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China and II had the great opportunity in my life to travel around the Globe, working in 3 different continents and 5 different countries in the past ten years. Not like to be presuming but I sincerely hope I would be able to make a fair judgment and to inform people why a country named Middle Kingdom is so attractive to any open-minded and global-visualized person who cares to learn and to contribute to the society. I arrived the first time shortly before Christmas in 2005 and was taken out of my Christmas tree decorated home, straight into the first biggest Christmas party I’ve ever had without being able to speak or understand one word in Chinese, except Ni Hao of course, which I used plenty of during the first days in my new home. I just like to state that for so many reasons I am happy and proud to be here and to be a part of the China of today. Let me just give you an example. This morning, when I firstly publicly announced the idea for applying the Olympic Torchbearer, the office burst into cheers and laughter. All my colleagues seemed more excited than me and rushed to my desk to express their support and of course, as usual as it would be in any country, wise cracking ideas on how to be the perfect man for the job. You can tell they were proud that I even considered the idea and brought a good deal of Olympic feelings closer to them. When I came back from the lunch, my desk was piled up with many little colorful Olympic stuff: there were one small pamphlet titled Q & A For Olympic Games, key ring with the “Beijing Welcomes You” logo, a small set of cute Fuwa and a greeting card signed by several staff, stating in the bold characters: we support you! Jia You! I think it would be too hard for any expat to write his or her stories with China within five hundred words. For me, everyday has been full of stories since these two years. I have a saying that every day in China is like Christmas, you never know what will happen or everyday you learn or see something completely new. One of the most impressive things to see everyday is that so many people are working so hard and sincerely even for the very little job and money at hand because they believe they are heading for a better life tomorrow. They are happy with what their lives have to offer, like friends or family or just enjoy their happiness, a thing that I personally believe the western culture has been loosing sometimes. When you talk about Beijing Olympics, or when another rocket was sent to outer space by China, many people are so happy and aspired because they are genuinely proud of their country and being part of it. And I see those eager young people who are trying every way they can to improve their English and the retired elderly are voluntarily gathering in the courtyard to have a say on the neighborhood affairs because they all believe they can make changes to their own life, the community and the whole society. I’ve been touched deeply everyday by the things I experienced in China and I’ve been convinced heartily that the confidence, passion and dedication of its people are really making a difference to the world’s most energetic country. It is the enormous dynamics undergoing day after day in this country that makes it so charming and fascinating to all the foreigners who have and have not been to China (but hopefully will have a chance soon). Last year, when I was going home for Christmas in 2006, believe it or not, I really found myself missing China much more than I expected. My family reminded me everyday about it--what do they eat, can u say something in Chinese, and how is it life there… How can I possibility explain to anyone who has not been to this country on how it feels like? In the quiet and peaceful bank of Rhine, I found the strong longing for that vigorously mysterious country was biting my heart. I missed my Chinese friends and colleagues; I missed shopping and bargaining in the Silk Market; I missed waving one hand and using my most fluent Chinese phase “Fu wu yuan, Mai dai” in my favorite Chinese restaurant; I missed the breeze of Hou Hai, the flavor of Zha Jiang Mian and mostly, I missed the smile of one special Chinese girl… It was at that moment I realized what I really wanted to do was to take the first plane going back to China, to go home! Of course, it is sometimes hard for my family in Germany to understand why I have to be so far away, but the mind goes where the heart is! I never regretted that decision. Now, I am engaged with that Chinese girl and we are going to get married in the 2008 Olympic year. Seen so much, but know so little. Who would have thought that I had to travel around the globe to find that special person, the person I want to spend the rest of my life with! Not only will I have a Chinese wife, a Chinese wedding ceremony with throat-burning Chinese Bai Jiu, but as far as I can see I am going to marry the family too and to have a Chinese dad and mom! Maybe I am finally HOME! Andreas Korf
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