The story takes place in Beijing, when I was a travel enthusiast and would take some time off every year to travel to different places. During a trip to Beijing, I met a Ukrainian girl named Olena. She was carrying a large backpack and looked a little lost, so I decided to help her out of enthusiasm. Olena is very interested in China because she has seen a lot of content about Chinese food and scenery on the Internet, and she wants to come to it.
I helped Olena find the direction to the Forbidden City using my map app, and she happened to want to go to the Forbidden City as well, so we decided to go together. On the way, I tried my best to introduce her to Chinese characteristics and cultural habits, and she listened very carefully and recorded them with her mobile phone. We also tried some Chinese snacks along the way, and although Olena was a little hesitant, she finally tried it bravely and found that the pancakes were very tasty, but she didn't like the bean juice very much.
After arriving at the Forbidden City, I took Olena on a tour of several major palaces and exhibitions, and she was so impressed by the magnificence and exquisite details of the Forbidden City that she took out her phone and kept taking pictures. She said that what she saw on the Internet was completely different from what she felt in person, and she was amazed and admired by China's ancient dynasties.
The next day, I decided to take Olena on a tour of famous attractions such as the Temple of Heaven and the Summer Palace. She was very excited and lamented how Beijing differed from Ukrainian cities. In the park, we saw some scenes of elderly people dancing square dancing and tai chi, Olena curiously asked about the background and significance of these activities, and I explained to her the importance of these activities for the health of the elderly, and she was envious of the healthy lifestyle of the elderly in China.
At the snack street, we tried more Chinese specialties and Olena started to dare to try a variety of different foods. I told her that China has a rich food culture, and each place has its own unique cuisine, and trying local food is also a good way to learn about a local culture.
Over the course of our few days together, the conversation between me and Olena grew deeper. We talked about our families, hobbies, and future plans. Olena told me that she loves to write, is a freelance writer, and regularly publishes articles in newspapers and magazines. I was intrigued by this because I also really love writing, and we started sharing some writing experiences and inspirations.
On the day of parting, I gave Olena a copy of my favorite Chinese literature, hoping that she would learn more about Chinese culture through reading. She also gave me a book of stories she had written about her travels in China and thanked me for my help and companionship.
We kept in touch with each other and continued to share our travel experiences and writing results over the internet. Although we live in different countries, our love of travel and culture has become a bond between us and has deepened our friendship.
This encounter with Olena gave me a deeper understanding of travel and communication, which is not just about going to a strange place, but also about the opportunity to communicate and learn from different cultures. I believe that this encounter will be one of the best memories of my life.