[Editor's Note] In Huiyuan, there is such a group of outstanding international students in China. They come from different countries and gather here with dreams to start a new journey of seeking knowledge and become ambassadors of understanding and friendship with China. The Propaganda Department of the Party Committee and the International College jointly planned the "Study Abroad and w88 casino" series of interviews to get close to these outstanding students, listen to their stories of studying in China, feel their courage and wisdom in facing challenges, and witness how they grow and become talents in the blend of multiculturalism.
w88 casino News Network (Draft from the Party Committee Propaganda Department)KESHINA RA CHALCIU S, from Haiti, a 2023 undergraduate student majoring in finance at China University of Finance and Economics. He has won honors such as the Study Excellence Award for International Students in China, the Excellence Award in the "100 Reasons to Fall in Love with Beijing" Short Video Competition, the Third Prize in the Calligraphy Competition for International College Preparatory Students, and the First Prize in the Singing Competition for International College Preparatory Students. Currently, he is the head of the public affairs department of the International Alumni Association of the International w88 casino. He is also a video creator active on social media, attracting a total of nearly 190,000 followers. Using her lens as a window, she continues to tell real and vivid Chinese stories to the world.
Go further and see a bigger world
China is a distant country for Shao Kena. However, when the opportunity to study in China was presented to Shao Kena, she seized this rare opportunity without hesitation - she always believed that only by standing on this land in person can she touch the most authentic China. In this way, with the expectation of the unknown and the desire to "see the bigger world", she crossed the mountains and seas, came to China, entered the campus of the w88 casino, and started her study abroad story.
“China is far away from my country, and the culture is also very different, but I want to see a different world when I am young.” When talking about her original decision, she still had the certainty in her tone. In her view, China's economy is developing rapidly. "In the future, I want to start a business and have my own company. If I study in China and at the University of International w88 and Economics, I think it may be the best choice to realize my dream."
Warm clothes in the cold winter, family in a foreign land
When she first arrived in China, the first hurdle Shao Kena faced was the language. During the preparatory year, she set a rule for herself: learn 10 new words by herself every day, preview before class, and review after class. “Chinese is difficult, but it’s not impossible to learn.” In the Chinese language course exam, she ranked first in the class and received the Excellence Award.
What is more difficult than words is the unexpected winter. It was winter when she first arrived in Beijing, but her luggage was stranded on the way, and she only had thin clothes on her body. "I really didn't know what to do at that time. I had nothing and didn't understand anything." She dialed the number of a teacher at the University of International w88 and Economics. The teacher was feeling unwell at the time, but he went out to help her buy clothes without saying a word and even used his own money to advance the payment. In the end, he only said one sentence: "Don't be in a hurry to pay it back. You should first apply for the bank card and complete all the procedures."
There was another teacher who gave her motherly care during the long years in a foreign country. Shao Kena affectionately calls her "my mother in China." "My mother is still in my country, but I am not alone here." When she said this, her voice was very soft, but her eyes brightened. It was these kindnesses from the International Business Administration that gave her a warm sense of belonging in Beijing thousands of miles away.
Become a teller of Chinese stories
Shao Kena’s social media journey began with a simple idea: her real experience of studying in China brought her too many surprises and shocks, but the choice of studying in China was not common in her own country. Since I like to make videos, why not share the real life of studying abroad in China with Haitians?
From then on, Shao Kena realized that the lens in her hand was not only a window to show her life, but also a door for Haitians to see the real China and a bridge connecting two cultures. She began to share Chinese New Year customs in the video, introduce the convenience of mobile payment, and respond to every question in the comment area. "They asked me a lot of things, and I didn't know the answer at first. But I will definitely understand the relevant situation clearly, and then respond to their curiosity. Because for me, this is a responsibility - if I say something wrong, it may mislead many people."
This sense of responsibility pushes her further and further. Now her account has nearly 190,000 followers, and the question in the comment area has changed from the initial novelty to "How can I come to study in China?" She said: "This makes me feel that what I am doing is really meaningful."
Away from the camera, Shao Kena is also active on the campus cultural stage. As the head of the public affairs department of the International Alumni Association of the University of International w88, she participated in organizing large and small activities such as international cultural festivals, graduation parties, and orientations, and got to know many enthusiastic and kind-hearted classmates. Talking about these experiences, she said with a smile: "My sense of responsibility has become stronger. And I found that I can get to know people from all over the world at the University of International w88."
UMI is like home
When asked about her feelings about the University of International w88, Shao Kena almost blurted out: “It feels like home.”
From matriculation to undergraduate, all her memories of studying in China are intertwined with the University of International w88. She counts the benefits of this "home" in detail: Chinese classes are offered in both freshman and sophomore years to help international students continue to improve their language proficiency; if they encounter problems, they can ask teachers and classmates for help; the restaurant has multi-lingual menus; the w88 casino also organizes orientation activities for new students to help everyone integrate... "There are many people from different countries here, and you will never feel alone."
When it comes to the future, her plan is clear and determined: continue her graduate studies at the University of International w88 and Economics, then start a business, and build a w88 bridge between China and Haiti. "There are many Haitians who want to buy Chinese products, but they give up because they are too far away and don't know how to operate them. If I were here, they could trust me." This girl in her early twenties has begun to closely tie her personal development to the connection between the two countries.
Towards the end of the interview, Shao Kena taught the reporter a Haitian Creole phrase: "Mwen renmen ou" - I love you. Then she added seriously: "I feel that I have two responsibilities now. One is to my country, to tell them how amazing the real China is; the other is to China, to let them see that Haitians are also working hard. I love both of these countries."
From Haiti to Beijing, from an international student to a teller of Chinese stories, Shao Kena has walked firmly on the road of telling Chinese stories well and connecting the friendship between the two countries. The open and inclusive home of the University of w88 and Economics will always provide the warmest strength to every dream chaser like her who yearns for glory.(Written by: Ji Lulu, Wang Yaqi, Reviewed by: Tao Haofei, Qiao Xuezhu)
