China News Service, July 27. According to the WeChat public account of New Zealand China Media, a warm farewell ceremony was held at Te Tuhi Art Center in East Auckland, New Zealand. Nearly a hundred members of the PAKURANGA Chinese Association, with undivided feelings, sent off the honorary member of the association, an ordinary New Zealand driver Ms. Linda, who retired and returned home.
Ms. Linda is a senior bus driver of a local bus company in Auckland. As a member of the military, she dedicated her best youth to New Zealand's national defense.
How did such a native New Zealander forge an indissoluble bond with the Auckland Chinese community?
The harmonious blending of Chinese and Western cultures, and the friendly coexistence of people of different ethnicities, often start with the politeness and mutual respect between people.
(Image source: New Zealand Huaxin Media WeChat Official Account)
Four years ago, Ms. Linda was first appointed by the company to drive a bus for a tourist activity organized by the local Chinese Association. At first, perhaps due to language barriers and lack of understanding of the Chinese community, Linda, the driver, intentionally or unconsciously left the impression of indifference and arrogance to the Chinese passengers, and the disharmony between them will inevitably lead to misunderstandings. And estrangement.
Chairman Hong of the Chinese Association used to be an English teacher and is a highly respected "enthusiast". Every time he organizes members to travel, he is not only the leader of the tour group, but also the host and tour guide of entertainment activities during the trip. Chairman Hong used fluent English to communicate cordially and friendly interaction with the driver, Ms. Linda, and conveyed the group members’ gratitude and respect for the driver’s hard work in a timely manner, and also asked the driver Ms. Linda’s suggestions on safe travel. Become the conscious action of team members.
During the journey, the group members cared for each other, cared for each other, took care of each other, abided by mainstream social and cultural customs, showed their civilized and polite qualities, optimistic spiritual outlook and friendly exchanges and interactions, leaving Ms. Linda with unforgettable beauty memory.
Since then, Ms. Linda has been looking forward to walking with these gracious and respectable Chinese friends. She even took the initiative to request from the bus company where she worked as a "specified driver" for the PAKURANGA Chinese Association's travel group chartered car. As a result, she became a special New Zealand "member" of the Chinese Association's Happy Travel Team.
In the past few years, in more than a dozen team tours organized by the association, Ms. Linda’s proficient driving skills, rigorous professional ethics and sense of responsibility for ensuring safety have been praised by many Chinese friends. This Chinese The civilized, polite and sincere friendliness of the members of the society also won the respect of Ms. Linda.
(Image source: New Zealand Huaxin Media WeChat Official Account)
Ms. Linda will retire and leave Oakland soon. After learning the news, the PAKURANGA Chinese Association organized a special farewell event for her.
At the venue, members placed their seats in the layout of a bus, and Ms. Linda received the blessings and goodbyes of the "Chinese passengers" in the "driver's seat". The members who can sing and dance, put on beautiful national costumes, sang and danced, playing and singing. In response, Ms. Linda affectionately played a touching piano piece "Ever and Everlasting" on the "bus driving position" to express her goodbye. Some members also presented her with a hand-woven "concentric knot", hoping that Ms. Linda would cherish this strong "Chinese society complex" and the pure friendship she established with Chinese friends forever.
Faced with the sincere and friendly gazes of the Chinese friends, the usually solemn bus driver burst into tears and was extremely excited. Ms. Linda has repeatedly said that she has told her colleagues in the company who took over her job, "The members of the PAKURANGA Chinese Association are the best, and you will definitely become their good friend." (Zhao Hua; the photo of this article is by Zhao Hua, Li Cheng Provided by Xi, Dong Weiji, Hong Benli, Zhang Ning, etc.)