Carlos Kwesi Tettey (Ghana)  

Ph.D Student of Shandong Agricultural University

 Before coming to China, my only knowledge about this big country was through movies and the internet. Growing up, my favorite movie happened to be a Chinese classic entitled “Journey to the West”. It was shown on national television every Sunday and I never missed a single episode. I loved it so much though I did not understand the language. I also loved Chinese Kungfu movies that teaches discipline, strength, resilience and wisdom which embodies the Chinese culture and its people.

Never did I envisage that one day I will be walking on this great land whose civilization transcends many generations. In 2019, I was awarded a scholarship by Shandong Agricultural University located in a remarkable and culturally significant city of Tai’an with its imposing Mount Tai (泰山Tài Shān) to study for a doctoral degree in plant pathology. I think I am privileged to be in this great and unique university situated at the foot of the magnificent Mount Tai and a few meters away from the Dai Temple.

A view of Mount Tai from my laboratory window

Shandong Agricultural University has a very beautiful campus full of trees and flowering plants that blossom in spring giving the campus a relaxing atmosphere that is conducive for studying.

Beautiful greenery on the SDAU campus and a normal day in the lab

I am given all the needed support by my college and teachers. Also, I have wonderful lab mates who are always ready to teach me how to carry out certain laboratory procedures and use certain tools whose instructions may be in Chinese language. I am always in the laboratory and I work hard every day to achieve my weekly targets. However, I also make time to go for hikes with my friends to the mountain side after a long day in the laboratory. The view from the side of the mountain is so peaceful and helps me to relax.

A visit to the mountainside

I also grab every opportunity to attend some international conferences such as the Third Annual Conference of Belt and Roads South-South Cooperation held in Sanya, Hainan Province of China, where I presented a poster about my research. It was also an opportunity to meet other international students to interacts and discuss some scientific issues. I recently joined the youth worldwide to celebrate the World Youth Day hosted by Shandong Province in early May this year where we were told that “the future is for the Youth”.

Attending some conferences in Sanya and online

My friends and teachers try to teach me some basic Chinese language and I recently decided to learn some poetry by the famous poet in the Tang dynasty (唐朝) called Du Fu (杜甫). I recently performed on his famous poems about Mount Tai called “Gazing at the Mountain Peak (望嶽)”. I also grab the opportunity to partake in some sport activity to help revitalize the body and maintain some fitness. I enjoy playing ping pong and badminton. One of my favorite places on campus is the canteen which I visit as much as I can. It’s amazing how many delicious dishes one has to choose from in the school canteen. However, my favorite so far is “Huo min ji mifang” (spicy chicken soup with boiled rice) and dumplings (水饺).

Playing badminton and performing a poetry recital (望嶽)

I hope to also travel around and visit some historic and famous tourist sites in China such as the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Badaling Great Wall, and the Terracotta Army site before I leave. I also hope to visit the city and birthplace of the great Chinese philosopher Confucius.I was so glad to know that Confucius and other great peoplewho contributed to the great history and the rise of this great nation come from Shandong Province too.

I shall continue to make good use of the opportunities available to me here and enjoy every bit of my time here. It is my responsibility to continue to work hard to be a good alumnus of SDAU and a good friend of Shandong Province and P.R China in the future. Thank you for the great opportunity to share my little experience with you and also to be part of this great initiative.