Our Wuhan Memories

By Kovyla Ekaterina [Russia]

More than a month ago it was announced that Wuhan would be under the quarantine because of the COVID-19 outbreak. That day I had just returned from a trip around Hunan Province vacationing with friends, enjoying holidays and nice weather. I had not planned to go back home for the winter holiday, as I wanted to spend more time here in Wuhan. Wuhan has given me a student’s dream life, with interesting classes, friends from all over the world, opportunities, and chances.My life here began two years ago when I came to Wuhan University as an exchange student. I knew that Wuhan University is a pearl of Wuhan, but could’t have imagined that it could be that beautiful, so when I saw it with my own eyes I thought that even the best photo failed with conveying its real atmosphere. The old dormitories and the library which were backlighted, large playgrounds, amazingly beautiful in the autumn time due to the colorful leaves, paths around Donghu (the East Lake)... It was another world of utter peace and tranquility. I truly fell in love with it.

As time passed, I had to return to Moscow, where my graduation was just around the corner. All those months I was dreaming of being far away there, in Wuhan. Luckily, I got a chance to come back again, this time as a master’s degree student…

Like other students, I think of all the beautiful days in Wuhan from time to time recently. This city has left in us warm memories that we keep in mind, and here are some of them.

一个多月前，武汉暴发了疫情，随后便宣布封城。那时我刚从湖南游玩归来。我原本并不打算寒假回家，想在武汉多待些日子。这座城市给了我梦一般美好的生活：有意思的课程，来自世界各地的朋友和各种机会。

我和这座城市的故事开始于两年前，我来武汉大学交换的时候。我知道武汉大学是武汉的骄傲，但她比我想象的更美。亲眼看到她的那一刻，我觉得以往看过的最靓丽的照片都不足以传达其魅力。背光的老宿舍楼、图书馆、宽广的操场、缤纷落叶和环湖小径一起，在秋日里显得美不胜收，我仿佛身处另一个宁静平和的世界。那一刻我爱上了武汉。

时光飞逝，毕业在即，我得回莫斯科去了。回国的那几个月里，我总在思念着遥远的武汉。幸运的是，我的研究生申请通过了，我得以重回武汉……

和其他学生一样，这段时间里我也常常想起在武汉的那些美好的日子。这座城市给我们留下了许多难以忘怀的温暖回忆，以下是我收集的一些。

Kovyla Ekaterina [Russia]

One of my fondest memories was when I first got back to Wuhan and took a bus to my new university. Looking at the city through the window, I couldn’t believe that after an eight-month gap I was there again.

Wuhan has changed a lot, getting even more beautiful, and preparing for the International Military Games. There were decorations of flowers and well cut trees, smooth road and clean streets with new high-rise buildings what marked the development of the city. However, being a modern megapolis, it still had plenty of traditional Chinese features like narrow streets with restaurants and beautiful temples, old people who seemed to be much more active and limber than me, dancing or doing sports outside. This diversity of modern areas and traditional streets kept Wuhan unique and fascinating.

I still remember that day, the weather was warm and the wholecity looked charming in the rays of sun. I knew the road, knew that soon I’d see the top of the Yellow Crane Tower and then, if we turned right, Donghu’d be on the left side. That meant in 10 minutes I would see the university and friends again.

I close my eyes and can still remember the light from the window of university bus and my heart beating quickly with excitement.

My warmest memory of Wuhan was an April evening when my friends and me were sitting near the dorm, talking about life and the world. There wasn’t anything special, but we joked and laughed. And it felt like I was in the right place.

四月的某个晚上，我和几个朋友坐在宿舍旁谈天说地。其实也没什么特别的，但我们聊得特别开心。我觉得我真的来对了地方。

和武汉的“重逢”是我最珍贵的回忆之一。在武汉的公交车上，看着窗外的景色，我依然不敢相信自己8 个月后又能回到这里。

武汉准备开军运会，这里的变化很大，更漂亮了。可以看到装饰的花、修剪整齐的树、平坦的马路、干净的街道，还有新的高楼，代表了这座城市的发展。然而，这个大都市仍然有很多传统中国元素，比如小巷子里的餐馆，一些好看的寺庙，还有身手矫健、兴致盎然的老人们在外面健身跳舞。这种摩登和传统的杂糅让武汉看起来迷人又特别。

我还记得那天很暖和，整座城市在阳光下看起来格外迷人。我认得那条路，马上就能看到黄鹤楼顶，也就是武汉最有名的建筑。再过几条街然后右转的话，就能看到东湖在我们的左侧，也就是说，10 分钟后我就能看到学校和朋友们了。

我闭上眼睛，想起学校巴士窗口的灯光，想起我怦怦直跳的心，想起我那时因太兴奋而变得不平稳的呼吸。

Khodzhieva Zarina [Russia]

Domenico Tumminaro [Italy]

When people ask me “How is it in Wuhan?” they are obviously referring to how bad the situation is. But when I hear “Wuhan,” what comes to my mind is totally different! I don’t think about the virus—it’s easier for me to think about all the nice people I met there, with whom I shared indelible experiences. I cannot keep away from my mind all the crazy times I’ve had with my flat mates, playing guitar and screaming some like we were singing, day and night; sharing meals and taking part in all kinds of activities with all the beautiful students living and making Wuhan University alive. There is such a joy in meeting someone on the street and becoming friends. The colorful parties out and the cozy secret-birthday parties we arranged to make everyone feel in the right place are always on my mind. The love and happiness we share is always in the air.

When I hear “Wuhan,” I’m not afraid—contrarily it reminds meof life, where everyone feels loved, because it’s how I felt there, within on my own skin, in my own heart...

当人们问我“武汉怎么样？”时，通常指的是这里的情况有多糟。但当我听到“武汉”时，想到的却完全不一样。我不会马上联想到病毒，我会想到在那儿碰到的人，和他们经历的一些非常难忘的事。我忘不了和室友度过的那些疯狂的日子，我们一起弹吉他，日夜尖叫着唱歌；我们一起吃饭，和同学们一道参加各种活动；我们感受着武汉大学的活力。在这里，街边偶遇的人也能成为朋友。那些美妙的派对，那些秘密筹办的小型生日派对，让每个参与的人都很开心，享受当下，连空气中都似乎流淌着爱与幸福。

“武汉”二字不会带给我恐惧，相反，会让我想起那个充满活力与爱的地方。

One of the most beautiful things Wuhan has brought into my life wasan annual cultural festival. I saw a lot of nationalities from around the world in one place and in peace! I learned new things about other countries. Wuhan was the city that united all of us. The outbreak of the virus is a very costly teacher, but due to it I saw how all students can stand together and be protected and well treated by our university. Moreover, the quarantine was a good time to get to know more about my friends, and a good time to see that they are always there for you.

武汉给我的生命中带来的最美好的一件事就是每年一度的校园文化节。来自世界各地的人们在这里齐聚一堂，相处融洽，我也学到了很多其他国家的事情。武汉这座城把我们都联结起来。疫情暴发是一次代价昂贵的经历，但在其中我看到了学生们团结一心，得到了学校很好的保护和对待。隔离可以让我们加深对朋友们的了解，知道总会有人在那儿支持着我们。

Homam Rawashdeh [Jordan]

Fariza Chilanova [Kazakhstan]

I’d been studying in Lanzhou when my friend who was an international student in Wuhan University invited me to see the city. It was four years ago, in 2016. I was amazed by the beauty of Wuhan, its skyscrapers and shining lights of the bridges. Even the nasty weather didn’t change my impression—just the opposite, rain created a special atmosphere on the campus and it was my first time seeing green trees at the end of November. Ourwalk around the campus was meaningful, and it was at that time that I decided to move to Wuhan and continue my studies here.

我在兰州上学时，有个朋友就读于武大，她邀请我来武汉玩儿。那大概是2016年的事了。武汉好美，有很多高楼，桥上还有闪亮的灯光，看得人眼花缭乱。当然了，还有武汉大学。虽然那几天天气不太好，也不成问题，反倒是雨给校园创造了一种特别的气氛。那里漫山遍野的绿色，对于任何没在11月底看过绿树的人来说都是个惊喜。我们在校园里散步，那时我就决定要来武汉继续我将来的学习。

Pierre Perrin [France]

When I arrived in Wuhan, all my senses were lost. I did not know where to look, what to listen to, or what to taste in front of all the flavors, so I chose according to the smell of the different products. After a short period of time, this city became mine. I felt like I was in my garden when I walked by the East Lake, I feltlike I was with my family when I was surrounded by my friends...

初到武汉时，周围的一切都特别让人惊喜。我不知道该看哪里、该听什么、该吃什么，所以我就靠气味来决定吃什么。很快，我就熟悉了这座城市。在东湖边散步时我就像在自己的花园里一样，我的朋友们变成了我新的家人……

Kanjana Juntree [Thailand]

One of the most memorable days for me was the 23rd of December, when I worked as a “Belt and Road Tourism Ambassador.” I always spent my freetime exploring Chinese culture and traveling around China, but here I had a chance to share my knowledge and show other people how interesting Chinese history was. I wish to come back soon and continue my work, wish to see my friends, and the sunrise and sunset at Wuhan East Lake.

对我而言，印象最深的一天是12月23日，我当“一带一路”旅游形象大使的时候。我总在闲暇时间到中国各地去旅游，了解中国文化，而在这里我有机会能和人们分享中国历史的有趣之处。我希望能早点回来，继续我的工作，我很想念我的朋友们，还有东湖的日出和日落。

Thanks to my dear friends for sharing their memories. I hope our city recovers soon and that all of us can keep having more memories in Wuhan.

感谢我的朋友们分享他们的回忆。希望我们的城市早日恢复，我们一起继续武汉的故事。