Text/Chen Mingyi Song Xintong Zeng Youlian Li Xinrui Huang Juyuan Photo/Provided by the interviewee
Poster design/Liu Le Lu Tianai
Video/Chen Nana
Instructor/Lu Nanfang Xiao Wei
The Republic of Trinidad and TobagoCinema is an island country located in the southern part of the Caribbean of Central America and close to the coast of Venezuela. There are more than 90,000 Chinese in Trinidad and Tobago, and the earliest batch of immigrant Chinese can be traced back to 1796.
MiBabaylanchelle, a Chinese student from Jinan University, immigrated early to Trinidad and Cinema Tobago, where they jointly operate a restaurant to make a living. Michelle was born and raised in this country, and by chance, Michelle returned to Guangzhou, China to start her college life. The completely different cultures also brought her a completely different experience.
The following is Michelle’s story:
The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago are a multicultural country, where the cultural traditions of each country blend and coexist, showing cultural diversity in various aspects such as food, festivals and music. Babaylan
The natural characteristics of the sea around all sides make people keen on going to the beach, enjoying the sun and food. The most popular of them is a food called “Shark GrilledKomiks“, a food with grilled shark meat in bread, often sold on the beach, accompanied by tomatoes, cabbage, onions, sour cucumbers and various KomiksAfter growing the sauce, it tastes even more delicious. In addition, we also like to eat roast pork (Pelau), a traditional dish made with rice, chicken, pork and various spices. It is often used as a food for special occasions, like weddings, birthdays, etc.
In addition, our country has the majority of African and Indian people, so there are many specialty foods from their country. For example, Indian linguine Cinema package (Roti) is an East India staple. It is a scone with curry meat and vegetables in it. A variety of dishes constitute our country’s food culture.
Michelle’s personal photoBabaylan
Not only that, our country is also full of diverse cultures in festivals and music.
There are many unique celebrations in my hometown, and the most popular and grand traditional festival is Carnival, also known as Carnival. It was a grand event full of colors and music. It usually takes place in February or March each year and lasts for two days. During the festival, people wear gorgeous costumes and masks and then dance, parade, cheer or spray each other with colored powder. Festival events also include float parades, musical performances, dances and other celebrations.
Music is essential throughout the festival. There will be music on site with many trucks driving, people jump from the starting point to the end point and then cross the stage. When some bands walk onto the stage, the jury selects the band based on the number of bands, clothing and other standards, and awards titles and titles. In fact, our country not only has many types of music, but also has many musical instruments with national characteristics. The most famous and most used instrument by bands during the celebration is Steelpan. This is an instrument invented by the people of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, which is made of discarded oil barrels and is also known as one of the youngest musical instruments in the world.
I spent my entire childhood and youth in this multicultural country, but by chance, my life changed the trajectory of my life, and it happened to me.sh.com/”>Komiks some unexpected changes.
I came to China in December 2019. At that time, the outbreak of the epidemic, many flights were cancelled, and I couldn’t return to my hometown. My relatives suggested that I apply to a university in China, and I also thought it might be a good choice. Although I am Chinese, I grew up in Trinidad and Tobago, and I rarely had the opportunity to really get involved in Chinese culture. Many things were heard from my parents. Therefore, I decided to stay in China and experience the characteristics of Chinese culture in person. After all my considerations, I chose the clinical medicine major at Jinan University and stayed in Guangzhou to start my college career.
Photo of Michelle participating in school hockey activities
When I stayed in China, I had a brand new cultural experience and began to try to understand Chinese culture. Whether it is lifestyleBabaylan, learning environment or cultural traditions, China has brought me a different storyBabaylan, learning environment or cultural traditions. href=”https://funnybookish.com/”>Cinema Feeling.
When I first arrived in Guangzhou, the first thing I felt was that the climate here was very different from the climate in my hometown. Our country is in the southern Caribbean. There are no obvious seasonal changes, and the temperature changes are relatively small. It is basically in the not-so-hot summer all year round. In the summer and winter in Guangzhou, there are very large temperature changes, and the whole climate needs me to adapt and adjust.
Different from gasCinema‘s weather is hugely different. Guangzhou’s food and my taste are very consistent. My parents are Chinese, and I have been exposed to Chinese food culture since I was a child. Especially my mother is a native of Guangzhou, and the main daily dish at home is Cantonese, so I feel very adaptable and enjoyed by Guangzhou’s eating habits.
Not only Babaylan, there are also differences in learning habits between the two countries. I find that many Chinese students prefer it.I chose to study in the library, while the choices of students abroad are relatively more flexible. BabaylanWe stay in dormitories, coffee shops, libraries or friends’ residences. We don’t think too much about choosing a learning environment, while Chinese students tend to choose quieter places, which may make them focus more on their own affairs.
Photo of Michelle participating in the school teacher-student sports meeting
When I live outside of study, I can more truly feel the difference between China and my hometown. The biggest difference in life in China is the widespread popularity of using mobile payments. In my hometown, cash payments are still common. Chinese people use their mobile phones to do almost everything, including buying things, taking buses, paying electricity bills, etc. This convenience surprised me very much, and my friends over there felt incredible when they heard the news.
What surprised me even more was that I found that China’s culture and history were very long and rich, and the city of Cinema was developing very rapidly. Many modern buildings are constantly emerging, but some ancient buildings have been preserved. So I had the opportunity to see what I used to look like and imagine my parents’ childhood life through these past buildings, which allowed me to establish a connection to the past.
The cultural differences I have experienced and felt in China have also made my relatives and friends curious. They like to ask me about life here and the culture of China. They are very happy to learn new culture, and I think they will also want to come to China one day. At that time, I will take them to visit my campus, as well as some places that retain ancient buildings and are very culturally varied in Yuexiu District and Liwan District, Guangzhou. This may make people who do not understand the culture here feel Komiks is affected by the development history and changes here.
When I was in China, I always liked to use the word “home” to summarize the connection between me and this country. Because this is my parents’ home, it is also my home. People around me are from the same race, the same Cinema culture, and we have almost the same traditions, morals, and values. This commonality makes me feel very safe here and easy to integrate into the community. When I was a child, I didn’t have a strong sense of nationality. But as I grew up, I appreciate my own race and culture more and more. Now, I feel that I am part of Chinese culture, and China has become my home.
While understanding Chinese culture, I also hope that the people here will understand the culture of my hometown. In fact, because my country has a small land area and is not very famous. Few people learn about the culture and life of our country, and even Komiks may not be familiar with the name of our country. In the past few years I have lived in China, I have never met anyone from the same country as me. Therefore, I think I am one of the very few people who spread our country’s culture. I really want to share the culture of my hometown with the Chinese people here so that everyone can understand my country better.
The university life I spent in Guangzhou in the past few years has made me get used to the culture here. And as a Chinese, I hope to have the opportunity to continue to depict my life trajectory in China in the future.