Wherever you go

I arrived to China as a foreign specialist in winter, the beginning of 2019.

China welcomed me with a cold weather but warm greetings.

I arrived as foreign teacher to teach my native language (Russian) as a foreign language to young Chinese university students who took my heart forever. Originally I am a teacher of English and German, but in China foreign languages specialists teach mainly their native language, which I personally find a very smart decision from the Chinese side. Foreign languages teachers can offer vivid native language practice and students can develop better this way.

My flight took around eight hours. I was met at the train station by the Chinese side with the sign showing my name, which was very respectful and I appreciate it a lot. I was offered to go to the restaurant first in case I felt hungry. I felt care from the first meeting with the Chinese colleges. You know — first impression is important and people usually keep them in memory for a long time. I was so delighted by this time because I didn't know what to await when flying so far away to mysterious China.

So we went to the Chinese restaurant. But it wasn't my first time in China. First time I went to China when I still was a student. I was about to graduate and become a teacher of English and German. And I also learned Chinese and Spanish a bit. So I decided to come to China to teach English on volunteer basis for the summer time to have some teaching practice. But my first time in China was quite challenging for me because I was too young perhaps and could find the food which was right for me and wasn't too spicy as Asian food usually is. I felt lonely in a foreign culture. Though I travelled abroad by this time a lot, been to Europe and US.

Now being home in Belarus I go to Chinese restaurant a lot because I miss Chinese food. My favorite Chinese dish is fried egg-plant in the sweet and sour souse (糖醋茄子) and Double Cooked Pork Slices (锅包肉).I went to a Chinese restaurant even for my weeding anniversary since my departure from China and a regularly go there since that time.

This time upon my second arrival the dinner was just perfect and I was given and shown my new apartment as a foreign specialist. My new home was so cozy and tidy and I can't tell you how happy I was there during the time I spent in China. There were many foreign teachers in the same building. We were all living together but in in different apartments. I got acquainted with teachers from US, Asia (Korea and Japan), Europe and Africa. It was my very first professional experience as the foreign expert abroad, and specifically in Asia, China- such a different world! Now being back home I can't tell how happy I was there. Every day was a NEW day: I tried something new, ate something new, met somebody new.

Now I realize I was very happy to have chosen China and to be chosen to teach at this very university. Because this very country offered me an amazing professional and international experience by working with international colleagues which broaden my mind, gave me an amazing cultural and professional experience as well as development.

I was amazed to see how respectful and wise the foreign specialists are treated there. Because I knew it's a foreign country and I could not understand many thing or do something wrong, but I was treated very respectful and learnt a lot about China and Asian culture. I was able to explore China, saw its nature and rich cultural heritage.

I wasn't lucky enough I got some kind of a virus in China and got bronchitis. I wasn't able to work for several week but wasn't criticized and hurried up to come back to work but encouraged and was offered all kinds of possible aid you can imagine. I was even brought to another city for a consultation to have my lungs carefully examined as I had a really long-lasting fewer that I couldn't get rid of. My students visited me, brought some fruit, my heart melts when thinking back of it and the care and good attitude I received. To my amazement I was offered such a great help as a foreign specialist and support I could never expect. I was also amazes by Chinese hospitals a lot. Everything is so modern and technological though I was working in a small town I didn't expect it. I saw the Chinese medicine which is more natural and not so chemical as the European one.

Now analyzing it I know for sure and the Chinese culture showed me how a foreign specialist or any foreigner should be treated and if I ever happen to work with a foreign specialists as a team at any educational institution worldwide I know how it should look like.

I can't but tell something about the Chinese students. I would say the Chinese students are very responsible, diligent, respectful and patriotic. I was there in China when the country celebrated its 70th Birthday. So I felt how proud the students were of their prosperous country which was very touching. I always think of what I can give them and how can I help them and be useful for them and what will they do in life later, what will they become and if I will meet them some day again.

My colleagues were just amazing too. For me not to feel lonely we always had lunch together. They often ordered typically Chinese food for me to try or cooked at home. I also cooked some Russian meals for them to taste.

Now I'm working online from home teaching for the same university from Belarus. The pandemic started when I was having holidays in Belarus and unfortunately wasn't able to come back to China. I am still working for the same University and looking forward to come back. My time in China is the time when I felt really happy.

Teacher of foreign languages (English, German, Russian, Spanish)

The opinions expressed here are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of China Daily and China Daily website.