A German realizes his dream in Jiading
By Guan Wenfei and Wing Tan |
November 27, 2012, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
KLAUS Hartig claims he is a Shanghai native. Having lived and worked in Shanghai for 16 years, the executive vice president of Fuchs Lubricants Regional Headquarter (East China) has taken Shanghai as his second hometown.
In September the German received the Shanghai Magnolia Silver Award from the Shanghai Municipal Government, the honor for foreign citizens who make significant contributions to the city's development.
"I am very excited and proud to get this award, which is a great encouragement for me," Hartig said.
Sixteen years ago, the German was shifted to Jiading, appointed as general manager of Fuchs Lubricants Shanghai in the district. His task was to help Fuchs Lubricants expand in China.
Hartig now lives in an old house in Jing'an District and all his neighbors are Chinese.
"Many of my foreign friends prefer living in expat communities and still try to keep the life the same as in their homelands," he says. "It's their choice. But for me, I like to be integrated into the local life and this amazing city."
"When in Shanghai, do as Shanghainese do," he says.
He loves to chat with his Chinese neighbors even though his Mandarin vocabulary is not large enough. When shopping in local supermarkets, sometimes he needs to express himself by making funny gestures.
Although his daughter loves pizza, they seldom eat Western foods at home. "Having lived in the city for so many years, my whole family is totally accustomed to this place," he says. "My daughter was born and raised in China and going to Germany for her is a vacation."
The most impressing thing for Hartig is the speed of the road construction. "When the company was just started 16 years ago, it took me more than two hours from home to the office, but now it's only a 30-minute drive," he says.
Jiading is a place where the German has fulfilled his career dream, but now he is thinking the change of the Chinese market.
"The era of cheap labor has ended," Hartig says. "For a company, the most important thing is to improve the quality of employees and provide them with professional training and promotion opportunities."
He understands there is a difference between Chinese and German employees. "Chinese people stress on flexibility while Germans are focused on discipline. As a manager, I have to find the balance," he says.
Hartig used to live close to a primary school and saw the students there had only little space to play sports. So the company joined the "Sports for All" project.
On every Wednesday, 300 students in Nanxiang Primary School will be arranged by the company to play all kinds of sports in the Shanghai Rugby Football Club with 30 professional coaches. He hopes the children can have enough sports when they are growing up.
Apart from this, Hartig and his family are also active in other social charity activities.
In his leisure time, the German enjoys riding his motor tricycle with his wife and daughter around the city. One of his favorite place is Nanxiang Old Town, where they can taste their favorite Shanghai snack, Nanxiang xiaolong (steamed buns).
"I really enjoy the life here," he says.
In September the German received the Shanghai Magnolia Silver Award from the Shanghai Municipal Government, the honor for foreign citizens who make significant contributions to the city's development.
"I am very excited and proud to get this award, which is a great encouragement for me," Hartig said.
Sixteen years ago, the German was shifted to Jiading, appointed as general manager of Fuchs Lubricants Shanghai in the district. His task was to help Fuchs Lubricants expand in China.
Hartig now lives in an old house in Jing'an District and all his neighbors are Chinese.
"Many of my foreign friends prefer living in expat communities and still try to keep the life the same as in their homelands," he says. "It's their choice. But for me, I like to be integrated into the local life and this amazing city."
"When in Shanghai, do as Shanghainese do," he says.
He loves to chat with his Chinese neighbors even though his Mandarin vocabulary is not large enough. When shopping in local supermarkets, sometimes he needs to express himself by making funny gestures.
Although his daughter loves pizza, they seldom eat Western foods at home. "Having lived in the city for so many years, my whole family is totally accustomed to this place," he says. "My daughter was born and raised in China and going to Germany for her is a vacation."
The most impressing thing for Hartig is the speed of the road construction. "When the company was just started 16 years ago, it took me more than two hours from home to the office, but now it's only a 30-minute drive," he says.
Jiading is a place where the German has fulfilled his career dream, but now he is thinking the change of the Chinese market.
"The era of cheap labor has ended," Hartig says. "For a company, the most important thing is to improve the quality of employees and provide them with professional training and promotion opportunities."
He understands there is a difference between Chinese and German employees. "Chinese people stress on flexibility while Germans are focused on discipline. As a manager, I have to find the balance," he says.
Hartig used to live close to a primary school and saw the students there had only little space to play sports. So the company joined the "Sports for All" project.
On every Wednesday, 300 students in Nanxiang Primary School will be arranged by the company to play all kinds of sports in the Shanghai Rugby Football Club with 30 professional coaches. He hopes the children can have enough sports when they are growing up.
Apart from this, Hartig and his family are also active in other social charity activities.
In his leisure time, the German enjoys riding his motor tricycle with his wife and daughter around the city. One of his favorite place is Nanxiang Old Town, where they can taste their favorite Shanghai snack, Nanxiang xiaolong (steamed buns).
"I really enjoy the life here," he says.
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