Legendary in every sense

Chinese Zhang Xun is writing a PhD thesis on Belarusian folklore and is looking for similar features of the two peoples

Zhang Xun came to Belarus from Guangzhou — China’s third most populous city and the capital of Guangdong province. Yet, he calls Belarus his second home. The guy piles on the compliments and jokes, sings Kupalinka [Belarusian folk song], and knows several hundred Belarusian legends. According to Zhang, he chose the best way to learn a foreign language — he enrolled in the Faculty of Philology.

Zhang Xun, graduate student of the Belarusian State University from China     Aleksandr Gorbash

Linguistic confusion brought to Minsk

“Will you dance for us?” we asked Zhang Xun right from the doorway. This question was posed for a reason. Before coming to Belarus, our interlocutor studied in China at the Institute of Culture in the Latin Dance speciality. Then he served two years in the army, but the dancer’s posture has not disappeared. 
“I can sing Kupalinka. I have to warn, I am not a very good singer. Kupalinka, kupalinka, dark night, dark night, and where is your daughter?” Zhang started to sing in Belarusian, and then added, “By the way, it is a good idea about dancing — I need to learn some national dance.” 
Zhang Xun became interested in folklore in the first years of his studies at the Belarusian State University (BSU). He admitted that oral folk art had helped him understand the mentality of Belarusians better than any theory. Songs, riddles, proverbs, sayings, fairy tales, holidays — Xun seems to have learnt everything during his studies. However, he decided to write a scientific paper based on legends, comparing Belarusian and Chinese ones. The persistent graduate student would like to prove that, despite the difference in cultures, our nations agree on the key point: ‘Hard work, patriotism and love of family are the values that unite us’.
Zhang Xun knows more than 200 stories. Moreover, he studies authentic legends recorded while going on folklore expeditions. They include not those narratives that are widely known to every Belarusian about Masheka [a noble robber, defender of the poor and oppressed], Vseslav the Magician or the Black Lady of Nesvizh. 
It is all the more interesting that Zhang Xun found himself in our country due to a linguistic confusion. There are companies in China that help applicants enrol in universities in other countries. As the graduate student explained, “The specialist sent me a package of documents necessary for admission to Moscow State University. I was firmly convinced that I would go to enter a Moscow university, but one thing confused me: why did they say to buy a ticket to Belarus? So, quite by chance, I began to study information about your country and realised that I wanted to study here. By the way, as you understand, I was sent not to a Moscow university, but to Mogilev. I eventually chose the BSU as I wanted to study in the capital. Eight years have passed since then, and I have never regretted my decision.”  

Zhang Xun           ALEKSANDR GORBASH

Who is the last one?

It is hard to believe that the guy came here with zero knowledge of Russian. He chose the Faculty of Philology guided by the plans to develop Belarusian-Chinese co-operation in his country. Now Zhang Xun has a business and easily finds a common language with Russian-speaking partners. “The first phrase I learnt was ‘Who is the last one’?” he laughed. “This is because it was necessary to go to the polyclinic, the migration service and stand in a queue. In general, over the years of study, I had to scrutinise Old Slavonic and Latin, and delve into the historical grammar of the Russian language. I will say more: I even understand Belarusian and speak it a little. This is thanks to the Belarusian teachers who have developed an effective system for teaching foreign philologists. No wonder, when people ask me about my favourite place in Minsk, I always name 31 Karl Marx Street, which is the address of my native faculty.” 

From morning till night

Xun has been used to studying since childhood. Chinese children are nurtured by the cult of knowledge from a very young age. Maybe that is why in 28 years, he has succeeded in dancing, science, business, and even in piloting an airplane. Not everyone manages to succeed in a densely populated country. This is the origin of Chinese diligence and perseverance — they are taught to study and organise their time effectively from an early age.
“Everything is very strict. Children get up at six o’clock in the morning in order to come to school before eight. High school students can stay at school until 9 pm. All this time we have lessons, study, and are only allowed to have small breaks for food, physical education and some rest. On average, there are seven lessons in the schedule every day. However, this is only on paper. In fact there are more lessons, since we devote all our free time to education. There can be up to 60 children in one class. We attend additional classes at weekends. We have no other choice but to study from morning till night. Last year, almost 13 million Chinese students took university entrance exams. And only 37.7 percent of applicants were lucky to enter universities,” Zhang Xun shared the details.  
Xun still remembers his first impression of Minsk, “I live in Guangzhou — it is a big commercial city literally bustling with people, cars, and high-rise buildings. Minsk, in contrast, is a city of parks, squares, with birds singing around. It is about cleanliness and tranquility. When I tasted your dairy products, chocolate and meat, I fell in love with the country even more,” the guy said with a laugh. 
“Belarusians seemed cold to me at first — they run about their business, there are no American smiles. I remember my first winter here. I was terribly cold and could not find the right building. I turned to the first passerby and was surprised at his willingness to help me. He did not wave me off, but accompanied me through a translator on the phone. I realised then that Belarusians have a hot soul.” 
By the way, our hero has managed to get friends in Belarus. Moreover, the friendship is so strong that Xun once returned from China to celebrate Easter with them. “We painted eggs together, and baked cakes,” the Chinese graduate student noted in a warm voice. “They have taught me how to cook borscht [beetroot soup], solyanka [thick soup of pickled vegetables, meat and sour cream] and, of course, draniki [crispy potato pancakes].”
The young man plans to create a family in China, where his girlfriend is waiting for him in the hometown. By the way, they take family very seriously in the Celestial Republic — this is the main goal of life. Yet, since there is a demographic bias in favour of the weaker sex in the country, Chinese women can ask about the man’s salary almost on the first date. At the same time, even a very high income is not considered supernatural. The bridegroom’s parents should present the bride with a huge amount as a gift for the wedding alone. Zhang Xun surprised, “Imagine that men without an apartment cannot get married in China. Therefore, even before the birth of a child, parents begin to save money for education and accommodation for him and a potential bride. If a boy is born, then it is necessary to provide him with square metres and a car. As I see, spiritual values are still a priority in your country.” 

Thousands turn into millions

We have found out how many foreigners study in Belarus 
About 30,000 foreign students from more than 100 countries worldwide study in our country. According to Belarus’ Ministry of Education, nearly 10,000 of them are students from China. The export of educational services amounted to $90 million in 2023. Foreigners are attracted by the accessibility of Belarusian education, as well as the high qualifications of the teaching staff and the practice-oriented training.

Vitebsk State Order of Peoples’ Friendship Medical University, Doctor of Medicine graduate students    Anton Stepanishchev

By Taisiya Azanovich