Spanish couple, Anthony and Louisa, spent their New Year in true Chinese fashion, as they were guests at the home of Hu Qicheng, a local of Hengshi town, Ningxiang county, Changsha.

Huang Ningjiang, Hu's son-in-law, works in Bosch Automotive Products (Changsha) Co Ltd. Anthony is his colleague, and has worked in Changsha for four years. However, this year is also the couple's last in Changsha, so with the coming up of the Chinese New Year, Huang invited Anthony and his wife to spend the Festival together with his extended family.

To welcome the Spanish couple, Hu Qicheng's families started to prepare the New Year Eve's dinner early that morning. Various kinds of dishes such as chicken, pig's knuckles, beef, cured meat and hot pot were all prepared. Louisa was excited to learn how to make dumplings and felt just at home.

Hu's family thought that the foreign couple might not like the local dishes, but Anthony and Louisa spoke highly of them, much to the amazement of Hu's family. It was their first time to eat the New Year cake, to watch the Spring Festival Gala and to let off fireworks. When the clock pointed to twelve that evening, firecrackers pierced the air and Anthony repeatedly cried out "Too amazing!"

Anthony, 52, has been to many countries around the world but has stayed in China for longer than most. He thinks Changsha is energetic and develops fast. He loves many things in Changsha, such as bamboo, which can't be seen in his hometown.

Alas, a happy time is always too short. Before long, Anthony and Louisa had to go back to the downtown area of Changsha on the second day of the first month of the lunar year. Hu's family members hugged Anthony and Louisa to bid farewell. Hu shook hands with Anthony, hoped that he could regard Changsha as his second hometown and welcome him back anytime. Anthony expressed his gratitude for the reception and said that Changsha was his first, not second hometown now.