Preface
Returning home from a business trip, I met two foreigners from France on the high-speed train, and I overheard them talking about what they saw China as it were.
I once studied in France, and the experience was like a movie, and I flipped through it in my head.
The more I listened, the more engaged I became, and I never thought that China would be like this in the eyes of foreigners.
Before I got off the bus, I joined them and chatted about the changes in China over the years, and I really suddenly understood what the "vicissitudes of life" are.
[This article is a fictional story, the names and place names in the article are pseudonyms, and if someone carries it, they will be held responsible]
When I meet a foreigner, I think of the past
I approached them in my long-abandoned French, and they responded enthusiastically.
They were shocked that I spoke French, and one of the foreigners told me in broken Chinese, "Hello, Chinese friend." ”
I was struck by his enthusiasm, and after a brief conversation, I got to know these two French friends first.
One of them was named Baker, and the other said his name was Mike, and he was also Mike who spoke to me in Chinese.
Before I joined the discussion, they kept talking about China's development.
Translated from what Baker said, the general content is: living in China is really convenient, there is a comfortable high-speed rail for travel, and there is convenient mobile payment for shopping......
At the same time, Mike also shared his thoughts with him, "I have been to many countries, some are very developed and some are underdeveloped, and I think China really shocked me, its changes and development are far beyond other countries. ”
Mike's words made me feel a lot of emotion, the reason why I went to study in France in the first place was mainly because my family felt that France was a more developed country in Europe, and they wanted me to go there to receive a high-quality education.
When I first went abroad, I was looking forward to France, and I fantasized about studying abroad, but when I arrived, I realized that it was very different from what I had imagined.
When I set foot on French soil, I thought about living and studying here, but when I arrived, I realized that the place where I wanted to live was not in the developed areas of France.
The school is located in the south-east of France, in the Alpes-Maritimes, the largest of which is Nice.
Uprooted from home, you notice a difference
Located on the shores of the Mediterranean, Nice is two different styles from the world-famous Paris.
Its old town has a retro vibe, with winding paths everywhere and I enjoyed strolling around the old town when I wasn't working.
Sometimes when I get tired of walking, I find a coffee break in a café next to the street, and I remember the first time I spent an entire afternoon in the old town, the "slow pace" of the city gave me a different side of France.
At that time, I was looking forward to life in France, but after living for a while, I realized that I was thinking too simply.
The cost of living abroad in France is high, especially the cost of living.
It costs me a few hundred euros a month to rent a studio apartment, which was a very expensive expense for me at the time. Even with the support of my parents, these expenses have been a headache for me for a long time.
Later, I figured out that this is the price of studying abroad. For the same price, I can rent a spacious and bright house in China, and it may be in the downtown area of a first-tier city.
In those years, the only thing I was thankful for was that the price of eating in Nice was not outrageous.
For less than ten euros, I was able to buy some decent seafood.
I usually eat some American fast food, and I thought I would get used to it. But it didn't take long for me to feel lost.
My "Chinese stomach" is not used to eating in a foreign country, and I especially miss Chinese food.
I still remember going to a Chinese restaurant with my classmates and ordering a few of my favorite dishes, which tasted really less than half the taste of a domestic restaurant.
Later, in a new house, I started cooking.
The vegetables here are really expensive, so I can only buy some occasionally for myself.
At that time, I really felt that the name of France as a "food paradise" was a bit serious, and for those who were used to eating Chinese delicacies, it was more like a food desert.
Every time I go back to China, I will buy fresh fruits in the supermarket, and I can easily achieve "fruit freedom" without spending too much money in China, so I really don't want to be too happy.
Many times, everything in France is foreign to me. A lot of people like to live slowly, and they don't want to compete too much.
The difference between China and France is still good at home
As a person who is used to being "involuted", I really don't adapt to such a "slow pace", life has no waves, and it is calm like a pool of stagnant water.
I used to think that this state of "comfort" was a salvation for me, and that I was slowly freed from the state of "test-oriented education".
After looking for a few internships, I found out that I still like the state in China, it is not a good thing for people to be too comfortable, and people will lose their fighting spirit after being comfortable for a long time.
In addition to these, the most "anxious" thing for me in France is the issue of security. When I first arrived in France 10 years ago, I rented a house, and not long after I moved in, a thief came to my door.
At night, I rarely dare to go out on my own, and I hardly ever go to a remote place at night.
The security situation in France was an eye-opener for me, and only those who have experienced it know how free and happy it is to be at home.
We have a great and safe motherland, born and raised in China, it is really a happy thing. China is one of the "safest countries" in the world, with a harmonious society and friendly and mutual assistance among its people.
Not only do we have a thousand-year-old Chinese culture, which has been passed down from generation to generation, but we also have brothers and sisters of 56 nationalities who are moving forward together.
As the only uninterrupted civilization in the world that continues to this day, our country occupies a pivotal page in world history.
In China, no matter when and where, we have the support of the great motherland.
After returning to live in China, I have a deeper understanding of the strength of my motherland. A few years ago, I was admitted to the hospital for a minor operation, and it didn't take long from hospitalization to surgery.
And after being reimbursed by Medicare, I only paid a small part of the cost.
At that time, I thought about the experience of being sick in France. It was really difficult to deal with illness in France, when I had a bad cold and had difficulty breathing.
My roommate hurriedly called an ambulance for me and took me to treatment, and after tossing and turning all night, my condition improved slightly, and my jaw dropped when I paid, and I spent nearly 800 euros in less than a day.
That's when I realized why my friend advised me to buy high-priced health insurance, because the basic social security in France doesn't cover much.
If this is in China, I can get the results quickly when I go to the hospital for emergency treatment, and I don't need to wait for a long time to get the results.
epilogue
If you want to protect yourself abroad, the environment is very complicated, and anyone will encounter it, so you must protect yourself.
Life abroad seems exciting, but in fact, there are lonely times, and the days without relatives and friends around are also lonely.
Nowadays, more and more people are studying abroad, but everyone still has to learn to "disenchant" a new environment, and don't think that everything imaginary is in contact with reality.