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Blossoming love affair with China
By Lu Xiaofeng and Xu Wei |
April 26, 2010, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
MICHAEL Hahn took a life-changing decision to live in China and has more than married to the culture, Lu Xiaofeng and Xu Wei report.
MICHAEL Hahn had been intrigued by Chinese culture for many years but the veteran mechanical engineer from New York State of the United States could only make his first visit in 2003.
The experience led to major changes in his life, including moving to Shanghai's Jiading District and marrying a Chinese woman.
"I love cars and machines, as well as a peaceful life," says the MBA graduate. "Jiading District, known as an 'Automobile City,' can offer all of that."
After leaving high school, Hahn started work in 1979, the first year after China launched its reform and opening-up policy.
In the next 16 years, he worked in four companies as a mechanical engineer. In 1995, his employer General Electric decided to move part of its business to Mexico so he returned to his hometown West Fulton to study at the University of New York at Albany.
Following a bachelor's degree, he studied for an MBA where he got to know a lot of Chinese overseas students, and so began his affinity with China. When Chinese students had problems moving house and finding a job, Hahn always tried to help them.
He admits that his knowledge of China at the time was limited to the fact that it had a big population, a Great Wall and Confucius.
But he noticed the Chinese students couldn't conceal a pride in their nation. It made him curious about the country and the students urged him to go see it.
So at the end of 2003 he visited Beijing and Shanghai. He recalls his first experience of climbing the Great Wall during a light fall of snow. "It was so fantastic," he says.
He was enamoured of the beauty of other places such as the Summer Palace, the Palace Museum and Shanghai. "Its prosperity is equal to any other metropolis in the world," he says.
The initial 16-day sojourn was not enough to satisfy his curiosity of China but he started to grasp why his Chinese friends suggested a visit to the country by himself.
His interest continued when he returned home and nine months later persuaded his family to leave for Shanghai. He gave up his cozy life in the United States and set a five-year goal for his stay in China ¨? learning Chinese culture, doing international commerce and finding a Chinese wife, if possible.
One of his Chinese friends introduced Hahn to his Jiading resident sister to help with any problems he might have in China.
Rao Liping worked for a Japanese company in Jiading District at the time and Hahn found a teaching position at Shanghai University of Finance and Economics. Through casual visits over weekends, the pair started a relationship and in 2006 purchased an apartment in Jiading District and married a year later. "Sometimes I don't realize I am in love with a foreigner," Rao says. "We have true happiness and are considerate of each other's feelings."
Rao could speak only a few English words when she met Hahn but attended English speaking lessons to better communicate and is now fluent in the language.
Rao took Hahn to her hometown Longyan City, Fujian Province, for Spring Festival. Though Hahn didn't know much about Chinese New Year traditions, such as setting off firecrackers and burning incense in a temple, he joined in all of the activities. Rao's relatives discovered there was actually no difference between a foreigner and a Chinese guy, except for his face.
A Longyan tradition is that no families close their doors on Chinese Lunar New Year's Day, an invitation to receive guests in their homes, even strangers.
"At first I was very surprised at the custom, but then it made me feel welcome," Hahn adds. "Chinese Spring Festival conveys such a message of warm happiness and family reunion."
In recent years, Hahn has visited nearly 30 cities and regions around China. In Tibet, he was awed by the grandeur of the golden Potala Palace. In Chengdu, he tried for the first time spicy local food and hotpot is now one of his favorites. In the gourmet's paradise of Guangzhou, he sampled roasted pork and sea food.
Hahn can talk for hours about his travel experiences, from Xi'an's terracotta warriors and horses to Yongding's earthen houses. He usually invites Chinese friends on his travels to get a better understanding of the local culture and customs.
Since arriving in China, Hahn has taught at several universities. In addition to a full-time position at Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, he also takes part-time jobs at other schools. In class, he talks about his own experiences and family life and joins karaoke parties with students.
Han Qiang, a Shandong Province native who works at East China Institute of Computing Technology, started to learn English last year. It is Hahn who made him realize that language study is not that boring or difficult. "Hahn is an outgoing person who is very humorous," he says.
Compared to other foreign expats who work in Jiading and live in downtown areas, Hahn stays in Jiading where he has been witness to the area's progress and changes. His apartment is in the South Gate area of Jiading.
"The local government is more aware of the living environment of citizens," Hahn said. "What's more, the officials are now able to focus on small, usually ignored details such as installing guardrails along Fuhai Road to ensure the safety of pedestrians."
The opening of Metro Line 11 was exciting news to Hahn who used to take buses to work.
"I originally took the Hujia bus line but now the Metro Line 11 is more economical and convenient," he says. At weekends, Hahn and Rao like to wander around Jiading and Zhouqiao Old Street is a favorite place.
"Everyone feels Jiading District is becoming better and better; that is why both of us choose to stay here," the couple said.
MICHAEL Hahn had been intrigued by Chinese culture for many years but the veteran mechanical engineer from New York State of the United States could only make his first visit in 2003.
The experience led to major changes in his life, including moving to Shanghai's Jiading District and marrying a Chinese woman.
"I love cars and machines, as well as a peaceful life," says the MBA graduate. "Jiading District, known as an 'Automobile City,' can offer all of that."
After leaving high school, Hahn started work in 1979, the first year after China launched its reform and opening-up policy.
In the next 16 years, he worked in four companies as a mechanical engineer. In 1995, his employer General Electric decided to move part of its business to Mexico so he returned to his hometown West Fulton to study at the University of New York at Albany.
Following a bachelor's degree, he studied for an MBA where he got to know a lot of Chinese overseas students, and so began his affinity with China. When Chinese students had problems moving house and finding a job, Hahn always tried to help them.
He admits that his knowledge of China at the time was limited to the fact that it had a big population, a Great Wall and Confucius.
But he noticed the Chinese students couldn't conceal a pride in their nation. It made him curious about the country and the students urged him to go see it.
So at the end of 2003 he visited Beijing and Shanghai. He recalls his first experience of climbing the Great Wall during a light fall of snow. "It was so fantastic," he says.
He was enamoured of the beauty of other places such as the Summer Palace, the Palace Museum and Shanghai. "Its prosperity is equal to any other metropolis in the world," he says.
The initial 16-day sojourn was not enough to satisfy his curiosity of China but he started to grasp why his Chinese friends suggested a visit to the country by himself.
His interest continued when he returned home and nine months later persuaded his family to leave for Shanghai. He gave up his cozy life in the United States and set a five-year goal for his stay in China ¨? learning Chinese culture, doing international commerce and finding a Chinese wife, if possible.
One of his Chinese friends introduced Hahn to his Jiading resident sister to help with any problems he might have in China.
Rao Liping worked for a Japanese company in Jiading District at the time and Hahn found a teaching position at Shanghai University of Finance and Economics. Through casual visits over weekends, the pair started a relationship and in 2006 purchased an apartment in Jiading District and married a year later. "Sometimes I don't realize I am in love with a foreigner," Rao says. "We have true happiness and are considerate of each other's feelings."
Rao could speak only a few English words when she met Hahn but attended English speaking lessons to better communicate and is now fluent in the language.
Rao took Hahn to her hometown Longyan City, Fujian Province, for Spring Festival. Though Hahn didn't know much about Chinese New Year traditions, such as setting off firecrackers and burning incense in a temple, he joined in all of the activities. Rao's relatives discovered there was actually no difference between a foreigner and a Chinese guy, except for his face.
A Longyan tradition is that no families close their doors on Chinese Lunar New Year's Day, an invitation to receive guests in their homes, even strangers.
"At first I was very surprised at the custom, but then it made me feel welcome," Hahn adds. "Chinese Spring Festival conveys such a message of warm happiness and family reunion."
In recent years, Hahn has visited nearly 30 cities and regions around China. In Tibet, he was awed by the grandeur of the golden Potala Palace. In Chengdu, he tried for the first time spicy local food and hotpot is now one of his favorites. In the gourmet's paradise of Guangzhou, he sampled roasted pork and sea food.
Hahn can talk for hours about his travel experiences, from Xi'an's terracotta warriors and horses to Yongding's earthen houses. He usually invites Chinese friends on his travels to get a better understanding of the local culture and customs.
Since arriving in China, Hahn has taught at several universities. In addition to a full-time position at Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, he also takes part-time jobs at other schools. In class, he talks about his own experiences and family life and joins karaoke parties with students.
Han Qiang, a Shandong Province native who works at East China Institute of Computing Technology, started to learn English last year. It is Hahn who made him realize that language study is not that boring or difficult. "Hahn is an outgoing person who is very humorous," he says.
Compared to other foreign expats who work in Jiading and live in downtown areas, Hahn stays in Jiading where he has been witness to the area's progress and changes. His apartment is in the South Gate area of Jiading.
"The local government is more aware of the living environment of citizens," Hahn said. "What's more, the officials are now able to focus on small, usually ignored details such as installing guardrails along Fuhai Road to ensure the safety of pedestrians."
The opening of Metro Line 11 was exciting news to Hahn who used to take buses to work.
"I originally took the Hujia bus line but now the Metro Line 11 is more economical and convenient," he says. At weekends, Hahn and Rao like to wander around Jiading and Zhouqiao Old Street is a favorite place.
"Everyone feels Jiading District is becoming better and better; that is why both of us choose to stay here," the couple said.
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