This must be the first time I write something for a single student. Whether I led a group of international students in China or volunteered in Botswana, I made friends with many brothers and sisters from far and wide who I still keep in touch with. Compared with them, I have known this big boy from Malawi for only a few months, and because my workplace was transferred to the capital, Lilongwe, we parted early during my tenure. Although we still have the opportunity to meet again, while the friendship and the honor he won are still fresh, I decided that I should write something.
His name isMoses Dausi, whose Chinese name is Li Lei. This was the name given by the Chinese teacher who taught him before。According to what he said, the teacher hoped that he would have great ambitions and be brave and determined in pursuing his dreams. As for why the surname is Li instead of surnameOthers, given that several of the Chinese teacher’s most protégés are all named Li, we privately suspect that she is responsible forThe surname "Li" has a special obsession. Anyway,Moses seems to like this Chinese name very much. When he met me for the first time, he introduced himself fluently, although there was still a hint of youthfulness unique to college students.
Before I knew him, heOnlyOne and a half years of Chinese learning experience, but due to his heavy workload，We didn't meet many times when we first met, and he didn't leave a good impression on me right away of being punctual and hard-working. In fact, in May this yearOn the eve of the HSK exam, who is the student I am most optimistic aboutAlsoA person who can come to me for unannounced tutoring seven days a weekBlessing. As a result, after one weekend, Blessing suddenly disappeared without a trace until Moses brought the news that he was suffering from malaria. Feeling sorry, I conveyed Blessing’s learning methods and unremitting fighting spirit to Moses, and then it seemedInspire了Moses’s fighting spirit began to be like Blessing’s, and he began to find time to come to me for tutoring every day. Hard workThere is always something to gain, after studying Chinese for one and a half years,MoseSmoothlyPassedHSK Level 4 test.
And his goal obviously does not stop there. in the coming June“Chinese Bridge”In the game, heUseFluent Chinese and Tai Chi sword and Tai Chi fan performances once again challenge for the championship crown. Several of our teachers participated in the guidance throughout the process, help him improve his abilities in all aspects. After fierce competition,Moses finally won, obtained2College students in Malawi in 2019"Chinese Bridge" champion,handed in a landmark answer sheet for his nearly two years of Chinese learning.
The ecstasy after winning the championship did not last long,Moses fell into a new reality. Soon to represent MalawiCollege studentGo to China to participate“Chinese Bridge”The championship finals, but he has no passport, no visa, and no experience abroad.At this time II just realized that I will go to China to compete，Moses faces considerable difficulties. iUnderstoodMoses has always relied on his uncle for support in his studies,himLive next to the w88 casino for monthly rentLiving in a low-rent house worth 160 yuan, I only go back to my hometown in the countryside several hundred kilometers away twice a year. His uncle can only send him money after his salary is paid at the end of the month. He even needs to sell some daily necessities around him to pay the tuition before the registration day.I don’t have ithesitate,selfAdd money to help him apply for a passport、Applying for a visa, guiding him on how to go abroad for the first time and compete in China. iKnow，In a country where many people are still struggling for food and clothing, I am not the first teacher to use my own money to provide for students, and I probably won’t be the last.
Despite twists and turns,Moses finally set foot on Chinese soil. Before leaving, he installed WeChat early to say goodbye to me, and also learned that I was about to leave his teaching site and be transferred to the capital. By chance, the hometown he returned to during vacation happened to be in the countryside not far from the capital. So after he came back from China, the dean and I took a ride to Moses' house for a home visit. The dusty yellow land and old buildings that came into view along the way made us feel like we were back in rural life decades ago. And when we actually entered his home and saw his relatives with smiles on their faces, we felt a lot more relieved. Because just a few days before the home visit, we were still worried about whether it would disturbhimFamily life, will it beMoses doesn’t want us to see his difficult conditions。Moses and his family kept thanking us, which made us a little embarrassed.
UnfortunatelyThe day of the home visitThe whole village had a power outage, and in a dark room, after asking for permission，I turned on the flash and recorded itWords of thanks from Moses’ mother and uncle.Moses’s parents have been divorced for many years, and they have been relying mainly on their uncleFundingStudy and go to w88 casino. This time his newspaper appearance and trip to China made him the talk of the village. in the faint light中，Moses’s family members piously and solemnly looked into my mobile phone camera, recounting Moses’ growing experience in Chichewa and English, and thanked us for everything we had done for him. We were also busy handing over the cultural shirts and books we brought as gifts, whileEncouragementHe continues to study Chinese，Strive for the opportunity to study in China. Because of the long distance,Home visitIt lasted about a quarter of an hour, and we had to talk toMThe oses family said goodbye in a hurry.
The return trip from this home visit,Moses will also follow our hitchhike back to the capital in advance, and then take the long-distance bus back to w88 casino in Zomba. When I offered to help him pack his luggage, he smiled shyly and opened the door to his bedroom.atMosesIn the bedroom，I saw his stroller when he was two years old, his bicycle when he was six years old, his game console when he was twelve years old, and the w88 casino uniform he wore last year.
"Teacher, 70,000 kwacha...can I pay you 50,000 back this time?" When he got into our car and drove a few miles out of his hometown, Moses suddenly asked timidly. Of course I said no problem, because after many experiences, I believe in his character.Moses smiled sheepishly and putParticipateDuring the “Chinese Bridge” CompetitionHe gave me a small jar of tea he brought back from China and gestured with his fingers. He knew that my leader might not be happy to see me accept his hard-earned gift. I also smiled, took the can of tea from his hand, and held it tightly in my own hand.
On the way back，I’ve been thinking，Will he and I meet at a certain time and place in China? I have no idea. I wish I was youngMoses can firmly hold his destiny in his hands through personal struggle.ifOne day I will be with youMosesMeet in China，I will sing the songs I wrote in Malawi to him in my hometown:
“He said thank you, come in the wind and go in the rain
Experience of going abroad worth cherishing for a lifetime
I said it’s okay I am proud You are promising
Please believe My home Welcome”
Author: Qi Shenw88 casino, University of MalawiConfucius Institute full-time teacher
