A letter to my dear sister in Mongolia from the GBA

My dearest sister, 

Dwelling in the vast embrace of Mongolia, I hope this letter finds you well. As I pen these words from this distant shore, my heart swells with nostalgia and longing for your companionship. When I first left our home to pursue my academic journey in a foreign land, I carried with me a single ambition, one I had always dreamed of: to surpass the person I was before, to become the best version of myself. 

Zoljargal Batdorj is a first-year MBA student at Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen, specializing in business administration with a focus on digital marketing, e-commerce and sustainable development. She is originally from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

Eight months have passed since I arrived here. I have done things I never thought I would do, seen things I had only imagined, and learned things I had never known before. I want to share these memories with you, hoping that they might be your guiding stars in your own journey of discovering your best self.

As a person from a landlocked country, I had never truly glimpsed the ocean in my life, only ever experiencing it through the flickering images of a television screen. That is why when I first arrived here, one of the first places I visited was the beach. I'll never forget my first encounter with the South China Sea. Standing at Shenzhen Bay as the tide rolled in, I suddenly understood why our ancestors called oceans “the mother of waters.”

It stretched beyond sight, mysterious and calm, yet occasionally stormy, just like a life journey. It reminds me that we cannot live in happiness all the time; there will be moments when we feel lost, when our hearts feel heavy. But that, too, is a natural part of life.

That day, a local resident saw me stunned by the view and offered to teach me how to read the tides. His kindness was as boundless as the sea itself. Now, whenever I feel overwhelmed, I find peace by the sea where the waves whisper secrets of serenity. No matter how sorrowful I may be, the moment I stand by the ocean, something magical happens, I leave with a peaceful heart and a calm spirit. One day, my sister, I shall show you the ocean, and perhaps you will then understand the magic it holds.

Until now, I had never known life in a warm climate as well. In our homeland, where winter temperatures can plummet to -30°C, people hurry past with collars turned up against the biting wind. But here, it’s different. The people here are just as warm as the climate. I meet hurried commuters who seem stressed or preoccupied. Even so, no matter how rushed they are, they rarely show anger. They always respond to questions without being bothersome, and they treat even the smallest matters with sincerity and care. From the locals, I am learning much about kindness, patience, and humbleness.

Adjusting to life here has had its funny moments too. With my East Asian facial features, people often mistake me for a local Chinese but don’t realize that my Chinese is still at an elementary level. A few times, strangers approached me, asking me something in fluent and rapid Chinese, and I just stood there, completely lost! It was a bit embarrassing, but I soon found a silver lining. Those moments pushed me to engage more and practice my language skills even faster. I would respond with what little I knew and the locals were patient and helpful. Now, I feel more confident, and my Chinese is improving with every interaction.

I sometimes think of the times when I was your age. I used to ride our grandfather’s horse, galloping through the vast steppe, with the wind in my hair, feeling the freedom. For someone who grew up in the open steppe of Mongolian countryside, this place feels like a different world. Everywhere I look, there are towering skyscrapers, some of which are so majestic that it’s hard to believe they were created by human hands. It’s a real definition of the line “concrete jungle where dreams are made of.” Here, what once seemed like a distant dream can become reality — drones deliver food, cars drive on water, and flying cars are now a possibility. I even got to try using WeChat Pay with just my palm print, which blew my mind! The technology in everyday life here is astounding and makes everything feel so futuristic. And no, I am not speaking of a fantasy. It is real.

But not everything is entirely different. When I first came here, I had my first taste of dim sum, a traditional Chinese meal. The moment I tried baozi, a steamed fluffy dumpling filled with meat, it transported me back to our home. I was reminded of our traditional dish, buuz. The soft dough and savory filling brought back memories of the warmth of our kitchen, where we cooked together. Despite the differences in our cultures, that simple dish made me feel connected to you and our roots.

Having friends from my own culture and country is one thing, but meeting people from different countries with different cultures is a whole new experience. On my university campus, I get to "visit" many nations in a single day. Just yesterday, during lunch, I learned about the traditions of Morocco and the significance of Ramadan from my Moroccan friend. The day before, I had the opportunity to touch and try on traditional Myanmar clothing. Another day, I picked up a few words in French from yet another classmate. Back in Mongolia, I would never have had such opportunities. This is the beauty of studying in a university with an international community, where borders cease to exist, and the world becomes your classroom.

I am equally excited about my academic experiences here. I’m taking specialized courses where the professors are genuinely top-tier, world-class scholars. It feels incredible to learn from individuals who have made significant contributions to their fields. I’ve also enrolled in Chinese language and culture classes, which have allowed me to immerse myself deeper into the traditions and customs of this vibrant country. The more I learn, the more I appreciate the cultural richness that surrounds me.

I have understood that we grow only when we leave our comfort zones like a little bird leaving its nest to learn how to fly. “Me” from last year is no longer the same as the “me” of today. I am proud of the growth I’ve achieved here, and I’m sure you will grow in your own way too. I wish for you to one day see and experience what I’ve seen, to walk the paths I’ve walked, and to feel the magic of this place. When you visit, we’ll go to the beach together, where I can introduce you to the soothing power of the ocean. We’ll try dim sum and other delicious foods. Just imagine us having a whale of our time as we share stories with new friends from around the world. I am confident that it will open your mind, broaden your perspective, and help you become your best self.

From Shenzhen Bay, your sister misses you dearly.

Take care,

With all my love,

Z.

(Instructor: Huang Hongyu)