Grandpa has been living independently in the countryside since Gran passed away years ago. Last year, I did not go back to the home village to visit him due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. Over the months, Grandpa rang me a lot from his landline, saying that he missed me very much. Of course, I missed him none the less. After the first lockdown was lifted in 2020, I still could not afford a proper time to go and visit him for various reasons.

Toward the end of last term before the Spring Festival holidays came, I made up my mind to go back and keep my grandpa company for a few days in the winter vacation. My parents, who were opposed to my idea, thought it would be very inconvenient for me to take online lessons in the home village, should another lockdown be imposed. Internet access in a typical Chinese village is inadequate for remote school.

Despite my parents’ disapproval, I still went back and visited Grandpa when my holidays began. My arrival in his home could not have pleased Grandpa more. Right away he showed off his new smartphone to me. On the device, he took a lot of photos of me, saying that he could see my pictures when I was away. After that, Grandpa asked me to teach him how to make a video call on WeChat. To be honest, I was a little bored. Already in his seventies, Grandpa would be having a very hard time learning the tech, I thought.

Grandpa’s enthusiasm for learning exceeded my expectations. He asked me lots of simple questions over and over again. He tried and failed, but the setbacks did not dampen his spirits. Grandpa even scribbled down my instructions in a notebook. After a long time of trial and error finally came the moment when Grandpa made a video connection to me successfully. He laughed happily like a child.

During my six days with Grandpa, he made a lot of video calls to me just for practice. Grandpa believed in the proverb: Practice makes perfect. By the time I left Grandpa for the city, he had become an expert in video calls.

Compared with Grandpa, I feel ashamed. By contrast, I did not have the same patience. Grandpa’s effort to learn tech opened my eyes to what attitude is. Whenever the vivid scene where Grandpa was trying to get it right on the device pops back into my mind’s eye, I cannot but feel great admiration for this elderly farmer. I should have the same outlook when confronted with a new challenge.

Thanks to Grandpa, I have acquired a fresh perspective on difficulties in my study. Nothing is impossible to a willing heart. Grandpa is my role model.