A short trip to China completely changed the life of a young German man. Gerrit, who hails from a small town in northern Germany, has now lived in China for 11 years. He has not only put down roots in this land but has also become a unique cultural observer and communicator, personally embodying the interplay and fusion of Chinese and German cultures.
In August 2015, fresh out of high school, Gerrit first came to China at his cousin's invitation. His first stop was Shenzhen. "Everything was towering and huge... the difference from my hometown was truly immense," Gerrit recalls, struck by his first impression of the city. Coming from a flat, slow-paced German town, he was deeply impressed by Shenzhen's fast pace.
Beyond the cityscape, Gerrit also observed differences in how things are done in China and Germany. He believes Chinese culture is very pragmatic and solution-oriented. "When Germans encounter a problem, they spend a lot of time discussing it," he explains. While this approach allows for great attention to detail, the process can be very lengthy. In contrast, "In China, after a discussion, people take action immediately." He emphasizes that neither approach is better or worse; they are simply different choices that have grown out of different social environments, each suited to its own context.
A Bond Born of Love
Gerrit's original plan was to stay in China for only a month or two to experience a culture vastly different from his German town before returning home. However, an unexpected encounter during his travels completely rewrote his life: he met his now-wife, Lee. Despite their completely different backgrounds and cultural contexts, they were drawn to each other. This cross-cultural romance upended his return plans, and he stayed in China, putting down roots.
The journey from being a stranger in a foreign land to becoming the son-in-law of a Chinese family wasn't always smooth sailing. With a five-and-a-half-year age gap between him and his wife, his father-in-law was full of reservations when they first met. He worried that this young German from thousands of miles away was too young and unsettled, perhaps only infatuated, and wouldn't be able to provide a stable future for his daughter.
Faced with this skepticism, Gerrit chose action over empty promises. He enrolled at Shenzhen University and, in his daily life, carefully observed the habits and logic of Chinese people, building a steady and reliable life. Day by day, his father-in-law saw his commitment to the relationship and his sense of responsibility for their small family, and his worries disappeared. As Gerrit's understanding of Chinese culture deepened, he earned his father-in-law's approval and blessing. "Later, he was very happy that we were together."
A Profound Cultural Immersion
If family acceptance was emotional integration, then changing his lifestyle was a deeper cultural immersion. Gerrit admits that his eating habits have completely changed since coming to China, most notably his attitude towards spicy food.
"I'd say 99% of Germans can't handle spicy food," he joked, adding that he used to be the same. But his wife is from Guangxi, where spiciness is a key element of the local diet. Through her influence, Gerrit began to try it and gradually fell in love with the stimulating flavor. "The more spicy food I ate, the better my tolerance became. Now I really love it and have it with almost every meal." Today, luosifen (snail noodles) has become his favorite Chinese dish.
This change wasn't just about his palate. In his relationship with his wife, he has come to deeply understand the subtleties of cross-cultural communication. They usually communicate in English, but their thought processes are rooted in their respective native cultures. "When she speaks English, she thinks like a Chinese person; and I think and express myself like a German." This occasionally leads to "that's not what I meant" misunderstandings, but they choose to use communication to understand the cultural logic behind each other's thinking, turning this difference into a bridge for deeper understanding.
Looking back on his 11 years in China, Gerrit has transformed from a curious observer to a deep experiencer who can savor Luosifen and enjoy spicy food.
"Keeping a very open mind" is Gerrit's most sincere advice. In his view, the way Germans and Chinese see the world is "very, very different." He believes there is no right or wrong, and it is precisely this difference that makes the cross-cultural experience so valuable. "If people come here with this open mindset, they can learn a lot, and it can be a truly rewarding experience."
(Reporter: Rachel Liu; Camerapeople: Yi, Rachel Liu; Video Editor: Yi; English Editor: Rachel Liu, Darius)
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