Happy Nkanta Monday (second from right) with his schoolmates in a training session (COURTESY)

My journey as a doctoral student in the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC) began in 2018. Nothing would have offered me the opportunity to see the Chinese cultural diversity closely better than being a student in China. I am constantly fascinated by the different activities happening within the university and the community at large. Studying in China has been one of the best, if not the best, experiences of my life. The past few years have impacted my life and widened my perspectives on China. My decision to study in China was driven by China’s advancement in technological innovations and more so, China’s amazing effort in preserving her cultural heritage for several decades.

I was both excited and nervous when I first arrived in China. It was my first time traveling so far away from my own home and living apart from my family. The way my schoolmates and teachers welcomed me gave me a bit more peace of mind. It was great hanging out with new Chinese friends and learning to eat Chinese food, but the language of communication became a challenge. So it forced me to learn basic Chinese for survival. After that, I quickly blended into the system. I was elated to be able to experience Chinese culture and lifestyle.

After things had settled, the day of the university cultural festival grew near and so did my excitement. I had been looking forward to it. Later on, the fascinating season of gingko with pleasant scenery was a breathtaking moment for me, with lots of people flooding into the university campus to take photographs with their loved ones. I have never seen people so attached to nature and culture.

But the most exciting experience of all was the Chinese Spring Festival, also known as the Chinese New Year. I had the opportunity to spend the holiday with my Chinese friend and his family. The Spring Festival is a time for family reunion. People are supposed to be at home to celebrate the occasion with their loved ones. The Chinese New Year’s Eve dinner, also known as “reunion dinner,” is considered the most vital meal of the year. Large families gather around circular tables to eat the meal and enjoy the moment together. For me, it was an opportunity to immerse myself into the Chinese culture.

As a matter of fact, I find China much safer and easy to settle down quickly as a foreign student because virtually everything I need for my daily life is just a click of the button. I am totally astonished by China’s technological innovations across all sectors such as commerce, transportation, housing, health, banking and social networking. It is worth mentioning that my China experience wouldn’t have been possible without China opening up to the world and this has also in turn benefited China in terms of cultural exchange, exports and the spread of the Chinese language across the globe.

Talking about my research experience, anyone who has been through the arduous process of completing doctorate understands the value of quality supervision and support. I am truly grateful to my supervisor for giving me the assistance and advice I needed to succeed in the Ph.D. program.

Overall, studying in China has strengthened my bond with the country and raised my curiosity about its culture. I am really grateful to have been given the opportunity to embark on this incredible journey.

(The author is a doctoral student at the UESTC Center for West African Studies, Chengdu, Sichuan Province)