The most beautiful island in China, I must go once in my life!
I was born in a small remote village, far from the coastline. When I was a child, I had never seen the ocean, and my knowledge of the island came only from textbooks and word of mouth from the people in the village. Whenever the old people in our village get together to talk about the world, they always mention that distant place, the island called Gulangyu Island. They say that it is a fairyland on earth, with blue sky and white clouds, coconut grove shadows, clear water and young sand. I was fascinated by what I heard, and my heart was full of yearning.
My family was not wealthy, my parents were farmers and had worked with the land all their lives. There are two older sisters and one younger brother in the family, and I am the third. Although life is hard, there is always happiness to be found when a family is together. Our parents always taught us to study hard so that we could get out of this mountain village and see the outside world in the future.
When I graduated from junior high school, a young volunteer teacher came to the village, her name was Teacher Li. She is from Xiamen, the legendary city near Gulangyu Island. Ms. Li brought us a lot of new things and knowledge, especially the stories she told about Xiamen and Gulangyu, which made me yearn for that place even more. She said that Gulangyu Island is not only a beautiful tourist destination, but also a place rich in culture and history, with many musicians and artists, and the streets and alleys are full of art.
For this dream, I studied hard and was finally admitted to a university in Xiamen. That day, when I got my acceptance letter, my parents' eyes were full of pride and relief. My mother smiled and said, "Finally, someone from our family is going to see the sea." "I understand that this is not only my dream, but also their hope.
University life began, and for the first time, I left my hometown and came to a city that was both strange and full of expectations for me. I am amazed by the beauty of Xiamen, the blue sea and blue sky, the clean streets, the bustling business district, everything makes me feel novel. I couldn't wait to see Gulangyu, but the pressure of my busy studies and living expenses put the idea on hold for the time being.
I got a part-time job at a café. Every night after class, I would go there to help. Although it was hard work, I felt a sense of satisfaction when I looked at the salary I had saved little by little. One night, Ms. Li suddenly called me and said that she was coming to Xiamen on a business trip and asked me if I had time to go to Gulangyu Island together. I was so excited that I almost jumped up, and I quickly agreed.
That weekend, we set off early in the morning. When I took the ferry, I was both excited and nervous. As the boat approached Gulangyu, my heart beat faster and faster. When I got off the boat, the salty smell of the sea breeze made me involuntarily take a deep breath. Teacher Li looked at me with a smile and said, "This is Gulangyu, how is it, is it more beautiful than I imagined?" ”
We walked around the island, narrow alleys lined with all sorts of small shops and cafes full of artists' works. Mr. Li took me to Sunshine Rock, where I overlooked the whole island, the sea and sky were beautiful, and the scenery was breathtaking. We also visited the concert hall and listened to a small concert. The sunset that day was exceptionally beautiful, shining golden on the sea. I stood by the sea and silently said to myself, "This is the place of my dreams, and I must leave something here." ”
However, real life doesn't always go as one wants. College courses are becoming more and more intense, and the pressure of part-time jobs is increasing. For a while, I even had the idea of giving up. During a final exam, I delayed my revision because of my part-time job, and my grades were not satisfactory, and my mood fell to the bottom. That night, I walked to the beach alone, looked at Gulangyu Island in the distance, and tears flowed unconsciously.
Teacher Li seemed to sense my predicament and sent me a message: "Remember, your dream is ahead, don't give up easily. There will always be ups and downs in life, but it is these ups and downs that make us stronger. Her words were like a shot in the arm to get me back on my feet. I decided to work harder, not only for myself, but also for the sake of my family and friends who have always supported me.
The year I graduated from university, I finally achieved my dream of becoming a travel writer. The first article I wrote was about Gulangyu Island, and it quickly became a popular response online. The publisher also approached me and asked me to write a book about Gulangyu. So, I began to travel back and forth between Gulangyu and Xiamen frequently, to learn more about this beautiful island and record every bit of it.
In the process of writing the book, I got to know many artists and residents who live and work on Gulangyu Island. Their stories and works gave me a deeper understanding and love for this place. I found that Gulangyu Island is not just a tourist destination, every inch of its land is full of traces of history and culture, and each person has a unique story.
After the book was published, it was loved and praised by readers. Because of this book, I have also got more writing opportunities and platforms. My parents had a proud smile on their faces when they saw my achievement. The mother said, "You did it, and finally one of our family saw the sea and saw the beautiful island." ”
Although the story has a happy ending, I know that life goes on and there are many unknown challenges and opportunities ahead. Gulangyu taught me the importance of sticking to my dreams, and also made me understand that true beauty does not lie in appearance, but in the purity and firmness of the heart.
Now, I still often return to Gulangyu Island, sit by the sea, listen to the sound of the waves, and recall those years of struggle. I understand that it was those hardships and hard work that made me who I am today. Gulangyu Island, this beautiful island, has become the most important part of my life and a place I will never forget.