In June, she will graduate from Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine with a bachelor's degree in acupuncture and massage. As a mother of three children, she also sent them to China to study traditional Chinese medicine, and all of them have now finished their studies.

Change from an accompanying studying mother to 57-year-old bachelor of traditional Chinese medicine

Many years ago, Xu noticed that the elderly in South Korea trusted traditional Chinese medicine when she was still a housewife, so she came up with the idea of having her children come to China to learn traditional Chinese medicine. "I think China's acupuncture and massage ranks first in the world!" She said.

In 2003, Xu came to China with three kids. At that time, her daughter and eldest son were in high school, and her youngest son was in junior high school. In 2017, all of her children were studying in college. As she was not busy accompanying her kids to study anymore, Xu discussed with her husband that she could learn traditional Chinese medicine too: "When my kids graduate and work, I can cooperate with them in the future. This is the life I want."

Xu's insistence moved her husband to support her decision. At the age of 57, she applied for the acupuncture and massage major at Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine and began a six-year undergraduate study.

After starting her studies, Xu realized that learning Chinese medicine was far more difficult than she thought. "First, I need to translate what the teachers said into Korean to understand and recite, and then translate Korean into Chinese and recite again. Language and age barriers make me forget what I just recited yesterday."

In order to keep up with the learning schedule, she has to study until midnight every day after returning to her dormitory. The time to sleep became later in the final exam week when she couldn't go to bed until one or two o'clock every night. With doubled efforts, Xu managed to pass all the exams during undergraduate study without failing any one of them.

Xu to promote traditional Chinese medicine in South Korea with her kids

One morning, Dr. Lin Min of the Rehabilitation Center of Acupuncture and Massage of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine was at work, and many students followed him as internships to study on-site, and Xu was one of them. Dr. Lin has a "unique skill", which is his acupoint technique. He had previously demonstrated it in the consulting room and he asked Xu to use this technique that day.

"The rhythm of her acupoint technique is good and the intensity is enough. I can tell it's definitely not the first time for her to do it. She must have taken notes and practiced many times at home to achieve such effect." He praised Xu's efforts.

Since traditional Chinese medicine is an empirical discipline, acupuncture and massage need practice and clinical experience. For now, Xu has completed a rotational internship in the gynecology department, pediatric department, orthopedic department and encephalopathy department. After her graduation in June, Xu will return to South Korea to organize a school and a hospital specializing in traditional Chinese medicine and work with her three children.

In this school, in addition to studying courses offered in general junior high school, students can also learn Chinese and basic theories of traditional Chinese medicine, so that after their graduation, they can directly apply for traditional Chinese medicine colleges in China. "Isn't it a happy thing for a family to have a common goal and work together?" Xu said.