Angeli, a nurse from India, embarks on a journey of exploration of Chinese culture.
One day during the May Day holiday, she arrived in Hangzhou, China, full of anticipation.
As soon as she stepped out of the airport, she was shocked by the crowd outside.
Standing there, she sighed: "There are really a lot of Chinese!" This kind of scene is rare in her hometown, which makes her mood difficult to calm down for a while.
Angeline's trip was suggested by her friend Su Wenjie.
Wenjie Su is a Chinese programmer who has been working in India for many years, and he often shares China's rich culture and history with Angeline.
Through these conversations, Angelie developed a strong interest in Chinese culture and decided to travel to China to experience this country with a long history and deep cultural heritage.
She hopes that through this trip, she will not only see the beautiful scenery of China, but also gain an in-depth understanding of the daily life and traditional customs of the Chinese.
At first, Angelie found it difficult to adjust to Hangzhou's population density.
She has experienced crowds in some of India's big cities, but Hangzhou seems to be busier than she expected.
She said to Su Wenjie: "Obviously, there are really a lot of people here, and the cars on the street never seem to stop." ”
Every time she crosses the street, she feels like she's on a mini-adventure.
The language barrier is also a major challenge for her.
Although Angelie had already learned some basic Chinese through the Internet before she came, she still found it difficult to use it in practice.
Especially when she tried to learn and read ancient Chinese poems, her pronunciation and rhythm always frustrated her.
During an attempt to communicate with an old tea merchant on the street, her slip of the tongue drew a gentle laugh.
She smiled awkwardly and thought to herself, "It's a lot harder than I thought." ”
Angelie is also trying to adapt to Chinese food culture. When she first tried Hangzhou's traditional delicacy, West Lake vinegar fish, she was a little overwhelmed by the mixture of sweet and sour.
"The taste is truly unique, I've never tried a combination like this," she says. ”
Despite her efforts to get herself used to these novelty flavors, it seems that her taste buds still need some time to accept the thrill.
All these discomforts and challenges made Angelie feel unprecedented pressure.
She began to wonder if she had made the right decision on this trip and if she could really find pleasure in such an environment that was completely different from her own culture.
Whenever in the dead of night, she would look at the night view of Hangzhou in front of the hotel window, and her heart was full of complicated emotions.
As time passed, Angelie began to gradually adapt to the rhythm of life in Hangzhou by the company of Su Wenjie.
Su Wenjie is not only her guide, but also her cultural bridge, helping her understand and accept the daily habits and cultural details of China.
Once, while strolling along the West Lake, Su Wenjie pointed to the lotus flowers in the lake to explain the artistic conception of ancient poems to her, and Angelie felt the beauty and depth of Chinese poetry, and she began to appreciate the cultural differences that puzzled her at first.
Angelie also began to try to communicate with the locals, and although language was still a barrier, she learned to communicate in basic Chinese and body language.
During a shopping experience at the market, she tried to bargain in her Chinese, and although there were some small misunderstandings along the way, the vendors at the market smiled and praised her efforts encouragingly.
These experiences gave her a sense of accomplishment and strengthened her determination to continue exploring and learning.
Another important turning point was the experience when visiting Lingyin Temple.
The solemnity and tranquility of the temple made her forget the troubles and pressures of coming for a while.
Angeline lit an oil lamp in the temple and made a wish, feeling that her soul was purified and at peace.
This experience made her deeply feel the importance and influence of religion and belief in Chinese culture.
Angelie is also actively involved in local festivals, including feeding squirrels by the West Lake and participating in tea ceremonies.
Through these activities, she not only learned about Chinese folk customs and traditions, but also felt the concept of harmonious coexistence between man and nature.
These experiences have greatly enriched her travel experience, deepened her understanding of Chinese culture, and gradually allowed her to find joy and inner peace from the initial discomfort and confusion.
As the journey deepened, Angelie gained a deeper experience and understanding of traditional Chinese culture.
Her cultural journey is no longer just a superficial sighting, but has turned to more in-depth cultural exploration and experience.
During a leisurely stroll along the shores of the West Lake, she was fascinated by its natural beauty.
Under the guidance of Su Wenjie, Angelie took a boat tour of the lake, and the surrounding mountains, water and sky merged into one, as if she was in a moving picture.
She sighed: "The beauty here is not only visual, but also spiritual. ”
When it comes to gastronomy, Angeline's explorations are also full of new discoveries and challenges.
At a traditional Hangzhou restaurant, she tried local specialties such as Dongpo pork and Longjing shrimp.
Initially, she was uncomfortable with the unique taste of these foods, but after trying them a few times, she began to appreciate the culture and culinary philosophy behind these dishes.
She talked to the chef and learned that the process of making these dishes is not only a reflection of technology, but also a respect and inheritance of ingredients and flavors.
In the process of deepening the culture, Angela also developed a strong interest in traditional Chinese art forms.
At a teahouse in Hangzhou, she watched a traditional Chinese tea ceremony.
Every movement of the tea master reveals a deep respect and love for tea culture, which deeply touched Angeline.
She learned how to taste tea and feel the aroma of tea, which is not only to taste the taste of a cup of tea, but also a spiritual enjoyment and cultural understanding.
Angelie also visited some of Hangzhou's traditional handicraft workshops, such as silk and fan making.
There, she not only saw the exquisite handicraft technology, but also felt the artisans' insistence on and inheritance of traditional crafts.
She tried her hand at making fans, and although the results of her first attempt were far from perfect, the process gave her a deeper appreciation of the profound heritage and unique charm of traditional Chinese culture.
These in-depth cultural experiences have greatly enriched Angeline's travels, not only expanding her horizons, but also nourishing her soul.
Through first-hand experience and in-depth understanding, she has gained a more comprehensive understanding of China's traditional and modern faces, and is full of respect and love for this ancient and vibrant land.
As the trip came to an end, Angelie sat on the balcony of her hotel on her last night in Hangzhou, looking back at her time in the city.
Her heart was filled with deep reflections on this trip to China.
Through personal experience and in-depth understanding, she felt the profoundness and unique charm of Chinese culture.
This trip is not only an exploration of a country's customs and customs, but also a baptism and growth of one's own heart.
Angeline reflected on the fact that the trip brought her not only visual shock and accumulation of knowledge, but more importantly, spiritual touch and growth.
She realized that while cultural differences may seem like obstacles at first, it is these differences that provide opportunities for learning and self-improvement.
She is grateful for the opportunity to experience Chinese tradition and modernity in depth, and to witness the harmonious coexistence of the two.
"The biggest lesson I've learned is that true travel isn't just about moving feet, it's about moving the heart," she says. ”
Angeline hopes to have more opportunities to explore other parts of China, such as the mysterious Tibet and bustling Shanghai, to continue her cultural journey and deepen her understanding and appreciation of Chinese culture.
She also hopes to bring these experiences and stories back to India and share them with her friends, so that more people can understand and feel the uniqueness and beauty of Chinese culture.