From a tin of tea to Chinese champion
A German student's story of transformation showcases how learning Mandarin opened new horizons and opportunities, culminating in a prestigious global victory, Li Yingxue reports.
When Levi Benjamin Petersen was in high school, the first Chinese character that truly caught his attention appeared on a tin of tea imported from China.
It was fu, meaning good fortune.
The German teenager did not know what it meant, but was fascinated by its intricate yet orderly structure. Why was it written this way? he wondered. Did Chinese words change with tense, as they did in German and English?
Petersen could not speak Chinese then, nor could he have imagined that his fascination with a single character would begin a journey that would eventually take him to China.
Years later, in a tea garden in Fuzhou, Fujian province, Petersen touched a tea plant for the first time. He learned to pick and process tea with local masters and the custom of tapping one's fingers on the table to express thanks when tea is poured.
Days later, Petersen stood on the top podium at the global finals of the 25th "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students in Xiamen, Fujian, where he was named the overall champion.
