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Text: Outstanding Literature and History
Edited by Excellence in Literature and History
●—<前言> —●
"I think the air in the U.S. is much better than at home."
Seven years ago, at the graduation ceremony of a foreign university, an international student from China said this sentence.
In the whole speech, he praised and "curried" the United States, and the implication was to "belittle" the mainland.
This made the Chinese students in the audience unable to sit still, and scolded her for "admiring foreigners and being ungrateful".
As a Chinese, he took the public scholarship given by the state to study abroad, but he said such "big rebellion".
But even though she "pleased" the United States so much, she was "expelled" by the United States after graduation and "rejected" by South Korea.
Who is this international student and what is her fate now?
●—<公派留学生公开背刺祖国> —●
As a publicly-funded international student from Kunming, Yunnan Province, Yang Shuping was full of praise for the American air during his speech.
And said that he "felt free" as soon as he got off the plane.
This remark undoubtedly angered many netizens, who questioned Yang Shuping's remarks, accusing him of deliberately exaggerating and scandalizing the environment of his hometown of Kunming, and lacking basic respect for his motherland and hometown.
Known as the "Spring City", Kunming has a comfortable and pleasant climate and good air quality, and even foreign students who come to study here are full of praise for the landscape here.
In her speech, however, Yang Shuping portrayed Kunming as a place with dirty air and difficult life, in contrast to the environment she had personally experienced.
What's even more shocking is that as a publicly-funded international student who once enjoyed government funding, she belittled and scandalized her hometown for such a reason in public.
While the speaker's remarks may be based on real-life personal experience, the way she presented her has caused widespread dissatisfaction and criticism from the public.
In recent years, the Chinese government has increased its investment in pollution control and implemented a series of strict environmental protection policies and measures, which have significantly improved air quality.
According to authoritative data, PM2.5 concentrations in many cities in China have dropped significantly, and the proportion of days with good air quality has increased year by year.
However, the speaker's remarks are clearly inconsistent with the actual situation and can easily mislead the international community's perception of China's environmental situation.
Her remarks may be seen as disrespectful to her hometown and hurt the feelings of the people.
In Chinese culture, respect for one's hometown and love for one's motherland are the basic values that everyone should uphold.
Even if you have different personal experiences, you should not express your views in a way that disparages your own country.
●—<被无情抛弃的"丧家犬"> —●
Under the influence of excellent family conditions and educational resources, Yang Shuping has shown extraordinary intelligence and diligence since he was a child, and his grades are among the best.
With the expectations of her parents and her own hard work, she was successfully admitted to a key school all the way to high school.
When he was in college, Yang Shuping won the honorary status of "publicly-funded international student" for his outstanding performance, and had the opportunity to go to the University of Maryland in the United States for further study.
At the time, she was thrilled with the opportunity and was overly optimistic that she would be able to earn a degree in a foreign country and integrate into American life.
Her master's degree has earned her some recognition and respect academically, but in the U.S. job market, it doesn't guarantee that she'll find her dream job that meets her expectations.
She thought that her high education would be a stepping stone, but the reality was not satisfactory.
Many top companies are hesitant to hire an employee who is considered a "kneeling and licker" in China, fearing that it will damage the company's public image and social reputation.
She often encounters subtle attitudinal shifts during interviews, where they initially show a keen interest in her academic qualifications, but the atmosphere becomes noticeably awkward and tense as the conversation shifts to personal context.
The recruitment teams of these companies not only value the professional skills of the candidates, but also pay great attention to their social evaluation and public image.
Despite her impressive academic achievements on her resume, she was repeatedly rejected.
After numerous disappointments, she finally managed to find a job at a smaller company.
The company is relatively lenient in its requirements for its employees, but its attitude towards her is also far from friendly.
Her boss often complained about her, believing that she lacked both the necessary practical experience and the ability to do her job.
Colleagues also had reservations about her arrival, doubting her abilities and motives, and even talking about it in private.
In such a working environment, she felt extremely uncomfortable and frustrated.
Despite her efforts to prove herself and try to earn the respect and trust of her colleagues by achieving results in her work, her efforts always seem to be unrewarded.
As time passed, she began to question her abilities and was full of confusion and worry about her future.
In this way, her struggles in the workplace made her feel deeply tired, and the complaints of her boss added to her psychological pressure.
She kept asking herself if she was really mediocre and incompetent, as others say.
After graduating, Yang Shuping tried to stay in the United States for a while, but due to a debate about patriotism, he was expelled from the school and could not continue to apply for a visa, so he had to give up his dream.
She moved to South Korea again, but because of her previous "kneeling and licking" words and deeds, she was questioned and missed work again.
Yang Shuping, who was in a difficult situation, could only return to his hometown in disgrace. Her journey overseas to pursue the American dream was bumpy and ultimately unsuccessful.
●—< "Retribution" is late!> —●
After returning to China, Yang Shuping thought that he could start over, but this was far from the case.
Many well-known companies are well aware of what she has done abroad, not only rejected her application, but some even put her directly on the blacklist.
Seeing that there was no hope of finding a job, coupled with the constant personal attacks and face-to-face humiliation of her, the trauma and pain in her heart can be imagined.
Today, her social media accounts are still labeled as "American", and she still seems to have illusions about her former life in the United States.
But what she said at a graduation ceremony abroad was a real "stain".
Her behavior at that time not only hurt the feelings of the Chinese people, but also made many foreigners question her character.
Although she may have wanted to take the opportunity to show her love and loyalty to the United States, it backfired.
Many Americans say they appreciate people who can evaluate their home country truthfully and objectively rather than those who elevate themselves by belittling others.
In the pursuit of personal interests, a person should not sacrifice the dignity of the state and the nation. True respect and recognition come from an individual's character and ability, not just nationality or place of birth.
●—<结语> —●
"The crow feeds back, and the lamb kneels to suckle."
As a Chinese, we must always remember the nurturing and cultivation of the motherland.
Always have a grateful heart, and absolutely cannot slander the country because of one's own selfish desires.
Yang Shuping's tragic fate has triggered widespread wake-up call among the overseas study community.
Every student who has received favors from the state should understand that he or she has the responsibility to contribute to the country and the nation.
We should not regard overseas opportunities as an excuse to get rid of our homeland, let alone sacrifice national interests for our own selfish desires.
What do you think of Yang Shuping's behavior?
Shingen Reference:
1. "Chinese Students Praise the Fresh and Sweet Air in the United States, Ministry of Foreign Affairs: We Should Make a Responsible Statement" - China Youth Network, 2017-05-25
2. "She said that the air in the United States was "sweet and fresh", the Americans in the audience gave a standing ovation, and the Chinese students exploded!" - Global Network, 2017-05-21