My journey to Yichang city began along with the take off of my flight to Yichang airport in 2011/11/20. During my first bus ride from airport towards the Yichang city, I could feel the cool breeze through the window, seemed as if it was notifying me to have a glance towards beautiful Yichang city. I felt like it signified the warm welcome and wish me good luck to have a beautiful 6 years of my life ahead. My travel to the bus ride ended up as I, including some of my Nepalese friends, reached to China Three Gorges University, a prestigious university of Yichang.
With a dream to become a successful doctor, I made my first entrance to the dormitory of CTGU. By help of some of my teachers and seniors, I felt relaxed that day.
However, first few weeks, life had become much harder here. Due to nostalgia, I felt like I was totally isolated and really lonely being cut off from homely environment. New place, new people, new language were very often creating problems. Nevertheless, after few days during the classes we were introduced about some Chinese cultures, traditions & languages which also helped me understand the Yichang people and their lifestyles as well. Then I felt comfortable leaving my dormitory without a translation dictionary. Though with my weak Chinese skills, I tried to talk with local people. Some of them became my friends. They were equally enthusiastic sharing each other\'s lifestyles. I did not even realize when I felt like home in Yichang, because of the cooperative and helpful people I was indulged with.
Days passed on. As being a MBBS student, I rarely used to have a spare time because of the busy schedules. However, during some of my leisure times, I visited most of the places of Yichang city. I came to know that in ancient times, Yichang was known as Yiling which is prefecture level city, the second largest city in the western Hubei province. Yichang city is truly blessed with natural resources and remarkable beauty. I found Three Gorges Dam, the world’s greatest hydroelectric dam very magnificent. I felt fortunate to see the spellbinding beauty of Yangtze, the longest river in Asia and the third-longest in the world. Visiting beautiful Three Travelers\' Cave and tribe of three gorges were yet memorable. I will surely visit rest of the places very soon.
Besides, I really enjoyed celebrating Chinese festivals like spring festival, lantern festival, blue dragon festival, qingming festival, dragon boat festival, mid-autumn festival with local people. We also celebrated Nepali festivals together. Every year our university used to organize a Peach Flower festival where the foreigners from different countries participated wearing their national costumes and introduce their national lifestyles . As Nepal is a small country, most of the people hadn\'t even hear it\'s name. Being a Nepali, it was prideful moment for me to introduce my nation to them. Those were some precious moments which were unforgettable.
During my last three years of stay here, Yichang was in rapid phase of development .I could see the well constructed streets, timely renovated buildings, newly built hotels and plazas. All these were of course the new sources of income and better economy or Yichang besides the greater hydroelectric power project .While spending my wonderful days in Yichang,I got an opportunity to be a member of CTGU foreign student\'s Volunteer group. The volunteer group organized different activities. One of them was a hospital visit to Renhe hospital. During the visit we tried to collect some information about the disease and know the way of medical care in hospital. We also gifted the patient some fruits and get-well-soon cards. As being MBBS student it was related to my own faculty. So, I enjoyed it a lot and it was knowledgeable for me. Besides, we organized programs involving celebration of Chinese, Nepali and other countries’ festivals.
I was really enjoying every moments in Yichang as I became familiar to the city and the people. Everything was going on smoothly. But few months ago, I wasn\'t able to contact to my family. I was urgently in need of money as my pocket money was going to be finished. It was already 2 weeks since I wasn\'t in touch with family. I was little bit worried. One night, when I was about to sleep, I was totally shattered through a mail from my brother. He had written the statement "she is no longer with us". It was the demise of my grandmother. She was the one who always used to encourage me. I spent my wonderful childhood on her lap and she meant a world to me. I couldn\'t bear that tragedy. That night I wept for so late. Next morning, I couldn\'t attend the class. I walked towards the ground remembering the wonderful times with my grandmother. Tears were rolling down my cheek continuously. I sat there alone for a long time .
Suddenly, one of my classmates sat besides me. He asked me the reason about not attending class. I felt like I got someone to share my griefs. Some of his inspiring words help redeem myself. He suggested me to make a phone call to my parents so that I would feel more better. With a heavy heart, I made a call back to my home. I convinced my parents not to be tensed. Although, it was more difficult for me to face the situation, I controlled myself. I thanked my friend for helping me overcome my sorrows. The next day, I tried to face the reality and I continued my regular classes.
Today, it is almost 3 years passed since I have been living here. Life in Yichang has been undoubtedly happier. I learned to be more responsible. Being far from home was hard before. But now I have learned to live up my own independently. I have learned to smile in my griefs. This would not have been possible without the cooperative Yichang people. Now I will surely try to spend my life for 2 and half years even more beautifully.
I regard Yichang as my second home and I will cherish every moments for my lifelong .
NAME:RITU KHADKA