Introduction

Situated along the eastern coast of China, Shandong Province boasts a rich cultural heritage, breathtaking landscapes, and a history that spans several millennia. From the sacred Mount Tai to the charming coastal cities, my stay in Shandong province is an enchanting experience that spans my heart and mind with its beauty and historical significance. In this article, I will take you on a virtual tour of the highlights of myseveral of months living adventure and lifetime memories in Shandongprovince as an international student pursuing my studies at Shandong Agricultural University.I will narrate My life experience in Shandong province by using short stories as follows;

• Arrival      in Shandong and the Hospitality of Chinese People

The travel from my home country was so good and everything went as it was planned. After I landed in Beijing I was welcomed by a student from the department and he accompanied me to Shandong Agricultural University (SDAU) where I met with staff from the International Students department for registration and familiarization.  This was an exceptional welcoming experience to me and I appreciate and am thankful for the arrangement of sending someone to accompany me from Beijing. I was wondering how can I travel from the capital Beijing to Tain my destination in this foreign country taking into account the issue of the language barrier and modern transport system (fast trains) compared to my home country’s transport.  On the same day in the evening, we had a wonderful welcoming dinner which comprised teachers and staff from the department and a few students.This left a lifetime memory as it was the first time, I tasted Chinese food and I tasted almost every dish that seemed to be new to me. The food was delicious as well as the drinks. In my country, there are few Chinese restaurants in some towns but is very rare for ordinary citizens and most are visited by foreigners.

1.Photo with international office staff during my arrival

So, life started from there, and living in a foreign town does not come without its fair share of challenges. From managing finances and adapting to new academic systems to dealing with homesickness and cultural differences, as a foreign student there are a unique set of obstacles but the good hospitality of the people in this land makes everything smooth and I want to extend appreciation to my University for the way they are helping us to overcome any challenges. However, it is through overcoming these challenges that we grow stronger, develop resilience, and gain a deeper understanding of ourselves. Our time in a foreign town becomes a catalyst for personal growth and self-discovery, shaping us into well-rounded individuals.

• Cashless/electronic purchases and online shopping

After landing in this country, I immediately experienced the power of cashless purchases as almost every purchase was by using electronic transfer e.g., Alipay, WeChat, and others. This is the first indicator that alarms me I’m in a foreign country and the thing has changed. This is very different from my home country where almost everything is cash purchase except for some transactions which use cheques. I find it is very easy and convenient to save time and reliable if the systems are in place and work effectively as here. But if there is a fault in the system everything collapses. This reminded me of the electronic purchase of electricity in my country where for several days the system went off and we couldn’t manage to pay for electricity and it was chaos.

Having this cashless purchase powers online shopping and most purchases are through that way. This was my new life experience and I started to practice it here as is convenient and reliable as well. I remember I started to purchase simple items which does not cost much money and after I received the items, I realized it was a real thing I became comfortable with it so I got used to the system and I liked it. Being far from my family for a long time I was responsible for most of the things in my family I needed to buy some items for my family back home. Through social media, I met someone advertising it and we agreed that he would deliver it after payment. I sent the money through a bank transfer to him and he promised to deliver the item to my family after three days. As of now is almost three weeks the item has not yet been delivered. This is a simple life experience between online shopping in China compared to my home country. I think the main challenge is the poor system I can say we don’t have a centralized online purchase system as in China like Taobao and others instead in my country you need to contact the seller personally and there is no third person to intervene if anything happens.

• Power of internet

My new experience since I came here is the power of the internet. As there is a reliable internet connection and well-in-place systems make life easy and sure this is the main pillar for building a strong economy as it is crosscutting from different sectors. In this scenario, I remember one day I was sick and my friend escorted me to the hospital in Taian. When we arrived, he used his identity card for electronic registration just the screen interface where is briefly entered what doctor we wished to visit, and the machine printed a token which showed us the time and room number where we will meet the specialist to attend me. When it was our time to see the doctor, we just moved to the room and attended instantly and went back to university.  I was wondering how the system works systematically and effectively as compared to my home country where you need to line up for hours sometimes to see a doctor. Luckily you find the specialist on the same day but sometimes you need to come back on other days as you may find the expert is not available on that day. This all reminds me of the power of the internet and established effective systems that save both time and resources. All of this is empowered by reliable internet which cuts across from online shopping up to the health sector.

• Language and Cultural      Immersion

One of the greatest challenges for this exposure is undoubtedly the language barrier. Armed with books/online courses, language apps, and the determination to learn, I gradually overcame the hurdles of communication. I immerse myself in the local language, seeking opportunities to practice with native speakers, and no later I will find myself conversing fluently. As my language skills progress, so does my understanding and appreciation of the local culture.Moreover, living in Shandongprovides a unique perspective on different cultures and ways of life. Experiencing local customs, traditions, and values firsthand allows for a greater understanding and appreciation of diversity. We climb mountains with our teachers and other students together which strengthens the bonds between us as a family. After this, we normally had dinner together occasionally. It is a new experience for me to see both teachers and students participating in an event together and sharing a dinner as a sign to strengthen the relationship between us as family and makes life easy and we help each other as a bond between us is strong.

 It challenges preconceived notions and fosters a sense of empathy and acceptance. The exposure to new cuisines, music, festivals, and art forms creates a rich tapestry of experiences that broaden my horizons and expand my worldview.

2.Photo with teachers at the foot of Mount Tai

• A Melting Pot of Traditions

Studying in Shandong provides me with a remarkable platform for mingling with people from diverse backgrounds. I’m exposed to a multitude of cultures, customs, and traditions within my international student community. In this rich cultural tapestry, normally we celebrate festivals, discover new cuisines, and learn traditional dances from different parts of the world. As I participate in each other's traditions, I not only foster a sense of belonging but also come to appreciate the beauty of our differences.I embark on adventures to unravel the town's history, explore its scenic beauty, and savor its culinary delights likethe barbecue festival in the nearby town Zibo and others I wish to visit these places and experience the cultural events and enjoy the traditional foods and drinks from my friends across the town.

3. Photo with friends enjoying the taste of local food

4.Photo with other international students who participated in a cultural event

• Education

Most of Shandong’s institutions of higher education are located not only in the provincial capital, Jinan but are scattered widely throughout the province. Among those in Jinan are Shandong University (established 1901), Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (1958), and Shandong Normal University (1950). Qingdao is China’s major center for research training in marine science and technology; institutions include the Institute of Oceanology of the Academia Sinica (Chinese Academy of Sciences) and the Ocean University of China (1924), which is under the jurisdiction of the national-level Ministry of Education. Other major institutions include the China University of Petroleum (1953, East China campus) in Dongying, the Shandong Agricultural University (1906) in Tai’an, and the Shandong University of Technology (1956) in Zibo.Education quality in my current university is the first class and both human resources and the studying environment are conducive and meet all standards. I want to take this opportunity to express my gratitude for the support we are receiving from the province which makes both our life and studies easy and successful.

Conclusion

The experience of being an international student in China is like walking on a tightrope between nostalgia for the familiar and excitement for the unknown. It is a journey of self-discovery, cultural immersion, and personal growth. Living in a foreign town is a life-changing experience that offers unique opportunities for personal and intellectual growth. It allows individuals to immerse themselves in a new language, expand their understanding of different cultures, and establish lifelong connections. As Iexpand my horizons, embrace new experiences, and become a citizen of the world, the memories and friendships forged during my time of stay in Shandong will remain etched in myheart forever.

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.

Name: Robert Samwel Ngomuo

University: Shandong Agricultural University

Country of origin: United Republic of Tanzania.