The first edition of MTS Home Away From Home Essay Contest for expats in China culminated with a lively award ceremony held last Saturday November 13th 2021 in Xiamen Software park.
The contest was co-organized by Master Translations and partners Babel Tower Translation Service Co., Ltd. from Shenzhen and Moze (Beijing) Technology Communication Co., Ltd.
Mr. Frank Wei, CEO of Master Translations gave a warm welcome speech where herecalled the original intention and history of the essay contest, thanked all the 55 expats who participated and congratulated the winning contestants.
Despite their different nationalities and cultural backgrounds, all the participants have in common their interest towards the Chinese culture and an entrepreneurial spirit, which brought them here from all over the world. The 55 essays, with their distinctive personalities, real experiences and sincere emotions, tell the world that China today is dynamic, fast-developing and full of opportunities, and that they sincerely call China their home away from home.
Home Away From Home Essay Contest began last June and ended last October. 55 foreign friends submitted compelling essays about their lives in China and the 5 winners were announced during the ceremony.
50 people attended the ceremony, including leaders from the local authorities, special guests, more than 20 foreign friends, and representatives of the three organizing companies. The essay contest was based on the principle of fairness and impartiality, and the winners were evaluated by the number of social media likes, reads and website votes. The five winners, namely Mr. Roshan Zameer and Ms. Smita Anand from India, Mr. Szabolcs Szajp from Hungary, Mr. Bong Antivola from the Philippines and Ms. Karla Gurley from the United States, all have different backgrounds and profession and one thing in common: their captivating China stories which were greatly supported by the readers.
The most popular guest of the evening was Mr. William Brown, who became famous in China after he received a letter from Chinese President Xi Jinping in reply to a letter he sent him. He was the first foreigner who obtained a “Chinese Green Card” and the first foreign permanent resident in Fujian Province, and one of the first foreign teachers of MBA courses introduced to Chinese universities. He is currently a foreign expert of Xiamen University Business Administration Education Center and a professor of Xiamen University School of Management. He has been awarded the National Foreign Expert Friendship Award, Honorary Citizen of Fujian Province, and Honorary Citizen of Xiamen City.
Professor Brown used illustrated slides, videos from 1980’s China and humorous language to tell his dream-chasing journey of witnessing the vicissitudes of China’s great changes over the past 45 years, showing the fruitful results of China’s reform and opening-up, which won praise from all the attendees.
Thanks again to all the foreign friends who submitted their stories to the first edition of Home Away From Home. We missed all of you who could not attend the Award Ceremony.
We highly appreciate the support from local authorities:
Xiamen Municipal Bureau of Foreign Experts
Xiamen Entry-Exit Administrative Bureau of Xiamen PSB
Xiamen Foreign Professionals Service Center/Xiamen Immigration Affairs Service Center
Xiamen Daily Newspaper (Common Talk)
And sponsors:
Xiamen Guanren Community Villajade Seaside Resort & Star River Resort
Gulangyu Sea Symphony Hotel