KUNMING, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) --Question: An American professor sees young people in China and Bangladesh
**Reporter Hu Yuanhang.
China has become the world's second-largest economy and ranks among the top in many areas. "Bangladesh, which has achieved remarkable results in the past few years, has become one of the new growth engines of the Asian economy. According to Katherine Li, an American professor at North and South University in Bangladesh, there are many similarities behind the development of the two countries, including the state of young people.
Recently, Catherine was interviewed by *** reporter about the young people of China and Bangladesh in her eyes.
Catherine, an American, came to the Yunnan Institute of Finance and Trade (now Yunnan University of Finance and Economics) in Kunming, Yunnan, China, in the nineties of the 20th century to work as a foreign teacher and started a family with a Yunnan painter. Later, due to the end of her marriage, she returned to the United States and was hired by the North and South University of Bangladesh three years ago.
When she first came to Bangladesh, Catherine often had the illusion that she had returned to China in the decade of the 20th century. "Roads and other infrastructure are not yet perfect, but new things are emerging every day. Young people are like a soda with the lid open, surging with blood."
While teaching in China, Catherine was impressed by the curiosity and enthusiasm of Chinese young people for the outside world, as well as their hard-working qualities. "That's the opportunity and passion of the times. Catherine said that compared with Chinese youth in the 90s of the 20th century, today's Bangladeshi youth are also full of curiosity about the outside world. Some of them follow in the footsteps of the United States, while others appreciate China's development ......
This is the age of the Internet and globalization. Young people in all countries have a broader perspective than previous generations. Catherine was delighted with the change.
Catherine believes that in addition to first impressions, Bangladesh and China share many similarities. For example, "there are a lot of people on the street", one is a large country with a population of 1.4 billion, and the other is the most densely populated country in the world; For example, "all have an ancient history" and "the people are very industrious and kind".
I think both Chinese and Bangladeshis have softer hearts. Catherine explains that this realization comes from her true feeling that most of the people she met during her time living in both countries embraced her with an open and inclusive heart, offered her a lot of help, and she also gained lovers and friends.
Westerners often have a lot of headaches, and Easterners don't speak directly, but Catherine doesn't have that trouble. Years of research on Chinese history and culture have made her understand the true meaning of "moderation". "There are many things that should be felt with the heart, not externally. She said.
When she was in Kunming, Catherine loved to cross the bridge rice noodles; Going to Dhaka, she fell in love with vegetable curry again. "One of the most interesting stories I learned in Chinese culture is that it's hard to fill a cup full of water and fill it with something new. If you want to embrace new things, you have to keep an empty cup mentality. Catherine sees this revelation as the first rule of living in a different cultural context.
In fact, whether you are an American, a Chinese, or a Bangladeshi, we are all human beings and have the same emotions and needs. Catherine said that when you have an empty cup mentality, "you will find that everyone is always one".
After teaching at North and South University in Bangladesh for 3 years, Catherine found that cross-cultural communication and interaction became more frequent. "Our school has held many exhibitions about other cultures, and has had good interaction with foreign schools such as Yunnan University in China. Everyone is getting closer."
As an American who has lived in Asia for many years, Catherine sees herself as a bridge between cultures. She hopes that with the exchange, "everyone can better understand and learn from each other". At the same time, she also noticed a "paradoxical" phenomenon: the younger generation of various countries, after having a broader perspective, is also looking back at their own cultural traditions.
Young people find a particularly good scale, look at the world at a level, study tradition seriously, and use tradition to connect with the world. Catherine said. (ENDS).