In order to provide more international students and alumni of DMU with the opportunity to meet, exchange and share, learn from each other, and build a stage for more students to show themselves and exercise their abilities, as one of the series of activities of the 2022 "International Cultural Festival", “Study in DMU, Advancing for the Blue Dream--The 3rd DMU International Students and Alumni Forum” was successfully held on November 25.
The activity took the form of online and offline synchronization. The 10 international students whose essays were enrolled in the forum gave speeches respectively. Their majors were different, covering public management, law, logistics engineering and management, marine engineering, information and communication engineering, etc; Their teaching languages are different, some are proficient in Chinese, some are taught in English; Their topics are different. Some share their learning methods, some tell their feelings about studying in DMU, and some report their research progress. However, each speaker's words describe the beautiful China in the eyes of international students, convey their gratitude for studying at DMU and their expectations for the future. The event also invited outstanding alumni of international students to send good wishes to the students, and invited relevant professors and leaders of the school to put forward encouragement and expectations to the students. DMUers from all over the world, regardless of color, language, region and time difference, are more closely connected, and teachers and students sufficiently communicated and talked about the future together.
After strict review by the Essay Review Committee, the forum awarded prizes for essays from three themes: "Promoting Common Development", "Deepening Exchanges and Mutual Learning", and "Outstanding Professional Thesis". At the same time, the award-winning works will be included in the forum collection. Next, we will successively display the award-winning works of this forum. Today, we want to display the 2nd prize winner of the theme of "Promoting Common Development": The Dalian, China experience from the eyes of a Jamaican PhD Student. The author is JOHNSON COREY HAKIM（科里）from Jamaica, a doctoral degree program student majoring in Logistics Engineering and Management.
The Dalian, China Experience from the Eyes of A Jamaican PhD Student
JOHNSON COREY HAKIM （科里）
Abstract
In life traveling to and viewing first hand another culture can only be described as true education. The limited scope of one's intellect will only but remain limited until one’s mind is open to the things of this world. There are several different ways of building friendships and realizing one’s dream. China has afforded the opportunity to many youths who desires such an education. Many are misled to think that the advancement of knowledge only occurs within the confines of a classroom. However, education is much more than mere lectures and teachings but rather the practices of a people. Furthermore, the unique ways of problem solving created by the minds of a nation is something that should be admired and studied. Not many people of the west indies are privy to such a novelty. Therefore, it is truly a phenomenon when a young Jamaican is empowered to tackle the struggles of post graduate education in a nation such as the Peoples Republic of China.
Keywords: Caribbean, West Indies, Education, Youth, China
Introduction
I had a preconceived notion of The Peoples Republic of China for the longest. This mindset was developed years before I actually visited the country. This is due to television and other social media influences. However, this perspective all changed when I finally lived in China in the year 2018. I first came to China as a 22-year-old master's student. Prior, I had only been to two other countries outside of my home country: United States and Panama; which both have cultures very similar to that of what I am used to. Little did I know that China would have become my home away from home.
The Journey and the awakening
Life in China introduced to me the true meaning of convenience. From the ease in ordering something online to booking a flight and everything in between. The propinquity of everything and everyone realized through Chinese technology is profound to say the least. It all start September 9, 2018 when I landed in Guangzhou. I remember it like it was yesterday. Myself, along with several other Jamaican students arrived in China ready to take on a new journey on the other side of the world. My flight in particular was scheduled to land in Dalian from Guangzhou at 1500hrs on the same day. By this time, I was already exhausted from waiting in New York for 11 hours in a layover from Kingston, Jamaica to Guangzhou, China. Outside of the meals that I ate and the 3 times I used the restroom, I have little memory of the 18-hour flight from the west to the east. Neither do I have much memory of the flight from Guangzhou to Dalian as I was a sleep (for the most part) on both occasions.
China introduced to me the true meaning of convenience. From the ease in ordering something online to booking a flight and everything in between. The propinquity of everything and everyone realized through Chinese technology is profound to say the least. It all start September 9, 2018 when I landed in Guangzhou. I remember it like it was yesterday. Myself, along with several other Jamaican students arrived in mainland China ready to take on a new journey on the other side of the world. My flight in particular was scheduled to land in Dalian from Guangzhou at 1500hrs on the same day. By this time, I was already exhausted from waiting in New York for 11 hours in a layover from Kingston, Jamaica to Guangzhou, China. Outside of the meals that I ate and the 3 times I used the restroom, I have little memory of the 18-hour flight from the west to the east. Neither do I have much memory of the flight from Guangzhou to Dalian as I was a sleep (for the most part) on both occasions.
I went to China with a phone, a Microsoft phone to be specific. I didn’t do proper research to realize that, such a phone was incompatible with apps that were essential to daily living in China.Namely, WeChat. Consequently, for the first several days I was unable to communicate with my family back home to tell them I was safe and sound. This was traumatizing for my parents especially my mom.
Only God knows what she went through for those days. It breaks my heart thinking about it. I eventually purchased a new phone and finally called my parents back home after one whole week in Dalian.
Backtracking to my post flight experience. Luckily, I had been in contact with Dalian Maritime the minute I was accepted and as a result, the school made arrangements for transportation to pick me up from the airport to the main campus. My dorm, on the 10th floor was ready and available and I was able to settle in nicely. For the next couple months, I observed keenly the cultural practices that were exercised by the population. I noticed how different it was from the ideals that I had conjured up before. Despite what I had surmised, China is a first world country through and through and most of the Chinese people I befriended were very familiar with western practices. As a matter of fact, everyone I met new of my country Jamaica, whether it be through reggae music or our athletics. I was well accepted by most persons. Sure, there were occasional stares and random taking of pictures by few. However, I came to realize it is because some persons were seeing foreigners for the first time and that is understandable.
What I also noticed was the physical security of being a resident in the country. It was in China where I first walked at 3am by myself without having to worry about my safety. Growing up I was always taught to walk in groups and never venture to an area that you are unfamiliar with. This way of living was quickly rubbished after only a couple days in China. Never have I been/or felt as safe as in China. Not only was your physical person safe, I noticed that several businesses felt comfortable leaving their produce and supplies right outside their stores. Leaving them unattended. Sights like these are unfathomable in most western countries.
It was three months in when I first met my supervisor. The man who would guide me to my dissertation and my first journal publication. It was him who introduced the idea of striving for global stardom through my academic achievements. It was around this time I sat in a compulsory course ‘Global Maritime Governance, IMO and Maritime Conventions-Effective Implementation of IMO Instrument’ when the professor said “Someone in here could be the next Secretary-General for the IMO and someone else the same for the UN.” These words of encouragement hit home and has shifted or rather ascended my career goals that I previously set for myself. This confluence of motives has shaped me into who I am now. By this time, people from Vietnam, Uzbekistan, Ethiopia, Kenya and Cape Verde had become close friends of mine and I started making plans to travel around Asia during the holidays. As the semester came to an end, I was fortunate. I concluded my first semester successfully; completing all mandatory modules. I began planning where I would visit during the holiday. I travelled to Hong Kong, Thailand and Singapore. I followed it up with visiting Indonesia and Qatar the very next holiday. Had I been there any longer I would have tried to visit more Asian and oceanic, it didn’t happen but it is still on my bucket list.
My Return Home
As the school semesters went on, I started making business moves back in my home country, that would help strengthen the partnership between China and the Caribbean region. I mentioned Indonesia earlier, it was while in Indonesia I started making these plans and began reaching out to various entities in China and Jamaica. I reached out the local agents of Cosco Shipping in Jamaica and the CGTN in China. January of 2020, I was watching the news from my hotel room in Bali, Indonesia when I saw the breaking new segment abruptly interrupting the series, I had been binge watching for the past couple hours. The reporter warned of an outbreak of a highly contagious virus. Which at the time was still unnamed. My plan was to wait in Indonesia until the virus passed over. I waited for 3 weeks. This wait felt like an eternity. Dalian Maritime contacted me and suggested it might be best to go home, however, the choice was mine. I opted to go back to Miami to stay with my grandmother who lives in Florida. Little did I know that this virus wasn’t a mere fly-by-night event but a whole 2–3-year pandemic. My plans were put on hold, as no one knew what would have happened next. Nevertheless, I pushed through and completed my dissertation and defended it online. Graduation was in June of the year. I missed the ceremony.
Six months have passed and I had returned home to Jamaica to start preparing my life for the post COVID- 19 era. Shortly after being on the island I was recruited by a shipping company in the Caribbean and I was employed as the company General Manager, in charge of daily operations and the future growth of the company. I worked assiduously during the COVID 19 to grow market share within the region before I applied to do my PhD at Dalian Maritime University where all my belongings were. Yes. From January 2020 to date, all my personal items are still at Dalian Maritime University. Throughout the pandemic, my island nation enforced strict rules and laws so as to combat the virus. For months we were placed on lock downs that restricted movement and limited business ventures. As we know, the entire world economy was egregiously impacted, excuse me, chaotically affected by the calamitous event. Many people lost their lives and companies were forced into closure. It was in these past few years that the human resilience was tested. It proved fervent and gargantuan. The human race as a species has mustered up the courage to keep going and move on. This reflected in the economy as the world gradually adjusted and recovered.
Here I am (far left) along with: Amb Fay Pickersgill representative former ambassador of Jamaica to China (second left), Ms Sandrea Falconer, former Ministry of Information in Jamaica (third left), Mrs Irina Cousins, President of Jamaica China friendship Association (fourth left, front), Mr Richard Bernal former ambassador Jamaica to United States (fourth left, back) H.E. Mr Chen Daojiang the Ambassador of China to Jamaica (center), Mr Al Edwards, CEO of Our Today (third right, back) Mr Zhou Bo, CEO of Huawei Technologies Jamaica (third right, front), Mr Colin Henriques, Marketing Manager of China Harbour Engineering Company (second right, back), Mr Dalton Yap, President of Chinese Benevolent Association of Jamaica (second right, front), Dr Damien King Executive Director Caribbean Policy Research Institute (far right, back) and Mr Feng Lei, Chinese Dean of the Confucious Institute at the University of the West Indies
After starting my PhD, I reignited the drive to strengthen connections between China and the Caribbean. I met with the Chinese embassy in Jamaica and I then joined the youth talk forum in celebration of 50 years of China-Caribbean relations which aired on CGTN and several television networks in the Caribbean and Latin America. From this I scheduled a meeting between the CEO of Cosco Shipping Jamaica and the Chinese embassy of Jamaica. We discussed the plethora of possibilities when it comes to shipping practices exercised by the stalwarts of the industry. We also discussed how we can redevelop and modernize the infrastructure utilized by the ports within the region. As a result of the meeting, plans have started as we seek to reintroduce and market the Alibaba platform and supplies for the West Indies. We also discussed the extent to which commodities manufactured on the island can be exported to the Chinese market..Subsequently, I was invited to the Jamaica-China relations where I spoke on the future between the two countries and how the partnerships that currently exists can be strengthened.
Corey Johnson speaking to the audience on Jamaica-China relations
Conclusion
I am truly fortunate to have encountered a journey that awakened a talent buried inside which I was able utilize when I returned home. I am extremely proud to know that I am one of the few Jamaicans who have lived in China. That experience cannot be put into words, one would have to visit the country for oneself to have a genuine/unbiased opinion. I would encourage more persons to follow. There is a stoic philosophical statement that says “the man who only knows the ways of his homeland is unfit to adequately lead until he experiences the cultures of the world.” All in all, this chapter of my life hasn’t closed just yet. There is still unfinished business that I need to bring to fruition but all in due time. To date, I have not returned to China since the year 2020 and I patiently await the day for the opportunity to return to my second home.
作者简介/Author profile：
Passport name：JOHNSON COREY HAKIM
Chinese name：科里
Gender： Male
Nationality： Jamaica
Major： Logistics Engineering and Management
Student Category：Ph.D.
