My First Journey to China: A Story of Firsts and Wonder

Around this time last year, I had one of the most unforgettable experiences of my life — my very first trip outside Africa, to China. It was not just another journey; it was a story of firsts, excitement, and discovery. Before that, the only country I had ever visited outside Sierra Leone was our neighbour, Guinea. So when the opportunity came to travel to Hefei, Anhui Province, China, it felt like a dream. 

The news came suddenly. My boss at the China-Africa Institute informed me that I had been selected to travel — but the notice came very close to the deadline. I was overjoyed yet panicked. There was no time to waste. I rushed to prepare my documents, took my passport to the embassy, and make quick arrangements at home before leaving. Every step felt like a race against time, but my excitement gave me energy. I couldn’t stop imagining what China would look like — its people, the streets, the food, the culture. 

Lungi International Airport

When it was finally time to travel to the airport, I had mixed feelings — joy, curiosity, nervousness. I couldn’t eat much, though my darling had prepared me a delicious meal. I was too excited to have an appetite. Since the airport is across the sea from Freetown, I took the ferry from Freetown to Lungi, a one-hour ride. The sea was calm, and my mind was full of thoughts. At Lungi, I hired a motorbike (or okada, as we call them here) to take me to the new airport. A part of me felt a little sad that I wouldn’t get to travel through the old Lungi International Airport — the one I had so often visited to see friends and relatives off. I had always dreamed that one day it would be my turn to walk through its gates. But now, the new airport was the gateway to my dream.