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Beijing, September 5 (Reporter Huang Yuling) What is the difference between the pace of life in Serbia and China? What are the "Chinese elements" in the customs and habits of the Serbs? Do foreigners need a "bride price" to get married? These questions can be found in the short video of serbian girl Yelena.
In 2020, Yelena, who studied in China, began to shoot videos, spreading Chinese and Serbian culture in the videos, and received a large number of likes from netizens. In just two years, this Serbian "small town girl" has become a "folk ambassador" for the spread of Chinese and Serbian culture.
"I remember when I finally came to the China of my dreams, I made a joke. It was my first time in China, and I was very excited, so I specially prepared Hanfu to wear in China, thinking that Chinese usually wear Hanfu. When the plane landed, I found that I was the only one wearing Hanfu. Yelena talked to reporters about what it looked like when she first came to China, and the smile on her face was bright and moving. Everything in China had a huge appeal to this young Serbian girl, and Yelena's status as a "folk ambassador" for Sino-Cypriot cultural exchanges also began from this moment.
Chinese that can "cure the disease"
Yelena is a "95" born in serbia in an ordinary small-town family, in addition to her parents, there are two younger brothers in the family, is a very harmonious family. After going to elementary school, Yelena's grades have been very good, but when she was 8 years old, she suddenly suffered from "stuttering", and her parents took her to see many doctors, but she never got better.
"When I was twelve, I happened to see the TV drama "The Wind and the Clouds Dominate the World" on TV, and I especially liked the architecture, characters and culture in it. Since then, I have fallen in love with everything in China and am determined to learn to Chinese. This martial arts drama opened the door to Yelena's yearning for China in her heart, and since then she has worked hard to learn Chinese. The family was very supportive of Yelena's study Chinese and helped her enroll in a Chinese class, but because of Yelena's stuttering, she was persuaded by the teacher to quit. Yelena did not give up and began to teach herself Chinese. Chinese songs and Chinese TV dramas have become new teaching materials for her to learn, and she will copy down her favorite songs and lines in the TV series, and copy the five books.
Yelena's handwritten lyrics when she studied Chinese (courtesy of the interviewee)
In this way, from unfamiliar to skilled, from busy to handy, Yelena taught herself for ten years Chinese. Before graduating from high school, she successfully passed the Chinese proficiency test and received a scholarship to study at Beijing Language and Culture University for undergraduate studies. In 2017, Yelena was admitted to the Beijing Film Academy for graduate school.
Yelena's graduation photo at the Beijing Film Academy (Courtesy of interviewee)
"What's amazing is that after coming to China, my 'stuttering' turned out to be better! Since I was admitted to Nortel, I have found that I speak Chinese in front of the camera, do not 'stutter' at all, and can speak fluently. Chinese really helped me and made me more and more confident. Yelena sighed.
Bring the whole family to China
Not only did Chinese heal Yelena, but the all-encompassing and profound Chinese culture also deeply influenced her.
"I was so deeply influenced by Chinese culture that now my friends around me say I'm like a Chinese." Coming to China, Yelena experienced too many firsts, the first time she wore Hanfu and qipao, the first time she used chopsticks, the first time she ate dumplings... During her studies in China, Yelena travels to various places as soon as she has time, admires the most oriental buildings, and immerses herself in learning about the Chinese culture contained in them. The strong Chinese complex also makes Yelena love China more.
Yelena dressed in Hanfu (Photo courtesy of interviewee)
Yelena loves Hanfu very much, and the beauty of that kind of flexible and flowing oriental costume is something she has never felt before. During her school days, Yelena often wore traditional Chinese costumes to work as a model and shoot dramas. Yelena spreads Chinese culture in her own way.
Photo taken by Yelena in Beijing's Temple of Heaven Park (Courtesy of interviewee)
Under her infection, Yelena's family and friends also began to understand the charm of Chinese Chinese dialect and culture. Yelena said that now the family drinks jasmine tea every day. Yelena's love for Chinese influenced her youngest brother, who also began to study Chinese, and is now a sophomore at Fudan University. "There's a thing in this world called fate, and I believe it's fate. I watch "Wind and Cloud" is fate, and coming to China is fate. Yelena said.
"Folk Ambassadors" who spread Chinese and Cypriot culture
Everything is fate, and the relationship with China has also allowed Yelena to find the direction of future struggle.
In 2020, the epidemic came. During her stay at home, she used what she learned to start shooting short videos to share different customs and cultures in Serbia and China, which gained the praise and support of many netizens. This also encouraged Yelena. "By filming videos and spreading the culture of China and Serbia, I also found a new mission - to be a messenger to spread Chinese and Serbian culture and pass on Sino-Serbian friendship." Yelena said firmly.
Yelena filming a short video (courtesy of interviewee)
Last year, Yelena returned home because she missed her family. Unable to return to China soon due to the impact of the epidemic, Yelena found a job as a Chinese translator, and she took time out to shoot videos as always.
From an obscure small-town girl to now walking on the streets of Serbia, there will be fans to greet her kindly, Yelena feels very fulfilled. The Confucius Institute and Chinese Cultural Center in Serbia often invite her to participate in activities, and Yelena has fulfilled her "mission" and gradually become a "folk ambassador" for spreading Chinese and Serbian culture. "What I want to do most now is to return to China, make a film about Chinese and Cypriot culture as a director, and continue to make my own efforts for Sino-Cypriot cultural exchanges." Yelena said.
"Those who are like-minded, do not take the mountains and seas as far away." Yelena and China's story continues.