In August 1986, the 76th International Esperanto Congress was held in Beijing. As an Esperantoist, I had the privilege of participating in the event, where more than 2,000 Esperanto speakers from 54 countries and regions on five continents gathered in Beijing to speak a common language and share friendship and peace. After the conference, I returned to my hometown of Shenyang with excitement and anticipation, but I did not expect to receive a special task the next day - to receive foreign delegations visiting Liaoning after the conclusion of the International Esperanto Congress.
The Liaoning Esperanto delegation attended the 71st International Esperanto Congress
This reception mission is of great significance to Liaoning Province, and the leaders of the Propaganda Department of the Liaoning Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial Federation of Social Sciences have attached great importance to it. At the visit reception work meeting, Zhang Qisheng, vice minister of the Propaganda Department of the Provincial Party Committee, was full of pride and expectation: "This is the largest number of foreign delegations to Liaoning since the mainland's reform and opening up, and more than 30 Esperanto speakers from more than a dozen countries will gather in Liaoning. We must not only do a good job in hospitality, but also grasp this rare opportunity to show the world the achievements of Liaoning's economic construction and rich cultural tourism resources. ”
On the third day, when the first rays of the morning sun shone over the earth, my colleagues and I arrived at Taoxian Airport and Shenyang Railway Station early to greet these Esperanto speakers from afar. Their arrival has brought a fresh international breath to Liaoning. Over the next few days, we accompanied them to visit the Forbidden City and Beiling Park in Shenyang, where they felt the solemnity of the ancient imperial city and the weight of its history.
In Beiling Park, we held a special Esperanto summer camp for foreign Esperanto speakers. Esperanto speakers from all over the world took to the stage to show their love for Esperanto in their own unique ways. Professor Tapo and his wife, Ms. Tina, share their experiences of learning Esperanto. All three of them are big fans of Esperanto, and they use this magical language to communicate with each other.
Foreign Esperanto speakers participate in the Esperanto summer camp in Liaoning Province
Ms. Tina's story is particularly fascinating. She recalls a beautiful story from her youth, when she was a university student and full of curiosity and yearning for Esperanto. One night, while attending a school club activity, she stumbles upon a tall, handsome boy - Tabo. Her best friend encourages her to pursue bravely, but she is too afraid to talk to her because she is not confident. However, her interest in Tabo did not fade because of this, but only grew stronger. Through her best friend's introduction, she learns that Tabo is learning Esperanto, which makes her even more curious about the boy.
In order to get closer to Tapo, Tina decided to learn Esperanto. She used her spare time to go to the university library to look for relevant books, and although there were few books in Esperanto, she did not give up. Eventually, she found a ladder and found several precious Esperanto textbooks at the top of the library's shelves. She read these books voraciously and gradually learned the charm of Esperanto. And what excites her even more is that she learned to say "Mi amas vin" (I love you) in Esperanto.
One afternoon, she plucked up the courage to invite Tabo to meet in the school's grove. When she boldly confesses to Tabo in Esperanto, Tabo's eyes widen in surprise. He looked at Tina in disbelief and asked, "You still speak Esperanto?" and it was this sincere confession that brought them closer together and allowed them to communicate common topics in magical language. Their love story has become more romantic and memorable as a result.
This reception is not only a simple foreign affairs event, but also a cultural exchange across national borders. We used Esperanto to bring each other closer together and enhance mutual understanding and friendship. When the members of the delegation left Liaoning, they all said that the trip was worthwhile and felt the enthusiasm and charm of Liaoning. Ms. Tina also wrote a new script in Esperanto and sent it to me as a souvenir, and I also gave her a book about Chinese culture in return.
Looking back on those good times, I am struck by the charm of Esperanto. It is not only a language tool, but also a bridge to communicate the heart. Through this event, I deeply experienced the power of language and the diversity of culture. I believe that in the future, we will continue to use the magical tool of Esperanto to connect friends around the world and write more beautiful Chinese stories together. (Text/Photo: Liu Weijie)
Source: All-China Esperanto Association
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