一张废弃的返程机票
［科特迪瓦］ 谢 北京工业大学
谢（左）体验汉服
2006年8月，我从遥远的西非国家科特迪瓦来到中国北京留学。出发前，因为心中的诸多不安，如不会说汉语，担心种族歧视，担心生活不适应等，我为自己订好了一张三个月有效的往返机票。然而，在北京留学的一个月之后，我决定取消那张返程机票。如今，我已经在北京学习工作了15年，每每想起这张废弃的返程机票，心中充满无限的感慨，有喜悦，有满足，有幸福……
精彩求学路，亦苦亦甜
第一次走进北工大的校园，我便喜欢上了这里现代化的教学设施和运动场，干净、整洁的住宿环境。和蔼可亲的老师、热情耐心的宿管阿姨和幽默开朗的门卫师傅。虽然我听不懂他们对我说了什么，但是他们脸上洋溢着的笑容，一直温暖着我的心，抚慰我初来乍到的焦虑。学校老师贴心安排一位说法语的国际学生协助我适应北工大的生活。他带我走遍校园的每一个角落，逛学校周边超市和公园，给我讲他的留学生活。我十分羡慕地看着他熟练地用中文和遇到的人热情地打招呼和交谈。我在心里暗下决心，我也要学好中文。
谢（右一）2019 年带学生参加国际智能机器人大赛
刚开始学习中文的时候，我感到很吃力。汉语拼音记不住，汉字的笔顺也不会写，这让我很沮丧。我是班里年龄最大的学生，同学们对我说：“大哥，你要加油哦！”我发现模仿和反复练习是学习中文的有效方法。我就增加课外学习的时间。我把宿舍门变成了我的黑板，每天下午三点到四点半复习当天学习的生词，为了第二天上课听写时获得好成绩。我经常在宿舍楼下和散步的中国老人聊天，这样可以练习学到的生词和口语。慢慢地我的汉语越来越好了，跟老百姓学到很多在课堂上学不到的生词。我心里感觉到很温暖，也在实际生活中感受到“家里靠父母，在外靠朋友”这句话。我的同学们都惊讶于我的进步，对我说，“大哥，你是我们的榜样！”我的老师也认可地说：“谢，你的进步真快！”听了这些话，我心里比吃了蜂蜜还甜。
谢（中间）与他的毕业生合影
我在北工大完成了预科、硕士研究生和博士研究生学习，并且申请了博士后进站。我的研究方向是人工智能。我参与过导师的“973”计划项目、北京市自然科学基金项目等，我在视觉系统、控制系统领域的研究与实践能力得到很大提升。周末时，我邀请朋友去我家玩，给他们做我的家乡菜，介绍我的祖国的文化和饮食。在我的求学过程中，我遇见很多的老师和同学，他们在学业上给予我耐心的指导，在生活上给予我无私的帮助。多年后，我与他们一直保持着联系。我的导师生日时，我和同门师兄弟们一起策划了生日Party，送上诚挚的祝福；我的师兄弟们毕业离校时，我们一起在学校的餐厅吃散伙饭；同学们毕业后在工作上获得成功，我们在微信群里互致祝福……
奋进新时代，续写中国缘
还记得2006年我第一次迈出北京首都国际机场的大门，看到了很多高高的写字楼和闪烁的霓虹灯，马路宽广，车水马龙，一片繁荣发达的景象。那时候没有智能手机，只能用数码相机拍照。我迫不及待地在国贸CBD、王府井、天安门广场、西单拍了很多照片发给我的朋友们和父母，他们都不敢相信这是中国。
2008年，北京成功举办了举世瞩目的第29届夏季奥林匹克运动会，中国的影响力一下子足以比肩欧美发达国家。我发现我周边的留学生突然多了起来。越来越多像我一样的外国年轻人，来到北京留学。他们和我一样，希望搭乘中国发展的快车，实现自己的梦想。2014年，北京成功召开了APEC峰会。从那时起，北京的蓝天越来越多了，地铁越来越四通八达，北京与世界城市的差距显著缩短。2018年，北京成功召开中非合作论坛北京峰会，我有幸参与到接待我国总统的工作中。作为一个非洲人，我深受鼓舞。我要传递好中非友谊的接力棒，在构筑中非命运共同体中贡献力量。
这十年里，我见证了中国速度、中国力量和中国精神。2010年微信的出现，颠覆了人际联络的认知；淘宝、京东、美团的发展，使得购物和生活发生了翻天覆地的变化。我逐渐融入每一个新的发展中，珍惜不期而遇的惊喜，不断自我突破和变革，不断变得强大。
在留学期间，我结识了现在的妻子，一位地道的中国女孩。经过时间的考验，我们携手走进了婚姻的殿堂。我现在已经成为北京工业大学的一名外籍老师，我帮助那些像我一样有着美丽中国梦的外籍青年学生，帮助他们做好学业发展规划，帮助他们学习和理解中国文化。我和他们一起感受中国日新月异、高速蓬勃的发展！我和他们一起描绘我们各自不同的中国情缘！
感谢那张废弃的返程机票，它让我的经历充实而精彩；感谢那张废弃的返程机票，它让我的工作快乐而有意义；感谢那张废弃的返程机票，它让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．
