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My Life in China
My Story with China
As an international student, China is a fascinating place to explore in terms of academics, new language, economic development, great infrastructure and e-commerce . My journey with China began when I decided to apply for the Ministry of Finance and Commerce China (MOFOCOM) scholarship to pursue my master’s in professional accounting degree at Shanghai National Accounting Institute (SNAI). It was a challenging decision, especially leaving my family for two years during the pandemic. However, I was excited to immerse myself in a new culture, and new language and also study in a country known as a business global hub.
Leaving my country
I longed and dreamed of being granted the scholarship. My dreams came true when I was sent an email congratulating me on my successful admission at SNAI. Soon reality started setting in leaving my young family, especially the young one who was still breastfeeding! I had to be strong and courageous to embark on this long journey. A long journey in terms of the journey. It is almost a fourteen-hour flight hour flight from Entebbe International Airport to Pudong International Airport with a four-hour wait at Bole International Airport- Addis Ababa. In addition, physically and mentally away for close to two years with a break after one year. On the afternoon of 12th December 2022, I boarded Ethiopian Airlines leaving Uganda all in tears leaving my young family behind flooded with so many thoughts.
Arrival in China
We reached at Pudong International Airport on the winter of 13th December 2022 around eleven O’clock in the morning. Uganda is a tropical country with two wet and dry seasons, it was my first-time experiencing winter. It was not a comfortable experience, especially with the eight-hour clearance process at Pudong Airport. We finally left the airport in the night and headed to the hotel where the School had booked us for quarantine.
Despite the fatigue, I had to quickly settle in since classes were still ongoing online, there was no time to waste. My body took some time to adjust to the sleeping pattern since China is five hours ahead of Uganda. In addition, the food was very different in terms of taste, and aroma In addition, using chopsticks while we use western cutlery in my home country. This all brought me to the conclusion that to succeed in the mission that had brought to China I had to have a positive mindset and also be ready to learn with an open mind. In addition, I had to realize that the journey I have embarked on was not for the faint-hearted.
The spices in the food were quite different and tasted different from my home food with the exception of the boiled eggs. In addition, I was accustomed to cow’s milk, tasting soy milk was a whole new experience. We successfully completed our quarantine and reported to school on the 25th of December 2022. This was a milestone since my movements were no longer restricted. I was fortunate to have supportive classmates and professors who helped me to integrate and navigate through the challenges of studying abroad.
Learning Chinese
One of the highlights of my experience in China has been the opportunity to learn Mandarin Chinese. As the world's second most spoken language, Mandarin Chinese has helped to shape the contemporary world in many ways. Learning the language has given me a deeper understanding of Chinese culture, history, literature, politics, and international relations. It has not been a smooth journey because where I come from, (Tooro region, Batooro speakers) we are soft-spoken and talk calmly. Studying a language of tones, especially the fourth tone was quite challenging. However, in the ten months I have spent in China, I have greatly improved my tone, and recognition of the characters, and I happily participated in the annual school Fun with Chinese challenge where our group came third.
School trips
When the second Semester started, the school administration arranged for us trips. Our study trips started immediately after the COVID-19 restrictions had been lifted and the economy had been opened. Our first-class study trip was at Wu Fang Zhai factory in Zhejiang famous for its Zongzi. The story of how this factory started was mind-blowing. Take away lessons’ resilience, hard work, and a positive mindset.
The next visit was Hangzhou enjoying the West Lake breeze. The food was amazing, especially the English breakfast I had missed for a long. The city was beautiful buzzing with activities. Despite having exams immediately after we returned to school, it did not deter me and my friends from taking the boat ride to Hangzhou. It was a beautiful memory created with my classmates as we broke away from the usual school routine. At this rate, my tastebuds were getting accustomed to Chinese cuisine as well and my chopstick skills had improved.
Our next destination was the Chinese National Tea Museum which was a very relatable place since in my hometown we grow Tea which we export to the neighboring countries. The scenery was beautiful and above all were well-preserved artifacts and records detailing the history of tea culture from the dynasties to present modern China. My takeaway memory was that Chinese people prefer freshly brewed tea rather than tea bags that are regarded to be of low quality.
The third and final day of the trip was to the Accounting and Taxation Museum and Pan-China Certified Public Accounting head offices. The rich history and amazing preservation of the artifacts was mind-blowing. I appreciated the rich culture and how it had been preserved and handed down from generation to generation to the present day.
The visit to Pan-China Public Certified Accounting firm made me appreciate the government's support for domestic companies. Pan-China has grown to be recognized and attained the eighteenth position in the country and also pattern internationally like in Germany and the UK. In addition to the growth, equally, the company offers its staff support so as to have a conducive working environment. Such support rendered to staff results in outstanding performance.
The digital era in China
Having a good cell phone in China is not showy but a necessity. Unlike in my country where we still physically transact and use hard currency, in China, most of life is done on the phone hence making life convenient. As a student working with the Communications regulator in my country. It’s one of my proposals I am writing to the Minister of Information Technology and National Guidance to see if we benchmark on and implement it in our country. This will reduce to challenges of robbery, reduce expenditure on currency printing, and above all align with the National Development Plan 3 (NDP III) “A Transformed Ugandan Society from a Peasant to a Modern and Prosperous Country within 30 years.
Apart from online shopping, the convenience of booking both train and flight tickets at your convenience and at any time. The high tech of synchronizing the systems to personal data has helped the country advance, promote ESG, and curb the crime level. The few months' stay in China has made me love the level of implementation and commitment is high. I relate this to ESG, most of the buses, taxis I use, and motorcycles of most of are Electrical in order to save the Ecology system and reduce carbon emissions. In my school, they discourage printing to reduce paper wastage so that in the long run the trees cut down are reduced. In this regard, we have conducted in tree planting event in order to promote the green environment and reduce pollution.
Training with the IMF
Since my arrival in December 2022, the epic moment has been being nominated to represent my country and train with IMF CIDC in Shenzhen. The training was eye-opening, and I appreciated how a country’s performance and measurement are measured in terms of GDP. The macroeconomic factors and shocks that affect an economy such as Inflation, pandemics, and financial crises. It was beyond training I met and made new friends from the Ministry of Finance, others working with Customs in different provinces, Professors from different Universities, and counselors who had come from the IMF head office in Washington DC. My takeaway lessons were not to search for more knowledge and be open-minded and willing to learn.
Future prospects
During the second semester, I took a high-speed train with my classmates to Yiwu International Trade City. It was an amazing experience. The highlight of the trip was finding shops that sold educational toys and materials for children. This was an opportunity to introduce back home since Mathematics is still a big challenge. I bought a few toys for my son and sent them immediately, and when some of the mothers saw them, they requested such good toys that were nice rather than their children watching cartoons. I hope in the future to venture into importing more toys and also writing a proposal to the Ministry of Education and Sports so that we can introduce them to schools so as to make learning easy and enjoyable.
Despite these challenges I have encountered, my experience with China has been and still is a positive one. I have gained a deeper understanding of Chinese culture, language, and business practices. I have also developed valuable skills in communication, adaptability, and problem-solving. My journey has been a transformative one, with China has taught me the importance of embracing new experiences, learning from different cultures, and building resilience in the face of challenges.
