Like many other foreigners his age, Abdula Zakaria, the 33-year-old from Niger, first learned about China through the kungfu films of Bruce Lee.

"It was in the early 1970s," recalled Zakaria. "Due to hatred of capitalist countries, as Niger used to be a colony of France, we could see many films from China and India, but none from America or Britain."

In those years, Niger people had especially good feelings towards China, and looked to China as an example of a nation achieving independence from the hand of capitalists.

One Chinese person who greatly influenced Zakaria was Mao Zedong.

Not only Zakaria worshiped this famous Chinese figure, almost all youth of his age idolized Chairman Mao, as he was the one who led Chinese people to drive out foreign enemies and set up a new republic.

Surprise

In 1990, when Zakaria first arrived in Mao Zedong's country, he was surprised to find that Chairman Mao was far less respected here than in Niger.

The country was also different from what he expected through the kungfu films and Confucius works.

"I had thought that China was very poor with a lot of old shabby houses," he said. "But when I stepped onto the streets of Shanghai, I knew how wrong I was."

Zakaria came to China at that time as an exchange student from Niger's famous Niamey University to East China Normal University in Shanghai.

"It wasn't easy to gain such an opportunity to come to China, as many of my classmates had the same good feelings towards the country as I do," said Zakaria.

"I didn't want to miss the chance, so I worked much harder after I learned the news."

A gifted language learner, Zakaria spent his first year in Shanghai studying Chinese, and in the following two years his Chinese became so good that he could directly take courses given in Chinese.

"It is very interesting to live in a totally different environment and engage yourself in another culture, but it is also a challenge," Zakaria said.

He remembered the earlier years in Shanghai, when he had to learn to accept being stared at in public by a lot of people. His classmates were always curious about his curly hair and dark skin, and would often look at him.

"At that time local people had little knowledge about Africa," Zakaria said.

"They just thought that in my country the temperature was as high as 100 degrees Celsius, and we needn't buy coffee as we could drink it right after we picked the beans from the trees."

Although Zakaria has told his Shanghai friends many times that the summer in Shanghai is much hotter than his hometown of Einder, many still attribute his remarks to nostalgia.

Confucius worshiper

Apart from Mao Zedong, another Chinese figure Zakaria worships is the ancient sage Confucius, unlike most Chinese youth who take little interest in the historical figure.

"Many of my Chinese friends don't understand why I adore Confucius, just as I can't see why they don't worship such a great sage," Zakaria said, smiling.

"Before I came to China, I started reading Confucius books, and as soon as I stepped into this country I began thinking of visiting Confucius' hometown."

During his first winter vacation, he realized his long-cherished dream, travelling to Qufu - Confucius' hometown- in East China's Shandong Province.

"There aren't words to describe the sense of joy I experienced when I prostrated myself at the great sage's statuary," said Zakaria.

Shanghai complex

After he finished university in Shanghai, Zakaria went back to Niger.

"However, after living in Shanghai for four years it seems that I've developed a complex towards the city, and when back in Niger, I even became homesick for Shanghai," he said.

That is why in 1999 Zakaria chose Shanghai again as the place to pursue his master's degree, although at that time he had two other choices in France and Germany.

"When finally I stepped into the city again I knew my choice was right," Zakaria said.

"The city has developed so quickly, and it has become so beautiful. The great changes make me feel like a new comer again."

After being away for five years, he was glad to find that people here have become much more open-minded.

"Fewer people stare at me, and I still found a Shanghai girlfriend," he said.

All these have firmed Zakaria's decision to settle down here after finishing his postgraduate study.

Over the years, Zakaria has accustomed himself to almost everything in the city including its sweet food, as in his hometown dishes are spicy.

Yet as one of the few Africans in Shanghai, he still sometimes has the feeling of being an outsider.

"Sometimes I don't quite understand something in the city, and people may not be so patient to explain things to me, and just say 'it is a regulation, so no more questions', although I know it can't be regulation," he said. "This is something I find most difficult to accept."

The biggest goal of Zakaria is to open a company in Shanghai.

He tried it in the first year after he finished his postgraduate study at Shanghai University.

Co-operating with a friend, they jointly opened a trading company. But for him, the first taste of being a boss was bitter. It wasn't long before they found it hard to continue.

"I am not very experienced at conducting business," he said. "But it is still my dream."

Zakaria has now found a job as marketing director with an education consultant company, which he took as a good opportunity to learn more business skills.

"It is a great pain to leave one's native country, but it is also a great gain to get oneself involved in a totally different culture," Zakaria said.

"Not every person is as lucky as me."

(Shanghai Star June 27, 2002)