III. Initial Experiences of Studying and Living in China

(1) Central China Normal University

Central China Normal University, affectionately known as "Guizi Mountain" due to its location atop Guizi Mountain, is an expansive institution. The campus has four gates, each equipped with security checkpoints for vehicles and pedestrians. The main gate, in particular, is grand in scale, with towering French sycamore trees lining the pathway on both sides. The foreign students' dormitory is situated near the west gate. We resided in Building No. 5 which was an impressive 13-story high-rise, and we were accommodated on the eleventh floor. It marked our first experience of living in such a tall building, which we found quite delightful. Even the entrance and exit of the dormitory building had their own security booths, where staff members were on duty 24 hours a day. This arrangement added an extra layer of security, and some of the young security guards even spoke some English. They would exchange greetings with us each time we came and went, like we were old friends. Leaving through the west gate, we would step into the lively neighborhood known as Jiedaokou, which hosts several bustling shopping plazas, perpetually crowded with people. At the intersection of this bustling area, a pedestrian overpass spans the eight-lane road, flanked by sidewalks and bicycle lanes on both sides. However, even in this well-planned environment, traffic jams remain a weekend occurrence. Near our dormitory building, there was a small convenience store, along with a basement-level fresh produce market, a first-floor supermarket, and other shops, including a bank. In the vicinity, two cafeterias catered to our dining needs: a newer one and an older one, both offering halal meals prepared by local Hui Muslim chefs. What filled me with delight was the proximity of our dormitory building to our classrooms. It only took a few steps to get there, and the teachers' offices were also conveniently nearby. Should any concerns arise, we could readily seek out our teachers. It was extremely convenient.

(2) Learning Chinese

We were attending a language preparatory class comprising nearly twenty students and four teachers. Initially, our teachers provided each of us with a Chinese name, which we could either select for ourselves or request the teacher's assistance. I chose my father's name and translated it into Chinese, which became Yi Siman. I grew quite fond of this Chinese name, and from then on, both the teachers and my classmates addressed me by my Chinese name - Yi Siman. Our classmates came from various countries, with a slightly larger representation from South Korea and Vietnam. Initially, we had some trouble distinguishing them and assumed that everyone was Chinese. The classroom atmosphere was conducive to learning, and all students studied very hard. As newcomers to the class, we struggled to keep up with the coursework. However, our teachers and fellow preparatory classmates were quite amiable. There were also tutoring sessions available to help us catch up. Gradually, we adapted to the curriculum. Our focus was on learning Pinyin, a phonetic system used to represent the sounds of Mandarin Chinese language. We started with the basics sounds like 'a,' 'o,' and 'e.' Despite our frequent difficulty in understanding the teacher, we remained diligent and found the Chinese language intriguing.

(3) Culinary Adventures

In contrast to our studies, a more pressing issue we faced was cooking. Initially, like everyone else, we frequented the campus cafeteria for our meals. However, after some time, the repetitiveness of the cafeteria dishes became unappetizing. We began to yearn for the flavors of our homeland, and our pockets grew lighter. We realized it was time for a change. We decided to start cooking for ourselves. The challenge was that the three of us had never set foot in a kitchen before. Back in our home country, cooking was considered a women's duty, and men were typically discouraged from entering the kitchen. However, we had no other option. After paying our tuition and accommodation fees, and accounting for expenses like phone, clothing, coffee, and dining out, we were left with very little money. Additionally, our financial support had not arrived yet, so we had to start cooking for ourselves.

We purchased a rice cooker, an induction cooker, a refrigerator, and some rice, pasta, seasonings, meat, vegetables, and fruits. On one occasion, we invited a Chinese friend to dinner. We had met her during our cafeteria visits, and she was consistently warm and helpful to us, often assisting with our questions. In gratitude, we decided to prepare a meal from our home country. Early in the morning, we started our preparations. First, we attempted to cook rice, filling the pot with a lot of water. An hour later, the rice cooker still contained plenty of water. Perplexed, one fellow compatriot made a phone call to his mother, who provided remote guidance on the correct amount of rice and water to use. We realized that we had added too much water and had to discard the rice and start all over. Fortunately, the second attempt went smoothly, and we successfully cooked the rice, following which we proceeded to prepare various dishes.

We spent several hours bustling in the kitchen, and by midday, our Chinese friend arrived. Upon hearing that we had prepared the meal, our neighbor from the adjacent room, a Tunisian with a vibrant and friendly personality, also joined us. He had arrived in China a year and a half earlier than us and had been consistently supportive and friendly, quickly becoming a close friend of us. With anticipation, our Tunisian friend accepted the plate we had prepared. However, after a few bites, he couldn't help but express his surprise, "This is the worst food I've ever had. How can you even eat this?" Eventually, he decided he would invite friends over to teach us how to cook in the future. Our Chinese friend, to spare our feelings, didn't say much but did mention that she would be happy to teach us how to cook. We were bewildered; we had genuinely done our best, and yet the results were far from palatable. It seemed that our understanding of ingredients and their preparation techniques was still lacking. With the assistance of our Tunisian and Chinese friends, as well as others we met along the way, we made significant progress, from ingredient selection to understanding seasonings and mastering cooking techniques. Subsequently, the beef liver I prepared became my signature dish, a favorite when hosting friends. Additionally, the Arabian red tea I brewed was well-received among our friends. Gradually, I began to be known for my culinary prowess, leaving the impression of being a capable cook. It was during these encounters with friends that I also met my future wife. 

(4) Winter! Snow!

When we enrolled, it was late November in Wuhan, and winter had already settled in. Initially, we didn't feel the cold much, but as the days passed, the chill became more and more apparent. In our home country, we were accustomed to a climate that was hot year-round, divided primarily into windy and rainy seasons. Thus, experiencing the winter in Wuhan was truly a unique and novel experience for us. Our fellow compatriots kindly took us shopping for winter clothes and thermal underwear as the temperature dropped. We were fascinated by the long johns. In our dormitory, we clung to the familiarity of our traditional attire and the habit of sitting on the floor. Our first order of business was to buy carpets to line our dormitory floor, and we took to sleeping with blankets spread out on the floor. We weren't accustomed to the cold, so as soon as we returned to the dormitory, we would promptly turn on the air conditioner.

One day in December, we were awakened by the excited cries from outside: "It's snowing!". We rushed to the balcony, and what met our eyes was a vast expanse of white. It was our very first encounter with snow, and our excitement knew no bounds. We quickly dressed and dashed downstairs. Many of the international students in the dormitory had already congregated outside, talking about the snowfall that had persisted throughout the night. Surprisingly, we hadn't heard a thing. Seeing the brilliant, snowy landscape, we couldn't resist reaching out to touch it. It was cool to the touch. We decided to join the other students in making snowballs and engaging in a snowball fight. Despite the numbing sensation in our hands, we didn't feel the cold at all. We even contemplated building a snowman. Classes were completely forgotten in the joy of the moment. Later, when the teachers came out to call us to class, we realized that all the other students had similarly forsaken their lessons to enjoy the snow. The teachers were exceptionally understanding of our absent-mindedness that day, and it turned out to be a day filled with immense happiness and joy, with the exact lessons a distant memory.

(5) Choosing a Major 

After half a year of enjoyable Chinese language study at Central China Normal University and the completion of the preparatory program, the question of choosing a major loomed before us. Over these past months, I had adjusted fairly well to life in China and gained some insights into the various universities and disciplines on offer. My initial inclination was to study medicine at Wuhan University, following in my mother's footsteps, a childhood dream of mine. However, a medical degree entailed five years of study and came with higher tuition costs than other disciplines. Since I had already spent two years at a university in Somalia, I was inclined to graduate as soon as possible and return home to seek employment.

In the course of my six-month Chinese language study in China, I found the language truly fascinating. Despite my limited Chinese proficiency, I was eager to continue learning. Witnessing China's economic boom, I came to realize the immense importance of mastering the Chinese language. This deepened my resolve to pursue further Chinese language study. After settling on the major, another question presented itself – which city in China should I choose for my studies? Over these six months, I had come to appreciate the vastness of China and its diverse cities. My two fellow compatriots opted for a popular computer science program at a university in Nanjing. This choice was well-regarded in our home country as it offered excellent job prospects. Initially, I intended to join them in Nanjing, but at that time, the financial support from my elder brother had not arrived, so I decided to stay in Wuhan. 

At the time, I was the only Somali student at Central China Normal University, and this solitude weighed on me. Despite profound reluctance, I made up my mind to attend China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), where many Somali students had already congregated. I opted to reside off-campus in a nearby neighborhood with a fellow compatriot, with the hope that it would expedite my assimilation into the local way of life.

There were many Somali students in China University of Geosciences (Wuhan). In my class of fifteen, five of us were Somalis, which added an amusing dimension to our learning experience. During classes, whenever any Somali student struggled to write unfamiliar Chinese characters on the blackboard, we would quietly offer hints in Somali to help him/her. The cheating became an issue, and the teachers soon realized what was happening, leading them to discourage talking during class. Although my time at China University of Geosciences (Wuhan) was short, it was memorable. I lived in an off-campus apartment with a fellow Somali student. Every day, Somali friends would come over, and we often gathered to play card games, losing track of time. In class, we continued to converse in Somali with our fellow compatriots, and I began to realize that it wasn't conducive to my learning. So, I applied to transfer back to Central China Normal University.