Name: Kudzai Shalome Chatinyara
Nationality: Zimbabwe
University: Zhejiang Chinese Medical University
Location: Zhejiang
John Harricharan writes, “ it is in being the caterpillar that you become the butterfly.” The quote makes me wonder if through it all a promising life of the butterfly is certain for sure?
It all depends on the environment and weather conditions for an egg to hatch and the caterpillar will eat its way out of the egg to start its new journey. That was me in a manner of saying. Already used to the comfort of my home country that protected me like the egg shell. The thought of venturing into another world out there was frightening. I had to wake up in order for me to stand out and so I started my new journey to China slowly like the caterpillar into the world.
I would criticize and say jingdizhiwa~井底之蛙（a frog in the bottom of the well) to people who still believe that when it comes to a girl child going far from home to start a new life is a taboo. It’s not that strange or hard when you find yourself in good company like my school campus . When I started my new life in my school campus I was eager to grasp every aspect of Chinese culture the same way these little guys ( caterpillars) spend most of their time eating a lot. When they are not eating they spend their time hiding from predators, resting and growing and they do grow fast indeed.
So was I, if am not dipping my head in trying to know how Chinese people live, l would be dipping my head in books and concentrate with my grades in school because the last thing I would want for myself was to be a failure. My mom had told me that am on my way to become something beautiful and extraordinary and I was definitely making sure her words come true. That made me willing to give it my all when it comes to my educational life in campus( predators).
Social life in campus ( resting) was like the instar stage where the caterpillar shed it’s skin to allow more "room" for growth. I had to remove self preservation walls I had built around me if I was to make new meaningful relationships and Chinese friends. I had to put off the mentality that Chinese language was hard if I wanted to explore more and travel and enjoy life more.
I had to start having an open mind if am to learn from fellow international student. In doing so l was indeed growing. I had a chance to try things that I had not before. A chance to see the world in different eyes of people I got acquainted with. The world of technology was unraveled to me through noticing that all I need is my phone and internet connection to do most stuff through application like Taobao, Alipay, WeChat and DingTalk.
I also learnt that with hard work and dedication all things come to an end fast , through seeing how the metro lines and infrastructure around my school and in my school campus were constructed in a short period of time. How the workers would work day and night and from those of us who observed it would not look like much progress until one day you would just wake up to a whole new beautiful world and then you get to appreciate their hard work. It’s one of the things that makes me not to give up.
Life in my campus is an opportunity to learn different cultures and beliefs and to also have clarification on each other’s traditions and do remember that jibukeshi~机不可失， shibuzaile~时不再来( opportunity knocks but once).
Located in Hangzhou city, a place where developments never seize. A city made of concrete and designed to conquer dust yet filled with vastness of water and plants. When you get to visit my campus, you understand how ideal it is for one to study medicine , nursing or pharmacy there because of how accommodating it is through establishments of medical museum, big library, a music square with stone engraved writings and drawings of famous Chinese people, the gym and the upgraded lecture rooms not forgetting numerous parks you can go to and relax your mind.
In short my campus offers high class education for busy bees. International students are cared for and looked after with great care. We get to associate with Chinese students as one through clubs, sports events, educational competitions and social activities. The international department arranges activities like making moon cakes so as to allow us to learn and understand Chinese culture in a fun way. I hope with this you have had a glimpse and enlightenment about my campus.
It is the last stage of the metamorphosis process that the caterpillar is undergoing an amazing transformation inside of the hard shell. The caterpillar is forming an abdomen, legs, and of course WINGS! I am almost done with my studies, and in this period of time corona virus has been the hard shell surrounding me but that doesn’t stop me from growing intellectually, morally, psychologically and even socially. This is because if there is one important thing I have learnt in my campus life and also in life in China during the corona virus era is to keep fighting (加油加油) and not to give up. So though am a caterpillar in a cocoon now, indeed I shall spread my wings one day and fly back home.
As a caterpillar will emerge from the chrysalis a Butterfly! and then drink nectar, and spend it’s days pollinating our gardens. I shall obtain a successful life from the doctor I will become and carry the knowledge I have learnt now in my campus life in China back home and make a difference.
