My Home in China: 55 Foreigners’ China Stories  

Chief Editor: Wei Zhonghe 

Price: RMB 88 

Paperback, 210 pages 

Published by Foreign Languages Press 

This book, authored by 55 foreigners from over 20 countries and regions across five continents, presents a curated collection of their stories in China. These narratives capture experiences, sometimes “funny” and “awkward,” encountered during their studies, work, daily life, and travels in the country. 

Carefully organized, the stories are divided into five chapters, each representing one continent: Asia, Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Oceania. 

Bernard Blum, an Israeli professor, recalled his journey to China, saying that he never planned to live or work in China but the final decision turned out to be fascinating and worthwhile in every sense. He once worked as head of the department of tourism and culinary arts in an academic college in Jerusalem, Israel. Seven years ago, he came to China and studied at Xiamen University. He praises the city’s ideal weather, relaxing atmosphere, and friendly people, but only laments: “How much the Chinese know about Western culture in comparison to how little we know about Chinese culture.” 

Szabolcs Szajp, a Hungarian teacher at the Corvinus University of Budapest and a think-tank researcher focused on Hungarian-Chinese relations, arrived in China in 2008 without prior visits, language skills, or deep cultural knowledge. Enrolling in a language program at Shenzhen University, he adapted quickly and studied diligently. Soon, deciding to extend his stay in China, he joined the organizing committee of China Hi-Tech Fair (CHTF), handling Hungarian-Chinese relations and technology cooperation. He later became an international trade project manager at a consultancy, managing Hungary-China import-export, and even launched a business selling Hungarian wines in China. Reflecting on his years in China, Szaip said his adventure continues. 

Karla M. Gurley, a U.S. kindergarten English teacher with a Master’s in education, moved to Shanghai in December 2018 to teach in a bilingual kindergarten. She embraced diverse experiences there, from cooking classes and cultural events, to park yoga and charity work, even attending a Chinese Sign Language (CSL) workshop. Her life in China echoes Forrest Gump's famous line: “Life is like a box of chocolates – you never know what you’re going to get.” 

Jennifer Gunter, a Canadian volleyball coach, lives and works in Park Lane Harbour, a beautiful coastal community near Huizhou, Guangdong Province, a stark contrast to crowded urban stereotypes. Embracing her life in China, she travels extensively, experiencing the frozen wonders of Harbin Ice Festival, and riding a bamboo raft on the Lijiang River in Guilin, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Gunter wholeheartedly agrees with the ancient saying, “The landscape in Guilin ranks the best under heaven.” She never gets tired of marveling at Guilin’s stunning landscape, with its sheer limestone peaks, emerald rivers, and typical karst topography. 

Nic Tam, a South African sports science researcher, came to China after the sports company he worked for offered him a new position in Xiamen, Fujian Province. Xiamen is the hub of Chinese sportswear companies, with many sports equipment factories nearby in Quanzhou. Coming to work in China is undoubtedly the right decision for Tam, as he can use his professional knowledge and research on sports in the fast growing Chinese sports industry. He was impressed by Chinese people’s enthusiasm for physical exercise, from public square dancing to seniors practicing Tai Chi. Tam himself even participated in dragon boat racing and off-road trail running in China. Beyond sports, he appreciates the convenience of various services such as online shopping via Taobao and paying with Alipay, easily accessible via his phone. 

Thara McDonald, hailing from New Zealand, arrived in Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province in 2019. Known as the “Venice of China,” due to the canal and waterways in the city, Shaoxing also inspired him to build his own boat, a four-meter-long vessel made of wood bought from a nearby market. What he loves about China is whenever he has an idea, he can bring it to reality in a relatively short space of time. The food-ordering app Meituan, car-hailing app Didi, and online shopping app Taobao are three of his favorite digital platforms in frequent use. 

The book narrates how these foreigners and others navigated their lives and careers in China, as exchange students, chefs, professors, businesspeople, and more. Their personal insights illuminate the country’s diversity, decode its rapid development and reveal its profound opportunities.