After I came, I fell in love with the country," she recalled. Over the past nine years, Dr. Sinkinesh has taught over Chinese students, describing her relationship with them as akin to that of a "mother and her children. As of June , the first batch of 11 students had graduated. Some continued their studies in African research, while others joined Chinese companies operating in Africa, contributing to China-Africa people-to-people exchanges.
Recalling her time spent on teaching Ethiopian dances and songs, she expressed how touched she was by the enthusiasm and friendliness of her Chinese students, saying, "I already miss them. Captivated by China's rich culture and dedication to preserving its ancient traditions, she has visited the Great Wall six times, which she admires as a symbol of the Chinese people's wisdom, devotion, and strength.
She is also intrigued by traditional Chinese medicine and techniques like acupuncture and massage, which she describes as "incredible wisdom. Beyond her teaching duties, Dr. Sinkinesh has also played a key part in fostering China-Ethiopia cultural exchanges. She has co-authored Amharic language textbooks for Chinese students and translated works on Chinese culture into Amharic.
Currently, she is working on a comparative study of Chinese and Amharic proverbs. As Dr. Sinkinesh prepares to welcome a new batch of students this September, she remains committed to her mission of deepening China-Africa people-to-people exchanges. Inspired by his father's business ties with Chinese friends, the year-old Nigerian arrived in China in to study at Shandong University.
Reflecting on his six years in China, he said, "I've experienced quite a lot of the culture. Celebrating the Spring Festival with a Chinese friend's family in Shandong made me feel less alone in a foreign country. For four years, Li has been part of his school's football team and called his teammates "Xiong Di" brothers. He has also embraced Chinese culture, learning Tai Chi and Chinese calligraphy, proudly displaying his work in his dormitory.
