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English Teacher in Huzhou
Huzhou Expats
Huzhou Expats – Living in Huzhou
Saskoya Meizi from Germany
“I find Huzhou is very clean, I feel very comfortable here, it is very suitable for living, and I can also enjoy all kinds of leisure and fun… Huzhou is a real natural paradise.” Recently, Saskoya Meizi wrote a letter to the Municipal Foreign Affairs Office, telling about her life in Huzhou.
My name is Saskoya Meizi, and I am from Germany, more precisely from Bavaria in southern Germany. I work in a German family company with a history of more than 130 years. The company mainly produces auto parts. In 2015, the company’s management decided to set up a branch in Huzhou and asked if I would go to China with two other foreigners. Of course, going to a country so far from home is not an easy decision, but I think this opportunity should be seized. Now, I have lived and worked in Huzhou for three and a half years. I found that Huzhou is very clean, I feel very comfortable here, it is very suitable for living, and I can also enjoy all kinds of leisure and fun. I am glad that I made the right choice.
When guests come to Huzhou, we often take them to Nanxun. Especially those guests who only know the big cities of China are full of enthusiasm for this very beautiful and traditional place, which is like a big museum. We also often travel to Taihu, Anji or Moganshan. It is easy and fast to go to all these places. Huzhou is a true natural paradise.
Personally, I like Renhuang Mountain in Hucheng very much. I live not far from Renhuangshan Park, and I often take my dog ??to climb the mountain after get off work and on weekends. In China, the park is used as the meeting place. Everyone here dances, sings, etc. It is very interesting for us. I always meet some people who greet me enthusiastically.
When people come to talk to me, I am very happy, especially children who want to talk to me in English, they are very sincere, for example, they tell their parents aloud “there is a foreigner there”, there is usually one The resounding “Hello” followed.
In addition, I like the old town of Huzhou, where there are many colorful shops, a variety of Chinese and Western restaurants, and even German beer bars, making us feel at home.
When my parents came to visit me, they were very impressed with China’s advanced transportation facilities. For example, you can take a train from Huzhou to Beijing in 4 or 5 hours.
In addition, Huzhou is very friendly and safe, and you can get to know the city at ease. But most importantly, the people here make me feel very comfortable. There are many enthusiastic colleagues in our company. We are like a big family. I now have a relatively fixed circle of friends. I can’t even count the number of times I have participated in festivals in recent years.
Huzhou is 100 times larger than my hometown, but it is still a peaceful city. It provides foreigners with good infrastructure and many convenient facilities, and is quieter and more individual than big cities. I really like it. I feel at home in Huzhou.
In terms of food, I tried a lot. Chinese cuisine is really colorful, and every taste has its own characteristics. I like Chinese food, such as scrambled eggs with tomatoes and vegetable rice. Of course there are delicious fish, various forms of tofu, dumplings, steamed buns, xiaolongbao, etc. I think they are all delicious. We took a Chinese cooking class in the German expatriate group so that we could cook our favorite Chinese dishes in Germany.
The Chinese food we ate in Chinese restaurants in Germany was not authentic and could not be compared with the Chinese food we ate in China. We don’t share food like on a round table in China, everyone has their own dishes. I especially like these social events and they can share with each other, which is not common in Germany.
Of course, communication is very difficult, so since I learned to say “I don’t understand” in China, this is the first and most frequent thing I say.
At the same time, I also learned a little Chinese and mastered some simple everyday language. Fortunately, many Chinese speak English and are very patient and helpful. Smart apps like WeChat or Didi are very convenient. The friendliness of the Chinese and China’s very advanced digital technology help us foreigners adapt to life in China in many cases.
In Huzhou, the local government provides us with important information in its native language, which is especially valuable during the COVID-19 pandemic. I am now 39 years old, but my Chinese colleagues often try to explain to me that according to the calculations here, I am actually over 40 years old. We discussed this and I found it very interesting. I like these differences in Chinese and German cultures. I find it interesting to understand Chinese traditions. For example, visiting a tea house, visiting a famous silk company or visiting a bakery where moon cakes are baked are all good experiences.
It is lucky to have two cultures. For example, I can celebrate Christmas and Chinese New Year at the same time. The time spent in Huzhou has greatly broadened my horizons. I am very grateful to China and the Chinese people and cherish these experiences in Huzhou very much. (在湖州生活是怎样一种体验？一位德国友人这样描述)
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