Hangzhou prepares to welcome the world

Editor's note: In the run-up to the G20 Hangzhou Summit to be held on Sept 4 and 5, a mini-documentary series titled I am in Hangzhou was aired in the host city. Telling the stories of 12 expats in the city, the bilingual documentary provided a panoramic view of Hangzhou, showcasing its economic and social development, the cultural and historical heritage, the harmonious and happy environment and its openness and tolerant attitude. The mini-documentaries, each lasting about 3 minutes, tell the unique stories of the expats and the city independently. Below, we showcase the stories of 10 of the expats featured in the series.

1. Trevor Lamb: Soccer coach

Having traveled to many places around the world, Trevor Lamb has decided to settle in Hangzhou.

Soon after arriving, the US national fell in love with the city's leisurely lifestyle. The West Lake, the lush mountains and Longjing tea are among his favorite local attractions. However, the thing that makes him stay is that the city gives him the opportunity to fulfill his dream.

"China has changed a lot, and it can also create. For example, grassroots football, our new Educational Consultants Company and being a football coach. These are difficult to obtain in America," he said.

"Hangzhou has given me a good chance. For me, success means creating things like nonprofit amateur football - I launched the Sinobal football team. It's stable. It's a search for new resources, like finding new volunteers and people who have the same thoughts."

When he arrived, Lamb did not plan to play soccer in China, but in his second year in Hangzhou he began coaching the Sinobal team.

"I am doing what I have always dreamed of. I feel like becoming one of the local residents and settling down forever," he said.

2. Dominik Derflinger: Photographer

Austrian national Dominik Derflinger has considered bidding farewell to Hangzhou, but his encounters with the city have been so amazing and fruitful that he has had second thoughts.

"Hangzhou just wouldn't let me go," said the photographer who owns a media company in the city he calls his "second home".

Derflinger came to Hangzhou for an internship in 2012. Four years later, he made his name in China with a specially made aerial video posted on social media portraying the beauty of the city.

Last year, inspired by Koh Yao Noi, a picturesque video shot entirely via a drone by filmmaker Philip Bloom and showing the beauty of Thailand, Derflinger decided to make his own version focused on Hangzhou.

Armed with a camera and a drone, it took four months to shoot more than 30 hours of footage for the video Thank you, Hangzhou.

"It started as a personal project but quickly went viral after being published. Since then my life has changed," he said. "It made me reconsider my plans to leave the city."

Through his work, he became familiar with famous attractions, such as West Lake, and other lesser-known places. Now his knowledge of the city makes him a real old Hangzhou hand.

3. Raj Uppada: Food and beverage manager

Indian national Raj Uppada said he has had the best time of his life in Hangzhou. "So far, I have lived near Qiandao Lake for just over a year, I feel this is the most suitable place for me to stay and work. I'd love to discover more about the local culture and get to know the local people better," said the food and beverage manager at the Hilton Hangzhou Qiandao Lake.

His working day begins at 7:30 am, as he makes sure breakfast is served to all the guests and they are having a good start to the day.

"My work makes me very happy, but what makes me even happier is the beauty of Qiandao Lake. I love staying here because of the natural setting, lush green mountains, the lake and the air."

He said the area reminds him of his grandparents' home, but the Qiandao Lake area is more exciting thanks to the scenery, the friendly people and the ancient buildings.

"Sooner or later we all need to travel and move somewhere else. When I do go somewhere else, when I talk with people, I (will tell them that I) had the most memorable moments in my life at Qiandao Lake."

4. Akiko Ohyabu: Lawyer

Akiko Ohyabu, a lawyer from Japan, has lived in Hangzhou for two years. She never feels lonely, though, because she has found a common connection with her friends - tea culture.

As the holder of a certificate in Teaism - the study of the beverage and its cultural significance - she enjoys spending time with her Hangzhou-born friends and making Japanese-style tea.

However, from the moment she tasted Longjing, the signature brew that is grown in the capital of Zhejiang province, it quickly became her favorite.

"I had heard of Longjing tea when I was learning teaism back in Japan," she said. "I didn't realize it was so delicious until I came to Hangzhou and had my first sip. It tastes light, but there is a special after fragrance."

Ohyabu, who works as a legal consultant for Japanese companies in China, said she has felt the warmth of life in Hangzhou, thanks to tea, the delicate local confectionary and her friends.

"My friends in Hangzhou treat me like a family member," she said, with a smile. "It feels like home."

5. Oksana Konoval: Biologist

Oksana Konoval, a Ukrainian biologist who has spent several years in Hangzhou, is working on a project to raise the egg yield of Shaoxing ducks, a breed that originated in Zhejiang province.

In November, she won the West Lake Friendship Award, which was established by the Zhejiang government for foreign experts who have contributed to the development of the province.

"I was very grateful that I had the award in my hands, and I realized it was not only my reward, it was a reward for our Chinese-Ukrainian team," she said. "I realized we were on the right track and we should continue, and we should finish our project successfully.

"For me it is very important to do something really important for humanity, important for China, important for Ukraine," she added.

In addition to her rewarding career, Konoval also enjoys her time outside work.

"I have fallen in love with Hangzhou," she said, adding that the city presents different but beautiful scenes in different seasons.

Konoval said she enjoys walking around the West Lake, but she also loves other things, such as the people and the food.

"I enjoy many things here. I couldn't say that I enjoy more working or just life here," she said.

6. Lucas Rondez: Entrepreneur

The 33-year-old Swiss national is spreading the word that expats can play a big role in China's entrepreneurial transformation.

He is the founder of ni hao, a mobile app that aims to make life easier for expats in China by providing useful tools and information. The app has more than 100,000 registered users.

"China provides a great opportunity to start a business, and the entrepreneurial environment in Hangzhou is especially good because there are a lot of business opportunities and government support," Rondez said.

When he realized that he had a good idea and the resources and experience required to begin his project, Rondez thought, "It's the right time to start my own business.

"Whenever you are going to do something, it's better to start with what you are familiar with," he said.

Although Rondez has lived in China for nearly 10 years, he clearly remembers arriving in Hangzhou in 2007, when the only Chinese he could say was ni hao, meaning "hello".

Now, Rondez is mulling another app, nibook, which will offer a platform for Chinese customers to buy services from expats in a cheaper, more convenient way.

"We hope this product will build a bridge between the Chinese and foreigners," he said.

7. Gavin Munro: Artist

For Gavin Munro, Hangzhou is definitely a haven for art lovers.

"Art hangs around the city," said the 43-year-old British artist. "It really is a big thing here. Any bar you go in, any restaurant you go in, there will be somebody studying art. There are a lot of people doing art work in Hangzhou. That really inspires me."

That's the reason he stopped in Hangzhou when he decided to travel the world a decade ago. In his eyes, Hangzhou has all the facilities to become a world-class art center - a long artistic tradition, abundant art history in the culture, some of the best art colleges in China and a leisurely, comfortable lifestyle.

"It's a great city, a little bit more relaxed. It gives me a lot of spare time to develop different skills. The thing that made me stay was the large number of opportunities."

During the past 10 years, Munro has attended numerous art shows in the city, made the acquaintance of many famous peers and hosted his own exhibitions.

When his friends back in UK ask how he feels about Hangzhou, Munro always encourages them to visit.

"Hangzhou is one big party," he said.

8. Rachel Addy: Designer

When Rachel Addy was first sent to Hangzhou at the age of 21, the then-design intern was deeply impressed by Chinese silk.

"It's very light and comfortable to wear. The silk here is premier and soft," she said, clad in a dress of 100 percent silk which she bought in Hangzhou.

In 2010, Rachel was sent to the capital of Zhejiang province by a company in London. A year later, she returned to England to finish her university studies.

Last year, she came back to Hangzhou and opened her own business, designing accessories including hats, scarf and socks. "That was something I wanted to look at when designing my own silk-based collections," she said.

She also has another identity, as the founder of a nonprofit networking service that helps expats looking to start businesses in Hangzhou.

"Moving to China at the age of 21 was a bit different from living in England with my parents ... I understand how difficult it can be," she said.

"What I find interesting is how things are constantly changing. I mean, Hangzhou is totally different now - there are so many foreigners here. I feel so comfortable living here right now."

9. Tim Clancy: Medical student

Australian Tim Clancy's childhood dream became a reality in 2014, when he enrolled at Zhejiang University to study clinical medicine. Clancy has always dreamed of becoming a famous doctor like two relatives he really admires - his aunt and uncle who are medical researchers.

"Thanks to my fluent Chinese and the university's good study environment, I can understand the lectures quickly, and get on the path of becoming a real doctor," the 31-year-old said.

Clancy is also called Jiang Tianwen, a typical Chinese name. At the age of 20, he decided to teach himself Chinese after discovering the charm of Chinese characters in a book a friend was reading.

At the end of 2010, he and his wife, a Zhejiang native, decided to settle in Hangzhou. In addition to studying and daily activities, they often participate in volunteer activities.

"Through these activities, I am trying to tell my daughter that we should cherish everything in life."

Next month, Hangzhou will host the G20 summit, and Clancy was honored that the West Lake district government invited him to take part in the filming of a TV program that aims to teach English to Hangzhou residents.

"During the filming, I learned more about Hangzhou and the local culture," he said.

10. Rodolphe Toucas: Freelance photographer

After living as a photographer in Hangzhou for four years, Rodolphe Toucas says the city bears a resemblance to places he knows in France.

"It is very interesting to walk around Hangzhou and take pictures of people. I prefer this feeling, maybe because my father in France had a small shop similar to those in Hangzhou. My father cooked and sold his own products in his shop," he said.

"Hangzhou is very nice because there are so many places to go, to shoot and to discover. It is a kind of safari for photos."

One summer day, Toucas spent an entire afternoon walking on stilts with local children at a neighborhood playground.

"At a lot of festivals in France we have these kinds of people in costumes playing with these types of sticks and it's funny to see that in China. I enjoyed the afternoon playing with those kids," he said.

"To take pictures in Hangzhou I really like to walk around and go to different places to discover different kinds of emotions, feelings and harmonies between people and the environment."

(China Daily 08/12/2016 page12)