《My special 20th birthday》

Name：Liu Zetong
University：Beijing International Studies University
Tutor: Wan Muchun

This is my most cherished gift -- happy birthday written by my classmates in nine languages and eight countries. This is my favorite twentieth birthday present. My birthday falls in late spring -- before the Chinese Qingming Festival, Vincent Van Gogh's 170th birthday and one more day, and is in the period of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

I'd like to begin by quoting Confucius’s saying at the party: “‘It is always a pleasure to greet friends come from afar.’ You not only come from all over China but also come from all over the world. We have friends from Chongqing Municipality, Guizhou, Sichuan, Guangxi province, as well as students from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Brunei. For race, we have Han, Uyghur, Buyei, Manchu, Russian, Uzbek and Kyrgyz people. I am lucky to be your classmate in BISU and honored to have you here. This is really a wonderful fate. A year ago today, we were stuck at home, unable to go anywhere, we could only meet each other through the internet. Unexpectedly, we can now gather together to eat and play. It is fate that lets us meet each other at the best age, meet in China, in Beijing, in BISU. Meeting by chance is that kind of marvelous preordained relationship, for me, is enough to cherish. Cheers to our friendship around the world !”

The scene of my birthday party reminds me of the group photo of us, "Long live the Great Unity of the people of the world". The beautiful vision expressed in nine powerful characters has been realized on this small campus of BISU.

In order to take care of my friends who were still in Ramadan, I deliberately removed the minced pork from Mapo Doufu and ordered dishes containing pork as little as possible. Fat but not greasy Peking roast duck, crisp bamboo shoots, tender steamed Jiangtuan fish, these authentic Chinese dishes stimulate everyone's taste buds and make everyone deeply fall in love with the charm of Chinese cuisine. During the party, Angelina's original Katyusha(Катюша) singing in Russian made us all enjoy the tune. Some of my friends sang Jay Chou and Qiqin’s songs which added some musical beats to the party. How lively the party was that day !

In the dark room, with the flames leaping and the classmates singing the birthday song, I, who was just 20 years old, made a silent wish in front of the colorful cake: May the world be peaceful and there be no more wars; May the motherland be prosperous and the people be peaceful; May everyone have a bright future as beautiful as a tapestry. Then I opened my eyes, blew out the candles, and the wishes became invisible with the wisps of smoke, hidden in my heart.

Opening presents is really a happy thing. After the party, when I read the blessings my classmates wrote to me and opened all kinds of exotic gifts, I felt I was surrounded by deep love. Those gifts which were in my small room, seemed to be the integration of the whole world, they told me of the peaceful love regardless of nationality or race.

I often wonder what the future holds for fourteen people in this room. What kind of people would they become? At that time, COVID-19 had just ended, the ashes of the war between Russia and Ukraine had not disappeared, global warming was still increasing, and millions of people were suffering from hunger or depression disorder. Maybe we can contribute to that in the future.

Michael Jackson's "we are the world, we are the children, we are the ones who make a bright day, so let’s start giving..." As if it was still ringing in my ears. My twentieth birthday party, like a simple and beautiful dream, will always be retained in the depths of my memory.

The most unforgettable, fabulous, memorable, spectacular and special birthday party ever.