SEU Story | Soniya chased her dream in China

Soniya Falahatdoost, a Ph.D. student from School of Architecture, left Iran in September 2019 for further study in China in order to achieve her goals in her dream country.

Her passion for Chinese culture, her love for China and Chinese people make her life in China rich and colorful.

Now let’s listen to Soniya’s colorful life in China.

For Soniya, she used to be a person who quitely depended on her family and used to resort to her family for everything. Therefore, she never experienced the feeling of living independently in her native country. When she came to China, she realized she needed to grow up. “Now Soniya, it's your time that you should prove yourself to your family,” she said. Getting used to a new life in a different country, she has learned how to be independent, how to take responsibility, and how to protect herself etc.

Thanks to the kindness of Chinese people, she has never felt that she’s a stranger here. It's no exaggeration to say that she has never felt that she has encountered obstacles in communication. Soniya has made a lot of Chinese friends at school, and it is very happy to get a positive feeling from them every time. Another thing that makes Soniya happy is cooking. Food is the best tool to enhance friendships in every country. Soniya has learned how to make noodles from a Chinese woman living in the same apartment. Although she’s known all the processes in cooking Baozi, she never tried.

She stayed at home for several days due to the COVID-19 quarantine in Nanjing, China. Everything was under strict control, and the city has lost its former hustle and bustle. She felt terrified that the city would never return to its original state, a city once full of vitality and laughter. For her, this may not be her sweetest but the most unforgettable experience in China. She has witnessed the collective alliance and a nation that she had never seen anywhere in the world, uniting to fight against COVID-19 disease in order to safeguard the common destiny of itself and all mankind.

In the future, Soniya hopes to live in China all her life because she likes the Chinese language, towns, culture, peace, and everything. She is very grateful to those who have created these conditions for her, as well as those who have helped her during her study and life. It is their kindness and love that have enabled her to feel the warmth of China and accompanied her in passing through the most difficult time.