Feature: China though my eyes - Spanish students relate their experiences

Educational exchanges between China and Spain have increased greatly since the two nations established diplomatic relations in 1973, with ever growing numbers of students travelling to each country to study.

Chinese Embassy Official, Ji Cailing, gave that view when speaking to Xinhua in an interview about the publication of the bi-lingual book 'China through my eyes," in which 13 Spanish students, who have had the chance to study in China relate their experiences there.

Ji Cailing was responsible for planning the book and she explained that the number of Spanish students in China has risen from 1,418 in 2009 to 2,500 in 2014, while the number of Chinese students in Spain had risen from 3,600 to 6,000 during the same period.

"A lot of Spanish students who went to China have told me their experiences in Chinese cities and many of them began their relationship with the country through their time there. They saved their notes and photos as mementos of their time there and that was one of my motives for sharing their experiences with other readers," she explained.

Ignacio Mantecon Mazuelas, was one of the first Spanish students who went to China: he was there between 1975 and 1976 thanks to a grant from the Chinese government. He said in his article: "My years in China," that "when I returned to Spain, I mounted some paintings and tapestries which I had brought back from China and hung them around my home. That means that every day I can remember my stay."

"Among the pictures, I have one painted by a secretary of Sun Yat Sen, who was called Tian Heng, it's a picture of bamboo which he was what he painted best of all. Even though they are not worth much money, they have huge sentimental and historical value, as these people form part of China's history."

He also said that although we cannot change the geography and the distance between the two nations, "at least bit by bit we can break down the mental barriers, stereotypes and prejudices that we still maintain about each other."

Ivan Manez Ortega studied Chinese and economics in the University of Foreign Studies in China and at the Beijing International University of Business and Economy. His article "From fear to awe," explains how there are many ways how to get to know China first hand and that one of those is to try and get one of the grants offered by different Spanish organizations.

"I would certainly recommend that route. I believe and I am certain that China is here to stay and I hope that we use our knowledge as a way for Spain and China to understand each other. That is why I created the (magazine) 'Global Asia," he writes.

Consuelo Marco Martinez is Professor of Spanish Language and of Chinese Language and Culture at the University Complutense in Madrid. Her article is entitled, "Navigating between two cultures and China: before and after in my life, profession and thought."

"The first time I visited the People's Republic of China was in 1980," she writes, adding that the adoption of the 'Policy of Reform and Openness (1978), has led to an economic growth over the last 35 years which has been spectacular and admirable."

"Now circumstances have changed, and although there are numerous problems, challenges and questions which need to be addressed, we have to admit that the transformation has been stunning. It has become a China with better living standards, it is happier and richer in its social structure," highlights the professor.

Michael Rene studied Chinese between 2012 and 2014 in China. He says in his article, titled "Memories of the Northeast" that his "stay in China has helped me to evolve as a person, to better understand people and to eliminate many stereotypes which stem from ignorance."

"I am still speaking out against the generalizations that many westerners make about Asians, especially the Chinese, and I try to promote cultural empathy," he writes.

"My journey to China helped me to really know the cultures and to speak about them with respect, highlighting the good things that we should all learn in order to build a society based on communication, tolerance, respect and harmony."

Raquel Latorre, is a teacher at the National University of Distance learning in Spain and a keen follower of Shaolin Gongfu. Her piece: "Beyond tradition, looking for the new China," explains how effort, dedication, sacrifice, discipline, courage, companionship, compassion and helping other people are only some of the values that are transmitted every day in the temple, where training starts at 5am and concludes 15 hours later at 8pm.

She said in her article that now "this experience and the knowledge acquired during my years in China are an essential tool in my work, and one which I am continuing to carry out investigations, without forgetting of course, to study Chinese.

Professor Ji Cailing added in her interview with Xinhua that there are many more emotional stories to be told by Spanish students and she hopes this book is only be start of a story that is well worth telling. Endit