【First-person perspective】How do ordinary Africans view Chinese people?

I am a foreign trade salesperson and have traveled to Durban, Djibouti, and Ghana in Africa. Before going to Africa, I believe that, like most people, I had many different opinions. Now, I will describe my personal experiences, and you will find that the real Africa is not as people say.
In 2011, my company sent me on a business trip to Africa. To be honest, I really didn't want to go at that time, but I couldn't refuse because of the company's arrangements. Before going to Africa, in my impression, Africa was associated with dirty, chaotic, and poor conditions; not only was it poor, but there were viruses everywhere, and health issues were a concern.
Moreover, I heard that the security in Africa is very poor, and it is best not to go out at night; robberies happen every day, and the police can't control them.
I came to Africa with a feeling of anxiety, and the previous rumors made me particularly cautious along the way. I didn't dare to speak to black people proactively; when I was hungry, I would just eat some dry bread and drink some milk; after getting off the plane, I didn't dare to eat anything at the airport convenience store. After leaving the airport and meeting my colleagues who worked at the factory in Africa, I finally felt relieved, dared to speak loudly, and released the tension and pressure I had been feeling along the way.
First Impressions of Africa
My colleagues took me to the factory, and I met many local workers. They were very happy to see me; many people took the initiative to bump fists with me as a greeting. Some people could even speak a few simple Chinese words and asked me my name. This was the first time I came to Africa and met Africans; they were very enthusiastic, but their skin was exceptionally black.
When I first arrived in Africa, my first impression was that it was exceptionally hot. The heat radiating from the ground felt unbearable; I wished I could take off all my clothes and hide in the refrigerator.
I saw many people on the street not wearing clothes, or wearing tattered and untidy clothes, which didn't look very refreshing.
Many buildings on the streets were quite old; I didn't see any tall buildings. Various wires were hanging on the outside of the buildings; some were bundled together, which was very insecure. I think this might be similar to the scene in China decades ago.
On the streets, I could see many people sleeping on the roadside. My colleagues told me that these people do this all day long; they rely on begging for a living and rummage through trash cans when hungry. Even if they beg, no one will give them anything; this is the social phenomenon.
In addition, Africa is a desertified and tropical area with underdeveloped agriculture and industry. Therefore, many people's income cannot support a family; with many children, it is difficult to survive. Especially when children get sick, they may not even have money for medical treatment and can only watch their lives be taken away by disease.
Due to underdeveloped agriculture and poor planting effects, there is insufficient food supply. Therefore, for many families in African countries, being able to eat enough is already very good. They like the fact that Chinese people invest and set up factories there, so they can have more income and more security in their lives.
Most importantly, there are a lot of mosquitoes and insects in Africa, and they are very poisonous. My colleagues told me that when he first came to Africa, he was accidentally bitten by an insect in the dormitory and didn't pay much attention to it, thinking it was just like in China, being bitten by a mosquito is a common thing. However, my colleague later fainted in the dormitory and was only saved by other colleagues who discovered him in time and sent him to the hospital for emergency treatment; otherwise, his life would have been in danger.
During my time in Africa, I found that although these African workers may have problems even eating, their wages are very low, about ten yuan a day, but they are very satisfied and happy.
So, how do ordinary Africans view Chinese people?
Let me explain from the following aspects.
1. Chinese people are good at making money
In the impression of Africans, Chinese people are very business-minded; being able to invest in Africa is a sign of being good at making money. Moreover, the wages of Chinese people in Africa are very high. In the eyes of Africans, Chinese people are particularly wealthy; those who can stay in Africa for a long time must be very rich.
In factories, the wages of Chinese people are unimaginable for African workers; they are simply top tycoons. Therefore, ordinary Africans think that Chinese people are very rich.
2. Chinese people save money but don't enjoy life
In the eyes of many Africans, Chinese people are good at making money and can save a lot of money in a year, but they are not willing to spend money and don't know how to enjoy life or experience the fun of life.
In Africa, local people don't have the concept of saving money; they spend whatever they earn that day. So, while they enjoy life, they are also suffering from the merciless counterattack of life; when diseases come, they can only watch themselves or their relatives suffer from pain and torment because they have no money for medical treatment, and they may die of illness.
3. They think Chinese people have good skin
Perhaps because the local Africans have dark skin, they all think that Chinese people have good skin. But they say we have white skin, not that we Chinese have yellow skin. I think this is because their own skin is black, so they think that skin that is not black is white skin.
Locally, beautiful African girls also use whitening skin care products, although there is no obvious effect, but this may be a kind of psychological yearning.
Many girls said they are willing to marry Chinese men, so that they can improve the skin of the next generation; the children born will not have such dark skin, and mixed-race children are also very smart.
4. They cannot understand the separated life of Chinese people
In the eyes of Africans, whether poor or rich, their families will not be separated and will live together. They say they cannot understand those Chinese people in Africa.
Chinese people can work in Africa alone, while their families and children remain in China, leading a life of separation, sometimes not seeing each other for a whole year. Africans find this separated family life model of Chinese people very difficult to understand.
5. Chinese people are very friendly
In the eyes of the local Africans, they think Chinese people are the friendliest. They have also met people from other countries, but they were not so friendly, some clearly showing an air of superiority and a lack of respect.
Chinese people are not like that; they smile at people and take the initiative to greet them. Therefore, they find Chinese people easy to get along with and are more willing to work in Chinese factories.
6. Chinese people are very hardworking
Chinese people are very hardworking and are very interested in making money. Overtime work is often seen in Chinese factories.
In the eyes of Africans, Chinese people are particularly hardworking, they love their work, they don't shirk their responsibilities, and they don't pick and choose their work.
7. Chinese people use smartphones
At that time, many local people in Africa did not have mobile phones, some only had button phones, like the kind of elderly phones we have in China.
In their eyes, Chinese people use smartphones and can freely access the internet, which is really enviable. They also yearn to have a smartphone, but it is difficult; in the face of their meager income, a smartphone is simply a fortune.
In short, in the eyes of ordinary Africans, the impression of Chinese people is still good, and they all say that if they have the opportunity, they are willing to visit China.
      If you plan to go to Africa in the future, what aspects should you pay special attention to?
1. Malaria in Africa
As mentioned above, there are many mosquitoes in Africa, and they are highly toxic. Coupled with the harsh environment in Africa, once infected with malaria, it is a very dangerous thing.
In Africa, children often lose their lives to malaria. Therefore, if you plan to travel to Africa, it is best to take malaria medicine and mosquito repellent to ensure your health.
2. Don't show off your wealth
When you go to Africa, you must keep a low profile and never show off your wealth. Chinese people will attract attention as soon as they arrive in Africa, and if you show off your wealth, you are easily targeted.
In Africa, many people are starving. Seeing you so high-profile and obviously rich, be careful that your belongings will be emptied, and your life safety will also be threatened. Don't expect the local police to help you solve these problems, because this is a common social problem, and the police's power is limited.
3. Don't go out at night
In Africa, it's chaotic during the day, let alone at night. The overall security situation will make you very worried. It is best not to go out at night. For your life and property safety, prepare the necessities during the day and stay in the hotel to rest at night.
4. Don't litter cigarette butts
In Africa, don't smoke casually, and don't litter cigarette butts; you will be fined. Especially in places like Rwanda and Senegal, the requirements for smoking bans are very high, and there will be special personnel to manage them. If you are found smoking or littering cigarette butts, you will be heavily fined.
Conclusion:
Ordinary Africans have a good impression of Chinese people, especially African girls, who are very willing to come to China and are willing to marry Chinese men. Everyone in every country deserves respect, and every country has its own cultural characteristics. We should respect and understand each other, which is conducive to the harmonious and peaceful development of the world.
Article from the internet