[Kenya] Nginyo Jessica Wambui, Dalian Polytechnic University
Living in this world, everyone will face the choices on the road of life. There are different landscapes along different roads. Although I failed to study in China because of the epidemic, I have had many warm and beautiful “encounters” with China in Kenya, and I increasingly believe that my future will be closely connected with China.
My middle school was a rural boarding school. The school is far from home and the road condition was bad, which caused much inconvenience for me to transport between school and home. When the final exam was over in November 2012, my mother picked me up and we went back home by bus.
After a while, I was surprised to find that the expected bumps had disappeared and the bus moved stably and smoothly. In the past we have to hold the seat handrail hard and maintain balance in the shaking. And now the passengers rest or chat at ease. “Did the driver divert from the routine road?” I asked. “Do you still remember the TV news that Kenya and China cooperated in building a highway? Finally, it was completed. Just a few days ago, the Kenyan President and Chinese representatives attended the opening ceremony.
Thank God, this is the road named Thika that now is carrying us home in comfort!” My mother replied merrily. Since then, the new highway has accompanied me on many trips between home and school. Though its name is Thika, but I always prefer to call it the Chinese Highway because the Chinese company has made it so beautiful and wide. By and by, people from nearby towns and villages gathered on both sides of the road to operate all kinds of restaurants, shops and factories. Afterwards, many people moved their houses to be here and the economy around the road is boosted. The old Chinese saying “Road building leads to riches” is proved true. The road has brought hope of a better life to many ordinary families in Kenya and planted a seed in my heart to aspire to be in China.
Before I graduated from college, I worked as an intern in a textile factory. In that factory park, I surprisingly found there is a Confucius Institute. My companions and I were very curious and frequently passed by the classrooms of the Confucius Institute inadvertently or by design. Listening to the Chinese rhythm much different from our own language, we were eager to try though being shy. Finally, we bravely embarked on the road of learning Chinese. It’s really both a challenge and enjoyment. Teachers of the Confucius Institute also set up a dyeing and printing class in combination with the characteristics of the textile factory. I like Chinese tie-dyeing best.
A small piece of work in the tie-dyeing class has been cherished and preserved until now. While teaching Chinese traditional printing and dyeing, the teacher also encouraged us to apply what we have learned to realize the combination of Kenya’s traditional skills with modern textile industry in the future with the aim to have our own national brand. Our young hearts were greatly encouraged and welled up with strong sense of strength and responsibility. In the classroom of Confucius Institute, I have improved my Chinese proficiency and apprecited the everlasting charm of Chinese traditional culture through thousands of years.
Above all, China’s development concept of openness, sharing and inclusiveness in the new era is most vividly reflected by ordinary Chinese people and countless Africans, including myself. The seed in my heart yearning for China took root and sprouted unconsciously. Now it grew up to be large and strong with all my longing.
Now, as a Chinese Government Scholarship student, I firmly believe that the gloom of the epidemic will disappear. We will finally be in the arms of China to experience the new life with initiative. This is the road I yearn for, that will be a full, unforgettable and rewarding journey of life. I am looking forward to it with passion...
The story is from "My Beautiful Encounter with China" Essay Competition organized by the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchanges (CSCSE).
