Henry Rotich, chairman of the Kenya Standards Bureau ** and the Kenya Overseas Students Association, said in a recent interview with "China**" that studying in China is the best decision he has ever made, and Kenyan Chinese exchanges are very important.
The excellent quality of the Chinese is impressive
In 1998, Radich was given the opportunity to study in China to study for a master's degree at Northeast Normal University in Changchun, Jilin Province.
At that time, his main challenge was learning Chinese. "When I started taking Chinese classes, for the first time in my life, I thought I was illiterate, I couldn't read, speak, or write at all. ”
Fortunately, the Chinese are more than willing to help. "When I was a student, I traveled around China and found that people were very friendly and helpful. They were always willing to interact with me and help, so I learned Chinese very quickly. ”
In Rotich's view, learning a language and understanding a culture depends not only on the mindset, but also on the opportunity to live in that context.
What also impressed Rotich was the Chinese people's work ethic and family values.
Cultural exchanges between China and Kenya are crucial
Rotich studied in China for eight years, where he married a girl from Northeast China. "My two children grew up in Kenya, but they both speak and write Chinese well," he said. My daughter also plays the Chinese guzheng. The two children have read all the Chinese books I bought for them, including the ones that most Chinese students will read. ”
In his view, countries should pay attention to cultural similarities. There are many similarities between Kenyan and Chinese cultures, including respect for the elderly, family gatherings on major holidays, and neighborly friendliness.
Rotich noted a number of major cooperation projects promoted by China in Kenya, such as the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway and the Nairobi Expressway.
"In fact, some secondary schools in Kenya are introducing Chinese language courses, and most of the Chinese teachers are ...... members of our alumni association," he notedThe fact that many of Kenya's leading professionals in the fields of engineering, architecture, and business have studied in China is a testament to the benefits of knowledge and technology dissemination. ”
For Radich, his expertise, family and career are all the best decisions he has ever made thanks to the decision to study in China 25 years ago.