I was 15 years old when I recieved the admission notice for the Department of Japanese of Shanghai International Studies University. I didn't know why because I had applied for the Department of English.

But, I thought, OK, I'm still young,I would like to learn a new language. 

So, without any hesitation, I checked in. I found that allmost all my classmates were just like the same with me. They applied for English, but were put into the Japanese Department without knowing why.

Later we learned that it was the goverment's idea to make more students learn Japanese because a friendship agreement was signed between China and Japan the year before.

That meant the interchange between the two countries would be much more frequent and more diversified. And along with that, countless interpreters, translaters and researchers concerning Japan and its culture would be needed. That's why the Japanese Department became the second largest department of the University.

But we still didn't know why and how WE were picked. Not even now.

(to be continued)