From Stranger to Insider: My China Story

Table of Contents

I. Hailing from Somalia

(1) The Horn of Africa

(2) The Mother in My Memories

(3) Two Tales of Forced Exodus

(4) My Nomadic Life

(5) Seaside Weekends

(6) A Teenage Bus Driver

II. Embarking on the Eastward Journey of Learning

(1) Why China

(2) The Flight to the East

(3) My Maiden Train Journey

(4) The Railway Station We Couldn't Escape

(5) A Twisty Path to Enrollment

(6) Chinese Currency — Renminbi

III. Initial Experiences of Studying and Living in China

(1) Central China Normal University

(2) Learning Chinese

(3) Culinary Adventures

(4) Winter! Snow!

(5) Choosing a Major

IV. Finding Friendship and Love in China

(1) Saba Restaurant

(2) My Circle of Friends

(3) A New Motivation to Learn Chinese

(4) My Chinese Wife

(5) The Endless Journey of Learning

V. The Foreign Lei Feng

(1) My Unforgettable Train Journey

(2) The Small Town in Northwest China

(3) The Astonishing Rural China

(4) Volunteering during the Spring Festival Travel Rush

(5) The Foreign Mediator at the Police Station

(6) Who is Lei Feng?

VI. The Chinese Ismail

(1) The Chinese Ismail

(2) The Pride of My Hometown

(3) Inquiries on Facebook

(4) A Window into China

(5) The Voice of African Youth

(6) GYLD China Tour

Summary

Through the transformative journey of learning Chinese in China, Ismail has evolved into a scholar who now serves as a conduit for China-Africa cultural exchange. He introduces China to Africa while enlightening more Chinese individuals about the African continent.

Preface

This diary encapsulates my personal narrative of growth and my experiences during my study in China. This is a unique tale of my special bond with China, one that had been brewing within me for a long time but remained unwritten. Part of the reason for this delay was the mundane responsibilities of daily life, and the other was my desire to share this diary with a wider audience — I aim to share it with not only Chinese and Somali readers but also people worldwide who are curious about China.

This diary carries the weight of my childhood and youth, my struggles and achievements, my hardships and fortunes, my friendships with the Chinese, and my unusual experiences in China. It encompasses my admiration for China's burgeoning development and the pressures of living in China. It also includes the honors I received in China and my reflections on the experiences of foreigners living in the country. I have aided many, and many have assisted me. I have experienced confusion, distress and loneliness, yet I have also enjoyed happiness, love and achievement.

This diary also serves as a vessel for my profound longing for my homeland, Somalia, and my deep love for China. I earnestly hope that this diary can foster friendship between the people of Somalia and China, and I aspire to provide a better understanding of China's culture, history, and ongoing transformation. China's development and transformation touch the lives of many, including myself, who now resides in the country. I genuinely feel fortunate for my experiences here.

In my early years, the specter of war cast a profound shadow over both my family and my formative environment. When I was only eight years old, my mother, the linchpin of our household, passed away. This tragedy was followed by a series of upheavals stemming from the resurgence of war, leading us to embark on a series of harrowing journeys. These experiences included a sojourn to my uncle's pastoral estate, where I immersed myself in the traditions of nomadic life, and the moment of taking refuge in a muddy pond to escape the rattle of gunfire. During my junior high school days, there were even episodes of clandestine bus driving. It was during my time in college, as I listened to my peers discuss China with great admiration, that I developed an intense yearning to explore this enigmatic land. It was only after witnessing the grandeur of the 2008 Beijing Olympics that I resolved to part with the land my mother had left with me and set forth on a journey of further education in China. Now, more than a decade has passed, and the memories of yesterday are vivid yet seem like distant echoes. My growth in China has instilled in me a more rational perspective on the world, fueling an urgent desire to share my narrative with others. I aim to illuminate the essence of China, the lives of its people, its aspirations on the global stage, the contributions it makes to developing nations, and the way we, as foreigners, perceive and understand this vast nation. I'm aware of the profound curiosity and yearning that Somali people, like us, harbor for China. This sentiment is shared by people from many developing nations, as they too yearn to understand and connect with China.

Throughout history, there have been intersections between China and Somalia. In Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, a village called "Zhenghe" stands as a testament to these connections. China’s former premier Zhou Enlai's visit to Somalia on February 1, 1964, left an indelible mark, embedding China in the hearts of the Somali people. Both China and Somalia have histories marked by foreign invasions and colonial rule, but under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, the Chinese people have risen from poverty and underdevelopment to become leaders and role models among developing nations. China has become an undeniable force in the world economy, evolving into a major global power. Somalia, on the other hand, has struggled to shake off the enduring influences of its colonial history after gaining dependence. Geographical uniqueness and abundant mineral resources have consigned Somalia to a tumultuous political landscape, with its people enduring the ravages of war and terrorism. The nation has been fractured by numerous interventions. Yet, these trials have molded the indomitable spirit of the Somali people and their unwavering determination for peace and development. Their hope for a brighter future remains undiminished. This book is dedicated to all those afflicted by the scourges of war, terrorism, poverty, hunger, and disaster. It is a prayer for their journey out of fear and darkness and toward the light of hope.

——Abdilahi Ismail Abdilahi （伊斯曼）