- Arrivals signify more than physical movement; they represent transformation, self-discovery, and entering new life phases.
- Growing up in China, I felt deeply rooted despite frequent moves, shaping my adaptability and sense of belonging.
- Moving to Germany at 10 caused cultural dissonance, highlighting how departures can redefine one’s identity and home.
- Returning to Nanjing years later, I embraced a hybrid identity, blending Chinese and European influences as a global citizen.
The notion of “arrivals” likely brings to mind a physical moment. Yet, the concept goes far beyond just travel or movement. An arrival isn’t always about reaching a physical destination; moreover the process of change, transformation and possibly, even self discovery.
“到达”的概念可能会让人想起一个物理时刻。 然而，这个概念远远超出了旅行或运动的范围。 到达并不总是关于到达物理目的地；此外，是改变、转变甚至可能的自我发现的过程。
Whether geographical, social, or emotional, an arrival marks the moments when we shift into a new phase of our lives.
无论是地理、社会还是情感，到达都标志着我们进入人生新阶段的时刻。
With this in mind, arrivals are universally experienced, but their meaning and impact vary from one person to another. Neither can we talk about arrivals without acknowledging their counterpart; departures. After all, you cannot truly arrive somewhere without first leaving someplace else.
考虑到这一点，到达是普遍体验的，但它们的意义和影响因人而异。 我们也不能在不承认他们的对应物的情况下谈论到达；离开。 毕竟，如果不先离开别的地方，你就无法真正到达某个地方。
In my life, the concept of “arrivals” has been a recurring theme, shaping my experiences in different countries and cities, navigating cultural differences and discovering where I truly belong.
在我的生活中，“到达”的概念是一个反复出现的主题，它塑造了我在不同国家和城市的经历，驾驭文化差异，发现我真正属于哪里。
I first moved to China when I was about 6 months old. From the very start, I was immersed in Chinese culture and social customs. As a result, I never felt the need to change my perspective, attitudes or mannerisms to fit in.
我第一次搬到中国是在我大约6个月大的时候。 从一开始，我就沉浸在中国文化和社会习俗中。 因此，我从未覺得有必要改變我的觀點、態度或举止來適應。
In many ways, China became my first home, where I felt a deep sense of comfort and security despite living in a culture vastly different from my European roots. This experience helped me realise that home is not just a physical place, but where we feel rooted and understood.
在许多方面，中国成为我的第一个家，尽管生活在与我欧洲根源截然不同的文化中，但我在那里感到深深的舒适和安全。 这次经历让我意识到，家不仅仅是一个物理场所，而是我们感到被扎根和理解的地方。
That said, I didn’t stay in one place while I was in China. In fact, I moved more often than most people might expect.
话虽如此，我在中国的时候并没有呆在一个地方。 事实上，我搬家的频率比大多数人预期的要高。
I spent my first 4 years in Changchun, then lived in Nanjing, Shanghai and Chengdu. While each city had its own unique set of subcultures, from cuisines and dialects to living habits, each move brought new experiences. Although I felt sadness when letting go of a lifestyle to which I had grown accustomed, I never felt displaced. Instead, I remained grounded in each new location. Of course, I don’t remember every detail of those years, but the feeling of arriving and settling in left a lasting impression.
我在长春度过了前4年，然后在南京、上海和成都生活。 虽然每个城市都有自己独特的亚文化，从美食和方言到生活习惯，但每一次移动都会带来新的体验。 虽然当我放弃我习惯的生活方式时，我感到很难过，但我从未感到流离失所。 相反，我仍然在每个新地点都踏实地。 当然，我不记得那些年的每一个细节，但到达和安顿下来的感觉留下了深刻的印象。
Those early transitions have deeply influenced my ability to adapt to new environments.
这些早期的过渡深深影响了我适应新环境的能力。
When I was 10, my family moved to Germany, one of my home countries, because of my father’s work. This arrival stands out in my memory as it marked a significant shift in my sense of identity. Despite being in a home country, everything about Germany felt unfamiliar. The language, customs and social practices all seemed alien to me. This experience highlighted the confusion and disconnection that can arise when you encounter a culture that should feel familiar, but no longer does, on account of the way you were shaped by your previous environment; in my case, China.
在我10岁的时候，由于我父亲的工作，我的家人搬到了我的祖国之一德国。 这次到来在我的记忆中很突出，因为它标志着我身份认同感的重大转变。 尽管身于祖国，但关于德国的一切都感到陌生。 语言、习俗和社会习俗对我来说似乎都很陌生。 这段经历凸显了当你遇到一种文化时，可能会出现的困惑和脱节，这种文化应该感觉很熟悉，但不再熟悉了，因为你被以前的环境塑造了；就我而言，中国。
In retrospect, I now realise that I experienced significant cultural dissonance while living in Germany. Whether it was the food choices, topics of conversation or even the jokes, the differences were simply too stark. I struggled to form friendships and connect with people my age.
回想起来，我现在意识到，我在德国生活时经历了严重的文化不和谐。 无论是食物选择、话题还是笑话，差异都太明显了。 我努力建立友谊，并与同龄人建立联系。
That’s when I truly understood that it wasn’t until I left China that I fully appreciated the sense of belonging I had there.
就在那时，我真正明白，直到我离开中国，我才完全体会到我在那里的归属感。
Leaving China didn’t just mean departing a physical place; it also meant leaving behind an emotional space that had shaped my identity. This emotional attachment became even clearer once I was in Germany.
离开中国不仅意味着离开一个物理的地方；它还意味着离开一个塑造我身份的情感空间。 一旦我到了德国，这种情感上的依恋就变得更加清晰了。
However, my sense of belonging gradually evolved after this period of adjustment. Although I didn’t feel immediate comfort in Germany, that time marked the beginning of understanding where and how I fit in. Over time, I have learned that arrivals, whether to a new country or a new phase in life, require constant adaptation. Each arrival and departure forces us to grow as we adjust to new languages, customs and expectations.
然而，在这段时间的调整之后，我的归属感逐渐演变了。 虽然我在德国没有立即感到舒适，但那一次标志着我开始了解我在哪里以及如何融入其中。 随着时间的推移，我了解到，无论是进入一个新的国家还是人生的新阶段，都需要不断适应。 每次到达和离开都会迫使我们随着我们适应新的语言、习俗和期望而成长。
Some 4 years ago, I moved back to Nanjing and once again, I found a deep sense of comfort here.
大約4年前，我搬回了南京，我再次在這裡找到了一種深深的舒適感。
However, now I have learned to blend the Chinese cultural influences with which I grew up while continuing to draw from the European cultural weight I had accumulated over time. This combination has allowed me to communicate and connect with a wider range of people, as my identity has evolved in to a hybrid. I can say that I now fully embrace the idea of being a global citizen.
然而，现在我学会了融合我成长的中国文化影响，同时继续汲取我随着时间的推移积累的欧洲文化分量。 这种组合使我能够与更广泛的人交流和联系，因为我的身份已经演变成一个混合体。 我可以说，我现在完全接受成为全球公民的想法。
Ultimately, arrivals often serve as gateways to deeper cultural understanding. Every arrival invites us to engage in exchanges that teach us new ways of thinking, behaving and interacting, enriching our sense of self.
归根结底，到达通常是通往更深入文化理解的门户。 每一次到来都邀请我们参与交流，教会我们新的思维方式、行为方式和互动方式，丰富我们的自我意识。
Consequently, arrivals are not simply about changing places, but rather changing who we are as people.
因此，到达不仅仅是改变地点，而是改变我们作为人的身份。
Every arrival represents a new chapter in our ongoing stories of personal growth and understanding, leading us to question the nature of home. Is it a place, a feeling, or something different?
每一次到达都代表着我们持续的个人成长和理解故事的新篇章，这导致我们质疑家的本质。 这是一个地方，一种感觉，还是一些不同的东西？
