China is a unique country

Deano Delpleash, St.Vincent and the Grenadines     

迪诺，圣文森特和格林纳丁斯

I remembered it like it was yesterday. It was early September 2012 when I first arrived in Shanghai, China. My earliest memory was sitting quietly in the Shanghai international airport with my two suitcases, waiting for two international students (from Antigua and Barbuda and France) to escort me safely to my dormitory at Tongji University (my former language university). I was fortunate that my country mate who lived in China before I arrived in China organized for his peers to aid in my transition to Chinese university life. These were the first international students I had the opportunity to meet upon my arrival, and I was amazed at their ability to speak the Chinese (Mandarin) language fluently. This immediately piqued my interest even more in the wonders of China. It felt unreal seeing people who looked and were in a similar situation like me speak a language that appeared to be so alien. That experience was the beginning of my journey to discovering my deepest potential in China. 

我第一次来中国的情景，就像发生在昨天一样。2012年9月初，我第一次来到中国的上海，坐在上海国际机场大厅，带着两个行李箱，等待来自安提瓜、巴布达和法国的留学生接我去同济大学。在我来到中国之前，很幸运地是已经在中国的同胞们为我和他们的朋友们组织了一些活动，让我先适应到中国的大学生活。当时来接我的留学生是我首次见的外国人在中国，听他们很流利地用汉语让我感到吃惊，使我对中国的兴趣达到了顶峰。因为，看到像我这样看起来相似的人说一种似乎很陌生的语言，感觉不真实的同时，也多了些好奇，成了我探索中国之旅的起点，成为培养我适应能力的动力。

My initial six months in China were one of self-discovery and adaptation. I felt afraid yet free, afraid of the unfamiliar people because I was unfamiliar with the Chinese language, food, and culture, yet free to discover my ability to learn and grow in such a fast-paced environment.  Coming from the tropical paradise of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, China felt like a different world, as my country is made up of a string of 32 islands in the Caribbean Sea, consisting of the island of Saint Vincent and the northern Grenadine islands. I was accustomed to a different pace of life. However, I am grateful due to my experience as a former youth ambassador at the United Nations Population Fund from 2008 to 2009. It equipped me with the tools I needed during my transition to China.

Photograph of me as UNFPA Youth Ambassador at the world youth conference in Mexico 2010

2010年在墨西哥举行的世界青年大会上，我作为联合国人口基金青年大使的照片

我在中国最初的6个月是自我发现和适应变化能力的阶段。我感到害怕，却又感到自由;害怕陌生的人，因为不熟悉中国的语言、食物和文化，但却可以自由地发现自己在这样快节奏的环境中学习和成长的能力。来自热带天堂圣文森特和格林纳丁斯，在中国感觉像是一个不同的世界，因为我的国家是由圣文森特岛和北部格林纳丁岛组成的加勒比海上32个岛屿组成的。我习惯了一种不同的生活节奏。然而，我很感激我在2008年至2009年担任联合国人口基金青年大使的经历，它为我在中国的转型提供了必要的帮助。

In my Caribbean history classes, we were exposed briefly to the history of the Chinese Caribbean immigrants and their culture. We learned all about China’s rich history and innovation over the centuries, from the formation of paper, gunpowder, and now the new globalization tool (the “belt and road” initiative). I think that China continues to be the pioneer of reimagining connectivity. I am especially happy to observe the melting pots of cultures that are now present in China over the past decade, which reminds me of the Caribbean culture.  I believe that the Caribbean is a shining example of cultures and peoples from all over the world living together in harmony.

在我的加勒比历史课上，我们简要地了解了中国加勒比移民的历史和他们的文化。几个世纪以来，我们了解了中国丰富的历史和创新；从纸张、火药的形成，到现在新的全球化工具（“一带一路”倡议）。我认为中国是重塑互联互通的先锋。我特别高兴地看到，在过去十年里，中国出现了各种文化的大熔炉，这让我想起了加勒比文化。我认为，加勒比地区是世界各地文化和人民和谐共处的光辉典范。

Like China, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines have a rich history. It was one of the last Caribbean islands to be colonized by the Europeans in the late 18th century. This was largely due to the Carib Indians (the native people of the island) who battled against the Europeans. On October 27th, 1979, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines obtained independence from England. However, they remained a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. The name Saint Vincent originally applied to the mainland and the group of smaller islands associated with it. After the attainment of independence in 1979, the multi-island state was renamed Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. However, the capital and major port is Kingstown, located in Saint Vincent.

与中国一样，圣文森特和格林纳丁斯也有着丰富的历史。它是18世纪末最后一个被欧洲人殖民的加勒比岛屿之一。这在很大程度上是由于加勒比印第安人（岛上的土著人）与欧洲人作战。1979年10月27日，圣文森特和格林纳丁斯从英国获得独立，但仍然是英联邦成员国。圣文森特这个名字最初适用于大陆和与其相关的一组较小的岛屿。1979年独立后，这个多岛屿国家全名为圣文森特和格林纳丁斯。然而，首都和主要港口是位于圣文森特的金斯敦。

My time in China cannot be compared to any other place that I have traveled and lived in the world. This is the place I found myself and my love.  This is the country where many things were made possible for me. As my story unfolds, my journey continues with my mandarin language classes at Tongji University from 2012 to 2013. There were about 14 international students in my class, representing various countries across the world; Russia, Congo, Mali, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, the United States of America, and my country St. Vincent and the Grenadines. It was my first experience being in a classroom with so many different nationalities. However, my Chinese professor created an atmosphere where we could learn the Chinese language with ease. Due to my excellent class performance, I was appointed as class leader, which I served with bold enthusiasm and confidence. What I learned serving in this capacity is that we are all human beings, regardless of cultural backgrounds or national identities. Once you see people as people, they will respect you, and that's the best way to lead and build bridges of communication.

我在中国的时间无法与我在世界上旅行和生活过的任何其他地方相比。这是我找到我自己和我的爱的地方。在这个国家，很多事情对我来说都是可能的。随着我故事的展开，我的旅程将继续从2012年到2013年在同济大学学习普通话。我们班大约有14名国际学生，代表世界各地的各个国家；俄罗斯、刚果、马里、土库曼斯坦、哈萨克斯坦、美利坚合众国和我国圣文森特和格林纳丁斯。这是我第一次在有这么多不同国家学生的教室里学习，但是我的中国教授创造了一种氛围，让我们可以轻松地学习汉语。由于我在课堂上的出色表现，我被任命为班干部，我以大胆的热情和信心为大家服务。我从中学到的是，无论文化背景或国家身份如何，我们都是人。你把人当人看，他们就会尊重你，这是领导和建立沟通桥梁的最好方式。

After my language year at Tongji University, I later transferred to the Zhejiang University of Technology, where I spent four years pursuing my bachelor's degree in Communication Engineering. I was fortunate enough to study my bachelor's degree in English while still pursuing my interest in the Chinese language. During my time at Tongji University, I accomplished many milestones. This is where I was introduced to the entrepreneurial side of my character.

在同济大学学习语言一年后，我转学到浙江工业大学，在那里我花了四年时间攻读通信工程学士学位。我很幸运地获得了英语学位，同时仍然对汉语感兴趣。在同济大学期间，我完成了许多具有里程碑意义的工作。在这里，我被激发出了我性格中创业的一面。

Starting with JOY (Jump out of your box): A movement that encourages international students to see the value of doing things outside of their comfort zone.

从JOY(跳出你的盒子)开始:一个鼓励国际学生看到在他们的舒适区之外做事情的价值的运动。

FunHouse: A sports community that utilizes sports to promote cultural exchange with local and international students to help students have fun with each other on campus.

FunHouse：一个体育社区，利用体育活动促进与本地和国际学生的文化交流，帮助学生在校园里相互娱乐。

Spartans healthy lifestyle community: Using Calisthenic to inspire and build a community that teaches students the importance of living a healthier lifestyle.

Spartanz Healthy Lifestyle community pop-up event 2018

Spartanz健康生活方式社区弹出活动2018

Spartanz健康生活方式社区：利用健美操启发和建立一个社区，教会学生认识到健康生活方式的重要性。

It has been over a decade, yet this is just the beginning of my China journey. Ten years later, China has shaped me into a leader in my industry through the many professional lessons learned from my university years to my entering the Chinese labor market. Today I am a high-performance coach that aims to help professionals to reach optimum professional goals.

已经过去十年了，但这只是我中国之旅的开始。十年后，通过从大学时代学到的许多专业知识，我进入了中国市场，中国已经将我塑造成行业的领导者。

Photograph of me pitching my business idea at the 2018  Asian Pacific Innovation Accelerator program

这是我在2018年亚太创新加速器项目上推销我的商业想法的照片

To be a youth during these unique times of evolution is critical because we have the opportunity to actively participate in community development. Ten years in the future, I have set a more worthy goal for myself and cannot wait to see what China’s development has to offer. The “belt and road” initiative will open up the creation of unlimited possibilities for trade, not only for the trading of goods and services but also for the exchange and learning of experience and knowledge.

在这个独特的发展时期，作为一个年轻人是至关重要的经历，因为我们有机会积极参与社会发展，并在这个过程中得到成长。未来十年，我为自己设定了一个更有价值的目标，我迫不及待地想看看中国的发展能给我带来什么。“一带一路”倡议将为贸易创造无限可能，不仅是产品和服务的交易，而且还包括经验和知识的交流与学习。

What I have learned over my decade in China is that this is a country that has mastered the art of connecting people and culture in such a unique way that you feel like a foreigner at home.

我在中国十年来学到的是，这个国家已经掌握了以一种独特的方式将人与文化联系起来的艺术。现在，我在自己的家里会觉得自己像个外国人。