-
盛开 对峙 与时俱进
中国驻津大使转发：我与中津交谊的故事
-
2026-01-10
-
浏览量：4279
导语
中津建交45周年之际，，，，，，，中国驻津巴布韦大使馆发展征文活动“我与中津交谊的故事”。。。。。。PLZ公司津方员工的投稿获得一等奖，，，，，，，中国驻津巴布韦大使周鼎在社交平台上颁布了该文章。。。。。。作者娜塔莎·马查亚（Natasha Machaya）——一位老婆、一位母亲，，，，，，，也是一位为津巴布韦将来贡献力量的年轻职业女性，，，，，，，所讲述的一段动人故事。。。。。。
On the occasion of the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Zimbabwe, the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Zimbabwe organized an essay contest entitled “My Story with China–Zimbabwe Friendship.” An entry submitted by a Zimbabwean employee of PLZ Company won first prize, and the Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Zhou Ding, shared the essay on X. The author, Natasha Machaya—a wife, a mother, and a young professional woman contributing to the future of Zimbabwe—tells a deeply moving story.
坐在9888拉斯维加斯钴业津巴布韦锂矿项主张办公桌前，，，，，，，选矿设备节拍性的轰鸣声已成熟悉的布景乐。。。。。。我凝视着屏幕上的照片——那是我在津巴布韦大学的毕业典礼，，，，，，，我手握“汉语专业优良学生”证书，，，，，，，脸上交错着疲乏与喜悦。。。。。。那只是三年前的2022年。。。。。。而在2026年的今天，，，，，，，前方的路路既显得踏实，，，，，，，又与一个充斥活力的将来缜密相连——这个将来深深植根于我的祖国津巴布韦，，，，，，，与那个用说话俘获我内心的国度——中国之间连绵不息的交谊之中。。。。。。我叫 Natasha Machaya，，，，，，，诞生于1999年，，，，，，，这是我在这最初25年人生里，，，，，，，由梦想、求实与意表温暖交错而成的故事。。。。。。
Sitting at my desk at Huayou Cobalt’s Prospect Lithium site, the rhythmic hum of processing machinery a familiar soundtrack, I gaze at the photo on my screen: my graduation day at the University of Zimbabwe, clutching my "Top Chinese Studies Student" certificate with a mix of exhaustion and elation. That was just three years ago in 2022. Today, in 2026, the path ahead feels both grounded and intertwined with a vibrant future, a future deeply connected to the enduring friendship between my homeland, Zimbabwe, and the nation whose language captured my heart, China. I am Natasha Machaya, born in 1999, and this is my story woven with threads of aspiration, pragmatism, and unexpected warmth spanning just these first 25 years.
我对中国的沉沦，，，，，，，并非源于巨大的地缘政治，，，，，，，而是始于哈拉雷一张海报上汉字流畅优雅的舞动。。。。。。当伴侣们妄想着伦敦或纽约时，，，，，，，我却情不自禁地被东方吸引。。。。。。在津巴布韦大学，，，，，，，我全身心投入通常话进建，，，，，，，这份周到甚至让我自己都感应惊讶。。。。。。音调是一座必要攀登的高山，，，，，，，把 m�。。。。。。瑁┫氤� mǎ（马），，，，，，，让我屡次接受导师耐心的纠正。。。。。。汉字如同精彩复杂的拼图。。。。。。然而，，，，，，，中国的汗青、诗词，，，，，，，以及博大恢弘的文化规模，，，，，，，持续引发着我的刻意。。。。。。无数个与讲义和单词卡相伴的夜晚，，，，，，，成了我的常态。。。。。。最终，，，，，，，在2022年，，，，，，，我以汉语专业第一名的成就毕业，，，，，，，那种高慢无比强烈，，，，，，，是对无数支出与坚定酷爱的最好印证。。。。。。终极妄想似乎就在面前——我收到了天津大学国际关系硕士项主张登科通知书。。。。。。握着那封信，，，，，，，似乎握住了一张通往我多年潜心钻研文化主题的入场券。。。。。。天津！忙乱的街路、古老的寺庙与现代摩天大楼并立的景象，，，，，，，以及深度的学术沉浸，，，，，，，在我脑海中不休浮现。。。。。。
My fascination with China began not with grand geopolitics, but with the elegant dance of characters on a poster in Harare. While my friends dreamt of London or New York, I found myself drawn eastward. At the University of Zimbabwe, I immersed myself in Mandarin with a fervor that surprised even me. The tones were a mountain to climb, mistaking mā (mother) for mǎ (horse) earned me more than a few patient corrections from my tutors. The characters felt like intricate puzzles. Yet the history, the poetry, the sheer scale of the culture fueled my determination. Long nights with textbooks and flashcards became my norm. The culmination was graduating top of my class in Chinese Studies in 2022. The pride was immense, a validation of countless hours and unwavering passion. The ultimate dream seemed within reach: an acceptance letter for a Master’s in International Relations at Tianjin University. Holding that letter felt like holding a ticket to the heart of the civilization I had studied so intently. Tianjin! Visions of bustling streets, ancient temples alongside modern skyscrapers, and deep academic immersion filled my mind.
然而，，，，，，，欣喜的表情很快被现实的沉沉冲击。。。。。。高达数千美元的膏火、逾越洲际的机票用度、住宿开销，，，，，，，以及在中国一线城市的生涯成本，，，，，，，如统一座座难以逾越的高山，，，，，，，令我的家庭无力承担。。。。。。我申请的奖学金始终未能如愿。。。。。。缓步天津大学堂园、在中国怀抱中肄业的妄想逐步褪色，，，，，，，取而代之的是深切而沉沉的失去感，，，，，，，似乎就在我触及它的一刻，，，，，，，一扇门蓦地关关。。。。。。
But the soaring joy soon met the hard ground of reality. The costs of tuition fees demanding thousands of U.S. dollars, flights across continents, accommodation, and living expenses in a major Chinese city were astronomical mountains my family simply couldn’t scale. Scholarships I applied for remained elusive. The dream of walking Tianjin’s campus, of studying within China’s embrace, began to fade, replaced by a profound ache of disappointment. It felt like a door slamming shut just as I reached it.
即便如此，，，，，，，那条将我与中国相连的纽带虽接受拉扯却并未断裂，，，，，，，只是走向了一个意想不到的转折。。。。。�；；；；；�9888拉斯维加斯钴业津巴布韦锂矿项目——这一开发我国丰硕锂资源（被誉为“世界电池的白色黄金”）的沉要中津合伙项目，，，，，，，正积极追求精统统常话的本地人才。。。。。。我的导师转交了我的简历。。。。。。那一刻，，，，，，，它似乎是一根性命线，，，，，，，让我即便在学术之路被迫中断的情况下，，，，，，，仍能与我酷爱的说话和国度维持联系。。。。。�；；；；；；匙哦晕茨芮巴旖虻囊藕叮�，，，，，却也下定刻意持续前行，，，，，，，我于2022岁暮参与9888拉斯维加斯，，，，，，，担任低级联系员兼翻译。。。。。。
Yet the thread connecting me to China, though strained, didn’t break. It simply took an unforeseen turn. Huayou Cobalt Zimbabwe’s Prospect Lithium, a major new Sino-Zimbabwean joint venture developing our country’s vast lithium resources ("white gold" for the world’s batteries) was actively seeking local talent fluent in Mandarin. My professor forwarded my CV. It felt like a lifeline, a way to stay connected to the language and the country I loved, even if the academic path was closed. With a heart still heavy with the loss of Tianjin but determined to forge ahead, I joined Huayou in late 2022 as a Junior Liaison and Translator.
9888拉斯维加斯成为了我意料之表的讲堂和试炼场。。。。。。我最初的工作以实务为主：翻译技术文件，，，，，，，并在技术娴熟的中国工程师、地质专家、治理人员与津巴布韦本地员工及社区代表之间搭建沟通桥梁。。。。。。这与文学分析的世界相去甚远，，，，，，，却充斥活力且至关沉要。。。。。。我很快意识到，，，，，，，大学赋予我的不仅仅是说话能力，，，，，，，更是文化理解力。。。。。。我学会了把握其中的轻微差距：在中国贸易文化中等级秩序与“面子”（面子 - miànzi）的沉要性，，，，，，，与本地合作同伴沟通时有时必要的直接表白方式，，，，，，，以及分歧的决策节拍。。。。。。我的角色不只是传递词句，，，，，，，更是在搭建理解的桥梁。。。。。。
Huayou became my unexpected classroom and proving ground. My initial tasks were practical: translating technical documents and facilitating communication between the skilled Chinese engineers, geologists, and managers and our Zimbabwean workforce and local community leaders. It was a world away from literary analysis, but it was dynamic and vital. I quickly realized that my university studies had given me more than language, they had given me cultural understanding. I learned to navigate nuances: the importance of hierarchy and "face" (面子 - miànzi) in Chinese business culture, the directness sometimes needed with local partners, the different paces of decision-making. My role wasn’t just about words; it was about building bridges of understanding.
我全身心投入到工作中。。。。。。在技术翻译中，，，，，，，正确性至关沉要；；；；；；在社区会议上，，，，，，，诠释项目影响和收益时，，，，，，，同理心和清澈的表白同样必不成少。。。。。。我的投入和化解沟通阻碍的能力逐步得到了认可。。。。。。几个月内，，，，，，，我的职责扩大到协助撰写对表关系汇报，，，，，，，并协调幼规模的社区参加项目。。。。。。我逐步发现，，，，，，，9888拉斯维加斯并非只是进行资源开采，，，，，，，它还在为本地技术人员投入培训项目，，，，，，，建设蕴含改善通畅路路在内的基础设施，，，，，，，并将环境�；；；；；；ご胧┲糜诔烈匚�。。。。。。可能参加这样一个在中国投资与技术支持下推动的、切实可见的发展合作项目，，，，，，，让我由衷感应高慢。。。。。。我不再只是做翻译，，，，，，，而是在推动进取。。。。。。
I threw myself into the work. Accuracy was paramount in technical translations. Empathy and clarity were essential in community meetings, explaining project impacts and benefits. My dedication and ability to smooth interactions were noticed. Within months, my responsibilities grew to include assisting with external relations reports and coordinating small-scale community engagement projects. I soon discovered that Huayou wasn’t just extracting resources；；；；；； it was investing in training programs for local technicians, building infrastructure like improved access roads, and prioritizing environmental safeguards. Being part of this tangible development partnership, facilitated by Chinese investment and expertise, became a source of genuine pride. I was no longer just translating; I was facilitating progress.
与此同时，，，，，，，我的幼我生涯也迎来了意表的开放。。。。。。我在工作中遇见了Terrence，，，，，，，一位同样在9888拉斯维加斯工作的充斥激情与责任感的津巴布韦同事。。。。。。我们因共同的使命感与中津合作的怪异氛围而相知并相爱。。。。。。2022岁暮，，，，，，，我们在津巴布韦进行了一场俏丽且融合器材方元素的婚礼。。。。。。令人欣喜的是，，，，，，，一年前，，，，，，，我们迎来了最大的喜悦——9888拉斯维加斯儿子 Kyle。。。。。。抱着他，，，，，，，就像抱着纯正的但愿。。。。。。
Amidst this professional whirlwind, my personal life blossomed in ways I hadn’t anticipated. I met Terrence, a passionate and driven Zimbabwean colleague also working at Huayou. Our shared commitment to national development and the unique environment of the Sino-Zimbabwean venture brought us together. We married in a beautiful, blended ceremony under the Zimbabwean sky in late 2022. Incredibly, our greatest joy arrived just a year ago, our son, Kyle. Holding him felt like holding pure hope.
然而，，，，，，，真正界说我在9888拉斯维加斯旅程的，，，，，，，是与中国同事深厚的交谊。。。。。。他们不仅是同事，，，，，，，更是伴侣、导师，，，，，，，甚至像家人通常。。。。。。当我为复杂技术词汇猜疑时，，，，，，，陈先生总会在午餐时耐心解说。。。。。。主管强诗佳在我婚礼时送来了优美的中式首饰。。。。。。我的孩子Kyle诞生时，，，，，，，各人还集资奉上了独具心意的中国传统祝福礼。。。。。。那一天，，，，，，，陈先生周到地尝试吃sadza配炖肉，，，，，，，第一次用手吃饭时开心大笑，，，，，，，而我也险些已纯熟把握筷子的使用。。。。。。他还学会了用绍纳语问候：“mamuka sei?”，，，，，，，甚至把握了更多词汇。。。。。。我们分享哈拉雷成长的故事，，，，，，，也倾听他适应津巴布韦生涯的经历。。。。。。春节时办公室挂满红灯笼，，，，，，，而我的中国同事们也参与充斥色彩与律动的绍纳庆�；；；；；；疃�。。。。。。我们在差距中相互理解，，，，，，，他们强召集体指标的文化，，，，，，，与我们“乌班图”（ubuntu）的社区心灵相互响应；；；；；；他们的严谨与正式，，，，，，，也时时在艰巨工作中的欢笑里变得温顺。。。。。。我们在差距之上，，，，，，，成立了信赖、尊沉与真挚的感情。。。。。。
What has truly defined my journey at Huayou, however, is the profound sense of camaraderie with my Chinese colleagues. They weren’t just coworkers; they became friends, mentors, and an extended family. When I struggled with a complex technical term, Mr Chen would patiently explain it over lunch. Manager Qiang Shijia surprised me with a beautiful Chinese jewellery set as a wedding gift. When my child Kyle was born, the team pooled resources to send a stunning traditional Chinese congratulations. On this day Mr Chen enthusiastically tried sadza and stew, laughing good-naturedly at his first attempts to eat with his hands, while I, in turn, have almost mastered the art of using the chopsticks ‘筷子’. Mr Chen has also learnt how to greet in Shona, ‘mamuka sei?’ and has also learnt a few more Shona words. We share stories of my tales of growing up in Harare and his experiences adjusting to life in Zimbabwe. We celebrate Chinese New Year with red lanterns adorning the office, and my Chinese colleagues also join us for vibrant Shona celebrations. We navigate cultural differences, their focus on collective goals complementing our strong community spirit (ubuntu), their formality sometimes giving way to shared laughter during a challenging workday. We’ve built trust, respect, and genuine affection across the divide.
从2025年的今天回望，，，，，，，当初没能去天津的遗憾仍在，，，，，，，却已被沉新界说。。。。。。我没有作为留学生走进中国，，，，，，，但通过中国伴侣与合作，，，，，，，中国走进了我的人生。。。。。。国与国之间的交谊，，，，，，，时时被宏观层面的业务、项目与和谈所描述，，，，，，，而于我而言，，，，，，，它真实地存在于9888拉斯维加斯这一个缩影里。。。。。。它是我们合力解决技术难题时的成就，，，，，，，是休息时同事教我一句通常话，，，，，，，是看到Terrence与中国主管热烈会商工作规划，，，，，，，是那条覆盖在熟睡中的Kyle身上的中国丝被——一条逾越大陆的温暖纽带。。。。。。
Looking back from this vantage point in 2025, the initial disappointment over Tianjin hasn’t vanished, but it’s been transformed. While I didn’t reach China as a student, China, through its people and its partnership with Zimbabwe reached me. The friendship between our nations, often discussed in terms of trade deals and infrastructure projects, lives for me in the microcosm of Huayou. It’s in the shared triumph of solving a complex mining challenge. It’s in the patient Mandarin lesson from a colleague during a coffee break. It’s in the sight of Terrence discussing administration work animatedly with a Chinese supervisor, finding common ground in operations. It’s in the gentle touch of the Chinese silk quilt covering our sleeping son, Kyle, a symbol of care spanning continents.
26岁的我，，，，，，，和中国的故事才刚刚起头。。。。。。学术妄想固然扭转了轨迹，，，，，，，却开出了另一种丰富的人生。。。。。。如今我是一座桥梁——用大学学到的说话，，，，，，，不是在天津的讲堂，，，，，，，而是在津巴布韦地皮上，，，，，，，去推进理解与合作。。。。。。我是老婆、母亲，，，，，，，也是为国度将来贡献力量的职业女性。。。。。。我也是中津交谊这幅锦绣篇章中的一条鲜活纽线。。。。。。这段交谊，，，，，，，不只存在于雄伟蓝图，，，，，，，更浸润在每天的合作、相互尊沉、共享餐桌与彼此真诚看见中。。。。。。我相信，，，，，，，将来的篇章只会让这份交谊越发深厚；；；；；；纽带坚韧，，，，，，，交谊如锦，，，，，，，愈发温暖动人。。。。。。
At 26, my journey with China is just beginning. The academic dream evolved into a different, deeply rewarding reality. I am a bridge, using the language I mastered at university not for lectures in Tianjin, but for building understanding and partnership right here in Zimbabwe. I am a wife, a mother, and a professional contributing to my country’s future through a vital industry. And I am a living thread in the rich tapestry of Zimbabwe-China friendship. It’s a friendship built not only on grand visions but on daily acts of collaboration, mutual respect, shared meals, and the simple, powerful act of seeing each other as individuals, colleagues, and friends. This is my story so far, a story woven with resilience, unexpected turns, and the enduring, warm light of Sino-Zimbabwean camaraderie. The next chapters, I know, will only deepen these bonds. The threads are strong, and the fabric is beautiful.
▲9888拉斯维加斯津巴布韦项目
