Two different races, two different languages, two very different cultures, yet we are brothers. Yes, the true love for each other and the brotherhood in our hearts doesn’t make us feel, even for one second that we are from two different places, geographically dispersed, culturally different. This is a true story of how I came to Zhuzhou city, Hunan province and why I can’t leave Hunan behind. Let me take you to this mesmerizing story of two different races but hearts like one, beating together with sheer love.
I opened my eyes in a small town of Pakistan, in an idyllic family. I was the only son. I was the diamond of the family. I was lucky to have a loving sister and adoring family. However I always have missed the love and company of a brother by my side creating a never ending emptiness and search for a brother in my life.
Life went on. I graduate, get job experience. An opportune opportunity brought me a job offer from China. I flew to China to join my teaching position at Lanzhou Jiao tong University, Lanzhou city, Gansu province in 2001. With my dedication and commitment I soon won best foreign teacher award, best foreign singer award and the highest Achievement award “Dunghuang Award” from Gansu Government. I was honored and surrounded with sincere and friendly Chinese people wanting me to stay there, but there search of a true brother by my side, was simply pushing me to move on.
In 2005 I meet a simple and very interesting man. Jack, a resident of Zhuzhou city, Hunan Province. He attended one of my cultural lectures in Language village, Zhuhai City. After the lecture he approached me and extended a warm friendly hand. He invited me to deliver the same lecture in Zhuzhou, Hunan. I say, “I never heard of that place, is that a good city?” Silly me. I never knew I was going to a place that will put chains of love in my feet. Jack patiently described the major attractions of Hunan and invited me to not only deliver lecture but also taste Hunan specialties. I thought about refusing but there was something in his way of talking, his sincere smile, helping feeling, and above all his utmost trust in me. I therefore didn’t think much, and accepted his invitation. Jack sent me an expensive laptop to modify my lecture as per the needs of his audience.
Jack left me a confirmed air ticket from Zhuhai to Changsha and flew to Hunan province the next morning.
God, that blind trust, that pure sincerity and feeling of care, I have never felt anywhere in this world. He knew nothing about me except that I was just a foreign teacher somewhere in Gansu province. He simply trusted me just like he’d trust his little brother. Jack, a man from Zhuzhou city, Hunan province left a deep impression of trust, friendship and love of Chinese people to me.
Time flew, and there I was, shaking hands with Jack at Changsha airport. We drove to Times Group in Zhuzhou, and we had this wonderful seven hours cultural seminar. Two days with Jack brought me a true feeling of love, trust and brotherhood. Two wonderful days filled with joy passed just like two minutes and I had to return back. At the airport, I said to Jack, “Well Brother, keep in touch”. He smiled and said that he’d like to have this honor in real, to be my real big brother. And that moment Hunan gave me a brother. We shook hands. He said “Remember you have a brother now, call me when you need me and I will be there”. I turned and walked to check in counter with tears in my eyes. I did not want to leave Hunan. As I knew my search for a brother was over. There he was, standing and waving at me with a supportive and caring smile, just like a real big brother, telling me to take care and be back soon.
It was my first true feeling of having a real brother by my side. It simply is a captivating relationship that beautiful Hunan sends my way. I leave and fly back to my job. Finally my search for a brother ends. I sit comfortably in my seat looking out of plane window. I knew I’ve found a brother, a brother in a Chinese province Hunan, in a small city Zhuzhou.
Finally time came to choose a new workplace. I knew where I was heading. I refuse all the offers and call my brother. I had no job offers in Hunan. When Jack hears about my decision, he says, “Pack your stuff and a job will be waiting for you” He introduces me to Hunan University of Technology. University sends me a contract right away. It’s not my resume or award; it’s my loving brother and Loving Hunan making way for me to settle in.
The day came. I came out of Changsha airport once again. I see my brother (Jack) standing there with all the warmth of brotherly love and care. All my worries were gone. We headed to my workplace in Zhuzhou in a big luxury car. I knew, comparatively this university and city is nothing to those cities and universities in China who offered me a job, but I was happy and peaceful, because I had my brother by my side, telling me how wonderful life is going to be.
I started working in Hunan University of technology with same dedication and commitment. Life became a routine. Meeting my brother (Jack) now and then is still the most fascinating thing however.
I wagered I’d leave in a year or two. I was wrong. Working in Hunan province, didn’t only brought me a brother but also brought me prosperity. I bought my own car and became the first ever foreigner to register a car on my own name. It was a small Chevy Spark and I loved it. It was my brother Jack who treated me a big dinner just to celebrate this little happy event. It was him who drove me for hours with another sincere friend (Joanna another sincere friend Hunan Province sent my way) around different Car Showrooms in Zhuzhou and Changsha city. He was always by my side, talking to people, giving me suggestions, and pushing me with a smile to sit in all the different cars.
Jack wanted me to find a car that best fits me. He was concerned about my safety. He wanted me to buy a car that I can drive easily and won’t get any accidents. Finally Joanna (who left a deep image of a loving sister in China to me) helped me to close the deal in the best possible way. Imagine this brotherly love and care, from people who belong to different race, different culture. It’s simply priceless.
It wasn’t only buying a car; there were many things that I learned in my life with Jack, all with his extreme care, love and support. I grew mature with his brotherly guidance too. He always kept in touch despite of his busy schedule and managed to find time to get together. We share the same taste. Food, cars, music, language learning, you name it. Overall we share the most beautiful feeling, the love of brothers.
Day by day I fall in love with Hunan. This is not it. I haven’t even started about my beloved province Hunan. As life went on, more and more loving and caring people gather around me who love me like I’m one of them, care about me like I’m the most important person in their lives. Overall I feel true love from people around me, urging me to stay longer, forever in Hunan. I can’t break the chains of love of Loving Hunan, can I?
Not only brother and friends, Hunan also brought me my soul mate. I am so much in love with her, as much as I’m with Hunan? Hunan knew I was lonely, so my beloved Province sent a charming and lovely girl to my way. A Hunan girl (Changde city resident) who took my heart away in first meeting. An enchanting meeting after which it did not take us long to be together. Yes, that is another Chain of Love from Hunan Province that I can’t break, even if I tried. Now I’m bound by chains of love. Brother, earnest friends and a loving life partner. I can’t wait to be the son in law of Hunan and dissolve in this beautiful place.
Story doesn’t finish here. Time flew as usual. Loving Hunan did not forget my sleepless nights of planning lessons for my students, my dedication to promote Language learning, and sent me a big honor in return. The Zhuzhou Friendship award. It is not just an award; it’s the soft voice of Hunan province, delightfully whispering in my ears, asking me,
“Where would you go now, do you feel how much I love you?”
With Hunan’s gentle loving whisper I closed my eyes. I did not need to see and think anymore, because loving Hunan already made a decision for me. I opened my eyes, smile, and hold my award high, whispering back gently,
“I love you Hunan, I love you just way I love my mother land, today boundaries and differences are gone. Hunan becomes my home, just like my home Pakistan”
Time stretched its wings. I started a flying RC Airplanes and met more likewise people, extending my circle of earnest friends. This unconditional friendship and brotherhood among us, the RC Pilots of Zhuzhou city is simply indescribable. Regardless of social status, wealth and race, we are one family, you can’t tell us apart. Together, we have appeared in numerous newspapers and TV programs of our beloved city Zhuzhou, proving we are one, no matter what.
My colleagues at Hunan University of Technology regardless of their positions brought me the pleasure of working with a preeminent team. I’m grateful to Director of Foreign Affairs, Dean of English Department, and other higher officials at HUT for their sincere support and precious guidance. All the credit goes to my loving Hunan for bringing me nothing but the simplest and the finest to my life.
Yes Hunan brought me loving Brothers, sincere friends, loving life partner, happiness and prosperity. What else can one dream of? I now drive a big MPV. Thanks to my sister Joanna’s help and efforts again who helped me for hours to get me my dream car. I work with greater dedication to tell Hunan Province that I’m returning the favor. I play my part with devotion, utmost sincerity in developing the language awareness and educating Chinese nation in China. I believe this is the only way I can return something back to Hunan, back to China.
I’m still working with HUT, living in my simple, old 4 room apartment. I simply love my life. I no more feel like I’m in a foreign country, I no more feel that I live with Chinese people. I simply feel that I live with a family. A family comprised of sincere, loving and caring people. My identity has dissolved, I’m no more a Pakistani, No more a Chinese. I’m a man simply living with my family; I am a man playing my part to promote the ever lasting friendship of two brother countries, China and Pakistan. I’m the man who simply loves China, loves Hunan, and loves Zhuzhou, just the way China loves me, Hunan loves me, and this little city loves me. There is only love that left in my heart, nothing else. Love that will last forever.
