My Berlin Lover

Author: Xing Wei
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2001-05-01
Features: Among various works depicting the lives of international students, My Berlin Lover stands out as a rare gem that pours out genuine emotions, moving readers deeply. In the enduring wave of going abroad, Xing Zhicheng, along with a group of young people, came to the dreamlike Germany for studies, embarking on an 8-year life as "marginalized individuals." To survive and thrive, they struggled tirelessly in diverse cultural environments, social backgrounds, moral perspectives, and value orientations, yet in many aspects, they had to conform to local customs, bearing immense mental and psychological pressure. Amidst extreme restlessness, exhaustion, confusion, and frustration, their young lives aged rapidly, some even graying prematurely from sorrow. Germany is economically prosperous, but its bread is not particularly tasty; the society is open and free, yet relationships are often transactional, lacking genuine affection. The heavy physical and mental oppression made Xing Zhicheng even more homesick, and in his loneliness and despair, he engaged in relationships with several women, all devoid of love—among them was even his professor. Due to cultural differences and conflicting values, he clashed with them frequently. As his German lover took her own life, his long-time girlfriend back home also left him forever. It is difficult for overseas students to integrate into Western society, and most return to their homeland after completing their studies. Xing Zhicheng was no exception; he eventually returned to the country he had left eight years prior.