Africa in Lens, China in Class

For six years, from Comoros to Gabon, Lu Weiyi, an international Chinese language teacher, has been sowing seeds of knowledge and civilization across Africa. She teaches her students standard Chinese, and immerses them in the unique charm of the ancient oriental country. Through diverse activities such as performance for the "International Chinese Language Day" and the "Chinese Bridge" Chinese proficiency competition, her students have developed curiosity, then passion about Chinese culture. After class, Lu captures snippets of her life with video. Through her lens, people have gained insight into the local customs, and witnessed beautiful stories of cultural exchange.

Chinese Language Blossoms by the Sea

In 2019, after graduating with a degree in Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages, Lu Weiyi was selected as a volunteer Chinese language teacher in Africa, and joined the Confucius Institute at the University of Comoros. In August, she packed 49 kilograms of luggage, and embarked on a 23-hour flight across half the globe to Comoros, an island nation in the western Indian Ocean. "I was full of drive when I first went abroad," she recalled. In a brand-new environment, Lu delved headfirst into the work with unwavering enthusiasm.

At the Chinese Language Department of the University of Comoros, courses included listening, speaking, and reading. Although her students had some basic knowledge of Chinese language, Lu put considerable effort into helping them pass the HSK test. When the textbooks proved too challenging, she adapted them to suit her students' capabilities. "I revised all the out-of-scope vocabulary and sentences, skipped the original audio materials, and read the content for them repeatedly." As her teaching practice deepened, she could better understand her profession, and dedicated herself to international Chinese language education. In October 2021, she passed the interview and became an international Chinese language teacher.

Beyond teaching, Lu also devoted herself to Chinese language education locally. In July 2022, she spent her vacation on Mohéli Island. Among the four islands of Comoros, only Grande Comore and Anjouan had Chinese language teachers. "People on Mohéli knew little about the Chinese language. You wouldn't hear many 'Nǐ Hǎo' on the streets," she said. Lu had the idea of enrolling students, printed stacks of flyers, and visited over ten secondary schools across four cities on the island. "Staying true to my original aspiration for choosing this job, I just want to tell those interested in the Chinese language that there is a way to learn, and that the Confucius Institute at the University of Comoros has Chinese language teachers." That August, she taught Chinese there for a month, and organized a memorable "Mohéli Chinese Language Class Graduation Ceremony". When the new semester began in October, she was surprised to find that half of the new students in the Chinese language Department were from Mohéli. "That month was the most meaningful during my three-year stay in Comoros. My efforts paid off," said Lu, moved to tears.

"Spending time with my students every day makes me happiest," she said. Her students, energetic and lively, became close friends with her, filling the classroom with cheers and laughter. A sudden power outage occurred in class, when she taught them to sing Happy Birthday. At the end of the song, they added the newly learned word "teacher". Though it was not her birthday, Lu felt warm. "I was so touched that my nose tingled a little. The charm of teaching Chinese language lies in those ordinary moments."

"I fear I might not have the chance to say goodbye to you…" In September 2023, she concluded her four-year work in Comoros. Her students, reluctant to see her go, gathered at the airport to sing farewell songs. After returning home for a break and certain adjustment, she once again boarded a flight to Africa to work as a teacher in Gabon.

Share Chinese Culture Feast

Lu Weiyi was excited to know that UNESCO had included the Spring Festival in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity at the end of 2024. "The news fills me with pride! I am honored to communicate outstanding traditional Chinese culture!" This year, during the traditional Chinese culture class at the Confucius Institute at Omar Bongo University, Gabon, she seamlessly integrated Chinese language with Spring Festival customs. She taught local youth to write with brush and cut paper window decorations. The students, full of enthusiasm, said that they benefited a lot from the experience.

Such colorful cultural activities extend beyond class to festivals like the Spring Festival, Lantern Festival, and Dragon Boat Festival. Students get familiar with these concepts. The annual "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students is a highlight among these events. Over the past four years, Lu has coached three champions of the Comoros. She fondly recalled working closely with her student Raissa Said Ali. "Besides regular classes, I spent three to four days a week with her in the classroom, practicing song, dance, and speech. We often rehearsed until night." Raissa Said Ali's connection to China dates back a decade when Chinese medical aid personnel cured her grandmother's eye disease. Since then, she has deeply yearned for China.

With growing teaching experience, Lu Weiyi has reflected deeply on cultural exchange. On one hand, as a "culture commentator", she is proud to introduce China's millennia-long history and captivating culture to local communities. The excellent traditional Chinese culture, a source for the concept of a shared future for humanity, inspires people to ponder the present and the future. Lu Weiyi looks forward to organizing cultural exchanges. "For example, a seminar combining Confucian, Buddhist, and Taoist philosophies with sustainable development goals could guide our students to appreciate the wisdom of ancient Chinese sages." On the other hand, she upholds the principle of "seeking harmony without uniformity." "We need cross-cultural thinking to share Chinese culture, and integrate it with local culture. This way, we can achieve mutual respect."

Open a Window to Charm

"Feel the wind from the Indian Ocean, and explore this mysterious African nation with me." In February 2020, Lu Weiyi casually shared a video of Comoros' coastal scenery on social media, which netizens jokingly called "the place where the dream began". Over the years, she has documented bits and pieces of her life in Africa. Through her lens, 220,000 followers saw African customs, and learned about the profession of international Chinese language teachers.

Embracing all ups and downs, Lu Weiyi finds joy in the simplest things, like stumbling upon a delicious chocolate cake and smiling with satisfaction, or showing her students a documentary about the Forbidden City and feeling homesick when they recorded it on their phones. Even her most "headache-inducing" problem, namely, repeatedly picking spoiled fruit at market stalls, was addressed with self-mockery and renewed determination. Lu shared her three-step method for adapting to new environments: understand, accept, and integrate. "No problem is worth fretting over. Once a problem arises, we tackle it step by step." She aspires to be a plant in the rainforest, daring to sink its roots into the cracks of life.

"In Africa, I realized that nothing makes me prouder than being Chinese," sighed Lu. The mutual support among colleagues, the strong backing of the Confucius Institute, and the reassuring material and medical aid make her feel "the care of the motherland at all times." In September 2024, the Peace Ark hospital ship of China arrived in Gabon for a seven-day friendly visit, providing medical services. Lu felt a surge of pride seeing medical staff working tirelessly to conduct check-ups and treatments, the advanced facilities and orderly environment on board, and the bright smiles of locals after receiving care. Her lens captured heartfelt blessings from Gabonese people: "Celebrating 50 years of diplomatic relations between China and Gabon, long live friendship!"

"Doing what you love is the greatest happiness," said Lu. "Teaching Chinese language in Africa was the best decision I ever made." She has touched the snow atop Mount Kilimanjaro, experienced the wild beauty of the animal migration up close, marveled at women carrying babies in their arms and water buckets on their heads while walking steadily, and been deeply moved by the bright eyes of her students gazing at her. Keeping her feet on the ground while reaching for the stars, Lu has grown tremendously in Africa. Grateful and determined, she will continue promoting the Chinese language and sharing China's stories with the world.