一張廢棄的返程機票
〔象牙海岸〕 謝 北京工業大學
謝（左）體驗漢服
2006年8月，我從遙遠的西非國家象牙海岸來到中國北京留學。出發前，因為心中的諸多不安，如不會説漢語，擔心種族歧視，擔心生活不適應等，我為自己訂好了一張三個月有效的往返機票。然而，在北京留學的一個月之後，我決定取消那張返程機票。如今，我已經在北京學習工作了15年，每每想起這張廢棄的返程機票，心中充滿無限的感慨，有喜悅，有滿足，有幸福……
精彩求學路，亦苦亦甜
第一次走進北工大的校園，我便喜歡上了這裡現代化的教學設施和運動場，乾淨、整潔的住宿環境。和藹可親的老師、熱情耐心的宿管阿姨和幽默開朗的門衛師傅。雖然我聽不懂他們對我説了什麼，但是他們臉上洋溢著的笑容，一直溫暖著我的心，撫慰我初來乍到的焦慮。學校老師貼心安排一位説法語的國際學生協助我適應北工大的生活。他帶我走遍校園的每一個角落，逛學校周邊超市和公園，給我講他的留學生活。我十分羨慕地看著他熟練地用中文和遇到的人熱情地打招呼和交談。我在心裏暗下決心，我也要學好中文。
謝（右一）2019 年帶學生參加國際智慧機器人大賽
剛開始學習中文的時候，我感到很吃力。中文拼音記不住，漢字的筆順也不會寫，這讓我很沮喪。我是班裏年齡最大的學生，同學們對我説：“大哥，你要加油哦！”我發現模倣和反覆練習是學習中文的有效方法。我就增加課外學習的時間。我把宿舍門變成了我的黑板，每天下午三點到四點半復習當天學習的生詞，為了第二天上課聽寫時獲得好成績。我經常在宿舍樓下和散步的中國老人聊天，這樣可以練習學到的生詞和口語。慢慢地我的漢語越來越好了，跟老百姓學到很多在課堂上學不到的生詞。我心裏感覺到很溫暖，也在實際生活中感受到“家裏靠父母，在外靠朋友”這句話。我的同學們都驚訝于我的進步，對我説，“大哥，你是我們的榜樣！”我的老師也認可地説：“謝，你的進步真快！”聽了這些話，我心裏比吃了蜂蜜還甜。
謝（中間）與他的畢業生合影
我在北工大完成了預科、碩士研究生和博士研究生學習，並且申請了博士後進站。我的研究方向是人工智慧。我參與過導師的“973”計劃項目、北京市自然科學基金項目等，我在視覺系統、控制系統領域的研究與實踐能力得到很大提升。週末時，我邀請朋友去我家玩，給他們做我的家鄉菜，介紹我的祖國的文化和飲食。在我的求學過程中，我遇見很多的老師和同學，他們在學業上給予我耐心的指導，在生活上給予我無私的幫助。多年後，我與他們一直保持著聯繫。我的導師生日時，我和同門師兄弟們一起策劃了生日Party，送上誠摯的祝福；我的師兄弟們畢業離校時，我們一起在學校的餐廳吃散夥飯；同學們畢業後在工作上獲得成功，我們在微信群裏互致祝福……
奮進新時代，續寫中國緣
還記得2006年我第一次邁出北京首都國際機場的大門，看到了很多高高的寫字樓和閃爍的霓虹燈，馬路寬廣，車水馬龍，一片繁榮發達的景象。那時候沒有智慧手機，只能用數位相機拍照。我迫不及待地在國貿CBD、王府井、天安門廣場、西單拍了很多照片發給我的朋友們和父母，他們都不敢相信這是中國。
2008年，北京成功舉辦了舉世矚目的第29屆夏季奧林匹克運動會，中國的影響力一下子足以比肩歐美發達國家。我發現我周邊的留學生突然多了起來。越來越多像我一樣的外國年輕人，來到北京留學。他們和我一樣，希望搭乘中國發展的快車，實現自己的夢想。2014年，北京成功召開了APEC峰會。從那時起，北京的藍天越來越多了，地鐵越來越四通八達，北京與世界城市的差距顯著縮短。2018年，北京成功召開中非合作論壇北京峰會，我有幸參與到接待我國總統的工作中。作為一個非洲人，我深受鼓舞。我要傳遞好中非友誼的接力棒，在構築中非命運共同體中貢獻力量。
這十年裏，我見證了中國速度、中國力量和中國精神。2010年微信的出現，顛覆了人際聯絡的認知；淘寶、京東、美團的發展，使得購物和生活發生了翻天覆地的變化。我逐漸融入每一個新的發展中，珍惜不期而遇的驚喜，不斷自我突破和變革，不斷變得強大。
在留學期間，我結識了現在的妻子，一位地道的中國女孩。經過時間的考驗，我們攜手走進了婚姻的殿堂。我現在已經成為北京工業大學的一名外籍老師，我幫助那些像我一樣有著美麗中國夢的外籍青年學生，幫助他們做好學業發展規劃，幫助他們學習和理解中國文化。我和他們一起感受中國日新月異、高速蓬勃的發展！我和他們一起描繪我們各自不同的中國情緣！
感謝那張廢棄的返程機票，它讓我的經歷充實而精彩；感謝那張廢棄的返程機票，它讓我的工作快樂而有意義；感謝那張廢棄的返程機票，它讓我的生活甜蜜而幸福。
A Discarded Return Ticket
〔Côte d’Ivoire〕 Ouattara Sie， Beijing University of Technology
In August 2006， I departed from a remote West African country – Côte d’Ivoire – to study in Beijing， China． Before my departure， I had booked a round－trip air ticket valid for three months due to many anxieties in my mind， such as not speaking Chinese， worry of racial discrimination， fear of not adapting to new life． However， I decided to cancel that return ticket after a month of studying in the Chinese cpaital city． Now， I have been studying and working in Beijing for 15 years， and every time I think of this scapped return ticket， my heart is full of infinite emotions， joy， satisfaction and happiness．．．
Study in China， A Blending of Bitter and Sweet
The first time I entered into the campus of Beijing University of Technology， I felt in love with the modern teaching facilities and sports fields， and the clean and tidy accommodation environment． There are so many amiable teachers， warm－hearted and patient dormitory aunts and humorous and cheerful janitors． Although I couldn’t understand what they said to me， the smiles on their faces have always warmed my heart and soothed my anxiety after my arrival． The teacher arranged a French－speaking international student to help me to adjust to the campus life at the Beijing University of Technology． He took me to every corner of the campus， visited supermarkets and parks around the university and shared with me his own study life． I watched him with great envy as he greeted and talked to the people he met in fluent Chinese． I made up my mind that I could also learn Chinese skillfully one day．
At first， I felt very embarassed when learning Chinese． I couldn’t remember Pinyin and I failed to follow the stroke order of Chinese characters， so I was frustrated． I was the oldest student in the class． My classmates said to me， “Never give up， big brother！” I found that imitation and repeated practice were effective ways to learn Chinese． I then increased my study time outside of classes． I turned my dormitory door into my chalkboard and reviewed the vocabulary I had learned that day from 3：00－4：30 pm every day． I often chatted with aged Chinese people strolling on the campus so that I could practice the vocabulary I had learned． Slowly my Chinese got better and better， and I learned a lot of vocabulary from the ordinary people after class． I felt very warm in my heart， and I also understood the saying “you can rely on your parents at home and your friends outside” in real life． My classmates were amazed at my progress and said to me， “Brother， you are our role model！” My teacher said， “Shea， you’re making great progress！” Listening to these encouraging words， I feel happier than eating honey．
At the Beijing University of Technology， I have completed my preparatory course， master’s and PhD studies， and then applied for postdoctoral research． Artificial intelligence is my research interest． I have participated in my supervisor’s 973 project， Beijing Natural Science Foundation project． My research and practical ability in the field of vision system and control system has been greatly improved． On weekends， I would invite my friends to my house， cook hometown food for them and introduce the culture of my home country． During my living in China， I met many teachers and classmates who had given me patient guidance and assistance in my studies and life． For many years， I have kept in touch with them． On my mentor’s birthday， I planned a birthday party with my fellow classmates and sent him sincere wishes； when my classmates left school after graduation， we had a farewell dinner together at the school’s canteen； when my classmates made success in their jobs after graduation， we exchanged good wishes in a WeChat group．．．
My Love with China Goes On in New Era
I still remember the first time I stepped out of the Beijing Capital International Airport in 2006， I saw a lot of skyscrapers and flashing neon lights， wide roads and busy traffic． I could only take pictures with my digital camera because there were no smartphones at that time． I couldn’t wait to take lots of pictures in China World Trade Center， Central Business District， Wangfujing， Tiananmen Square， Xidan and send them to my friends and parents， who couldn’t believe this is China．
In 2008， Beijing successfully held the 29th Summer Olympic Games， which attracted the attention of the world， and China’s influence paralled to that of developed countries in Europe and North America． I found that there were more international students in my neighborhood． More and more young foreigners， like me， came to Beijing to study． In 2014， the APEC Summit was held in Beijing． Since then， the blue sky in Beijing has become more frequent， the subway is getting more accessible， and the gap between Beijing and the world metropolises has been significantly shortened． In 2018， Beijing successfully held the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China－Africa Cooperation， and I had the honor to participate in the reception of our president． As an African， I am deeply inspired and I want to pass the baton of China－Africa friendship and contribute in the construction of the China－Africa community of shared destiny．
During the past decades， I’ve witnessed the speed， power and spirit of China． The year of 2010 saw the emergence of WeChat， which altered the perception of interpersonal communication； the development of Taobao， Jingdong and Meituan， which led to a radical change in shopping and life． I gradually integrated into each new development， cherished the unexpected surprises， constantly made progress by changing myself and becoming stronger．
During my study in China， I met my current wife， an authentic Chinese girl． After the test of time， we walked hand in hand into marriage． I am now a foreign teacher at Beijing University of Technology， and I manage to help young international students who have the beautiful dream of China like me， assist them to plan their academic development and learn Chinese culture． Together with them， I can experience the rapid development of China！ Together with them， I portray our different Chinese love stories！
I want to express my gratitude to the discarded air ticket because it not only makes my live experience rich and wonderful and makes my work happy and meaningful， but also makes my life sweet and happy．
