初见津巴（6）｜First Experience in Zimbabwe

飞机落地哈拉雷国际机场，我知道新的冒险开始了。

The moment the plane landed at Harare International Airport, I felt that a new adventure had begun. The plane landed at Harare International Airport, and I knew a new adventure had begun.

初到津巴，不算顺利。一落地，语言系统还没来得及切换，就遇上了落地签这一关，不过凭着我们“蹩脚”的英语最终也顺利入境了。然而，当我围着行李转盘扫视了一圈又一圈后发现我的两只行李箱只有一只的时候，我的大脑顿时宕机，不知该作何反应，眼泪夺眶而出但又瞬间收回。我试图保持冷静，跟着工作人员一步步登记相关信息。再后来，我们又遇到了第三关：开箱！四十多斤的箱子搬上又搬下，打开又合上……出了机场，我们见到了刘老师和郭老师，收到了来自津巴的第一份温暖。

My arrival in Zimbabwe was anything but smooth sailing. I had a slight challenge with the language, especially at the visa checkpoint, as my English is not all that fluent. We, however, managed to get through the process with the minimal use of English that we could manage to convey. I was surprised when I spun around the baggage carousel and realized only one of my two suitcases had been checked. Tears welled up but instantly dried up as I tried to stay calm, receiving instructions on registration procedures. Then came the third hurdle: unpacking! We moved that 40-pound suitcase back and forth, opening and closing it repeatedly... After leaving the airport, we met teachers Liu and Guo, receiving our first warm welcome from the country.

汽车疾驰而过，掀起阵阵尘土，我们来到了18号小院儿。在这里，我们开启了在津巴的生活。李院长为我们摘来了新鲜的桑葚并询问我们一路的情况，刘老师则向我们详细介绍了小院的布局以及生活指南。黄昏降至，我们在三位老师的带领下吃上了美味的中餐，而我丢失的行李箱也有了消息，看着李院长为了我的箱子忙来忙去，我忐忑不安的心也逐渐安定下来。这一晚，没有网络，仿佛过上了隐居般的生活，我们匆匆收拾完住处，便早早进入了梦乡。

Finally, as the car sped past, kicking up clouds of dust, we arrived at Courtyard No.18. This was where our life in Zimbabwe began. Prof Li picked fresh mulberries for us and inquired about our journey, while Teacher Liu gave us detailed instructions on the courtyard's layout and daily routines. When dusk fell, we enjoyed a delicious Chinese meal under the guidance of three teachers. After receiving the news that my lost suitcase had been found, my anxious heart gradually settled with a sigh of relief, watching Prof Li hustling around for it. That night, without internet access, we felt like we were living in seclusion. After hastily packing our belongings, we soon drifted off to sleep.

哈拉雷气候宜人，阳光充足，这是我对哈拉雷的第一印象。清晨，阳光洒入院子，照得整个院子格外明媚，照得每一棵绿植都充满了生机，照得我一天的心情都十分愉悦。而傍晚的落日更是一场梦幻的视觉盛宴，火红的太阳将天空镀成金红色，我时常痛恨手机拍不出这一时刻的美。现在是哈拉雷的旱季，早晚温差很大，给人“早穿棉袄午穿纱”的感觉，大地也仍然是一片枯黄，但雨季一定会来，美丽的蓝花楹会开遍这片土地。

Harare's pleasant climate and abundant sunshine formed my first impression of the city. At dawn, sunlight bathes the courtyard, illuminating every green plant with vibrant energy and filling me with joy for the day ahead. The evening sun creates a dreamlike spectacle—its crimson glow painting the sky golden-red, leaving me frustrated that my phone could not capture this fleeting beauty. Currently in Harare, it is a dry season, and the stark temperature difference between morning and evening makes one feel like "wearing cotton jackets in the morning and sheer gauze in the afternoon." Though the land remains parched, the rainy season will surely arrive, bringing the blooming of beautiful jacaranda trees across the region.

这里的人们也非常友好、热情且耐心，特别是当我没听懂英文的时候，他们会一遍又一遍为你重复。Tawanda是我认识的第一个津巴布韦人，他是我们的司机，载着我们去办电话卡、采购、参加活动等等。他见到我们时总是热情地说“老xi，你好”“老xi，再见”。我们的院子里还住着保安一家，他们勤劳善良，把我们的院子打理得井井有条。当然，我还有两百多个津巴布韦的学生，他们认真努力，上课积极回应我，下了课会向我问好，问我汉语问题，我想这就是我跨越大半个印度洋，来到这里的意义。

The locals here are exceptionally friendly, warm-hearted, and patient. When I don’t understand English, they would patiently repeat instructions to me over and over again. Tawanda, the first Zimbabwean I met, served as our driver who accompanied us to buy phone cards, on shopping trips, and event participation. Whenever he saw us, he would warmly greet us with "Lao Xi, hello" and "Lao Xi, goodbye". Our courtyard is also home to a security guard family who worked diligently and kindly, keeping our compound neatly maintained. Of course, I also have over two hundred Zimbabwean students who are dedicated to their studies. They actively participated in class discussions, greeted me after lessons, and asked about my Chinese language skills. This, I believe, is the true meaning of my journey across half the Indian Ocean to reach this place.

来到津巴已经整整一周了，阿细、悦子、刘老师和我在18号院儿里把日子过得热气腾腾、有说有笑。教学上，我也从一开始的手足无措开始变得淡定从容。最后，愿我们在津巴布韦的日子越来越好，愿我们在18号小院儿越来越幸福。

It's been a full week since we arrived in Zimbabwe. Axi, Yuezi, Teacher Liu, and I have been living our lives to the fullest in Courtyard No.18, chatting and laughing together. Academically, I've transitioned from initial awkwardness to calm composure. May our days in Zimbabwe keep improving, and may our little courtyard at No.18 grow ever more fulfilling.