"When I came to China in 2008, I only planned to study the language for one year. Yet, year after year passed, and I never expected to stay for 17 years." Sitting in the "Green House" bar in Shijiazhuang, Hebei, Sveta, a young woman from Belarus, spoke of her connection with China, her tone filled with the emotions of time gone by. Over those 17 years, what began as a plan for a "short-term stay" gradually transformed into seeing China as a "second homeland she never wants to leave." Her journey, quietly woven through "decisions to extend, year after year," became a transnational story shaped by time and persistence.
Seventeen years ago, Sveta arrived in China after graduating from university in Belarus, driven by her curiosity about the Chinese language. After mastering the language, she first became an English teacher, then accidentally entered the entertainment industry, working as a model and host. Later, she picked up equipment to document her life and became a blogger. Throughout her time in China, Sveta met new people and encountered new situations, her life constantly evolving. Gradually, she adapted to the culture, then "one more year" turned into another, and another... until she realized she had no thought of leaving.
In 2023, Sveta and her partner opened a small bar called "Green House", fulfilling a long-held dream. Despite the challenges during the preparation phase, "Green House" quickly became a popular spot, drawing crowds as a "must-visit location" on social media. An interesting feature of the bar is its "hidden menu"—while pages 1, 2, 5, and 6 are visible, pages 3 and 4 are hidden. A specially crafted welcome shot is available to those who discover our secret menu. " The idea came from a craft game I played as a child, where you could hide things out of sight. We even hand-made the menu ourselves."
Sveta's life in China has also become a real eye-opener for her Belarusian friends. "They follow China-related content on Instagram and often exclaim, 'Is it really like that?' They all want to come and experience China firsthand." What surprised her friends the most was Shijiazhuang, which she described as "not that big." "When I told them I live in Shijiazhuang, a pretty comfortable small city, and mentioned its population—nearly 12 million—they were all stunned," Sveta recalled with a laugh. "You have to understand, the entire population of Belarus is only around 10 million. They simply couldn’t grasp how a city of nearly 12 million people could be called small."
In contrast, Sveta jokes, "Back in my hometown, I feel like a stranger instead." She isn't familiar with the new currency design and exchange rates, doesn't know how much to pay when taking the trolleybus, and even needs help to hail a taxi. Yet in China, "tasks like calling a taxi, contacting repair technicians, going to the bank or post office, finding a plumber—I can handle all these things on my own."
Sveta says China is no longer a "temporary stop" for her, but rather a "second hometown" where she has spent most of her life. In the future, she hopes to continue exploring more possibilities here.
(Reporter: Li Yingyin; Photography: Li Yingyin, with some materials provided by the interviewee; Editing: Anna Li, Li Yingyin; Translation: Sveta; English Editor: Liu Yu)
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