Kenyans narrate their experience during past stay in China

Jacob Lukaka, a student from the pioneer class of Confucius Institute at the University of Nairobi, describes the period he spent in China as an eye-opener. He sees himself as standing at a vantage point in life where many Kenyans can only dream of occupying.

Lukaka was awarded a scholarship to study for a degree in Chinese Language and Culture at Tianjin Normal University - which has a collaborative link with the University of Nairobi, where he undertook the course between 2007 and 2010.

"When I took the bold step to study the language many regarded as unfamiliar, I banked on hopes I would overcome the hurdles and realize my dreams," Lukaka says.

"The three years I spent in China, however, turned out as the most eventful phase in my life," recalls the 35-year-old lecturer at the Confucius Institute in the University of Nairobi.

"I am a citizen of three cultures; my ethnic culture, the English culture courtesy of the colonialists and the Chinese culture. How many Kenyans can have such bragging rights," he asks.

Lukaka, who lectures at his alma mater in Nairobi, says the Chinese are a very friendly and genuine people who welcome visitors with open arms.

"Unlike the Western world that has been accused of racial prejudice; not so with the Chinese. One will not detect an iota of hostility from them towards their guests. During my stay in China, I was given the nick-name Mayor of Tianjin."

Lukaka believes the great opportunities arising from the close ties between Kenya and China can be bridged by language.

"In order to benefit from these opportunities, you have to first learn the language, which not many non-Chinese can speak."

While admitting that learning the Chinese language is no mean feat, Lukaka says it is worth the effort owing to China's increased engagement in Africa in general and Kenya in particular.

"With thousands of characters to master, Chinese is a difficult language to learn, especially for those learning it as a second language, unlike English with only 26 letters of the alphabet only, making mastering of the language easier said than done. However, I think it is worth the while."

Joseph Kinyua, was led the Kenyan athletics team to the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games as team manager, concurs with Lukaka on the warmth the Chinese have towards visitors.

"I toured China earlier in 2006 as leader of delegation during the IAAF Junior Athletics Championships in Beijing and the feeling was the same; therefore one cannot say it was the Chinese hospitality was stage-managed to hoodwink the outside world."

He says the level of development in China is awesome and wonders why it is referred to as a developing country. "Then what term would you use for the truly developing nations?" he asks.

His assistant during the Beijing games, David Kilundo, has high regards for Chinese culinary, which he says he found irresistible during his three-week stay in Beijing at the time of the Olympics.

"Though there was food from all around the world from pizzas to McDonald's, the allure of Chinese gastronomic was overwhelming, which saw me indulge in it as my food of choice," Kilundo says.

He marvels at Chinese infrastructure and points out that the visit to the Great Wall of China was the highlight of his visit to China.

"A visit to China without a stopover at the Great Wall of China is an anti-climax. How will one convince people back home that they were in China without a picture taken at the site of one of the wonders of the world?"

Rose Ombuor, who visited China in 2011 in an exchange program, courtesy of being the best student in her class at the Confucius Institute in the University of Nairobi that year, says his visit to the Far East country opened her eyes to the outside world.

"Although I was in China (Beijing) for only three months, I enjoyed my stay there thoroughly, which made it appear too short. Given another opportunity, I would stay longer."

She says the hospitality of the Chinese is unprecedented and adds that she made many friends there with whom she still maintains contact with.

"With the Chinese mounting commitment in Kenya, I intend to put to good use my mastery of the Chinese language and culture by either working in any of their companies locally or abroad."

Julius Sunkuli, Kenya's immediate former Ambassador to China who served in Beijing between 2008 and 2012, shares the sentiments of the others about the Chinese as a hospitable people.

"The Chinese are among the most welcoming and sociable people I have come across. Their hospitality made my stay in China memorable and enjoyable," he says.

Sunkuli, who resigned from his posting in 2012 to contest for a political seat during this year's general elections in Kenya, says during his tenure as the country's envoy to Beijing, relations between the two nations improved during his four-year tenure.

"Kenya and China have long ties that can be traced back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) when the famous navigator (Zheng He) reached the shores of Kenya and also with the diplomatic relations the two countries established in 1963 after Kenya became a sovereign state."

He says it is on these premises that he strived to enhance the friendly cooperation between the two sides by way of trade, culture and education.

"The Chinese people are a very inviting and hard working citizenry. They kept us comprehensively engaged in diplomatic activities and many are the times my Chinese friends would invite me for oriental cuisines and other social activities."

Sunkuli, who says all his children speak fluent Chinese, is of the opinion that China's good policies towards foreigners are the source of the Chinese people's widely-acclaimed warmth.

"The Chinese work ethic is legendary and everybody wants to make a difference. There is no room for lazy people; it is an attitude that Kenyans should replicate if they want to develop at a faster pace," he said.