To live is to endure, & to endure is to grow stronger.

"What does it truly mean to live?" This question reminded me as I read Yu Hua's To Live, a story of survival, loss & resilience in the face of relentless change. Every phase of this novel reminded me that life is not measured by wealth or comfort but by the courage to endure and the strength to keep moving forward.

Journey in the novel

Some stories stay with you long after the last page is turned and Yu Hua's To Live is one of them. The novel speaks the life of Fugui, a man who experiences tremendous loss, hardship, and challenge throughout China's turbulent 20th century. Through his life story, I learned in debt about Chinese culture & values resilience, family & the ability to find meaning even in suffering. The rich depiction of rural life, social changes and the struggles of ordinary people allowed me, as a foreign student, to connect emotionally with China's history 7 society. Reading To Live not only gave me insight into the hardship that shaped generations in Jiangsu & beyond but also helped me appreciate the enduring spirit of the Chinese people in the face of adversity.

Stepping into Jiangsu for the first time, I faced challenges that sometimes felt overwhelming navigating unfamiliar streets, understanding a new language & adapting to different culture. At time, I wondered if I could truly "live" here, far from home & comfort. Yet, recalling Fugui's resilience in To Live, I gained strength through consistent effort & each minor accomplishment for instance ordering a meal in Chinese confidently, joining my first local festival, or simply understanding a friendly conversation on the street felt like a victory, a reminder that life is about endurance & hope. Wandering through Jiangsu's ancient gardens, hearing the rhythmic bustle of markets & watching modern streets pulse with energy, I realized that the province itself embodies this lesson: history & modernity, struggle & progress, tradition & innovation all coexist, teaching me patience, adaptability and the quiet courage to embrace every new experience.

Cultural similarities & a sense of belonging: One of the most comforting discoveries during my time here has been the cultural similarities between china & my own homeland. Although I am far away, the values portrayed in "To Live" family devotion, respect for elders & perseverance during hardship resonated deeply with me, Fugui's unwavering dedication to his family reminded me of the sacrifices & love that bind families in my own culture. These shared values made it easier for me to adjust to life in Jiangsu because they provided a sense of familiarity in an unfamiliar place. I remember attending a local festival with my classmates & noticing how everyone looked out for one another, shared food & treated each other like extended family. In that moment, I felt an unexpected sense of belonging. Even though the environment was new, the warmth of community felt incredibly familiar.

Growing with Fugui

Strength in quiet endurance: Understanding these culture connections gave me both comfort & courage, it reminded me that while countries may differ in language or appearance, the human heart values the same things everywhere love, family, resilience & hope. Living in Jiangsu has helped me develop not only language skills & academic knowledge but also a deeper emotional maturity. Just as Fugui's journey shaped him, my experience here is shaping me, teaching me the patience to endure difficult days & the gratitude to treasure good ones.

Embracing hardship & growth: Fugui's story also taught me an important truth: suffering does not define us, our response to suffering does. Every loss he faces could have destroyed him yet he chose to continue living with gentleness & humility. His strength was not loud or heroic it was quit, steady & deeply human. This kind of strength is something I aspire to carry within myself, especially while studying abroad, far from the support systems I once depended on.

Hope, endurance & the human spirit: As I navigate this chapter of my life, I often think of Yu Hua's message that life's value lies in living it fully, even when the path is uncertain. The novel encourages its readers to embrace hardship not as a punishment but as an inevitable part of human growth. My own struggles in adapting to a new country moments of confusion, homesickness, or loneliness now feel like necessary steps toward becoming stronger, kinder, and more understanding.

True massage of life

True massage of To Live: This novel transformed the way I understand life, hardship, and resilience. Fugui's journey showed me that even when everything seems to fall apart, the human spirit can still find a way to stand tall. His life was shaped not by what he lost, but by how he continued to live despite the losses. As I continue my own journey in Jiangsu, I carry this lesson with me, every day whether joyful, challenging, or uncertain is an opportunity to grow stronger. To live is not simply to survive, it is to keep moving forward with hope, gratitude, and courage. Just like Fugui, I am learning that the true meaning of life lies in enduring, adapting, and finding strength in the resilience of the human heart.

Choosing hope in every new day: To Live is not merely a story of tragedy, it is a testament to the enduring human spirit, showing that hope can persist even in the harshest circumstance.  Reading to live profoundly reshaped my understanding of resilience. I have realized that endurance is not about suppressing pain, but also the courage to keep moving forward despite it. It is about accepting reality while still holding on to hope for a better tomorrow. As I continue my journey in Jiangsu, I carry Fugui's wisdom with me, every day is valuable and every experience whether joyful or difficult contributes to the person I am becoming. Through Fugui, Yu Hua teaches us that to live is to endure and to endure is to grow stronger. My time in Jiangsu has reinforced this lesson. Despite challenges & uncertainties, I have learned to move forward with courage, gratitude & resilience, discovering that the true meaning of life lies not in perfection or comfort but in the simple yet profound act of continuing to live with hope.

The author is KHADIJA BINTA ISLAM MEEM from Yangzhou Polytechnic University.