[National Day] What's Their National Day Like?

What does the National Day mean to you? The golden week? Travel time? Or just that you can finally take a break from school and work? Nowadays, for most of us, the National Day may simply mean the National holiday. But have you ever wondered what the National Day means for those older generations?

HUANG JianHua, one of the senior professors in GDUFS as well as an outstanding linguist who has led the compilation of the Chinese-French Dictionary, accepted our interview and shared his feelings about the National Day.

Previously, the National Day was celebrated with yearly review of troops, gala parades and many uplifting slogans, which differs a lot from today’s entertaining activities. Towards this change, Professor HUANG had his own attitude---It was alright to travel around and have a look at different places or even different countries because we were supposed to relax. But we should always hold our principles and shoulder our responsibilities, because only in this way can we gain respect worldwide and serve our country in a better way.

Talking about the National Day, one thing that Professor HUANG emphasized was how the establishment of China changed his life. Born in a poor family in 1936, Professor HUANG had no opportunity to receive education considering the social context at that time. If it was not the establishment of China, he might be a normal worker who would follow his father’s footsteps instead of being a knowledgeable professor, not to mention the substantial contribution he has made in Chinese and French learning.

During this National Day, Professor HUANG said he would stay in his office, focusing on the follow-up work of the Chinese-French Dictionary. He also advised us young learners to be down-to-earth in learning and wished us a bright future.

So this National Day, or more specifically, this National Holiday, why not visit a library and read some books instead of rushing off traveling?