Ehizuelen Michael Mitchell Omoruyi
My Life in China: From Zero to Hero
Every person has a story. A story full of different choices and paths which led him or her to being who he or she is today. I have lived in China for over 8 years. Once I had decided that moving to China was a better idea, I have to let you know – I did not anticipate to end up where I am today. After all, I was like every other people before they came to China – I knew about Shanghai, because of the razor blade they produce there, I imagined people to be short and have very tiny eyes, and I knew that China had been getting wealthy over the years. I knew they had long history as well, nothing of which I knew anything about, for the reason that we had never been taught at school in my country. There was an air of mystery surrounding the most populous nation in the world – one I wanted to fathom, to comprehend, once in my lifetime.
But I went anyway, plunging deep-down into my newest adventure at the time. China is a nation where you can experience the real glory of the world. Certainly, learning my Chinese and trying to eat with chopsticks were challenging initially, but as I began to integrate into the Chinese society I began to learn. However, the real reason I went to China was to pursue a Master’s degree in Chinese Political Economy at Xiamen University, but during my Master’s degree I fell in love with the country; the love motivated me to further my education by proceeding for my Ph.D. in World Economy. One thing I cannot forget was the little Chinese smiling faces, all waiting to be taught English by this “laowai” (okay, for the children, 外国人。(If you do not know what that means, look it up – you will know quickly enough if you decide to learn Mandarin – trust me on this!).
As every day goes by, the love I have for the country increases for countless reasons: diversified culture, beautiful scenery, mouth-watering food and incredible people. Speaking of people, the people I met during the past eight years from local Chinese friends to my teachers and to my colleagues made me believe that I am now a Chinese by association. These Chinese folks have given me shoulders to cry on, reshape me, nurture me, and given me shelter when I needed it most. Because of this warm reception and the people, I have taken China has my second homeland.It is therefore an honor for me to contribute either through research or through community service to the development of this great country
Looking back, I remember having no idea what it would be like in China, and whether I should come, but I just did it, and it was such a good decision for me. The timing could not have been better with the economic boom; I saw a massive change in the period I was in China and huge pivot and development in the country. I have grown so much since I came to China, and I also realized that you can get much more of an education from experiencing diverse culture than you can in a classroom. As infinite stars shimmering in a midnight sky, so are the desires of my heart. My stay in China has opened my mind to new ways of viewing the world, and the past 8 years have been a time of growth and maturity for both my mind and character. Looking back, these have been the most exciting, challenging and rewarding years of my life. China has taught me to take life as it comes and to seize each opportunity to improve myself, because preparation meets opportunity. I am facing a future of untold possibilities.
During my stay in China, what I have learned about dreams is that they are malleable, not set in stone; beacons of light to point people in a general direction. The dream I conceived as a boy might not be similar to the dream I am realizing today as a man. Each turn I take in the winding path of life leads to another pasture, valley or hilltop. If you know me before, you will agree with me that I have really move from zero to hero.
