Listen to this articleThey embarked on a journey to study in China with dreams in their hearts, crossing vast oceans to immerse themselves in this ancient yet vibrant land.
“My name is Victor Daniel Blandon Carrasco, and my Chinese name is Bai Chengguang. I come from Honduras and am a freshman in the College of Computer Science. It is a great honor to speak as a representative of international students.”
At this year’s opening ceremony of Northwestern Polytechnical University, Bai Chengguang（白诚广） from Honduras delivered a speech as the representative of the freshman class. Bai Chengguang hails from the beautiful Caribbean nation of Honduras, known for its stunning Blue Hole and delicious coffee. Coming to China to study and speaking as the representative of the freshman class at Northwestern Polytechnical University filled his heart with excitement and gratitude.
“It’s a wonderful experience! I am thrilled to stand on this prestigious stage and speak. Especially when I saw Chinese students singing their national anthem together and the pride on their faces when they saw their flag, I was deeply moved by this patriotic affection.”
Bai Chengguang mentioned that Honduras and China are separated by thousands of miles, and his curiosity about China began with a documentary about China on a computer learning machine called “Xiao Ba Wang” (Little Overlord) that featured Jackie Chan as the spokesperson.
“When I was a child, I watched a documentary about a computer endorsed by Jackie Chan called ‘Xiao Ba Wang,’ which was a retro game console. That was my first knowing of China, and I thought it was really cool. The documentary mainly talked about how the game console was created and how young people in China used computers in the early days of computer development. Now, I plan to find this game console and experience it firsthand, fulfilling a childhood dream. I checked online and found that you can buy it in China.”
Through books and documentaries, Bai Chengguang’s curiosity about China turned into genuine admiration. He said that China is a land of wisdom that has produced countless great scientists and mathematicians.
“I started looking for ways to learn about China, watching videos made by bloggers, documentaries, and history books. I read a book about Qin Shi Huang（秦始皇） and learned about the Terracotta Army. Later, I discovered that China has nurtured many great entrepreneurs, scientists, and mathematicians. I have always enjoyed reading articles about Chinese mathematics and scientific progress. One of my favorites and a constant source of inspiration for me is Wu Jianping（吴建平） because he made contributions to the development of China’s internet and laid the foundation for its subsequent development.”
Walking on the streets of Xi’an in early autumn, watching leaves fall gracefully, covering the ground in a tapestry of colors, Bai Chengguang said that Xi’an is a city with a rich history and culture. He still finds it surreal to be studying here, as the distant land he used to dream about in his childhood books and legends has now become a reality, warming his heart with a sense of familiarity.
“When I watched documentaries and read books as a child, there were many interesting things. I always felt that Chinese people were different from us. Take computers, for example. Because people in our country don’t understand pinyin, we thought Chinese keyboards would be very different from the ones we use. But later, I found out that they are actually the same! For example, both Chinese characters and Mayan glyphs are logograms, and Chinese people also enjoy drinking coffee, and our Arabica coffee beans in Honduras are very good. I believe you will get to taste them soon. Although we are new friends, I feel a sense of familiarity with the Chinese.”
Despite being at Northwestern Polytechnical University for only a short two months, Bai Chengguang quickly adapted to campus life. His classmates and teachers always warmly and friendly assist him, making him feel warmly welcomed. Observant Bai Chengguang also noted that China’s open and inclusive spirit is reflected in the campus atmosphere and its historical culture.
“I have seen many international students at NPU, from the UK, Italy, Germany, Russia, Poland, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan, making it very diverse. When I was looking at the school’s official website, I was truly impressed by the faculty’s strength. The achievements of every teacher are admirable and serve as my role models and guiding lights for learning. Confucius said, ‘In three people, there must be my teacher.’ I hope in China, at NWPU, I can communicate and learn from every classmate and teacher, deepen understanding through mutual learning, build friendships, and grow together.”
As a freshman, Bai Chengguang also shared his many expectations for his future at Northwestern Polytechnical University. He not only hopes to exchange knowledge and learn from his Chinese classmates but also wants to deeply understand China.
“Honduras is a mountainous country with villages and large communities in the suburbs. Most Hondurans lack educational resources and have limited access to communication infrastructure. I chose my major primarily because I am very interested in China’s advancements in education and communication infrastructure technology. As an international student, I hope to not only learn professional knowledge but also study more about Chinese culture, history, technology, and understand initiatives like the Belt and Road, the Community of Shared Future for Mankind, and China’s modernization. I look forward to bringing back Chinese models, solutions, and wisdom to our country, promoting the development of our communities, cities, and nation. I also hope to collaborate with my Chinese classmates on projects that can have a positive impact on both China and Honduras.”
Bai Chengguang mentioned that this year is of great historical significance for Honduras, as the two countries officially established diplomatic relations at the beginning of the year, giving him hope for a brighter future.
“Embracing warm and powerful China is an important and correct choice for the people of Honduras. As one of the first 26 students to study in China, I will work hard, just like other Honduran international students, to learn professional knowledge, make Chinese friends, deeply understand China, and strive to become a friendly ambassador for future China-Honduras relations, contributing my humble efforts to the development of China and Honduras.”
With dreams in his heart, Bai Chengguang is embarking on a new journey of life in China. He said at the opening ceremony, “Standing at a new starting line, I look forward to experiencing NPU with all of you, becoming a true NPUer, ‘shouldering the same responsibilities and sharing the beauty,’ and ‘marching forward with dreams.‘ I wish all we fellow students a successful academic journey and a bright future! Have a happy new semester!”
