My Story with China

My name is Altyeb Ali and I come from the Republic of Sudan, a country in North-East Africa, 7,739 kilometers (straight distance) from China. Perhaps you don't know much about her and the magnificent landscapes of the Red Sea coast that seem so alien. The land where Nubians have lived for generations sounds so far away, and it's hard to imagine that it is the third largest country in Africa, and the 15th largest in the world. But my friends, I am sure you know what agriculture means to us.

I came to China to learn advanced theories and techniques. With the simplest of aspirations - to solve the problem of irrigation water for agriculture during the rainy season in my home country, and to ultimately do my part in the development of the energy industry in Sudan - I first set foot on this vast land.

It was September 2015, and I was studying for a Master's degree in Thermal Engineering in Kunming, where all of the seasons are like spring. When I first arrived, I found everything around me charming and interesting, and I wanted to explore the city's cuisine and hidden beauty with my friends, but I instead kept reminding myself that "you are a scholarship student not a curious tourist". Time flew by, and as I approached graduation in 2018, I attended the East Asia Summit New Energy Forum conference, where I met Professor Liu Wen, from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), who was the keynote speaker for the workshop course. Together we exchanged ideas on plant lighting and photovoltaic agriculture. Prof. Liu spoke eloquently and introduced me to many of his scientific achievements. In that moment, my first dream of coming to China was rekindled and I was eager to apply these innovations to the development of agriculture in Sudan. So, three months later, I contacted Professor Liu Wen with great trepidation. I couldn’t shake that feeling of being in a dream when he agreed to accept me as a PhD student.

My life at USTC has been full of challenges: I have met some of the brightest and hardest working students and have made friends from all over the world; I have participated in cultural activities organized by the International College and have worked hard to obtain my HSK Level 5 certificate; I have been exposed to cutting-edge research theories at the university and have published two articles as a co-author; I have felt lonely during the long nights and been full of hope at dawn; I have been away from home for a long time. I have missed my hometown because I am in a distant land thousands of miles away, and I have loved my time at USTC so much that I am now reluctant to leave my second home.

Vlog by Xinhua Global Link for Ali
Original title: Overseas students get agricultural know-how in China

In a place that holds so many memories, I also had the pleasure of meeting Ambassador Dr. Gafar Karar Ahmed K. of the Embassy of Sudan in China, during his first visit to USTC and my first dinner with him as a student representative. The next day, the Ambassador met with 10 Sudanese students at USTC, and I will always remember the wonderful atmosphere in that room, where he said with affection "I am proud of you. In the future, you must not only be the promoters of national development, but also ambassadors of Sino-Sudanese cultural exchanges."

My eyes are now glassy as I think back. Six years ago, I was eager to come to China with one aim - to learn some useful skills from this big agricultural country. Six years later, I already grown to have so much love for this land, and all of my experiences here, whether difficult or great, will be treasured for the rest of my life. In the days to come, as the Ambassador said, I will cherish the opportunity to work hard for my personal growth, as well as for the development of my country and the friendship between China and Sudan!