启程。“读万卷书不如行万里路，行万里路不如阅人无数”。每当回忆起曾经那段学习时光，他总是兴致勃勃的给大家讲述自己在火车途中结交的中国朋友和亲历的中国故事。

Figure 3. Dalin making Chinese friends in different places along the way (fifth from left)

图3. 大林在各地的沿途中结交中国朋友（左五）

In 2016, internet technology has been developing rapidly in China. At that time, Rachele has gradually integrated into the technologically emerging Xi’an city. She said, ‘Thank you to all the teachers and students who supported me, your kindness and friendliness made me feel like I was home.’ She described her study life in China and posted it on social media.

2016年的中国，互联网技术飞速发展。利用海量的网络资源和流行的社交平台，瑞丽渐渐地融入了科技腾飞的大西安。“感谢那些帮助支持过我的老师同学，你们的亲和友善让我跟回家一样”。学以致用的她用中文介绍自己的中国求学生活，并发布在社交媒体中展示。

Figure 4. Rachele as the host of Northwestern Polytechnical University’s New Year’s Eve party

图4. 瑞丽担任西北工业大学跨年晚会主持人

In 2018, Dalin graduated from aeronautical engineering, while during his graduation speech he said‘Actually, my Shaanxi dialect is a bit stronger than my boxing skills, but my favourite thing is Chinese science and technology. So I stayed here’. The audiences laughed out loud, and knew many stories of his upbringing in China.

2018年，大林本科毕业，学习航空工程专业的他居然在毕业典礼发言上练起了“中国拳法”。“其实我的陕西方言比起拳脚手艺更强一些，但我最喜欢的是中国科技，所以确认过眼神后我就留在了这里。”观众们捧腹大笑，镜头一抹的背后珍藏了许许多多他在中国成长的故事。

Figure 5. Dalin speaking as a student representative at the school’s graduation ceremony in 2018

图5. 大林在2018年学校毕业典礼上作为学生代表发言

In 2019, Rachele graduated and chose to stay in China to run her own social media business. ‘I like taking selfies with beauty filters and posting them on Douyin. Although I haven’t received a like from the school principal yet, ‘ she said. At that moment, she was the most beautiful outstanding graduate. She once evaluated herself like this: I can speak Italian and also Chinese. So I am the greatest treasure of China and Italy.

2019年，瑞丽硕士毕业，工商管理专业毕业的她选择留华创业，运营自创的社交媒体。“我喜欢用美颜拍自拍发抖音，虽然还没得到校长点赞。”笑声伴随掌声，她是最美的优秀毕业生。那时的她曾这么评价自己：我会说意大利语，又会说中文，所以我是中意两国最大的宝贝。

Figure 6. Rachele speaking as a student representative at the 2019 graduation ceremony

图6. 瑞丽在2019年学校毕业典礼上作为学生代表发言

On the road of Rachele’s entrepreneurship has not been all smooth sailing, but ‘how can you see the rainbow without going through the storm?’ After 2020, due to changes in the world economic situation, she also faced huge difficulties. Thanks to the rise of live streaming, people have seen the Chinese heart of this Italian girl and she through many difficulties and also made her gradually feel the Chinese strength, Chinese quality and Chinese spirit.

“不经历风雨，怎么见彩虹。”创业路上的瑞丽，并不是一路高歌。2020年后，由于世界经济形势变化，她也曾面临巨大的困境和心理压力。得益于网络直播的兴起，让五湖四海的人们看到了这位意大利姑娘的中国心。大家的支持与鼓励帮助她度过了一道道难关，也让她渐渐地感受到了中国力量、中国品质、中国精神。

Figure 7. Rachele speaking as a guest representative at the World Internet Conference 2021

图7. 瑞丽在2021年世界互联网大会中作为嘉宾代表发言

‘As one desires to see a thousand miles further, one must ascend one more storey.’ Recently, although Dalin is about to obtain a double master’s degree, he suddenly has doubts about staying in China for work. Facing future plans, he has been hesitant and no one is sure whether this ‘ten-year expectation’ of meeting in China will come to an abrupt end.

“欲穷千里目，更上一层楼。”最近的大林，陷入了迷茫与困惑。即将拿到双硕士学位的他却突然对留华工作心存疑惑。面对今后的事业、生活、教育等未来规划，他犹豫不决。而这段“十年期许”的中国相约是否会戛然而止，一时间大家都心里没底。

Figure 8. Dalin talking about his future plans in China on the verge of graduation

图8. 大林在临近毕业之际谈到自己未来在华规划

After a train journey, Dalin was invited to Beijing to take part in the ‘Generation Z’s China Class’. For this trip, the head teacher, specifically led everyone to understand China’s legal policies and entrepreneurial environment and answered questions for students. After that, Dalin also started to think seriously about his future. Finally, he said ‘In these ten years, I have seen the rapid development of Chinese technology and also witnessed the splendid Chinese culture. I want to continue to tell Chinese stories in Shaanxi dialect, because I’m proud to be an authentic Chinese person. ’

4小时的高铁旅途后，大林受邀来到北京，一起参加“Z世代的中国课”实践活动。这次行程，班主任专门针对类似这样的中外学生共同心声，带领大家了解中国的法律政策和创业环境。同时通过走访调研多家高新企业，为每一位学生答疑解惑。随着大林的困扰慢慢释怀，他也开始认真地规划自己的未来。“这十年里，我看到了中国科技的飞速发展，也看到了中国文化的多彩璀璨，我想用陕西方言继续讲述中国故事，因为我就是一个地道的‘中国人’”。

Figure 9. Dahlin telling China’s story through live streaming during Beijing trip

图9. 大林在北京之旅中通过直播形式讲述中国故事

In July 2024, President Xi Jinping met with Italian Prime Minister Meloni, which was also the 20th anniversary of the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries. Rachele was thrilled to hear the news after returning home to visit her family. She’d already invited her father to settle in Hangzhou. Over these years, she’s made it her mission to capture every aspect of her life in China on camera. By sharing these short videos, she helps to spread Chinese voices and stories all over the world.

2024年7月，国家主席习近平会见意大利总理梅洛尼，适逢两国建立全面战略伙伴关系20周年。回国探亲的瑞丽得知消息后特别兴奋。此前，她已将自己的父亲邀请到杭州定居。这些年间，她努力坚持用镜头记录下在中国生活点点滴滴。通过大家喜闻乐见的短视频，将中国声音和故事传播到世界各地。

Figure 10. Rachele expresseing her and her family’s wishes for China on camera

图10. 瑞丽在镜头下表达自己和家人对中国的祝福

This year, international students like them have been in China for ten years; today, their Chinese is eloquent enough. They have witnessed the rapid development of China, and have encountered difficulties and have to go forward. The most important is that the deep Chinese heart in their hearts is slowly growing and passing on.

今年，像他们这样的留学生已来华十年；今天，他们的中文足够侃侃而谈。他们见证了中国的飞速发展，他们也会遇到困难并要勇往直前，最重要是的，他们心中深厚的中国之心在慢慢成长、相传。

Figure 11. Rachele and Daelin talking about their stories in China in a CCTV interview

图11. 瑞丽和大林接受央视采访时谈起在中国的故事

In July 2024, the social practice team for Northwestern Polytechnical University’s ‘Generation Z China Class’ was formed. Teachers and students from China and abroad get to grips with the content of the second classroom and see how China is growing and developing in many fields. At the same time, we’re inviting foreign alumni and students who’ve been in China for more than 10 years to share their most memorable stories and experiences, with the aim of encouraging them to settle in China.

西北工业大学“Z世代的中国课”社会实践队于2024年7月组建。中外师生围绕第二课堂内容展开学习，亲历见证中国在经济、科技、文化、教育等领域的成长发展。同时，邀请来华10年以上的外籍校友和学生讲述其难忘的中国故事与经历，鼓励他们在华生根发芽。

Figure 12. Group photo of the Chinese and foreign students’ social practice team of “Generation Z’s China Class” of Northwestern Polytechnical University

图12. 西北工业大学“Z世代的中国课”中外学生社会实践队合影

How to Apply?

Step 1: Sign up on www.eduprchina.com.

Step 2: Fill in your personal info and upload basic documents to get your EDUPRCHINA agent account approval.

Step 3: Start your students application online and do deep cooperation with EDUPRCHINA.

Please contact us for more scholarship details and agent policies.