Tonight's face is a Cambodian boy. His name is Sally. In November last year, the video of Sha selling tourist souvenirs in multiple languages was uploaded to the network by a Malaysian tourist and quickly became popular, with more than 10 million video hits.
Foreign boys who can speak Chinese are not uncommon, but little Sally's talent for speaking more than 10 languages made him a net star. Not long ago, little Sally came to China and began his study life in China.
Teacher: what color is this?
Sally: it's green.
Now, Sally is a small foreign student in the Chinese class of a foreign language middle school in Zhuji. Here, he is exposed to various subjects he has never studied before, such as Chinese, English, mathematics, art and even baking. However, in Shali's view, the biggest difference between here and Cambodia is that there is no need to sell souvenirs to supplement the family.
Shali, a Cambodian student: (before) half a day selling things and half a day reading. (tired or not) very tired, very tired. I didn't want to sell things, but my mother (supporting the family) was very difficult, so I sold things. It's not tired here, it's tired over there.
Sally's family is in a tight situation. Her father makes a living by painting and selling paintings. Sally has helped her mother sell souvenirs at tourist attractions since she was 7 years old. After eight years of 'salesman' career, Sally learned the skills of selling in multiple languages.
After Shali became a 'net star' last November, his fate changed. One belt, one road, one belt, one road, the international public service talent study in China, has been launched this year in Zhuji, Zhejiang. It has been free to recruit poor talents from all along the road. They were moved by the deeds of sari and went to Kampuchea to find sand. In January this year, Sally and his parents visited the school in Zhuji. He was fascinated by the beautiful school buildings and the atmosphere of reading. Since then, studying in China has become Sally's biggest wish.
Cambodian student Shali: April is the new year, our Cambodian new year. I told her, mom, it's new year. I want to ask you a question. She said yes. I said I wanted to come here. She said you let me go to China for you every day. I'm right. I want to go to China. I really want to go.
In fact, Sally has her own considerations when she wants to come to China. On the one hand, he can save money for his parents to raise him. On the other hand, he hopes to bring a better life to his family in the future.
Shali, a Cambodian student, came here because I found it difficult for my brother, mother and father. They were very difficult, and then I told them that when I grew up, I wouldn't be with my parents here. I'll find a job when I grow up. If you go to China, I can go to school. When I grow up, I can have a good job.
Finally, the parents agreed to Sally's request. On May 13 this year, Sally officially entered school. He also cherished this opportunity and concentrated on every class.
Like China, want to test Peking University
The children of the poor were early masters of the family. Due to his poor family, Sally had to go to scenic spots to sell souvenirs to supplement his family at a young age. In order to sell more things, little Sally often neglected to eat.
The hard life allows us to find traces in little Sally. Look, he is really thin, 1.4 meters tall and weighs only more than 40 kilograms. He is like a primary school student in grade two and three. In fact, little Sally was born in 2004. He is 15 years old, which is the age of a middle school student. Long term malnutrition affected little Sally's physical development, but it didn't wear away his lofty ambition. Who is his idol? Let's look down.
Shali, a Cambodian student: if you don't eat while selling (things), you don't eat when selling things. Many people come. I eat. When the guests leave, I have no money. Then I went to sell things without eating. Then I sold a lot of things, very heavy, and I was very short.
Lin Jiayi, Sally's classmate: I saw him on the tiktok. I think this boy is very powerful. He can speak so many languages, and he sells things when he is so young. I never thought he was older than me.
At school, Sally can finally eat three meals a day regularly. Of course, in the new environment, there will be some small maladjustment. At lunch time, Sally went to the canteen alone. Unable to understand the dish name, he finally ordered a duck gizzard that he thought was beef.
Sally: duck gizzard?
Student: Yes, duck viscera, duck stomach.
Student: can you sing? Let's learn cat barking together.
Sally: Yes, I will.
Student: we are different.
Sally: not the same.
Student: how old are you now. How old are you now.
Sally: 15.
Student: I'm only so young when I'm 15. Eat more.
Although the teachers and classmates are very friendly, after all, she studies outside alone. Sally sometimes misses her family and is lonely. During recess, Sally came to the teacher's office and used the mobile phone and mother's video sent to the teacher.
Reporter: what did mom tell you?
Shali, a Cambodian student: she said it doesn't matter if my brother is here. Can you learn Chinese there? Do you know many Chinese characters?
The graduation season for senior students is coming soon. Sally's class will perform a chorus at the graduation ceremony. In the evening, he and his classmates go to the auditorium for rehearsal. Sally showed his excellent language talent and learned the songs to be performed in less than 20 minutes.
Sally's biggest impression is that he is generous and friendly, which may be a 'gift' from his eight-year experience as a salesman. In the evening, when he returned to his bedroom, his Korean roommate greeted him in Cambodian.
Roommate: Hello, Sally (Cambodian).
Sally: Hello (Korean).
Sally said that his life in China these ten days was the most relaxed and happy period of his life. After the pressure of life disappeared, he could finally imagine the future like a 15-year-old boy. Sally's next goal is to be admitted to Peking University and become a successful entrepreneur like Ma Yun.
Cambodian student Shali: I take Chinese things (goods) to Cambodia, and I take Cambodian things (goods) to China. If I am rich, I buy a house and a car for my mother. I help my brother, and I will help others. In Cambodia, they work very hard. They have no money, so I help them. I like helping people very much.
Learn to grow through hardships
When little Sally became popular on the Internet, many people saw him first. The child really had aura, and then began to regret that such a good child had no books. It was a pity. Language talent can only bring him temporary attention. To fundamentally change his destiny, we must rely on education. Finally, one belt, one road public service project helped him to get a dream of learning.
That's good. Education is the most important wing to realize your dream. Of course, eight years of experience as a salesman is also very important to little Sally, which makes him gain a rare life experience. I remember the French writer Beauvoir said, "the great luck of a man is that he must embark on an extremely difficult road, but this is the most reliable Road, whether in adulthood or childhood.". Of course, you must go through the past to see what suffering can give you. I hope little Sally gets better and better.