[Brazil] Gao Sandy, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine
Some people say that there is no shortage of opportunities in our time, so it is certain that everyone will be presented with many choices. Then, to follow their own hearts or go with the flow; to face the challenge or run away; to be utilitarian for temporary public attention or stick to benevolence in obscurity are all the choices we can make with the wish we would not regret in the retrospection no matter what to choose.
I live in Beijing. I remember the first time when I visited the Forbidden City, I found it was full of red walls and green tiles. Some of the bricks on the ground were cracked, some covered with moss and some discolored, as if they had been dyed with the stains left by the flood of history. “Playing my flute under the flowers several times, I look at the remoted red wall with you inside, like the Milky Way separating the lovers”, this is a poem wrote by Huang Jingren, a poet of Song dynasty of ancient China. The Forbidden City also reminded me of Ruyi (a famous heroine in a TV series of royal family stories), who stood on the city tower for the last time but failed to see her young lover anymore though the walls are still red and the tiles green. “Love comes and goes beyond the control of lovers, but flower blooms and withers by the nature laws”, the lines in the series mirrored her sadness.
The ups and downs of history and long-standing culture are superimposed into gorgeous glass, which makes me intoxicated with their turns and twists. With history, not only the people of the past are taken away, but also the emotions that cannot be expressed. I stood by the wall of the Forbidden City, touching the past, feeling the shock it brought me, and looking forward to my future in China.
In addition to Beijing with red walls and green tiles, I have also been to Hunan, the birthplace of red culture. This is not only previous Chinese leader's hometown, but also a place where many patriots were brought up. I experienced the rainstorm of Hunan and the humidity. I tasted the food here, which is too spicy and turned my face and ears red. Hunan is also called the land of fish and rice. Directed by the tour guide, I tried rice seedlings planting with feet touching the mud softly. I almost fell over as it is too slippery. The male farmer in the next field walked as fast as a flying bird. I do harbor gratitude to them for their hard work. I left this field for the ancient town of Fenghuang to enter the life of the Miao people. During the day, the ancient town is comfortable and enjoyable. At night, the hanging stilt houses with strong ethnic flavor are printed on the river, the lanterns are blown by the night wind, and the water wheels slowly roll up the waves. The bright glory accompanies the ancient town and make it mysterious and appealing. It turns out that this ancient town is indeed pure and beautiful, as described by Shen Congwen, a well-known Chinese writer, in his works.
If we try to tell the difference between China and my homeland, people in Brazil are more passionate and the trees are taller. The sun blazed down on us more often. People of different skin colors here prefer tanned body. My home is in the countryside. It’s famous for soybeans, waterfalls, and coffee. People are used to the relaxed life. Even if they are behind their schedule, they will casually have breakfast in a restaurant before catching up the time.
When I first came to China, there was no WeChat payment yet. Now I suddenly found that technology has progressed to mobile payment.
Sometimes I can’t adapt to the days when I cannot use mobile payment after returning home. In addition, people here can scan mobile phone QR code for taking bus or subway. In our country we are still queuing at the window to buy paper tickets. But in China NFC technology is being used so that you can finished the payment by put your mobile on the scanner. Independent machines are everywhere for self-service tickets purchase. Based on the need of the epidemic era, the traffic card is bound to the Health Kit (Jiankang Bao).
Moreover, online shopping systems are very popular and convenient. What struck me is that some of the books recommended by the teachers can be found on Taobao and mailed home without postage. And these books are much more expensive in other countries. I once again think highly of the rapid development of science and technology network of China.
China is already my second home. I love this country from my heart.
I would like to give my thanks to the opportunities and be grateful of the era full of opportunities.
If every country has its respective color, the warmest one should be Chinese Red.
The story is from "My Beautiful Encounter with China" Essay Competition organized by the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchanges (CSCSE).
