Reported by: LAN Rui
Photographed by: LAN Rui
Translated by: WANG Ying
Edited by: Jennifer Taylor
In September students began to enter the university campus. Taking the shuttle bus from the first campus, it takes about 15 minutes to reach the second campus which is located on Huanhe Road. It reminded me of an autumn day many years ago when we just past our 18th birthday, left home, said goodbye to parents and started our college life for the first time. No one would put milk and bread onto your bedside early. No one would wash the dirty clothes you took off with no hesitation and complaint and no one would slip into your room quietly to tuck you in. Closing my eyes, my lost youth flowed back and filled my heart and the transient memories were wakened by loud military songs. Outside the bus, "camouflage" of the campus competed successfully with the blue sky and green land of September. So the reporter hurried out of the car and started the reporting of "Camouflage September".
In 2013, there are more than 4100 registered undergraduate freshmen, and the male to female ratio is about 3:1. They are distributed to 13 companies of the three military training camps. During the two weeks’ military life, new students completed formation training, shooting training, phalanx training, fire drills, military boxing, guards boxing and related sports activities. During this period, the stadium is a beautiful scene.
On September 5, it was the fifth day of military training and their beautiful faces were hidden under the brim of the hats. Around 16:00, six classes of the 4th company, 240 students altogether sit on the southeast corner of the football stadium lawn enjoying the sunset, not far away from the Third Company. In order to promote friendship and deepen understanding between the companies, the instructor of the Third Company Class Three took eight girls on stage to give a performance. Singer LIN Fan’s "Living Alone" was perfectly performed by a girl. In this process, from time to time someone shouted "Beauty, look here!" Naughty boys also took out their cell phones and secretly took pictures, the girls also looked out of envious eyes. This made the shy protagonist feel flattered. She quickly waved to everyone to show respect and quieten restlessness. The remaining seven girls then showed their talents. From then on, the third company was well-known and gained the name of "eight beauties". The reporter saw this scene, and found the Third Company Class Three the next day with the help of some freshmen from the Fourth Company. The reporter again saw one of "Eight Beauty" GONG Shiran, and had the opportunity to listen to her singing "Living Alone", "Olive" and "Year after year". GONG, with a height of 1.70 meters, majors in financial management in the School of Management. She becomes a major protagonist in “Camouflage September” because of her youth and confidence.
On September 7, the seventh day of military training, a dog called "Da Huang" appeared and was good at getting in the way and asking for food. Around 14:00 was the hottest time of the day. Standing under the blazing sun for quite a long time was an inevitable suffering in the military training. Sometimes walking was actually more comfortable than just remaining upright under the sun. However, Da Huang just chose the place of Camp Two Company Three. Whether you were goose-stepping or going square, he just lay down in front of you. Shouting was no use with him and you couldn’t bear to step on him, which created a dilemma for everyone. With this emergency, a boy came out from the back of the company and pulled out a plastic bag from his pocket, and "sacrificed half a sausage to lead "Da Huang" to the side.
On September 12, it was the twelfth day of military training. What are the freshmen like after the end of the day? At 17 o'clock, the sun set. New students left the playground in small groups. Eight of ten people pulled out their smart phone. Some were busy on the QQ, others were busy on WeChat. It took them nearly fifteen minutes to get to the canteen less than 200 meters away. Day soon went dark, the students dressed in camouflage vanished into the roadside willow, and gradually we could only hear their laughter. Arriving at the cafeteria door, it occurred to some students that they forgot to bring their meal card and pick up the glass on the playground, so they ran back. As a result, they had to eat dinner in 20 minutes. At this time, mothers who were thousands of miles away called. Mothers were concerned for their child’s condition, and children felt homesick. Soon after, the food became cold, but the telephone became hot.
On September 14, it was the military parade. It was the last time. New students got up early to eat and stand in lines an hour earlier. More and more people came on the podium. The national anthem rung out, and school leaders began to review the recruits. There were a lot of people watching the full big square and also enjoying military boxing and guards boxing for the first time. They concluded with a "Blue Song" to express nostalgia for military training and gratitude to their instructors. The singing echoed in the air. After a moment, more than 4,000 people walked off in turn. A squad leader said "The superiors require we should not throw instructors". After fruitless discussion, we had to say "Qie Zi" and wave our arms to have a group photo taken to mark the occasion. At noon, the girls came of the dormitory wearing nice clothes, and the boys held the ball running to the playground. Tomorrow classes will begin, so the students wanted to play happily the whole afternoon.
Freshman military training will be the last group training in many people’s lives and it is impressive. People who have experienced it often say that military training is the most beautiful memory in college, because those days are a time most full of warmth, youth and innocence, with the campus presenting eye-catching colors.
Dress right, dress!
Charging forward!
Countless hours behind the sonorous pace.
Worn-out bottom of a trouser leg.
