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Editor's note: How is life in Beijing for foreigners? A group of foreign friends, including students, artists, writers, share their stories and dreams with cityofbeijing website readers. Enjoy our special and you are welcome to share your Beijing stories with us. |
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Laowai Not: It's not about Vodka Charles Lavoie-Nadeau is a 25 year old French Canadian, from Quebec City. He has been moving back and forth between Canada, China and Mexico since 2011, and is now established in Beijing for 18 months. Sports, travel, languages, entrepreneurship, food and drinks are his main interest, though the last one became a major part of his life last year when he launched Infina Vodka, a new Italian Vodka, after spending a year working with the Canadian embassy and having traveled in over 10 provinces in China. Here is Charles's story. |
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Fabio Falanga, from Italy, has been in Beijing for 6 years, he had an interest in Chinese culture long before he came to China. After different working experiences he decided to focused on "food", one of his passion. He is now managing a trading company (Aurora International), specialised in Italian high-quality food products. Also involved in social and entertainment events to promote the Italian and mediterranean food & beverage culture throughout China. This is Fabio's story. |
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Laowai Not: A story of wok and flame Michael has been in Beijing for almost a year. He is learning Chinese language at Beijing Institute of Technology; meanwhile he is also learning how to cook authentic Chinese food. Michael developed an interest in Chinese culinary art after cooking by Chinese chefs deeply impressed him. When asked about his favorite dish, he smiled and said, "It's got to be Huiguorou (stir-fried boiled pork slices in hot sauce). It's spicy and nice." Michael works hard and tries to think out of the box. He sees himself working as a head chef in a nice Chinese restaurant in the future. This is his story. |
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Kim Chuenkun is the director of the Korean Cultural Center in Beijing, a government institution inaugurated in March 2007. He came to China with a sacred mission - to strengthen the cultural ties between Korean and Chinese people by promoting Korean culture and aesthetics. Kim speaks fluent Chinese and likes hanging out with local Beijingers. He is also passionately fond of playing tennis with friends and co-workers. This is his story. |
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Tiffany Tan tells how an American guitar-strumming video game programmer reinvented his career in China. Dyer, 40, a native of San Diego, California, decided to teach English in the city of Hsinchu to pay off college student loans and see the wider world. [Full story] |
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Dutch architect feels complementary influences in his approach. Dutch architect John van de Water came to Beijing in 2004 with the belief that architects have a responsibility to explain to people and convince them what is good and what is not. [Full story]
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A French artist, who has made Beijing his home, is captivated not only by the city and ordinary people in it but also by ancient Chinese poetry. The second time French artist Jean Yves Simon met the Chinese woman who was to become his wife, in Paris in 1998, she read him a poem by Li Bai, a well-known ancient Chinese poet. [Full story]
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 The international flavor of China's capital was a perfect fit for a Russian conductor eager to bring people together through music. Music had Maria Nauen in its thrall from the first note. She was 4 years old when she was first introduced to piano. [Full story] |
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