Can you imagine how much hardship a foreign girl endured in order to study in China? In 1994, I was born in Leningrad Oblast, Russia, a village with a population of less than 300 people, called Tervenichi, and my Chinese name is Lin Jiale.

This is the story of the 740th real person we tell

Can you imagine how much hardship a foreign girl endured in order to study in China? Poverty, deception, intimidation, I have experienced it all.

But when I make up my mind to do something, the whole world makes way for me. After ninety-nine and eighty-one difficulties, I finally got my wish. Now, I have not only learned Mandarin with a slight northeastern flavor, but also like leek box and pot meat .

In 1994, I was born in Leningrad Oblast, Russia, a village with a population of less than 300 people, called Tervenichi, and my Chinese name is Lin Jiale. My hometown is beautiful all around, with maze-like forests, endless fields, green lakes, and refreshing air!

(I am a girl from Russia)

This is also the reason why I chose the surname "Lin" when I was choosing a Chinese name. After all, children who grow up in the forest cannot do without trees and flowers.

Life in the countryside is simple and peaceful. When I was a child, I envied the children in the city and felt that their daily lives were colorful. However, as I grew up, I slowly realized that living in the village was the real life!

I know the name of every flower, plant and tree in the forest, and I have seen countless wild animals. Even the house we live in was built by the whole family.

’s mother is a primary school teacher and also works as a high school psychological counselor to help high school students maintain their mental health. When I was a kid, my dad was a lumberjack and a gamekeeper. In short, in order to support our family, he does whatever work is available.

There are four girls in our family, and I am the second child. When I was a child, my family's financial situation was very poor and I often couldn't afford to eat. Everything I wear is passed down from my sister.

(Me as a child)

Although the living conditions are relatively difficult, our mentality has not been affected. The whole family is optimistic and cheerful, and we are the kind of people who can find opportunities in difficulties. Moreover, we are very united and can face and solve any problems together.

I have loved learning since I was a child. I would pick up a book whenever I had free time. It can be said that I learned every opportunity. In terms of test scores every year, I ranked first in my grade.

Actually, when I graduated from high school, I was very envious of my friends who were able to determine their life goals at the age of seventeen or eighteen.

At that time, I liked many things, but I couldn't find the direction in life. After graduating from high school, I also entered a very good university. It's a pity that I only studied for one year. Because my family's financial situation was not good and I couldn't afford the high tuition, I took the initiative to drop out and go work.

In order to support myself, I have done many jobs. Waiter, salesperson, barista, bank clerk... At that time, I firmly believed that there was no distinction between high and low jobs, as long as you liked it, as long as you could support yourself.

Later, I realized my little dream and became an dessert teacher.

I can not only make a variety of desserts, but I can also bring happiness to others by making cakes. It was a very interesting job and I did it for three years.

(This is my hometown, picturesque)

Later, a friend took me to a Chinese trial class. I thought he was joking at the time, but I suddenly realized it during a class. The teacher’s passion for work and his love for Chinese deeply infected me.

So, I began to study the culture of this country. Slowly, I found myself falling in love with this ancient and mysterious country, and I made up my mind to study in China.

I think that in this way, not only can I get an undergraduate degree, but I can also learn more about Chinese culture. It is simply killing two birds with one stone.

In March of the same year, I began to prepare for studying abroad. Because I applied relatively late, I didn’t understand the application process, and I couldn’t speak Chinese, the whole process was full of twists and turns.

Fortunately, the Chinese teacher at the time was very friendly and patiently communicated with me in English, which helped me a lot. Finally, I chose Anhui University of Finance and Economics .

Once the school is selected, poetry and distance can be realized soon. However, the cost of traveling to poetry and distant places stumped me. In order to come to China, I didn’t take a break for 4 consecutive months and worked hard every day to save money.

(with sisters)

Our family’s financial situation is not good, and I don’t want to increase the burden on my parents. Therefore, I decided to work hard to save enough money to go to China. There were only a few months left for to leave China. How could I find a job with a higher income? When

was at a loss, I saw an advertisement. In a small city in southern Russia, a hotel is recruiting pastry chefs, and the salary is generous.

I was so excited, as if I saw hope waving to me. So, I spent all my money to buy a plane ticket, and after a few hours of turbulence, I arrived at the hotel.

However, reality quickly slapped me in the face. The hotel owner took one look at me and asked me how old I was. I said 23 years old. He said it was impossible to still want to be a pastry chef at the age of 23.

(I like stray animals and often go see them)

Hearing what he said, my heart dropped a lot. I had spent all my money when I came here, and now I don’t even have the money for the air ticket back. What? What to do? I could only ask him to let me stay. Fortunately, he agreed to let me stay as a chef, and my monthly salary was 3,000, which was half less than that of a pastry chef. After working with

for a week, I discovered. My daily workload is several times more than what he described, and I can only stand, 12 hours a day.

I want to leave, but I dare not.

There is a very bad custom in this city. For example, local men will steal other people's fiancées. That is to say, if someone finds a beautiful unmarried girlfriend outside, they can snatch this girlfriend away and make her his wife.

And they have very hot tempers and will often use knives or guns if they disagree. So I am afraid when communicating with them, and I am worried that I will make them angry.

The more I thought about it, the more something was wrong. I was thinking about how to get out of the misery and get the money and leave as soon as possible. However, in this case, of course I dare not tell my boss what I really think. Being naive, I told a colleague all my plans.

(Walking among the sea of ​​flowers)

However, there is a price to pay for innocence. This colleague turned around and told my boss all my secrets. Next, the boss came to me. He was so angry that he kicked me out without giving me a penny.

I dragged my suitcase and walked aimlessly on unfamiliar streets. Disappointment, helplessness, fear, anger...all the emotions were like a net, wrapping me tighter and tighter, and I finally couldn't help crying. Tears were like broken beads, constantly pouring out.

It's getting darker and darker, and I need to find a shelter as soon as possible. Maybe I looked too embarrassed and attracted other people's attention. She is the owner of a coffee shop. After a brief exchange, she said that food and accommodation would be included, and she would give me part of my salary.

Because she was a girl, I let my guard down. In addition, the time before I went to China was getting shorter and shorter, so I agreed to work there for a while.

What I didn't expect was that one month later, she paid me a pitifully small salary. However, I dare not make her angry because she has many brothers. And when I think about the local customs, I tremble.

(Life is not easy, but you still have to be strong)

When I said I didn’t want any more salary, I would leave immediately. She went even further and said I wasn't allowed to leave until I finished my work. She also threatened me that either she would do it for another two weeks or she would tell her brothers.

If she does tell her brothers, I'm screwed. To be honest, I was scared to death by her at the time. I was even thinking, if her brother knew about it, would he tie me up, throw me in the trunk, and take me to the forest to kill me?

The more I think about it, the more I am afraid. It is not suitable to stay here for a long time. I must leave immediately.So, one night, while she was asleep, I was like a mouse, sneaking around and not daring to make any sound for fear of waking her up.

I was sweating all over because of excessive tension and fear. Finally at three o'clock in the morning, I escaped with my suitcase. It was pitch black all around and I couldn't see my fingers. I cried and ran all the way to the train station.

Being lonely and helpless, I bought a ticket with a little money borrowed from a friend. At the train station late at night, the poor girl was like a homeless stray cat, waiting for someone to take her in.

(Wear Hanfu and experience Chinese culture)

When things have developed like this, should I go home? However, being stubborn, it would be too embarrassing for me to go home empty-handed.

I decided to try again and try my luck.

After escaping from the coffee shop, I asked my good friend about work. After his introduction, I found a job at the resort that included food, accommodation and salary. I regard this opportunity as the last straw and hold on tightly.

We worked together at the resort for a few weeks. One day, he said that in order to make the resort develop better, he needed to buy some equipment.

But now we don’t have enough money to buy equipment. If we all unite and give him all the money we save, we can buy some important equipment. Then we can keep working and make more money.

(Experience haircut in China)

I was a silly girl at that time, and I was very soft-hearted. After hearing what he said, I gave him all my money. You can imagine the ending. Not only did he take away my money, he also blocked me!

It was already June at that time, and I was going to China at the end of August. But I was still very poor, and I started to become anxious and worried.

By chance, I met a kind-hearted person. After he learned about my situation, he asked me to work in a high-end hotel in the center of St. Petersburg for two months. In those two months, I didn't take a day off. Busy from six in the morning to nine in the evening every day.

Finally, the two-month deadline came and I was waiting for my salary to be paid with trepidation. This time, he gave me a very high salary, which moved me to tears.

(I also missed home during the Chinese New Year)

Just like this, it was like seeking scriptures from the West. After going through the tribulations of 1998-11, I finally came to China as I wished.

Before I came to China, I only knew one sentence in Chinese, which was thank you. was like a blank piece of paper for me at the time. I was learning a language, a culture, and a new major from scratch.

all say that interest is the best teacher. My love for Chinese and Chinese culture helped me learn Chinese to the point where I can communicate with others without any obstacles in a relatively short period of time.

At the same time, I feel that in the process of learning a language, love is like a booster and its role cannot be underestimated.

Later, I fell in love with a Chinese boy. Being able to communicate with him without any barriers was the motivation for my study.

He is from the Northeast, which is why I fell in love with Wujiwu and fell in love with Northeastern dialect . So much so that even now my words have a strong Northeast flavor.

(I like Chinese food)

We met in a Chinese-Russian dating group. In the beginning, we just learned foreign languages ​​together and were study partners. As the saying goes, love grows with time. Slowly, the seeds of our friendship turned into a love tree.

He is very good at dealing with interpersonal relationships, which is my shortcoming. When I first came to China, I didn’t know much about the Chinese people’s living habits, especially their speaking habits.

Others often speak in a subtle way or in a tactful manner. As a foreigner, it is a bit difficult for me to understand.

My boyfriend at that time would explain to me how to talk to others and how to do as the Romans do.

He taught most of my Chinese. I remember some interesting stories. When I first got together with him, I couldn't express a lot of things in spoken language. For example, how to do this, what to do. He taught me how to correct it, how to correct it.

I thought this was Mandarin. When I first told the teacher what it was like, the teacher was very surprised. He said: "How can you do this?"

(I graduated)

I have also seen some Chinese characteristics customs. One year, he took me back to my hometown to celebrate the Spring Festival. That was the first time I felt the warmth of home in China. We made dumplings together, set off firecrackers together, and posted Spring Festival couplets together.

I also found a little person under the socks his grandma was wearing. I was particularly curious and asked him why he had this little person? Then he explained to me that stepping on villains means to prevent these bad people from affecting you, so you have to crush them. I find this custom very interesting.

I also like Chinese food very much. What impressed me deeply were dumplings, leek boxes, pork slices , pot-wrapped pork...

These were all made at my boyfriend's home, and now I can only miss them silently in my heart. Because now we have broken up. It can be said that one is different from the other, and everyone is happy.

If you ask me if I have any difficulty in adapting to China, I really don’t have any.

Maybe it’s because I am more adaptable. The only thing that feels different is that Russians are very similar to Northeasterners. They speak very straightforwardly. We never beat around the bush and say whatever we think.

(Participating in activities with classmates)

In the process of doing business or chatting with others, this is a relatively big difficulty for me. But I try my best to overcome it and respect this cultural difference. I think this is not a big problem.

Some people say that time flies by in a blink of an eye. But, I would say, not so fast. During the four years I have been in China, too many things have happened. I have experienced the sweetness of love, the sadness of breakup, the happiness of making friends, and the pain of losing family members.

I have been to many places, and the most beautiful ones are the terraced fields in Lishui City, Zhejiang Province.

On my 26th birthday, my boyfriend took me to cut rice. We were sitting in the car admiring the mountain scenery. When we arrived at the terraced fields in the mountains, we started to help the uncle who received us cut rice and carry bags of rice. This was my most unforgettable birthday, and labor was the most glorious!

Although it is safe and comfortable in China, to be honest, no one who studies abroad can escape this hurdle, that is loneliness. I haven’t returned to China in the past few years. I dream about my parents and sisters when I sleep. They spoke Chinese with me in my dreams.

I also have a few good friends in China. We often talk and communicate with each other. My body is also very healthy.

's only thing is homesickness.

(Girls who love to laugh will not have bad luck)

I graduated from undergraduate this year and will go to Heilongjiang University to study for graduate school next month. When I get a job in the future, I hope to buy a wooden house by the lake and live a simple and happy life.

Actually, I don’t think life is unfair or cruel. The difficulties and setbacks it gives us are exactly what we can overcome.

It's just that when we are very tired, we need someone to say "You can do it!" or "I know how hard it is for you now"! A gentle word can heal countless people who are so tired that they want to give up.

I really want to share one thing with you here. I was already 23 years old when I studied abroad. When I first started my undergraduate studies, although I was full of confidence and trust in my decision, I also had huge age anxiety.

Seeing the energetic 18-year-old classmates and the Chinese students who take exams every day, my anxiety became even more serious. Did I start too late? Can we catch up with them in the future? There are indeed many more questions than answers.

(It’s never too late as long as you start)

But later I discovered that age is not as important as we thought. I also found that I have more motivation, energy and energy than many younger students. As long as you have the courage to run towards your set goal with perseverance, you will have unlimited power, and the universe will go all out to help you.

Don’t forget to thank everyone you meet in the process of achieving your goals. Only those who know how to be grateful will gain more.

Everyone has his own rhythm. As long as we live, it will never be too late!

[Oral: Tervenichi]

[Editor: Little Bones]

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