Irish abroad: I really believe in ‘one world, one family’

It is not every day you meet a local hero, but when you do, it is an extraordinary experience. That is how I felt when I met Wu Guo Liang. His cheerful face and sturdy frame brought me immediate comfort after a shocking encounter. I still wonder to this day how I was so fortunate that he was there, like a guardian angel sent to rescue me.

My journey to China was a twist of fate. I always believed in destiny, and my father believed we had a special connection to the country. He was a man who admired the ancient civilisation and history of China. A Chinese acupuncturist cured him of back pain. It was almost as if the universe was calling me to explore this land.

I was working late in my teacher’s apartment when I heard the screen door open. I thought it was my colleague, John, playing a joke, but when I walked into the livingroom, I saw a tall young Chinese man. He seemed a bit strange, and I was a bit unnerved. He kept pointing to his throat, insisting he needed water.

I brought him a glass of water, and he started telling me his story. He said his father was American and his mother was Chinese, but his English was broken, and I had to switch to Mandarin to understand. He seemed out of sorts, and when I asked for his name, he just stared at me blankly.