I am volunteering for the Asian Games! Foreign "Little Qinghe" Dreams Come True in Hangzhou: This is a vivid stroke of life
On September 22nd, China Daily reported that the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou are about to kick off. This highly anticipated event is not only a stage for athletes from various delegations to realize their dreams, but also a valuable life experience for the volunteer "Little Qinghe".
The volunteers for the Hangzhou Asian Games are known as "Little Green Lotus", which was born at the G20 Hangzhou Summit in 2016. It is derived from a poem by the Song Dynasty poet Yang Wanli, which reads "The lotus leaves reach the sky and are infinitely green, while the lotus flowers reflect the sun and are exceptionally red.". The pun of "Qinghe" is affinity, representing the affinity of volunteers to smile.
On September 1st, volunteers served reporters at the main service desk of the main news center in the main media center.
Korean girl Li Jingmin is a foreign volunteer serving the Hangzhou Asian Games. She had wanted to become a volunteer during the Pingchang Winter Olympics five years ago, but unfortunately, due to her age, she was unable to fulfill her dream. Now, at the age of 22, she has finally fulfilled her dream at the Hangzhou Asian Games.
Li Jingmin's connection with China began with the Chinese language course he took during his high school years. "When I was in my sophomore year of high school, I participated in a summer camp and lived in Beijing for two weeks. It was my first time coming to China and it left a very good impression on me." She said, "Eating roast duck and seeing buildings with Chinese characteristics all made her very interested. Her Chinese friends around her also gave her a lot of help, so she decided to come to China to study.".
After graduating from high school, Li Jingmin studied Chinese in South Korea for a year and was admitted to the School of Public Administration at Zhejiang University in 2020. In recent years, she has visited cities such as Nanjing and Qingdao and witnessed China's development. Living in Hangzhou not only made her feel the warmth and enthusiasm of the locals, but also added a vibrant color to her study abroad life with the hosting of the Asian Games.
In his sophomore year, to make up for his previous regrets, Li Jingmin registered as a volunteer for the Hangzhou Asian Games. "I hope to achieve my dream this time, and my family is also very supportive of me," she said.
After thorough preparation and multiple trainings, Li Jingmin officially joined the main media center of the Hangzhou Asian Games on September 9th as a language service volunteer. She said that although she may miss some competitions due to volunteer work, working in the media center is more meaningful.
Li Jingmin hopes to help the people of China and South Korea understand each other more. "I believe that through me, Korean journalists can learn about Hangzhou and China, and Chinese people can also learn about South Korea." She said, "I hope to build a bridge of communication between China and South Korea."
In fact, there are still many foreign "young lotus" like Li Jingmin at the Hangzhou Asian Games. Malaysian international student Lin Xuerou is currently studying at Zhejiang Media College. She hopes to leverage her language skills to tell the world stories of China and the Hangzhou Asian Games.
Lin Xuerou said, "As a foreign volunteer, I can learn about the different faces of different countries and promote cultural integration. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me, and it is also a very valuable experience that can leave a strong mark on my study abroad career."
At the Hangzhou Asian Games, she will serve as a etiquette volunteer. She looks forward to the moment when she presents medals to the award-winning athletes on the field. She feels that it is an honor for the athletes, for China, and for herself.
