Foreign Youth in China | Meeting“the Belt and Road”Band

　　今年是共建“一带一路”倡议提出并实施十周年。近日，在江西省南昌市，有一支由南昌航空大学的外国留学生组成的“一带一路”乐队，正好也迎来了他们的建队十周年。

　　This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative. Recently, in Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province, there is a 'the Belt and Road' band composed of foreign students from Nanchang Hangkong University, which hasbeen founded for 10 years as well.

　　2013年9月和10月，中国国家主席习近平在出访中亚和东南亚国家期间，先后提出共建“丝绸之路经济带”和“21世纪海上丝绸之路”的重大倡议，获得国际社会高度关注。倡议的提出也启发了当时南昌航空大学一群热爱音乐的留学生，在学院老师的指导下，他们组建乐队并取名为“一带一路”。十年来，尽管队员不断更替，但乐队始终坚持把在中国的所见所闻、所思所想，用别具一格的音乐形式表达，让更多人通过他们的视角了解中国、认识中国。

　　September and October, in 2013, during a visiting of Central and Southeast Asian countries, President Xi Jinping of the People's Republic of China have proposed work together to build “the Silk Road Economic Belt” and “the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road”Initiative.The initiative also inspired a group of students who love music in Nanchang Hangkong University at that time.Under the guidance of their teachers, they formed a band and named it 'the Belt and Road' band. In the past decade, despite the constant change of members, the band has always insisted on expressing what they have seen, heard and thought in China with a unique musical form, so that more people can understand China and know China through their perspective.

　　如今，“一带一路”乐队不仅走出了大学校园，火遍了网络，更走向了全世界，成为联结中国与“一带一路”国家之间特殊的音乐纽带。随着乐队走红，乐队的成员们也逐渐被人们关注，他们在中国的经历和创作故事，成为各大媒体和海内外公众感兴趣的热门话题。“一带一路”乐队何以火“出圈”？这些留学生身上究竟有怎样的“魔法”？为此，记者在南昌航空大学采访数月，寻找答案。

　　Today, this band is popularnot only in campus, on the internet, but also towards the world, becoming a special musical bond between China and the BRI countries. As the band being famous, members from the band have gradually attracted people's attention, and their experiences and creative stories in China have become a hot topic of interest to major media and the public at home and abroad. How did the band hit the big time? What kind of 'magic' do these students have? For the answers, the reporter interviewed in Nanchang Hangkong University for several months. 

　　初见“一带一路”

　　First Time Meetingthe Band

　　夏日的南昌，时而喜欢在清晨来一场瓢泼大雨。撑伞漫步，穿过一段郁郁葱葱的山坡小路，便到了南昌航空大学国际教育学院大楼。驻足等候，只见大雨中的校园仿佛笼罩一层灰蒙蒙的白纱，打上了纯天然的文艺电影滤镜。雨势稍减，没多久，四个肤色黝黑、穿着素雅的留学生向记者迎面走来，挥手打起了招呼。

　　In summer, after a heavy rain in the early morning. Taking an umbrella and strolling through a lush hillside path to the School of International Education Building of Nanchang Hangkong University. We saw the campus in therain as if covered with a layer of gray white gauze, played a pure natural literary film filter. When the rain eased slightly, four students with dark skin and simple clothes walked toward the reporters and waved.

　　“我们来的路上雨很大，就耽误了一会儿。”最先走来的是乐队主唱丹尼尔，航空工程专业研究生，也是他们几人里中文最好的。瘦瘦的他，身穿整洁的浅蓝色衬衫，面带笑容向记者介绍一同过来的另外三位伙伴：“尼亚瑟是我们的鼓手，塔娜卡是助唱，阿贝是贝斯手，你们也可以叫他AJ。”一番简单而顺畅的介绍，让现场气氛迅速融洽，少了一些拘束和生分感。

　　'It rained heavily on our way here, so we were delayed for a while.' First came Daniel, the lead singer of the band, a graduate student in aeronautical engineering and the best Chinese speaker among them. A thin man in a neat light blue shirt, heintroduced the three other people who had come with him. 'Isaiah is our drummer, Tanaka is our support singer, and Abel is our bass player, or AJ, as you can call him.' A simple and smooth introduction,made the scene of atmosphere quickly harmonized, there was less restraint and a sense of separation.

　　安静的会客室里，记者与乐队四位成员开启了“破冰”闲聊。当让他们选择最合适自己的兴趣关键词（Keyword）时，结果竟有些许出乎意料。丹尼尔毫不犹豫地选择了“音乐”，头戴鸭舌帽、看起来酷酷的小伙尼亚瑟则选择了“足球”和“农业”，扎着卷发马尾、举止安静的女孩塔娜卡感兴趣的是“汉服”和“旅游”，而性格略显稳重的阿贝却喜欢钻研“科技”与“潮玩”。

　　In the quiet reception room, the reporters chatted with the four members of the band. When they were asked to choose the most appropriate keywords for their interests, the results were somewhat unexpected. Daniel did not hesitate to choose 'music', wore a cap, looking cool guy Isaiah chose 'football' and 'agriculture', wore a curly ponytail, quiet girl Tanaka was interested in 'Han-style clothing' and 'tourism', and the personality was slightly stable Abel liked to study 'technology' and 'trendy toy'.

　　四个个性迥异、来自不同国家的年轻人，因为加入“一带一路”乐队而结缘，在南昌航空大学这个大家庭里共同成长与进步。

　　Four young people with different personalities and from different countries, grew up and made progress together in the big family of Nanchang Hangkong University, because of the 'the Belt and Road' band.

　　“丹尼尔的Keyword应该是全能吧，他可是我们的大神。”尼亚瑟打趣道。

　　'Daniel's Keyword should be all-rounded. He's our master.' Quipped Isaiah joked.

　　“对呀，能唱歌、能演奏、能创作，中文说得还好，我们遇到不懂的问题，丹尼尔总能解答。”阿贝补充道。

　　'Singing, playing instruments and writing music, speaking Chinese well he is. When we have questions , Daniel can always answer them.' Abel added.

　　“你中文得有九级了吧？他们说英文，你和我们说中文。”记者看向丹尼尔。“哈哈，一般般啦。”他谦虚地说。

　　'Did you passed the ninthlevel of the Chinese exam? They speak English with us, you could speak Chinese.' The reporters looked at Daniel. 'Haw-haw, just so so.' he said modestly.

　　“《带你认识大中国》《我和我的汉语老师》《美美与共》这些中文歌都是你创作的呀。”

　　'Introducing the Great China, Me and my Chinese teacher，Beauty and Togethernessthese Chinese songs are all composed by you.'

　　“作曲部分是，但歌词是老师妈妈指导我们一起写的。”

　　'The composition part was, but the lyrics were written by our teacher mother.'

　　提到“老师妈妈”这个称呼，丹尼尔告诉记者，在南昌航空大学，老师就如同父母一般对待留学生们，所以大家都喜欢称他们“老师爸爸”或“老师妈妈”，年纪小一些的老师则称之为哥哥和姐姐。“老师为我们日夜辛劳，我们都记在心底。”

　　Referred to the title of 'teacher mother', Daniel told reporters that in Nanchang Hangkong University, teachers treat international students as their own children, so everyone likes to call them 'teacher fathers' or 'teacher mothers', and younger teachers been called brothers and sisters. 'The teachers worked hardfor us, and we all keep it in mind.'

　　再见“一带一路”

　　Meeting the Band Again

　　“我相信我就是我，我相信明天，我相信青春没有地平线……”在一张电子琴、一台架子鼓、一台音箱、一把贝斯组成的小小练习室里，随着旋律舒展，一首首动听的歌曲绕梁不绝。再次见到“一带一路”乐队时，记者有幸近距离聆听了他们的现场表演。

　　'I believe that I am who I am, I believe in tomorrow, and I believe that youth has no horizon...' In a small practice room composed of an electronic organ, a drum, a loudspeaker boxand a bass,the melody lingered in the room, one song after another around the beam. When we saw 'the Belt and Road' band again, the reporters had the opportunity to listen to their live performance up close.

　　练习室位于校园旁边的一栋平房里，由于是付费使用，乐队成员们每一次过来练习都格外认真，珍惜每一次的使用机会。练习室的角落里，记者看到一本被翻得很旧的中文曲谱。“那是我们平时练习的谱子，你们想听上面的什么歌，随便点。”丹尼尔自信地说道。

　　Thepractice room is located in a bungalow next to the campus, because it is paid to use, every timethe band members come to practice particularly seriously, cherish every opportunity. Reporters saw an old Chinese music score at the corner. 'That's the music we practiced a lot. You can ask for anything on it.' Daniel said confidently.

　　在南昌航空大学，“一带一路”乐队拥有广阔的成长舞台。近年来，学校时常组织乐队走出校园，去不同地方感受中国文化。“他们在这里不仅学会了中文，也学会了理解中国文化，这正是乐队的表演能打动人心的原因，他们唱出了对中国真挚的热爱。”国际学院老师谢华对记者说。

　　In Nanchang Hangkong University, 'theBelt and Road' band has a broad stage for growth. In recent years, the school often organizes the band to go out of the campus and experience Chinese culture in different places. 'They not only learn Chinese here, but also learn to understand Chinese culture, which is why the band's performance is so touching. They sing about their sincere love for China.' International college teacher Xie Hua told reporters.

　　在“一带一路”乐队创作的大多数作品中，歌曲虽然用英文演唱，但不论是歌词内容还是整个歌曲的氛围，中国元素仍然是主体。

　　In most of the works created by'theBelt and Road' band, although the songs are performedin English, both the lyric content and the overall atmosphere of the songs are still dominated by Chinese elements.

　　“大部分中文歌词的寓意都很深刻。”丹尼尔说。谈到具有代表性的《美美与共》这首歌，他表示，歌曲表面是探讨自然，但若将大自然的元素与人类社会相比较，就能够变成更宏大的主题，比如“团结”“包容”“文化互鉴”等等。“你和我来自不同的国家，但当我们团结在一起时，世界会更加美好。”

　　'Most Chinese lyrics have profound meanings.'said Daniel. Talked about the representative song 'Beauty and Togetherness', he said that the song was to discuss nature on the surface, but if the elements of nature were compared with human society, it could become a larger theme, such as 'unity' 'tolerance' 'cultural mutual learning' and so on. 'You and I come from different countries, but the world wouldbe a better place when we are united.'

　　理解“一带一路”

　　Understanding the Band

　　“来中国前，我以为，中国人功夫高强，能飞翔；见面以后，才知道，他们早起晚归，健步如飞……”“昨天你认识的中国是长城、故宫和长江，而今天的中国是创新、高铁、5G和天宫……”在“一带一路”乐队的创作中，很多脍炙人口的歌曲都在讲述中国。

　　'Before I came to China, I thought that the Chinese were strong in kung fu and could fly; but when I meet them, I realized that they get up early and come back late, and they walk fast...' 'The China you knew yesterday was the Great Wall, the Forbidden City and the Yangtze River, but today's China is innovation, high-speed rail, 5G and Tiangong space station...' In the creation of'theBelt and Road' band, many popular songs are talking about China.

　　“中国人不仅非常热情、热心且友好，还特别勤劳，他们起得真的很早，工作非常努力。我想这也是中国能取得巨大发展成就的原因。”丹尼尔说。来留学前，他在家乡看到许多中国的援建项目以及中国建设者的身影，这让他对中国充满了向往与期待。

　　'Chinese people are not onlywarm-hearted, but also extremely hard-working, they get up really early and workhard. I think that's why China has achieved so much.'said Daniel. Before he came to study here, he saw many Chinese construction projects and Chinese builders in his hometown, which filled him withexpectation for China.

　　塔娜卡告诉记者，过去她以为中国人都穿汉服，到这里才看到，他们平时也穿得和普通人一样，传统服装可能只在重大节日穿。“我觉得中国人的传统服饰很酷！另外，我注意到，在中国人家里，总有一些象征着传统的物件，这很棒！”她喜欢到处旅游，庐山、景德镇、上饶弋阳等地她都去过。“去上饶爬山，我喜欢感受那里的宁静；在景德镇可以学习如何制作陶瓷，我觉得景德镇很好，环境清幽，我很爱景德镇……”

　　Tanaka told reporters that in the past, she thought that Chinese people wore Han-style clothing, but they usually wear the same as ordinary people, traditional clothing may only wear in major festivals. 'I think Chinese traditional clothes are cool! Also, I noticed that they always had something in their house that symbolized tradition, which was really nice!' She liked to travel everywhere, Lushan, Jingdezhen, Shangrao Yiyang and other places she has been to. 'Going to Shangrao to climb the mountain, I like to feel the peace there; You can learn how to make ceramics in Jingdezhen, I think Jingdezhen is very good, the environment is quiet, I love Jingdezhen...'

　　尼亚瑟则对江西的水果情有独钟，特别向记者提到了赣南脐橙和南丰蜜桔。“这里有些水果在我们国家也能见到，柑橘也走进了津巴布韦的市场。”在音乐之外，他最爱的是足球。“踢足球让我接触到更多的中国人，我能轻松地融入他们。”尼亚瑟自豪地拿出他与江西丰城一支足球队队员的合影给记者看，并表示经常去丰城踢比赛。“毕业后，我准备组建一支自己的球队。”

　　Isaiah was fond of Jiangxi fruits, especially mentioned to reporters Gannan navel orange and Nanfeng tangerine. 'There are fruits that you can see in our country. Citrus is coming into the market in Zimbabwe.' Outside of music, his favorite was football. 'Playing football brings me into contact with more Chinese people, and I can fit in easily.' Isaiah proudly took a photo of him and a football team member in Fengcheng, Jiangxi Province, to reporters, and said that he often went to Fengcheng to play games. 'After graduation, I'm going to start my own team.'

　　阿贝有两次来留学的经历，对南昌近年来的发展变化，他感受颇深。“第一次来时，南昌还没通地铁，也没几座摩天大楼，后面再来时不仅有地铁，还有双子塔、朝阳大桥……甚至还发展起了VR产业。”对于学校展览室里摆放的各种飞机模型，阿贝如数家珍。“我平时就很喜欢画一些飞机的模型图纸，我希望今后也能从事一些和航空专业相关的工作。”

　　Abel has come to China twice, and he felt deeply about the development and changes of Nanchang in recent years. 'The first time I came, Nanchang has no subway, there are few skyscrapers, and when I come back, there is not only the subway, but also the Twin Towers and the Chaoyang Bridge... Even started a VR industry.' Abelknewabout the model airplanes displayed in the school exhibit room a lot. 'UsuallyIlike to draw some aircraft model drawings, and I hope to do some work related to aviation in the future.'

　　毕业后，也许有人会回国发展、有人会留在中国。然而，乐队成员都坚信，“一带一路”乐队一定会继续唱下去，把中国唱给世界听。“我们的乐队就像一个温暖的集体，大家虽然来自不同国家，却能像家人一样聚在一起，这样的精神会在南昌航空大学一直延续下去。”

　　After graduation, perhaps some of the band members will return to their own countries, and some will stay in China. However, they firmly believe that “the Belt and Road” band will continue tosing China towards to the world. 'Our band is like a warm collective. Although we come from different countries, we can get together like a family. This spirit will continue to live on at our school.'