Chen Wukong's Ukrainian name is quite a mouthful: Kolosov Volodymyr Viktorovych, so long that it makes the Chinese phonetic system surrender. After arriving in China, he chose a name for himself that would bring a knowing smile to everyone's face. "Chen, a typical family name, and Wukong, the name of the Monkey King," he says.
A Ukrainian youth who has traveled through 26 countries has been brought to Xiamen by fate. Before this, his understanding of China was limited to Jackie Chan and kung fu. Like the vast majority of Westerners, his "Chinese imagination" came entirely from stereotypical fragments in movies.
That is, until he met a Xiamen girl. Love, as always, is the oldest and most effective cultural bridge.
"She told me she was from Xiamen," Wukong says, a hint of the initial surprise still lingering in his eyes, "and I said, 'Wow, a coastal city!'" When he actually set foot on this land, he fell in love with it without hesitation, "because it's her hometown."
What he fell in love with wasn't the famous historical sites or the bustling metropolis, but life here itself. He applied for a master's degree at Xiamen University, going from studying with foreign classmates during his undergraduate years to being the only "foreigner" in his master's course. The transition brought considerable pressure, but it also gave him a deeper understanding of China.
But what makes Wukong truly unique is that he has deeply rooted himself in the soil of Minnan (Hokkien) culture.
"Language is not the goal; it's a tool that connects me with people and helps me understand the local culture." He then began learning Hokkien. When locals worried that he wouldn't understand and switched to Mandarin, he insisted, "Keep speaking Hokkien, take it slow, I'll learn it."
With foreign eyes, Wukong also discovered the surprises that locals have long taken for granted.
"You guys don't see so many things because they're too commonplace. But to me, like, wow, bamboo! It's so interesting." He turns these moments into videos, initially just wanting to share them with his family in Ukraine. Unexpectedly, these videos documenting Chinese lifestyles have not only become his way of communication but have also gradually made him a well-known blogger online.
Wukong's love for Minnan culture is not superficial curiosity, but a heartfelt appreciation and understanding.
When he noticed the practice of wearing flowers in the hair (Hairpin Flowers), he was surprised to discover that Ukraine has a similar tradition. Separated by thousands of miles, two seemingly unrelated cultures are so similar in the act of "Hairpin Flowers." This made Wukong even more certain that the similarities between different cultures are far greater than people imagine.
What touched him even more was that China's intangible cultural heritage is not locked away in museums, nor is it forgotten in the memories of the older generation. Young people are promoting Hairpin Flowers on social media, integrating puppet shows into anime and computer games, and telling ancient stories in the language of the new era.
Having been immersed in Minnan culture for a long time, Wukong is increasingly integrated here. More importantly, he realized that he could become a bridge.
"Many Western media outlets unrealistically portray China. I really want to show the real Chinese life," he admits. This bridge not only connects China and Ukraine, but also connects his daughter. "My daughter is Chinese, but she looks a bit like a 'laowai.' She has half Chinese and half Western heritage. She needs to understand that the bridges are very important."
Wukong noted that he wants to take his family on a tour of China in the future, from Fujian and Yunnan to Guangdong and Hainan, "to see the world again from their perspective."
From not knowing Xiamen to considering it his second home, from not knowing a single word of Chinese to being able to chat with neighbors in Hokkien, and from being a lone wanderer to having a complete family, this Ukrainian man named Wukong has found his "second hometown" in the Minnan sea breeze. Culture doesn't need to be deliberately pursued; if one loves it, they will naturally integrate into it.
(Reporters: Rainy, Julianne; Camerapeople: Julianne, Tom Qian; Video Editor: Tom Qian; Editor: Rainy; English Editor: Darius; Producer: Tracy)
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