Editor's note: In recent years, with the continuous opening up of China, more and more foreign friends have come to study in China and work in China. From now on, the Henan International Communication Center and Dahe.com will jointly launch the Global Talk column, focusing on foreign friends who have studied, Xi, worked, and lived in China, and through their eyes and words, they can show China's development and changes in recent years in an all-round, multi-angle and three-dimensional way. Launched today the first issue: "Bangladeshi Student Jefferson: The Chopsticks of "The Sky is Round" Full of Oriental Wisdom".
Dahe Network News The morning fog is heavy, and the winter is faint. Standing beside the microwave Meihu Lake, looking around, a grass and a tree, mottled with light and shadow, the small building of the nuclear core turned warm red under the warm winter sun, standing quietly in the beautiful campus, welcoming the bustling students. At this moment, walking on the campus of Zhengzhou University, the scenery is intoxicating.
Recently, the reporter met Jefferson William at Zhengzhou University. Jefferson, originally from Bangladesh, was an international student at Zhengzhou University studying for a master's degree in international trade. Jefferson not only used English sticks, but also chopsticks.
Jefferson was interviewed by reporters by the Meihu Lake at Zhengzhou University
Lanzhou ramen, Shaxian snacks, Chongqing chicken pot, Guilin rice noodles...... The school cafeteria, which brings together delicious food from all over the world, has captured the taste buds of many foreign students, and Jefferson is no exception. "I often go to the school cafeteria to eat, especially Henan braised noodles, a bite of noodles, a spoonful of soup, I really like the deliciousness of the broth and the gluten of the braised noodles. With that, Jefferson walked to the window and ordered a steaming lamb stew.
"The school cafeteria is full of 'fireworks' and I love it. Jefferson said as he ate. To the reporter's surprise, this Bangladeshi guy is very skilled with chopsticks. I saw that he first picked up the noodles skillfully with chopsticks and feasted on them, his face full of happiness.
Talking about his experience of learning to use chopsticks Xi, he eloquently said: "Bangladeshis mainly eat rice, except for using Western knives and forks in high-end restaurants or formal social occasions, they usually use their right hand to grab food. When I first came to China, I found that Chinese people like to use chopsticks. Chopsticks can pick up a variety of foods, which is very convenient and fun, and that's when I wanted to learn how to use chopsticks. ”
Jefferson studied at Zhengzhou University by the Meihu Lake
When it comes to rice, Bangladeshis have a soft spot for rice. It is understood that in 2022, Bangladesh's rice production accounted for 7% of the world's total rice production, making it the world's third largest rice producer. Bangladesh consumes about 180 kg of rice per capita per year, making it one of the highest per capita rice consumption countries. "In September and October, the rice was golden, and it was incomparably gentle, and incomparably beautiful. This is the poet Rabindranath Tagore's "golden Bangladesh".
Most areas of Henan are dominated by noodles, and there are many types of noodles. In order to master the use of chopsticks, Jefferson first searched for tutorials on how to use chopsticks on the Internet, and after mastering the basic use of chopsticks, he prepared foods of different sizes and shapes for his own Xi practice. As big as a rib or as small as a soybean, he picked it up and put it down over and over again. The hard work paid off, and after repeated practice, he finally mastered this new skill.
Like most young people, this international student from Bangladesh is a full-fledged foodie. With the help of chopsticks, Jefferson successively "unlocked" different flavors of Henan noodles. "After coming to Henan, I found that most people in Henan like to eat noodles, and the noodles in Henan taste super good. The variety of noodles also reflects the breadth and depth of Chinese food culture. In front of reporters, Jefferson made no secret of his fondness for Henan noodles. "Eating noodles with chopsticks is a technical job, and luckily it's a piece of cake for me now. ”
Jefferson was interviewed by reporters
This place of peace is my hometown. Studying in a foreign country, Jefferson not only used chopsticks as proficiently as the locals, but also summed up his experience of using chopsticks: "Whether it is labor-saving to eat with chopsticks depends on two points: one is the position of the chopsticks, and the other is the gesture of holding the chopsticks." For example, you can't hold chopsticks too low, otherwise it will be laborious to pick up small food. Through chopsticks, Jefferson successfully integrated into China's long-standing food culture and found a sense of belonging in Henan. "The shape of the chopsticks is a round end and a square end, representing the 'heaven and the round place', reflecting the ancient Chinese understanding of the world. Jefferson said.
The world's wheat looks at China, and China's wheat looks at Henan. Henan produces 1/4 of the country's wheat with 1/16 of the country's arable land, and is the largest wheat producing province in the country, known as the "granary of the Central Plains". As of 2023, Henan's grain output has exceeded 130 billion catties for six consecutive years, and the wheat yield and total output rank first in the country. The incomparable advantages of raw materials have laid a solid foundation for Henan's rich variety of special noodles.
Nowadays, the "Henan face" on the tip of the tongue not only ties the hearts of Henan people, but also "conquers" the stomachs of many foreign friends. A pair of chopsticks not only contains a profound humanistic spirit and civilization, but also becomes a microcosm of Chinese cultural self-confidence. (Yang Jiaxin, Zhou Jinmiao)