"Even though I'm a foreigner, I incorporate Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) into my daily life, and I've acquired a considerable amount of knowledge about it." Standing before a display case at the Hongjitang Museum, 27-year-old Karolin Lydia, an Algerian student, fluently explains the efficacy of each medicinal product and shares her deep connection to TCM.
Lydia came to China in 2019 to study and is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in International Trade at Shandong University of Finance and Economics. Her earliest impression of China came from Chinese TV dramas she watched as a child. Lydia recalls that these dramas often featured elderly TCM doctors diagnosing and treating patients by taking their pulse and prescribing herbal remedies. "In my country, we also have our own 'version' of TCM," Lydia noted. "For example, when I get sick in the winter, my mother mixes lemon, ginger, and honey for me to drink." Compared with the immediate effects of Western medicine, Algeria also leans towards more natural, holistic approaches to treating illnesses. It was through this convergence of similar cultural values that Lydia developed a resonance with TCM culture.
Shortly after arriving in China, Lydia participated in a tour of the Hongjitang Pharmaceutical Factory organized by her university. At the Hongjitang Museum, she was deeply moved by the sight of the century-old medicine grinders and pots. That day, she peppered the staff with questions, fascinated by the meticulous and elaborate production process of TCM, from ingredient selection to preparation. She couldn't help but marvel at the wisdom of the ancients and genuinely appreciate the profound depth of TCM culture. Lydia clearly remembers that after the tour, a thought took root: "After graduation, I want to work here."
In March of this year, Lydia began an internship at Hongjitang, where she is responsible for overseas investment and product operations. One of the things Lydia is most proud of at work is being able to explain Chinese medicine history and knowledge to other foreigners when they come to visit Hongjitang, just like a "host". "In them, I seem to see myself when I first came to visit Hongjitang, that joy of discovering new things!" Lydia said.
Outside of work, the outgoing and generous Lydia has made many friends in China, especially bonding with the owner of a local coffee shop. They enjoy making coffee and playing Gomoku together. In her daily life, Lydia has fully integrated into Chinese culture. Cooking Chinese food, dancing Chinese dances, and playing mahjong are all second nature to her. During her studies, she goes to Thousand Buddha Mountain almost every week: "In my country, no one would get up at 5 a.m. to hike, but many people do in China, and now I've become one of them." In a few months, Lydia plans to bring her parents to China for a short stay, hoping they can also experience China's hiking, Kung Fu, and square-dancing culture.
Regarding her plans, Lydia hopes to join Hongjitang after graduation, settle in Jinan, and promote TCM culture worldwide.
(Reporters & Camerapeople: Hu Wolong, Liu Yuchen(Intern), Shi Yingxin(Intern); Editor: Yi, Hu Wolong; English Editor: Rachel, Darius)
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