On January 28, the fourth night of the Chinese New Year, Bentaleb (Chinese name:本杰明) came to the supermarket near JCI to help students to purchase daily necessities. "The supermarket closed early yesterday. So I have come earlier today." Next to the shelf, he took out his phone and opened the WeChat video. "This cake has several different flavors, which one do you want... And this.....".
During the winter holiday, 85 foreign students from different countries, including Bentaleb, stayed at the school. In order to reduce the risk of epidemic brought by purchasing outside, Bentaleb, as the floor manager, collected the daily needs of everyone and then went out for general purchasing. In order to buy the satisfying goods, he would considerately discuss over WeChat videos or pictures to help others choose. "In times of difficulty, it's more important for us to help each other, which is what I should do."
Bentaleb, who is from Morocco, came to JCI in November 2019 as a student of the International Chinese Language Training Program. Being warm-hearted and active, he can speak many languages and Chinese well, which has left a deep impression on teachers and classmates. After the epidemic prevention and control of the school was launched, teachers from the International School approached him and asked if he could be a floor manager to help carry out relevant work. Bentaleb agreed without hesitation.
Since New Year's Eve, Bentaleb went to the dormitory with the teachers every day to learn about the students' physical and living conditions, helped them register their temperature and publicize the knowledge of epidemic prevention, and told them to pay attention to hygiene, wear masks and avoid going out as much as possible. Sometimes he was so busy he didn’t go back to his bedroom until 12 o'clock at night. In order to relieve the anxiety of some students, Bentaleb and the other three floor managers worked tirelessly to comfort them: "Don't be nervous, everyone. At present, although it is difficult, everything will be OK, we should trust the Chinese government and scientists!”
Nouh Bentaleb (front row, first right) and teachers promoting the knowledge of epidemic prevention and control
Nouh Bentaleb (second from left) going to the dormitory with his teacher to learn about the situation
Nouh Bentaleb (first from left) visiting his classmates with teachers and medical staff
With the media coverage of the epidemic in China, some parents of those foreign students wanted them to return home. Bentaleb assisted the teacher to prepare the travel information of those going home, so that the school could help them leave the country sooner. Some of the foreign students returning from other places did not understand the quarantine, Bentaleb assisted the teacher to explain, especially to the students from African countries whose English was not good enough. After unremitting explanation that the temporary quarantine was to protect everyone's safety, he finally obtained the understanding and active cooperation of those students.
“There will be hard days, but they won't last.” Bentaleb wrote on his Wechat. “I love Chinese culture and I want to stay here to learn Chinese." Bentaleb said, "Let's get through this together. Come on."
