Stay in Beijing - Stories of 20 Beidiao People Who Stayed in Beijing

Author: Wei Jiadong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-12-01
Features: Beijing, a beautiful stage where many turn their dreams into reality, while others see their hopes shattered here. Sun Yutong says, "When I first came to Beijing, I lived in a basement filled with all kinds of people. Every day, I saw new faces, and the constant changes made me feel the pressure of competition." Perhaps Beijing's fast pace can be suffocating, and this life is far from the lush hometown where he grew up. But for Sun Yutong, he prefers this pace. He says, "Working in my hometown is comfortable, and the relationships are simple and harmonious. Back then, teaching at the university was considered an excellent job there. If I hadn't left, I might have become an associate professor now." Whenever he talks about his past youth, he just smiles. I told him, "You've changed so much since then." What Sun Yutong truly loves is Beijing's environment—from the living conditions to the social atmosphere, he feels the warmth of this ancient and vast city. Sun Yutong says, "Beijingers often judge outsiders by their accents, but they usually can't tell if a Shanxi native speaks with a local accent. Beijingers speak very quickly, while southerners tend to speak more slowly and with stronger accents. If someone has a heavy accent, Beijingers might not bother to listen clearly and sometimes even laugh at them, but there's no malice behind it. Beijingers are optimistic and have a good sense of humor—they laugh at others and then laugh at themselves. They are also very polite, always using 'you' in their speech. It always feels like they respect you, which makes you feel comfortable." Sun Yutong is a scholarly person. He majored in Chinese at university and later pursued a graduate degree at Beijing Normal University. He often says that reading has given him strength. His hometown's school recommended him to study in Beijing. If he returned to teach after completing his studies, he would have a chance for promotion and salary increases. But if he didn't return, he would have to pay for his own tuition to study in Beijing. Before coming to Beijing, Sun Yutong always thought of returning to his hometown to repay his community after achieving success in his studies. He said he didn't like Beijing then—it was dry, had sandstorms, and was crowded. Two years later, when he received his graduation certificate, his thoughts had changed. The reason for this change was precisely the city he once disliked, which now surprised him in many ways. He says, "Beijing is a city where culture is everywhere. Beijing offers many job opportunities, and those careers are what he aspires to." Sometimes people must learn to let go. In the process of letting go, more is nurtured—not necessarily a philosophical truth, but rather the space and time to achieve success in. When Sun Yutong decided to stay in Beijing, he gave up many things. He gave up his stable job and the comfortable environment of his hometown. At that time, there wasn't a clear path before him, but he knew his future was broad. On this grand stage of Beijing, he could fully showcase himself—whether it was his ability or talent! In Beijing, Sun Yutong says, "I love the atmosphere here—even the plants and trees make you feel a sense of civilization."