Growing up in Ghana, I was exposed to a plethora of foreign movies, and among them were the captivating Chinese films. I watched classics like Journey to the West and Shaolin Temple, and I became familiar with the legendary actors Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan and Jet Li. The movie that truly captivated my imagination was Journey to the West. I was particularly fascinated by the characters of Sun Wukong; the Monkey King; and Zhu Bajie, the Pigsy. In Ghana, we affectionately referred to Sun Wukong as "Shifu", inspired by how he addressed his master, and so whenever the name "Shifu" or "Bajie" is mentioned, everyone relates to the movie Journey to the West.

This movie sparked my curiosity about the Chinese language and culture, despite the language barrier. I became determined to understand the rich Chinese culture and language beyond just watching movies. My journey to the East began in 2017 when I decided to study Chinese language and culture at university. The excitement of receiving my admission text message from the university was overwhelming. I couldn't sleep that night, not only because I had gained admission to one of Ghana's prestigious universities, akin to "Tsinghua-Beida", but also because my dream of learning Chinese was about to become a reality.

My journey in learning Chinese was not without its challenges. I vividly recall contemplating giving up after my very first lesson. The Chinese characters, tones, pronunciation and grammar were all vastly different from what I was accustomed to in the English language. However, as the class monitor, I had the opportunity to grow closer to my Chinese teacher, who provided me with encouragement and support, which helped me discard the idea of giving up. He shared with me the benefits of learning Chinese and the importance of taking it seriously.

During one vacation, my teacher invited me to his house for three weeks to immerse myself in the study of the Chinese language. There, I practiced writing Chinese characters, reciting poems and singing songs. It was also during this time that he gave me my Chinese name: Wang Chenggong(which translates to "King of Success”).

Back at school, to further my understanding of Chinese culture, I signed up to be a volunteer at the Confucius Institute. There, I participated in a variety of activities, including calligraphy, paper cutting, martial arts, poetry recitation and even became a member of the dragon dance team. My dedication paid off when I won an Excellent Volunteer Award and a Chinese Ambassadors Award for outstanding students twice, both of which were a testament to my hard work and perseverance.

In 2019, I was elected as the President of the Chinese Students Association at the University of Ghana. That same year, I was preparing to take the Chinese language proficiency exams (HSK) to qualify for an exchange program in China, where I hoped to gain a deeper understanding of Chinese culture. I passed the exams and received a scholarship in 2020. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I was unable to come to China to study as planned.

This setback did not deter me from holding onto my dreams. In 2021, I represented my school and the Confucius Institute in the 20th Chinese Bridge Competition for foreign college students in Ghana. There, I became the grand prize winner and subsequently represented Ghana on the global stage, where I won the Excellent Award. These achievements also led to opportunities and recommendations to work with Chinese firms in Ghana.

During my school days, I shared a wealth of Chinese knowledge with my classmates and taught my juniors as well. Consequently, right after completing my university education, I applied to become a teaching assistant in my Chinese department. There, I taught Chinese for a year and motivated students to learn the language. After that, I applied to the Confucius Institute to become a Chinese volunteer teacher for another year.

In September 2023, I finally decided to embark on my journey to the East to pursue my academic dreams. This journey has been truly amazing. The experience has been enriching, allowing me to immerse myself in Chinese culture, from its cuisine and social values to its cultural relics and the warmth of its people.

I have also witnessed the marvels of Chinese-style modernization, from the subways and high-speed railways to driverless cars and AI robots serving food in hotels and restaurants. The convenient online shopping and payment systems have made life incredibly easy. Now, when I go out, I don't worry about carrying cash - my phone is all I need. Initially, I was concerned about my phone running out in public, but I later realized that power banks are everywhere.

The sense of safety and security in China is remarkable. There have been times when I've left my laptop and other valuables in the school library, only to return hours later and find everything intact. On one occasion, I forgot my diary on the subway and only realized it when I got home. A Chinese friend advised me to call a certain number, and within minutes, I was assured that my diary had been found and was being kept safely. I was able to retrieve it the following day.

My encounter with China and the Chinese language has profoundly impacted my personal and professional growth. In conclusion, I echo the sentiment, "Wo de ren sheng yin zhong wen er mei li," which means "My life is beautiful because of the Chinese language".

Michael Oduro is M.A. student at Beijing Foreign Studies University. The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.

The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.

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