China News Service, Yiwu, October 2. Title: "Sasha" who speaks 8 foreign languages: Let foreigners become "Ayile" here
Author Zhao Yejiao Wang Xiaojing
In Wuai Community, Jiangdong Street, Yiwu, Zhejiang, there is a door that is always open.
When you step into it, you will see a wall full of group photos and banners sent by Chinese and foreign merchants. Some wrote in Chinese "Sasha will meet you for tea next time I come to China", and some wrote "Thank you for your help" in English...
This is "Aile Salsa Studio". The person in charge, Nisha Rouzimaiti, is from Hotan, Xinjiang and is an auxiliary police officer at the Jiangdong Police Station of the Yiwu City Public Security Bureau. "Because my name is too long, everyone affectionately calls me 'Shasha'." She said with a smile.
Taking root in Yiwu for nearly ten years, she has already regarded this world capital of small commodities as her second home, and has become an indispensable "shared translator" for the merchants and residents in the area.
Yiwu, the world's largest small commodity distribution center, not only achieves full coverage of 56 ethnic groups, but also attracts more than 300,000 ethnic minority compatriots to live here and pursue their dreams. But the first thing newcomers have to overcome is often the "language barrier".
Shasha felt deeply about this. In 2018, when she first worked at Jiangdong Police Station, because most local merchants only spoke Chinese, communication with foreign businessmen and ethnic compatriots relied entirely on gestures. Seeing the anxious and helpless looks on both sides, Shasha was filled with anxiety. She repeatedly asked herself: When communication becomes an obstacle, what else can I do?
Therefore, this girl who graduated from the Minzu University of China used her perseverance to learn Arabic, Turkish, Azerbaijani, Kyrgyz, Kazakh, Turkmen, and Uzbek by herself in addition to her busy police work. Coupled with her proficient English, she can now communicate fluently in eight foreign languages.
Language opens the door to communication and the path to trust.
Ajoy, a foreign businessman from Pakistan, still remembers the embarrassment he felt when he first arrived in Yiwu. That day, he came to the community police station to register his house. He couldn't speak a word of Chinese and was at a loss. The appearance of Shasha relieved his anxiety.
"Shasha's fluent translation not only allowed me to complete the procedures smoothly, but also made me feel the kindness and warmth of this city, and also gave me a deep trust in her." Ajoy said that when he learned that the studio had opened a Chinese class for foreign businessmen, he signed up without hesitation. Nowadays, not only does he speak Chinese better and better, but he also takes the initiative to put on a "red vest" and becomes one of the most active volunteers in the jurisdiction.
There are many such stories in the jurisdiction that Shasha is responsible for. The immigrant population here is about 300,000, including nearly 40,000 from 29 ethnic minorities. It is a typical multi-ethnic embedded community.
How to make people from all over the world truly "integrate" together? In 2019, "Aile Salsa Studio" came into being. But the reality was not as good as expected. When the studio was first founded, almost no one cared about it.
In order to break the deadlock, Shasha chose a "stupid" but sincere method: door-to-door visits. It is normal to visit five or six households a day, but I also suffer a lot from being rejected.
"It was really difficult at the beginning. Many people were busy at work and didn't want to be disturbed when they were at home." But she was not discouraged and insisted on making appointments, listening patiently and answering all questions. Gradually, the closed doors were opened one after another, and the invisible "heart door" also melted in sincerity.
Today, Shasha has more than 2,500 contacts in her mobile address book. Whose children need to go to school, what to do if they get sick, how to pay utility bills... When encountering difficulties, the first thing that foreign businessmen and ethnic compatriots in the jurisdiction think of is Shasha.
Mailhaba, who is from Xinjiang, is a close friend Shasha made during her visit. When she first came to Yiwu two years ago, she often stayed alone in a rental house after get off work because she was unfamiliar with the place. "Since I met Shasha, my life has become much richer. She told me which markets are good to visit, and invited me to the studio to celebrate the Spring Festival and make dumplings with everyone. Now, I have completely gotten used to and fallen in love with the life here." Mailhaba said.
In addition to providing language translation, dispute mediation, and convenience services on a regular basis, Shasha has also become the cultural "manager" of ethnic unity in the jurisdiction.
The studio regularly carries out cultural exhibitions, public welfare Chinese classes, art experiences and other special activities. During traditional festivals, it also carefully prepares delicacies and organizes reunion activities. Amid laughter and laughter, the distance between neighbors continues to shrink. Every dream chaser who comes from afar finds a sense of belonging here.
Halimire, a girl from Xinjiang, said frankly that the various activities organized by the studio not only enriched her leisure time, but also allowed her to get to know many neighborhood friends full of positive energy. "Shasha often communicates with us in Uyghur. The local accent and culture are connected, which makes us feel the warmth of family in a foreign land."
"In Uyghur, 'Ayile' means 'family'. Our original intention in establishing the studio was to provide services with heart and soul and help foreign friends and compatriots integrate better into Yiwu," said Shasha.
The Law of the People's Republic of China on the Promotion of Ethnic Unity and Progress, which was officially implemented on July 1 this year, clearly states that it is necessary to promote the construction of an embedded community environment and improve the social conditions for people of all ethnic groups to live together, learn together, build together and share, and work together to enjoy together. What Shasha and her studio have done is to allow the foreigners in this international trade city to find the comfort of "this is my hometown" and to tightly unite into a warm family.
A stranger in a foreign land is not a stranger. For this stability, Shasha said that she will always stay here.
