Vietnamese youth making lifelong friendships in China

"Time passes and never returns; memories can only be cherished." Every time I hear this song by the late Chinese singer Teresa Teng, it brings back many beautiful memories of my studies in China.

One of the most unforgettable moments was during my third year at Lingnan Normal University in Zhanjiang, a coastal city in Guangdong province prone to severe typhoons. Whenever a typhoon was approaching, everyone stocked up on food, and I was no exception. I remember one summer day in 2019 when I bought a lot of snacks and instant noodles from the supermarket. That night, I accidentally ate a box of expired instant noodles, which caused food poisoning and really scared those around me. Outside, the wind was howling and the rain was pouring heavily, making travel extremely difficult. Fortunately, we had a class monitor who immediately notified the counselor and the teachers in charge of international students. They called for emergency assistance right away. Despite the raging typhoon, they all braved the storm and took me to the hospital.

I remember the counselor, teachers, and friends staying by my side, accompanying me for various examinations and being with me while I had injections and intravenous drips until two or three in the morning.

In the following days, two male classmates took turns taking leave from their classes to care for me. Since I had a tube inserted in my nose and couldn't move, they helped me change clothes and regularly gave me massages, always checking whether I was comfortable. Everyone around me did all they could to help me, and their care and thoughtfulness were beyond measure.

The five days of hospitalization eventually passed, but during those five days, although I felt ill, the care that my friends and teachers showed me made me feel like everything was worth it. Looking back, it truly gave me such a warm feeling inside. They were like family, making me feel less lonely while studying in a foreign country.

It was also during that year's Spring Festival that I decided to spend the Chinese New Year in China. Unexpectedly, the sudden outbreak of COVID-19 left me with nowhere to go. Fortunately, a classmate invited me to stay at her home for a while to get through that difficult time. Her family was very friendly and treated me like their own child. They cooked delicious homemade meals for me. Knowing that I liked pickled radish salad, the grandmother served this dish every day at mealtime. This act deeply moved me and reminded me of my family back in Vietnam. It was unexpected that even in a foreign land, I could feel the warmth and love of family.

While staying at their home, I often helped with the household chores, such as washing dishes and cleaning. Occasionally, I would cook Vietnamese dishes for them. For me, sharing delicious food with others brings happiness, and it was my way of expressing gratitude to my friend and her family. I'm so thankful for their help when I was going through a difficult time.

After graduating from university, my classmates and I all went our separate ways and pursued our own paths. Some worked in State-owned enterprises while others chose to become teachers. At that time, I went back to Vietnam. But it seems like destiny that the girl who invited me to her home that Spring Festival ended up working in a Chinese construction company and was sent to Vietnam on a three-year contract. We reunited in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam.

It was pouring rain that day when I rode my motorcycle to pick her up and bring her to my home. My mother was ecstatic upon learning that my Chinese friend was coming to our home and prepared a table full of delicious dishes for her to taste the flavors of Vietnam. She also expressed her gratitude to my friend for helping me back in 2020 during my difficult time. As a family, we felt extremely grateful and proud of this precious friendship. Even though we only met once in Vietnam, my friend and I were as happy as we were back at school, with countless stories and experiences to share.

When I was driving her back to her residence in the evening, we reminisced about many joyful times from our university days. It was amazing how we met in China and then reunited in Vietnam. We were overwhelmed with emotions.

The experiences during my undergraduate years in China left me with a sense of reflection and nostalgia. There is a kind of friendship in the world that is worth cherishing: the sincere and pure friendships made among classmates. I'm grateful for every Chinese friend who appeared in my life — they accompanied me during my hard times, made me believe that this world is beautiful, and made me feel more fulfilled and determined as I walk into new "tomorrows".

Nguyen Duc Vuong is a 29-year-old Vietnamese student who has lived in China for a total of seven years. He has loved Chinese culture from a young age and chose to learn Chinese, which deeply changed his life. He is currently a graduate student studying journalism and communication at Shanghai University in China.