Years in China :?11?years
自我介紹
My Name is Bode, I’m an artist, a creative in the sports industry and a former UK National Champion in track & field. Over the past 22 years I have been fortunate to have a career in merging both of my life passions together. Moving to China 12 years ago has been one of the greatest decisions I have made, and I would like to share my story with you.
我叫 Bode，我是一名藝術(shù)家，也是體育產(chǎn)業(yè)創(chuàng)意師，還曾是英國國家田徑冠軍。在過去 22 年里，我很幸運(yùn)，能將我生命中所熱衷的兩種事情融入我的職業(yè)生涯。12 年前移居中國是我所做的最偉大的決定之一，現(xiàn)在我要與你們分享我的故事。
The Journey to China?
中國之旅
My journey to China started in 2004 when I first saw the concept illustration of the Birds nest Olympic stadium, where the games were to be held in Beijing in 2008. I was so inspired at the beauty of the image, I was determined to go and know more about China. In 2008 my dream had come true having luckily obtained tickets for virtually every event of the games.
我的中國之旅始于 2004 年，當(dāng)時我第一次看到 2008 北京奧運(yùn)鳥巢體育館的概念圖，就被這建筑的美感所感染，因此下定決心要來到中國，了解中國。2008 年，我的夢想成真了，我很幸運(yùn)地獲得了奧運(yùn)會幾乎所有賽事的門票。
Up to then I had been working in the UK and traveling to China on business trips which usually meant clients looking after you and only ever making those five familiar stop: airport, hotel, restaurant, office, and factory. The trip to the Beijing Olympics was quite different in every aspect, the beauty of interacting with locals with the little Mandarin I knew back then, venturing out in going to local restaurants and getting lost taking local transportation all added to this great adventure.
來中國之前，我一直在英國工作。偶爾到中國出差，但這通常意味著你的飲食起居全部由客戶負(fù)責(zé)，而且只去那五個熟悉的地方：機(jī)場、酒店、餐廳、辦公室和工廠。北京奧運(yùn)之旅和以往的出差完全不同，用蹩腳的普通話與當(dāng)?shù)厝私涣?，去?dāng)?shù)氐牟宛^吃飯，乘坐當(dāng)?shù)氐慕煌üぞ叨月?，這些都是這次大冒險中的小插曲。
Exploring Beijing at that time introduced me to the Chinese sports brands. I was quite amazed at the connection of powerful integration of the sport, country, and consumer!
北京之旅讓我認(rèn)識了中國的體育品牌。體育與國家、消費(fèi)者之間形成強(qiáng)大的融合，令我感到十分震驚！
With the Olympics being the doorway in opening China to the world, I know something on a big scale was coming to the sports world soon and I dreamed of being a part of that.
奧運(yùn)會是中國向世界開放的大門，我知道中國體育事業(yè)將迎來大規(guī)模發(fā)展，我希望為這次發(fā)展貢獻(xiàn)自己的力量。
On the night before I was due to return to the UK, looked back at the wonderful experience that Beijing had given me from the spectacular events of the Olympic games, the warmth of the people, the cultural knowledge and friends that I had made during this time.
返回英國的前一天晚上，我回顧了北京帶給我的美好體驗，欣賞了奧運(yùn)會精彩的賽事，感受到了中國人民的熱情和豐富的中國文化，結(jié)識了許多朋友。
That evening, I stood at the Bird’s Nest Stadium lite in full light and had the visualization of one day living in China.
那天晚上，我站在鳥巢體育場的燈光下，幻想著有一天能在中國生活。
Decision in coming to China?
決定來中國
In 2010 I landed two working opportunities one in the USA and another in China, I remember having a week to make that decision and consulting with family and friends those views veered more to the US side. I already knew where I wanted to go, not only to challenge myself in a new environment, but also because of the growing potential there.
2010 年，有兩份工作擺在我面前：一個在美國，另一個在中國，我有一個星期的時間來決定要去哪里。我征求了家人和朋友的意見，他們更傾向于美國。不過我心里已經(jīng)清楚要去哪里，不僅僅是因為我想在一個新的環(huán)境中挑戰(zhàn)自我，而且還因為那里有巨大的發(fā)展?jié)摿Α?/p>
Arrival to China
抵達(dá)中國
In March 2010 I arrived at Xiamen airport with just my travel backpack and my determination to make a go of it. Like most expats, I remember the first six months was very challenging for me both inside and outside of my career and I wanted to go back to the UK.
2010 年 3 月，我飛抵廈門機(jī)場，只背著我的旅行背包，帶著我的決心，要去闖一闖。像大多數(shù)外國人一樣，頭六個月生活和工作上都非常具有挑戰(zhàn)性。我甚至想回到英國去。
A realisation came to me as I was walking on the beach near the exhibition centre, and that was I had to adapt and adjust myself a little to embrace, understand and integrate into the environment.
在會展中心附近的海灘上散步的時候，我意識到我必須學(xué)會適應(yīng)，自我調(diào)整，才能接納、理解并融入這個環(huán)境。
After this four hour long walk on the beach everything went up hill from then. The next few years living in Xiamen were amazing with all what the city has to offer and the friendly people there. Work and life became easier. The convenience of my morning run along the Huang Dao beach really made Xiamen the place to maintain health and fitness.
那天，我在海灘上走了四個小時，從那以后，一切都在向好的方向發(fā)展。在廈門生活的幾年里，這個城市所帶來的一切，包括熱情友好的人民，都令我感到無比驚喜，也令我的工作和生活變得更加輕松。我早上會沿著環(huán)島路海灘跑步，非常便利，廈門真是修身養(yǎng)性的好地方。
After three years working for a sports brand in Xiamen, I had contributed creating an iconic product for the Chinese market and living the dream.
在廈門的一個體育品牌工作三年之后，我為中國市場設(shè)計了一個潮流產(chǎn)品，實(shí)現(xiàn)了我的夢想。
Move to Beijing?
搬到北京
In 2013, I was offered another an amazing opportunity to head up a department in Beijing in which my family and I lived for 5 years experiencing all the things Beijing had to offer, the history, international community, the night life made it? great and again, returning to the Olympic city of my dreams.
2013 年，我得到了一份難能可貴的工作機(jī)會，那就是在北京擔(dān)任一個部門領(lǐng)導(dǎo)。我和家人在北京生活了 5 年，盡情體驗北京的一切。那里有悠久的歷史、國際化的社區(qū)、豐富的夜生活，北京是一座偉大的都市，我再次回到了我夢想中的奧運(yùn)城市。
Return to Xiamen
回到廈門
My family and I moved back to Xiamen in 2017 to Xiamen a start my own business, one of the factors that influenced this was a three hour talk on the plane with a local businessman that inspired me to brave challenges and start from somewhere with my new venture. Over the next few years in Xiamen my design consultancy business has delivered numerous designs and creative directions for the leading Chinese brand as well as international brands. I had the opportunity to really understanding Chinese consumers through collaboration and genuinely committed myself in guiding young talented designers reach their full potential in creativity.
2017 年，我和家人搬回廈門。我開始創(chuàng)業(yè)，是一位廈門商人令我萌生了這一想法。我們在飛機(jī)上聊了三個小時，他激勵我直面挑戰(zhàn)，開創(chuàng)新的事業(yè)。接下來的幾年，我在廈門經(jīng)營一家設(shè)計咨詢公司，為中國領(lǐng)先品牌和國際大牌提供了大量的設(shè)計方案和創(chuàng)意方向。通過合作，我真正明白中國消費(fèi)者的需要，同時我也努力指導(dǎo)有天賦的年輕設(shè)計師，讓他們充分發(fā)揮創(chuàng)造力。
My experience
我的經(jīng)歷
China has enriched my life experiences, even the challenges along the way have been instrumental ingredients to building character and personal development, as well as allowing me to have a broader mindset and outlook at the world. I Now consider Xiamen my second home, with local friends I now call family. I’ve been exposed to some much great things, from food, music and travelling to over 40 cities around China during my time here.
中國豐富了我的人生閱歷，即使一路走來滿是挑戰(zhàn)，但這也塑造了我的性格，促進(jìn)了個人發(fā)展，同時也讓我形成了更廣闊的思維和世界觀。我已經(jīng)把廈門當(dāng)成第二個家，廈門的朋友就是我的家人。在這里，我經(jīng)歷了很多有趣的事情，品嘗了美味的食物，聆聽了動人的音樂，去過中國的 40 多個城市旅行。
Living here is an experience I believe would be hard to find anywhere else around the world.
這里的生活體驗是獨(dú)一無二的，我相信在世界其他地方很難找到這樣的體驗。
作者：Bode 翻譯：潘澤彬
If you would like to contribute your story, feel free to contact us.
Email: luz@mts-tech.com
Home away from home?is a collection of the unique stories written by foreigners in China and compiled by MTS. Join us on this journey of exploring 100 different stories showcasing what it truly means to live in China!《家外之家》是一本外國人在中國的獨(dú)特故事集，由外國人撰寫，精藝達(dá)公司征集匯編。歡迎外國朋友積極參與，和我們一起探尋100個不同的故事，展示生活在中國的真正意義！
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It has been?5 months?already since the “Home Away from Home” essay contest began! We appreciate all the foreign friends who have participated writing?55 unique stories?about their experience as expats in China.?On October 31st, the voting system closed, and after thorough counting of likes, reads and votes, today is the time to announce the?5 winners! Drumroll please...感謝大家?5 個月以來對《家外之家》征文比賽的關(guān)注！開賽至今，我們一共征集到了?55 篇外國人在華故事，我們非常感謝此次積極參與征文活動的外國朋友。2021 年 10 月 31 日，網(wǎng)站投票通道也已關(guān)閉。通過計算社交媒體點(diǎn)贊數(shù)、閱讀數(shù)、以及網(wǎng)站投票數(shù)，經(jīng)過激烈角逐,?5 名參賽者最終脫穎而出
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