Warm-hearted Airport Pickup: The "First Care" Across Mountains and Seas

"Welcome to Wenzhou!" At 12:00 noon on October 21st, outside the exit of Wenzhou Longwan International Airport, teachers and volunteer Arslanbek from the School of Global Education had already been waiting, holding signboards with the names of the South African international students. The small national flags of the two countries (China and South Africa) they waved were particularly eye-catching in the crowd. When 14 South African students walked out of the arrival hall with their suitcases, the teachers and volunteers immediately stepped forward to take their luggage, and extended the most sincere greetings and care to the students from South Africa.

On the afternoon of October 23rd, another 4 South African international students arrived at Wenzhou Airport, and the reception team was still waiting punctually. Holding a campus map, Volunteer Diana gave the new students a "preview" right in the car: "This is our library, and this is the public teaching building—you students majoring in International Trade will often have classes here!" Every detailed explanation filled the South African students, who had traveled a long way, with anticipation for the campus life they were about to start. 

Efficient Registration: One-Stop Service: Convenient and Considerate

At the orientation site of the Oujingkou Campus of Zhejiang Industry & Trade Vocational College, a bright touch of "Volunteer Red" stands out prominently — volunteers from the School of Optoelectronic have transformed the "One-Stop Service Station" into a "worry-free hub" for new students' enrollment. From new student gift packs to facial recognition enrollment, and from student ID cards to campus WIFI setup, all 6 services are handled in one place, allowing South African students to experience the convenience of "no need to run around" and the warmth of the campus as soon as they arrive.

Orientation Education: A Growth Ladder from "Unfamiliarity" to "Integration"

"If you have any dietary restrictions, the canteen can provide different options for yo. There is a 24-hour emergency contact number on campus—free to call it whenever you encounter problems..." On the afternoon of October 22, in the meeting room next to Tingtao Apartment at the Oujingkou Campus, the first orientation meeting for South African international students was held warmly. Teachers from the School of Global Education used "bilingual PPTs + case demonstrations" to break down key information about campus life one by one, covering everything from course schedules and residence permit applications to dormitory access hours and school rules and regulations.

"Here is the School History Museum, which records the development story of the school from its founding to the present; the library has a foreign-language book section, and you can borrow books with your campus card..." On the morning of October 23, teachers and volunteers led the newly assembled South African students to start the "Oujingkou Campus Exploration Tour". From the School History Museum that bears the school’s history to the well-stocked library; from the courier station opposite the school to the well-equipped gymnasium, the volunteers explained as they walked, and paused from time to time to let everyone take photos and record the moments.

"This is an industrial robot arm; it can perform precision welding and assembly work. The simulation system next to it can simulate real production scenarios..." On the afternoon of October 27, in the Industrial Robot Training Workshop at the Oujingkou Campus, volunteers explained the functions of the equipment in detail to South African students majoring in Industrial Robotics. The students gathered around the robot arm, listened carefully to the explanations, took notes on the parameters, and occasionally reached out to touch the equipment casing—their eyes were filled with curiosity.

"Can we see the robot arm demonstrate it?" SEABI couldn’t help but ask. The teacher immediately operated the equipment, and the robot arm flexibly picked up parts and completed the assembly, drawing bursts of amazement from everyone. "It’s incredible! This equipment is more advanced than what I’ve seen in South Africa," SEABI said. This visit filled him with confidence in his professional studies. "I must study hard from now on to master more skills!"  

Safety Education+Dormitory Inspection: Building a Strong "Safety Defense Line"

Shortly after night fell, teachers from the School of Global Education and dormitory supervisors formed a visit team and knocked on the door of each international student's dormitory one by one. Upon entering, instead of rushing to conduct the inspection, the teachers first smiled and asked, "Are you getting used to living here?" Only then did they carry out a detailed check—they bent down to confirm if the dormitory sockets were loose and if the door locks were secure, turned on the hot water valve to check for hot water supply, and even helped students straighten the crooked curtain rods by the way. They also explained to the students one by one the regulations related to dormitory hygiene and safety, and the international students all nodded in agreement and promised to abide by the regulations.

In October, at the Oujingkou Campus, the autumn breeze carries the fragrance of osmanthus—and has also etched this warm encounter that spans the Indian Ocean. From the waving national flags of the two countries at Wenzhou Airport, to the new student gift packs handed out at the one-stop service station; from the campus handbooks with highlighted key points on the meeting table for orientation classes, to the students' eyes filled with amazement as the robotic arms rotated in the training workshop; and even to the note covered with contact information in the teacher's hand during dormitory visits under the night sky—Zhejiang Industry & Trade Vocational College (ZJITC) did not keep the "orientation" confined to mere procedures. Instead, with countless proactive details (thought of ahead of time), it built a bridge for the 17 South African students, guiding them from "unfamiliarity" to "a sense of belonging".

These meticulous gestures of care do not only let these newly arrived students feel the warmth of a "home", but also build a ladder for their young dreams to grow: Here, they will not only gain professional knowledge in industrial robotics and international trade, but also experience the vitality of Chinese campus life and the warmth of Wenzhou city, becoming little envoys connecting Chinese and South African cultures. In the future, ZJITC will remain a "warm haven" for them on their journey to pursue dreams, witnessing their transformation—from the curiosity they had upon arrival to the determination they will have upon graduation. These South African students, carrying memories of China and the warmth of ZJITC, will eventually become bonds of friendship between China and South Africa, allowing this warmth that began at the Oujingkou Campus to spread and bloom in a broader world. This is the most touching power of education—exchanging sincerity for sincerity, fostering mutual understanding through encounters, and turning every journey across mountains and seas into the start of mutual growth.