PFC Chapter 136 Zhang Chen's Dream Chasing in England
Chapter 136 Zhang Chen's Dream Chasing in England
Zhang Chen stood in the departure hall of Beijing Capital International Airport, his eyes wide and his mouth agape. He stared at the dense flight information on the electronic display screen, his head buzzing like a swarm of bees. "What?! Where on earth is gate E35?" he muttered, wandering aimlessly through the crowd like a headless fly.
"Excuse me, do you know how to get to gate E35?" Zhang Chen stopped a passing airport staff member, his face plastered with a fawning smile. The staff member pointed in the direction and said rapidly, "Just keep going straight along this road, turn right at the second intersection, then go straight again, and you'll see the signs." Listening to this long string of instructions, Zhang Chen felt his head was about to explode, and he could only grit his teeth and keep going. All the way, he kept silently repeating to himself, "Go straight, turn right, then go straight again..."
Finally finding the gate, Zhang Chen plopped down in a chair and let out a long sigh of relief. "Phew, finally found it! This airport is bigger than my hometown; finding the gate was like an adventure." He patted his chest, pulled out his phone, and sent a text message home: "Mom and Dad, I found the gate! Don't worry." Just as he finished sending the message, he heard the boarding announcement over the loudspeaker. Zhang Chen stood up, took a deep breath, dragged his suitcase, and embarked on his journey to England.
After a flight of more than ten hours, the plane finally landed at London Heathrow Airport. As Zhang Chen stepped out of the airport, a strange yet fresh atmosphere rushed towards him. "Wow, this is Britain! It's pretty much what I imagined, except why are all the people so tall?" He craned his neck, looking at the tall British people around him, and felt like a dwarf.
Following the online guide he had researched, Zhang Chen prepared to take the subway to school. Looking at the complex route map in the subway station, he was dumbfounded. "What is all this? Red, green, blue lines—it's harder than the maze games I play!" He frowned, studied it for a while, and finally decided to ask a staff member. "Hello, I want to go to XX University. Which line should I take?" Zhang Chen asked cautiously. The staff member patiently pointed out the route and explained the transfer stations in detail. Zhang Chen listened and nodded, but in his heart he thought, "Why is the British subway so complicated? Even taking the subway can make me dizzy."
After finally arriving at school, Zhang Chen completed the enrollment procedures and went to his dormitory. The dormitory wasn't large, but it was very tidy. Just as Zhang Chen put down his luggage, he heard a knock at the door. He opened it and saw a tall, blond-haired, blue-eyed young man standing there. "Hi, hello there, my name is Tom, I'm your roommate," the young man said in fluent Chinese. Zhang Chen's eyes widened in surprise: "Wow, your Chinese is so good! My name is Zhang Chen, I'm from Xia Country." Tom smiled and said, "I really like Xia Country culture, so I learned Chinese. From now on, we're roommates, so feel free to ask me anything you don't understand." Zhang Chen nodded quickly, secretly relieved: "Luckily, I have a roommate who speaks Chinese, otherwise communication would be a real problem."
The next day was the first day of school. Zhang Chen got up early, put on his best clothes, and even tidied his hair in front of the mirror. "I have to make a good impression on my classmates today," he muttered to himself. When he arrived at the classroom, many students were already seated. Zhang Chen found an empty seat and sat down, nervously rubbing his hands together.
Just then, the teacher walked into the classroom. "Class, we have a new student in our class today. Let him introduce himself," the teacher said with a smile. Zhang Chen stood up, took a deep breath, and walked to the podium. "Hello everyone, my name is Zhang Chen, and I come from the faraway Xia Kingdom. You might not know, but the Xia Kingdom is a super interesting place with countless delicious foods, like hot pot, roast duck, and xiaolongbao (soup dumplings). Oh my, just thinking about it makes my mouth water!" The students smiled with curiosity.
"I came to England this time to study business management and photography. I think the British education system is particularly impressive, and I'm sure I'll learn a lot of useful things. I'm not a particularly special person, but I really enjoy making friends. I hope we can become good friends in the future, play together, and study together. If any of you are interested in China, feel free to come to me; I promise I'll answer all your questions. Of course, if I encounter anything I don't understand in England, I hope you'll all take care of this 'foreign friend'." Zhang Chen finished speaking and playfully winked. A round of enthusiastic applause filled the classroom; the students were amused by his humorous self-introduction.
After class, Tom showed Zhang Chen around the campus. "Zhang Chen, this is our school library. It has a huge collection of books. If you like reading, you'll definitely find something you like here," Tom said, pointing to a magnificent building. Zhang Chen looked up at the library, his eyes shining. "Wow, this library is so grand! It feels several times bigger than the library in our county town." They then went to the playground and saw many students exercising. "In England, everyone loves sports. Games like football, rugby, and tennis are very popular," Tom explained. Watching the students running on the playground, Zhang Chen was eager to try. "It looks so interesting! I want to try too. But I'm not very good at football; I don't want to kick the ball in someone's face." Tom laughed heartily. "It's okay, everyone's just having fun; participation is the most important thing."
After touring the campus, Tom invited Zhang Chen to his home. "Zhang Chen, come over today and try my mom's English cooking! I guarantee you'll be in heaven!" Tom said enthusiastically. Zhang Chen perked up at the mention of food: "Great! I've been wanting to try British food for ages!" Upon arriving at Tom's house, Tom's mother warmly welcomed them. "Welcome, Zhang Chen. Try my fish and chips; it's a classic English dish," Tom's mother said with a smile. Looking at the golden-brown fish and chips on the plate, Zhang Chen eagerly took a bite. "Hmm, not bad, but the batter on the fish is a bit thick," Zhang Chen commented as he ate. Tom and his mother couldn't help but laugh.
“Zhang Chen, did you know that people in England are very particular about drinking tea?” Tom said. “What’s so particular about drinking tea? Isn’t it just putting tea leaves in a cup and pouring in hot water?” Zhang Chen asked doubtfully. “It’s different. In England, tea is usually drunk in the afternoon, and it’s served with snacks. When drinking tea, the tea is brewed in a small teapot, then poured into delicate teacups, and milk and sugar are added,” Tom explained in detail. Zhang Chen’s eyes widened. “Wow, even drinking tea is so complicated! That’s so elaborate!” Tom smiled and said, “That’s British tea culture. You can experience it sometime.”
After having dinner at Tom's house, Zhang Chen returned to his dormitory. Lying in bed, he reflected on the day's experiences, his heart filled with emotion. "Life in England is truly vibrant and diverse. Although many aspects are different from those in China, it's quite interesting. I must study hard here, make many friends, and experience a different kind of life." Lost in thought, Zhang Chen drifted off to sleep. In his dream, he played football with his British classmates, savored various delicacies, and had a wonderful time.
The next day, Zhang Chen went to his business management class. The professor was an elderly man with white hair, wearing reading glasses, and looked very knowledgeable. The professor lectured at length, but Zhang Chen was completely lost. "There are so many technical terms! It feels harder to remember than English vocabulary," Zhang Chen frowned, diligently taking notes. Suddenly, the professor asked, "Zhang Chen, please answer this question." Zhang Chen panicked. He stood up and stammered, "This…that…I…" His classmates all looked at him, and Zhang Chen felt his face burning. The professor smiled and said, "Don't be nervous, think slowly." Zhang Chen took a deep breath, trying hard to recall what the professor had just said, and finally answered the question. The professor nodded in satisfaction, "Good answer, Zhang Chen. It seems you listened very attentively." Zhang Chen breathed a sigh of relief, sat down, and secretly resolved, "I must study even harder in the future and not embarrass myself again."
After class, Zhang Chen went to participate in the photography club activities. He had always been interested in photography, and coming to the UK to study photography techniques was a dream come true. The students in the club came from different countries, and everyone shared a strong interest in photography. "Zhang Chen, the photos you brought are amazing! How did you take them?" a student from France asked. Zhang Chen smiled and said, "Actually, there's nothing special about it. Just observe carefully, find the right angle, and then press the shutter." The students all nodded in agreement. Through the club activities, Zhang Chen learned many new photography techniques and made many like-minded friends.
As time went by, Zhang Chen gradually adapted to life in England. He got along better and better with his classmates, and they often went out together. They visited the British Museum, and looking at those precious artifacts, Zhang Chen couldn't help but marvel at the vastness and profundity of human civilization; they went to the London Eye, overlooking the beautiful scenery of London, and Zhang Chen was deeply attracted by the magnificent view; they also went to local pubs, tasted British beer, and experienced British nightlife.
During his time in the UK, Zhang Chen not only gained knowledge but also experienced different cultures and lifestyles. He became more confident and independent. "This trip to the UK was so worthwhile," Zhang Chen often thought to himself. He knows that more challenges and opportunities await him in the future, and he wants to make the most of every minute in the UK to make his study abroad experience even more fulfilling.