China changed my mindset: A country waiting to be discovered

The first-time I arrived in Dalian, Northeast China's Liaoning province, I was very confused and worried about how I would adapt. The land, people, students and environment were totally different from where I came from, making it difficult for me to adjust. But as time passed, my mindset changed, and now I feel at home with my people.

The reason behind this change is the kindness of the students, teachers, employees and locals of Dalian. Let me share an example: The first time I left my dormitory to find the School of International Education, I had no idea where it was. As a beginner, I asked a student for directions, but the problem was that I spoke English while he spoke Chinese. However, the Chinese people proved that language is not a barrier when it comes to helping each other. He took out a translator and said, "Follow me." He then walked with me for almost 10 minutes and left me right where I wanted to go. This behavior impressed me a lot. I have many similar stories which illuminate how helpful Chinese people are. Their belief system is simple: "Do good and forget it," and in return, goodness will come back to them.

I also want to address the behavior of teachers towards Chinese students and especially international students. Teachers and students sit and work together in a common room, talking to each other just like friends. If someone from the outside sees this scenario, they might think it is a circle of friends. However, this behavior doesn’t impact on the respect between teachers and students, because each of them knows their boundaries. This is one of the reasons why international students come here every year, study and graduate. I believe that this behavior has a positive impact on the education sector. I have learned that if I ever become a teacher, I will try to create a similar environment where we will learn and grow together.

In conclusion, I hope my journey of learning and gaining experience in China will continue, allowing me to see the country in all its color. I strongly recommend China for study, business and tourism.

Numan Zada Khan Mohmand is a Pakistani student pursuing a master degree in inorganic chemistry at Dalian University of Technology, Liaoning province.