[Interview]Couples Share Love Memories and Express Gratitude to GDUFS

After the wedding ceremony, several couples shared their love experiences and delivered their best wishes to their Alma Mater at this special moment, the group wedding of the 50^th anniversary of Guangdong University of Foreign Studies (GDUFS).

1)    Supporting each other through thick-or-thin during 58 years

YU Zerong (bride) and LIN Tao (bridegroom) have been together for nearly sixty years, being the longest-married couple in the group wedding ceremony. Though not dressed in a wedding gown, the silver haired bride was sweet, with a big smile and a twinkle in her eyes. Her 88-year-old husband, LIN Tao, though not talking too much, gazed at his wife peacefully and blissfully. YU said they met after joining the army in Wuhan. LIN Tao, the son of martyr LIN Tieshi, was a good man, bravely fighting against the Japanese invaders but hadn’t found his true love by the time when he was 28 years old. Fortunately YU showed up in his life. After the war, they transferred to civilian work at GDUFS.

YU recalled the scene when they got married, “There was never a real wedding ceremony. We bought some candies. The meal was nothing special that day, only 0.15 RMB. I have never thought of attending my own wedding ceremony in my whole life until today. We feel so much appreciation to GDUFS!”

YU compared love in her generation with the younger generations of today; “The living conditions were harsh at that time in China. We didn’t pursue too much, just being healthy and supporting each other, no matter how hard things were for usl That was enough. I have been filled with happiness all my life because of my family.” Looking at her, we can feel the power and the magic of true love.

YU Zerong and LIN Tao

2)    Proud to witness the progress of their Alma Mater

Another young couple graduating in 2012 from the School of English and Education told us they have just become engaged several days ago. They met in the Student Union and often planned all kinds of extracurricular activities together. Time going by, they developed an affection for each other. When it comes to the essence for love, the bridegroom thought for a while and twined his arms around his glamour girl, “love is to meet the right person in the right time, and do the right thing with no hesitation.”

“When I came back to our Alma Mater three years after graduation, I was so delighted to find that all the facilities were being improved and to see that the campus full of vigor and inspiration. All the volunteers as well as the bridesmaids and groomsmen are warm-hearted and considerate, providing high-quality services with a good manner. GDUFS is becoming better and I am so proud to be her student!” the bride said with a bright laugh.

3)    Recalling the old days and surprised by the changes

GUAN Biao was part of the first session of students in GDUFS. He said it was really happy and exciting to be here today with so many married couples to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of GDUFS. He shared with us that he met his wife for the first time under a redbud tree. In the old days, their wedding ceremony was really simple. “A 12 square meters’ place, some candies, some water, a few plates of peanuts, that was all about all there was to our wedding ceremony.” At that time, the conditions were limited. But they still enjoyed their simple wedding ceremony and had a lot of fun. He also said that there were 20 couples in total that got married at that time, and none of them had divorced. He also believes the alumni association is a vital link that ties all the schoolfellows together.

Finally, he gave us some suggestions about getting along with your spouse: No matter how bad or wonderful your life is, you always have to stick together with your spouse. It is not about money or houses. It is all about trust and faith.  

GUANG Biao and his wife

4)    Peer couples of GDUFS

Another couple interviewed by us is WANG Zemian and WANG Lingling, both of whom had studied in GDUFS respectively since 1983 and 1984. Both of them majored in Japanese Language. GUAN told us that the group wedding ceremony is very significant to them, because both he and GDUFS are 50 years old this year. WANG Lingling said that they didn`t hold a wedding ceremony when they were young, so this group wedding ceremony is really impressive to her. They shared their past when studying here.

5)    Special guests from Korea

On the occasion of this 50^th Anniversaty wedding, we had a special married couple that came from Korea. Among the members of the audiencewas a man dressed in suit who was a friend of the groom. He said that this is the first time he had come to GDUFS. He found it really large and traditional and he felt that the people here were really hospitable. And because GDUFS is located under Baiyun Mountain, therefore, he really enjoyed the scenery and views here. The favorite part of today’s activities for him was when the grooms were picking up brides. He considered it really romantic to propose in this way.

The Korean couples and their relatives