"Laowai" in China | Foreign expert fascinated by Chinese culture-Xinhua
"Laowai" in China | Foreign expert fascinated by Chinese culture
Source: Xinhua
Editor: huaxia
2024-09-03 11:34:32
YINCHUAN, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- El Batoul Nejjaoui from Morocco has been in China for over five years and is now an expert at a cultural communication agency in Ningxia.
Nejjaoui has been fascinated by Chinese movies, documentaries, and traditional culture since childhood. To her, China is a mysterious and beautiful country. She was intrigued by the Chinese language she saw in films.
El Batoul Nejjaoui poses while experiencing a paper-cutting dress at the intangible cultural heritage exhibition center in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Aug. 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Feng Kaihua)El Batoul Nejjaoui learns about a tiger-shaped doll at the intangible cultural heritage exhibition center in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Aug. 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Feng Kaihua)El Batoul Nejjaoui makes tea for her friends in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Aug. 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)El Batoul Nejjaoui takes an Arabic book about China, in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Aug. 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)
While studying at Mohammed V University in Morocco, Nejjaoui chose Chinese as her major and even came to China's capital Beijing as an exchange student. After graduation, Nejjaoui worked in Ningxia as a translator. She and her colleagues translated many Chinese books and films into Arabic to promote them overseas.
El Batoul Nejjaoui teaches Chinese language to young people at a book fair in Abu Dhabi, May 1, 2024. (Xinhua)El Batoul Nejjaoui and colleagues proofread a Chinese textbook for Arab countries in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Aug. 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Feng Kaihua)
Following the popularity of "Minning Town," a Chinese TV drama series narrating the country's poverty alleviation efforts, Nejjaoui and her colleagues facilitated the translation of the series into Arabic and promoted it in countries like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Sudan, and Morocco. She hopes that these "books and films, containing Chinese wisdom and solutions," can be read, seen and adopted by more people worldwide, helping them live better lives.
El Batoul Nejjaoui (3rd R) has a meal with her friends at a scenic spot in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Jan. 12, 2024. (Xinhua)El Batoul Nejjaoui views Chinese painting works at the intangible cultural heritage exhibition center in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Aug. 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)El Batoul Nejjaoui poses for a photo at her company in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Aug. 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)
To better translate and present Chinese works, Nejjaoui decided to continue her studies to improve her Chinese proficiency. Speaking about her experiences living in China, Nejjaoui said, "The Chinese language is captivating, and Chinese people are warm and friendly. For me, China has already become my second home."
El Batoul Nejjaoui writes Chinese characters on a board at her company in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Aug. 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)El Batoul Nejjaoui reads a book that she and her colleagues have translated into Arabic, in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Aug. 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)This undated file photo shows El Batoul Nejjaoui wearing traditional Chinese costumes. (Xinhua)
Coordinators: Wang Qingqin, Meng Chenguang, Hu Zhixuan, Chu Jiayin
