#Headline Creation Challenge #I'm Aali, Chinese name yali, Pakistani, 27 years old.
As long as I can remember, I know that China is our best friend, and there is an incomparably deep friendship between the two countries.
From elementary school, my father began to teach me to learn Chinese and tell me Chinese myths and stories, and since then, I have been full of longing for China.
After graduating from university, I went to China to study for a postgraduate degree, and during my schooling, I successfully passed the Mandarin test, scored 99 points, and got a first-class certificate.
After studying abroad, I stayed in Beijing to live, because of the two-year study abroad career, I have long been deeply in love with China. I started a training company that teaches Chinese to chinese students in Pakistan and other countries.
Here, I not only gained knowledge, but also met many good friends in China and gained a lot of sincere friendships. I also want to find a Chinese husband to stay in China for the rest of my life.
Worked in Beijing
I was born in Islamabad, Pakistan, in 1995. Located in the northwest of the South Asian subcontinent and bordering the Kashgar region of China's Xinjiang Autonomous Region, Pakistan has a population of more than 200 million and a long history of more than 3,000 years.
He is a multi-ethnic Islamic country and one of the first developing countries to establish diplomatic relations with China. Our Eid al-Fitr, like the Spring Festival in China, is the most important festival, celebrated with a 3-day holiday throughout the country.
My father is a businessman, mainly engaged in trade between China and Pakistan, so his Chinese is very good, when I was a child, my father began to teach me to learn to speak Chinese, and will tell me a lot of Chinese mythology, the deepest impression is the Erlang god in Journey to the West.
The Erlang God has 3 eyes, which can distinguish between right and wrong, distinguish between good and evil, and is the embodiment of justice, but I have not understood that the other gods and immortals are two eyes, why the Erlang God has 3 eyes.
Dad said that it was an ancient Chinese mythological story, and he didn't know why the Erlang God had 3 eyes, only that the Erlang God was the embodiment of justice, and many of the eyes that came out were just to see the good and evil in the world.
This is too difficult for me to understand, I can't imagine it at all, but it also strengthens my yearning for China, I told my father, when I grow up, I must go to China, immerse myself in the depth of China's ancient culture, and explore the mysterious and vivid Chinese mythology.
Dad often goes to China to talk about business, and every time he comes back, he will bring me gifts, most of them are character models in ancient Chinese mythology, there are Sun Wukong, Jiang Ziya, Nezha, Spider Essence, etc., I like their shapes, but more of their stories are interested.
For example, the story of Jiang Ziya fishing, at the beginning I did not understand, why he can catch fish with a straight hook, I consulted a lot of information, but also watched the "List of Fengshen Gods", only to understand that it was said that Jiang Ziya was confident, everything was under control, this is sitting on the fishing platform, dare to use the straight hook fishing. In fact, there is another layer of meaning, from the perspective of the fish, that is, knowing that it is a trap, but also drilling into it.
Although I was obsessed with Chinese mythology, my academic performance has always been excellent, and I was admitted to the best university in Pakistan, the University of Punjab.
In fact, after graduating from high school, I wanted to study directly in China, but for some reasons I could not make the trip. After graduating from college, my dad wanted me to stay in Pakistan and help him with his business.
Although I could travel to China often, I refused, and I wanted to know more about Chinese culture, especially the ancient myths and legends of China.
Jiang Ziya fishing
Therefore, I chose to come to China to study and pursue a postgraduate degree, and my father did not object, he was very supportive of my pursuit of my ideals.
In fact, there is a very important reason for choosing to study in China, China has always been a good friend of pakistan, the relationship between the two countries is described by everyone as "Pakistan Railway", from the establishment of diplomatic relations, China has helped us many times free of charge, in the hearts of all our Pakistani people, we have already regarded China as a good big brother, a good brother. I am particularly curious about what kind of country China is.
In 2018, I finally came to the land of China, when the plane landed at the Beijing airport, the prosperity of Beijing surprised me, more prosperous than the news said, really worthy of the style of a big country.
Maybe falling in love with a country is as simple as that, when I sit out of the car, looking out the window at the neat streets, the tall buildings, and the warm words of the taxi driver in my ear, I hopelessly fall in love with China.
What touched me was that in Beijing, everyone I met was so enthusiastic, especially my roommate, and in just a few days, we became good friends who talked about everything, in Chinese terms, girlfriends.
Her name is Chen Xue, a girl from Guilin, Guangxi, and she thinks she is very kind when they first meet. In fact, sometimes the trust between people is so slow and simple and direct, the heart is simple, the world is simple, and the heart complex world is complex.
Knowing that I was interested in Chinese myths and legends, Chen Xue took the initiative to become my teacher and told me all the myths and legends she knew, including "Quao Father Chasing the Sun", "Nuwa Patching Heaven", "Pangu Opening Heaven and Earth", "Chang'e Running Moon", "Houyi Shooting Day", "Jingwei Reclamation", "Shennong Tasting Hundred Grasses", "Dayu Zhishui", "Nezha Noisy Sea", "Cowherd Weaver Girl", "Meng Jiang Girl Crying the Great Wall" and so on, and at that time I felt that this Guilin girl was worth making friends.
Chen Xue said while I remembered, we also checked the information on the Internet together, watched videos, I sorted out all the myths and legends into a book, and then translated into Uerdu, I think I will return to China later, show these to my friends.
In return, I became Chen Xue's teacher, teaching her pakistani Chinese, Urdu. Chen Xue was really smart, and in less than a year, he could speak fluent Urdu. If it weren't for the appearance of a Chinese girl who spoke Urdu, I would definitely think she was an authentic Pakistani.
Chen Xue
Influenced by my father, I was also interested in Chinese food, and in Chinese terms, I was actually a complete foodie. But Pakistan's food culture is very different from China, we don't stir-fry, only stew, like to eat pepper and pepper, of course, milk tea is also our favorite.
Although I have eaten a lot of food brought back from China by my father since I was a child, it is all snacks, such as Chinese spicy strips, spicy pot bars, etc., and the real Chinese food I have only seen on TV and have never tasted.
On weekends, Chen Xue took me around the North Pole in search of food. I found a magical situation, some particularly delicious food can not be found in those big restaurants, but hidden in the depths of some unknown alleys, which I have always been puzzled.
Chen Xue said that this is actually a kind of history and culture, and most of the food in the hutongs is ancestral craftsmanship, and even some of them are more than 300 years old.
I was most impressed by a small shop selling noodle tea, which is a very humble courtyard near Beijing's Jishuitan, the customers are residents living nearby, to paraphrase an old Chinese saying, how the business is called a good word, go late to have to queue.
Noodle tea is a bit similar to our Pakistani milk tea, but the taste is not the same, very delicious, I remember the first time I went, I even drank 3 bowls, look around the diners are wide-eyed, maybe they are thinking, this foreign girl's appetite is really good.
There is also a donkey rolling this old Beijing snack, the name is so strange, at first I thought it was related to donkey food, and then I learned why it was called donkey rolling, it turned out to be the last production process to sprinkle soybean noodles, just like the old Beijing suburbs wild donkey sprinkled when the gush of loess rolled, so it was named "donkey rolling".
From the Chinese cuisine, we can see the profundity of Chinese culture, a snack has such an interesting name, it is worthy of being one of the four ancient countries in the world, and it is the only ancient country that remains.
During the winter vacation, Chen Xue took me back to his hometown, this is my first Spring Festival, Chen Xue's family is very enthusiastic, took good care of me as a foreign girl, I am a little embarrassed, let me feel the warmth from my family.
Chinese New Year's Eve evening, everyone gathered together to eat Chinese New Year's Eve meal, while watching the Spring Festival Gala, Chen Xue said, this is a Chinese tradition, Chinese New Year's Eve rice is of great significance to Chinese, Chinese New Year's Eve meal represents this reunion, auspiciousness, happiness and so on. Chinese New Year's Eve meal refers to the dinner of the whole family at the end of the year Chinese New Year's Eve, and the most important thing is that the family is reunited together, which fully demonstrates the mutual respect and mutual love between The Chinese national families, and is also the traditional culture of the mainland.
The Spring Festival Gala is China's highest level of the evening, there are sketches, music, martial arts, cross-talk, dance and many other programs, Chen Xue said, these programs are actually the epitome and summary of the hard-working Chinese people struggled for a year, symbolizing the happiness of the past year, looking forward to the peace of the coming year.
After watching the Spring Festival Gala, it is time to set off firecrackers, which means to resign the old and welcome the new, Chen Xue and I put firecrackers at the gate, this is my first time to put firecrackers, that kind of tension and excitement really do not know what words can be used to describe.
I remember that I took a cigarette to ignite the lead of the firecracker, but I lit it several times without success, because I was afraid, Chen Xue smiled and closed his mouth, and finally, Chen Xue helped me light the firecracker, we covered our ears and watched from a distance, the crackling firecracker sound came out far and wide, Chen Xue said, the new year has begun.
After the firecrackers, we went back to the house, Chen Xue's parents were sitting on the sofa chatting, watching us come back, they took out a red envelope from their pockets, and then gave it to me, saying that it was money, I heard that it was money, and waved my hands in a hurry, saying, Uncle and aunt, I can't ask for your money, my father will give it to me.
My words immediately caused everyone to laugh, Chen Xue explained to me for half a day, I understood, what is called pressing the old money, pressing the old money, also known as pressing the money, "Qi" is an unlucky thing. Pressing the old age money is a traditional Chinese New Year custom, generally in the New Year countdown, the elders will put money in red envelopes to the younger generations. Pressing old money has a good meaning, usually believed to ward off evil spirits and ward off ghosts and bless peace.
After listening to Chen Xue's explanation, I hurriedly grabbed the red envelope of my uncle and aunt with both hands, bowed to express my gratitude, and Chen Xue's operation directly confused me, she first knelt on the ground to kowtow to her parents, and then said that she wished her parents good health, peace and joy, and then accepted the red packet.
I didn't understand, but I probably guessed that this was a custom, but I just bowed, so I also had to kneel down and kowtow like Chen Xue, but I was hurriedly supported by Chen Xue and my uncle and aunt, who said that this was just a courtesy for the chinese juniors to the elders, I didn't need this, and they couldn't accept this great gift from me.
In fact, I don't mind at all, Chen Xue and I are good sisters, good girlfriends, if it is in ancient China, we are the sisters of Yijie Jinlan, kneeling each other's parents of course, but I can't help my uncle and aunt, and finally I can only give up.
The Chinese New Year is really interesting, I sometimes even hope that every day for the New Year, so that you can set off firecrackers every day, receive red envelopes, haha, I am completely in love with China.
I'm in class
After the Spring Festival, we returned to Beijing, I was once again shocked, the train station is densely packed with people with luggage, there are students, there are workers, there are farmers, Chen Xue said, this is the tide of rework, the Spring Festival is over, everyone is rushing to work, starting the struggle of the new year.
In August 2020, Chen Xue and I completed our studies and got a graduate degree.
At this time, the new crown epidemic has been spreading around the world for almost a year, and this year I have personally felt the unity and strength of China, and I dare to pat my chest and say that China is the best country in the world to deal with the epidemic, there is no one, because I have seen it with my own eyes.
After graduation, although a company invited us to work, the tutor also recommended us a job, but we all politely refused, I want to add icing on the cake for the friendship between the Chinese and Pakistani people, deepen the cultural exchange between the two countries, so I decided to stay in China, set up a training company, for international students from Pakistan to teach Chinese, but also for Chinese students to teach our Chinese.
I believe that only when there are no barriers to communication can we better spread the culture of the two countries, and Chen Xue is also very supportive of me and decided to start a business with me.
Now in 2022, we already have more than 4,000 students, most of them from Pakistan, and many students from India and the United States, and we are promoting Chinese to the world.
This year I am 27 years old, two years of study abroad career, let me hopelessly fall in love with China, I want to find a CCP husband, stay in China for the rest of my life.
Since July 2022, Pakistan has experienced unprecedented floods, and so far, one-third of the country's territory has been flooded, and as a Pakistani, I very much hope that I can return to my homeland and fight the flood with my family and friends at this time.
But I knew that I could not do anything when I went back, and I could only pray that the disaster would pass as soon as possible, that the motherland would be safe, and that my compatriots would be safe.
At this time, the Chinese government once again came to help our country, not only to provide financial assistance, but also to send a lot of relief materials, as a Pakistani, I sincerely say to China, thank you, great China, long live China-Pakistan friendship, long live China, I love China!
【Dictation: Aali】
【Editor: Old Cat】