Masarova Sarka, from the Czech Republic, earned her doctorate in Modern and Contemporary Chinese Literature from East China Normal University in 2014 and is now an assistant professor in the Chinese Department at Charles University in Prague. Her story at ECNU is about belonging, affection, and growth.

Masarova's connection with China began during her undergraduate years in the Chinese Department at Palacky University Olomouc. She spent two semesters improving her Chinese at Xi'an Jiaotong University from 2001 to 2002. It was also during this period that her desire to pursue a doctorate in China took shape.

A few years later, when her twin sons and a daughter grew older, she decided to applied for the PhD program in Chinese at ECNI and was awarded a Chinese government scholarship.

Masarova embarked on her doctoral studies in 2010 and quickly adapted to the learning environment at the Minhang and Zhongbei campuses, having visited Shanghai several times before. She grew fond of the beautiful campus scenery throughout the four seasons. What she cherished most was her time in the Chinese department — studying in the library, attending classes, listening to lectures, and participating in seminars.

She was a frequent visitor to the libraries on both campuses, where she found a conducive learning environment that became her spiritual home. It was there that she formed lasting friendships with classmates and peers. She still keeps the handwritten notes she made in the reading rooms as treasured mementos.

She appreciated her professors and peers for their guidance, care, and encouragement. Their companionship made her feel like a part of a new family. Masarova especially thanked the teachers at ECNU's international student office, who assisted her from the moment she arrived at ECNU, helping her navigate various procedures and offering timely help, care and encouragement whenever she faced challenges.

Throughout her doctoral studies, her daughter accompanied her and started her own adventure in Shanghai as well. During the four years at ECNU, her daughter attended school in the city, progressing from beginner to native-level proficiency in Chinese.

On weekends, Masarova and her daughter would spend afternoons and evenings on the lawns at ECNU. She also formed valuable friendships with teachers from different departments, many of whom were parents of her daughter's friends.

Masarova said that enrolling her daughter in a local school was one of the best decisions she could have made, as it allowed her to fully integrate into the local culture and learning environment and build meaningful connections. Her daughter felt at home in Shanghai, and her affection for the city led her to return to Shanghai in 2024 to pursue her undergraduate studies at Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

For Masarova, ECNU is not just her alma mater. It has become her second home for both her and her daughter. Their four years there shaped not only their academic achievements but also their personal growth. Above all, their time in Shanghai gave them a deep sense of belonging, which will continue to guide them forward with courage and confidence.

Source: Official WeChat account of Global Education Center of ECNU (ID: "ecnugec")