This is the 921st real person we tell
I am Shanshan
(I appreciate every bit of life)
1976, I was lucky to be born in a family full of books, and my parents are teachers from a university in Guangzhou. My sister is five years younger than me and is now a college teacher.
When my father and mother were the class monitor and the other was the branch secretary when they were in college. The old couple has been in love for a lifetime and never blushed. Their love has moved and envied me. Respecting each other and supporting each other should be a legend in modern times, but it is real and ordinary to my parents.
Our small home is warm and democratic. My parents give me a lot of free choices. From childhood to adulthood, they will respect my choices and give me the opportunity to try.
My sister and I grew up in the teacher dormitory area. I often play crazy in the yard with my friends, and my childhood was unrestrained. My kindergarten and elementary school are all attended by the affiliated schools where my parents work in the university, and most of my classmates are childhood sweethearts.
Influenced by the family atmosphere, I am full of interest in learning and my grades have always been ideal.
(Leave a bright smile and say goodbye to the green campus)
1995, I was admitted to South China Normal University biology major. Compared with other schools, this school has extremely strict management. We have both early reading and late study.
Biology is an extremely interesting major. For example, during the exam, you only have a few leaves, you have to call out hundreds of plants in your mind, confirm which plant it is, and write down the species and characteristics of the family genus of the syllabus family of this plant.
In the exam that year, I was the only student with full marks, and I was a bit of a top student.
The situation in the school back then was that almost all students with conditions at home would study abroad, which was also in my plan.
After graduating from university, I became a teacher for one year. In 2001, I went to the university in Stuttgart, Germany to study. I could have chosen to go to the United States or Australia where there would be relatives who could take care of me and help me.
Perhaps it is my yearning for the magical land of Germany that has nurtured many philosophers and countless Nobel Prize winners, and I firmly chose Germany, which no one knows, to start my study journey.
(April day in Germany)
When I first arrived in Germany, the streets were covered with blooming trees, especially cherry blossoms , with large tracts without a piece of pink with green leaves. How long does the cherry blossoms bloom? It's April.
Although the scenery is beautiful, I can only take it by in a hurry. I must immediately devote myself to language learning, because the frequency of using English in Germany may be similar to that in China. Few people can communicate in English. In Germany, I can't walk German inches.
German part of speech is divided into neutral negative and positive, and there are 4 grids. There are many changes in the combination. There are also many changes in the ending of the word and vowel , and the grammar is extremely complicated. After half a year, I passed the language test, but I could only communicate with people stutteringly, and it took about a year to reach the level of smooth communication.
There were many Chinese in the language class at that time, and we got along well. Later, some returned to China, some continued to stay in Germany, and we still have contacts.
I studied for a master's degree in environmental protection in Stuttgart , which is closely related to my previous biology major. Many of them involve chemistry, which I have learned when I was a bachelor's degree.
(Go to the University of Technology of Vienna to fight with the "gods")
Moreover, science requires less language assistance. After completing the chemical equations, many things are integrated, so I don’t find it difficult.
At that time, the master's degree must be studied for six years in Germany, and it was not very good to recognize the mutual degree from China.
Domestic undergraduates have to re-study their undergraduate studies, and they will be exempted from one or two semesters. Very few graduates early, usually six years, but some people have not graduated after ten years. Now, undergraduate and master's degree have been separated, which is more friendly to international students.
Many people choose schools for studying abroad, and they always like to see if there are any great professors in this school, but I want to tell you that the more awesome the professors, the harder it is to graduate. I am in the chemistry department of , Stuttgart University, and there is a very good professor, but basically no Chinese can graduate.
In 2001, I met my current husband at a friend’s party. He is an Austrian, one year older than me, and is an mechanical design engineer .
(The children are all very good, which is what I am most satisfied with)
He is a legendary straight man in science and engineering. Falling in love is like treating work, not understanding the charm, but in terms of emotions, he is dedicated and pure. Like means like, and there will be no other conditions attached.
Zeng Shiqiang Old Mr. Zeng said: "Men's chastity is responsible", and he is a good man who fulfills his responsibilities.
In 2003, I graduated with with a master's degree and wanted to continue my doctorate, but I was suffering from lack of better projects and teachers, so I went to to , , and studied for 2 years in the MBA (Master of Business Administration) to transition to .
I was under a lot of pressure in those two years. My MBA courses were full, and my liberal arts nature was relatively strong. We don’t even have textbooks, and all we can get is a few simple PPT pages in the teacher’s class. After class, I can only try my best to chew the "big thing" recommended by the teacher.
This is a disadvantage for Chinese people who are not very good at German. The exam questions are also very active. If you know how to do it, you really can't answer a single word.
After graduating from MBA in 2005, my husband and I registered for marriage in Stuttgart, Germany. After marriage, we returned to his hometown of Austria to live. Maybe this is what we Guangzhou people say about marrying a chicken, marrying a dog, marrying a monkey, running around the mountains.
(Living in a shallow and light life, every day is happiness and touching)
Austria and Germany are not much different. They both speak German and maintain consistency in climate, diet and mass entertainment. Even watching TV is a German channel.
In 2006, my eldest daughter was born. I originally thought that my parents-in-law could provide some help in raising children, but the national conditions here are very different from those in China. There is a strong sense of boundary between parents and adult children in Europe. In-laws are very polite and considerate to us and will not interfere with our decisions, but they will not help take care of their children 24/7 like in China.
In-laws’ lives are very rich, drinking coffee, shopping, making appointments with friends, etc. I can only ask them for help when something happens, and I have to make an appointment in advance, and my tone must be gentle and polite.
So for a long time, I didn't go out to work and just took care of my children at home. Fortunately, I have been relatively independent since I was a child and I don’t feel that it is difficult or tiring. On the contrary, the gentleman has to work alone to support his family. He goes out early and returns late every day. Although the pressure is high, he enjoys it. This is pain and happiness.
(my sister attended the meeting as a school representative and took a photo with the current Austrian Prime Minister)
Whether at home or abroad, generally speaking, the woman makes sacrifices for her family . Most European families also have mothers taking care of their children at home, but it is not easy for a person’s salary to maintain a good quality of life. So many mothers can do part-time jobs, and it is rare to see pure full-time housewives.
Fortunately, the working hours here are relatively flexible, and there are many part-time jobs that cost 20 hours a week, which can not only reduce some financial burden for mothers, but also facilitate return to the workplace in the future.
After the child was older and more independent, I also worked like this part-time job and worked as an assistant in a consulting company. With the rise of China and the increase in trade cooperation with Europe, the whole of Europe had a good impression of China at that time. I am mainly responsible for connecting with domestic business and a small number of projects.
In 2011, our youngest son was born . Here, two children are basically the "standard" for each family, so it is natural for us to have a second child.
(My brother is working hard to get on the road alone - preparation for the bicycle certificate)
I am more extensive in taking care of the child.For example, I never hold a child, but I push a baby stroller when I take him out, and I hold hands when I walk, and the child will not ask his mother to hug him. Unless there is a bump, I will hug him based on emotional needs, but this will not become his habit.
Every time I go back to China and take care of my child with my sister, I always let the child play by himself, no matter whether he runs or jumps. At the end of the day, my hair and clothes were wet and I never dries it.
I was also questioned by my sister several times because of this: "Why don't you care about the child? Will you take care of it?"
Because of the different concepts of parenting , she will follow the child's butt and follow her step by step. I wipe my sweat for a while and change my clothes for a while, for fear that my child will catch a cold.
, in my opinion, this way of raising children has invisibly created a lot of work for myself. Isn’t it good to save time to do something you like?
(Little Beautiful in Life)
Although I am also taking care of children alone, I studied psychology and nutrition online . Not only did I take the certificate, I also had time to read novels and study tarot cards of interest. Not only did I not feel busy, I also gained a peaceful state of mind.
Under my education that combines Chinese and Western styles, the children have good personalities and moral character, which is the most satisfying thing for me.
I especially like the motherland's orchid , which represents nobility, elegance, beauty, virtuousness and indifference. This is also the quality I pursue. I look forward to my children also having such quality, such as Chinese orchids blooming in Austria, emitting fragrance.
My eldest daughter is 16 years old this year. The primary, junior and high schools here are all 4-year-old. She is now in the second grade of high school.
She is the "class spokesperson" in the class, similar to the position of squad leader in China. The spokesperson can directly reflect the students' needs or opinions to the principal or board of directors.
(my sister is a state student representative, at the Austrian National Parliament venue)
Now daughter has been elected by the "class spokesperson" and has become the school spokesperson, and has gone all the way to the position of state spokesperson and has become a member of the student party.
They often give various speeches, with topics covering environmental protection, new energy, new crown and other aspects, and they are like a real small political party.
My daughter is also the head of the self-media of the student party, and many information about the party's activities or meetings are published by her.
As the spokesperson for the continent, her daughter was also invited to participate in events organized by the state government, and even went to Congress to meet with national leaders.
Just like these few days, my daughter went to Salzburg for a meeting. Although it is time and energy to participate in these activities, my daughter enjoys it and is tireless.
My daughter has had several boyfriends since kindergarten and went to elementary and junior high school. However, the so-called "boyfriend" at that time was just a good playmate of the opposite sex.
(Prepare to go on a business trip, I am a brick, wherever I need to move)
The real boyfriend usually dates after high school. In Europe, if the child has not yet had a boyfriend or girlfriend until he was fifteen or sixteen years old, parents will be very anxious.
My daughter and current boyfriend have already "officially announced" to our parents, and have also made official visits to both parents. The two of them planned to go to university in Vienna, and the boy wanted to study law.
I never worry about my daughter being bullied in relationships, Because of the sex education in Europe, started very early, and the fourth grade (12 years old) in the school has demonstrated how to use condoms .
Parents here usually discuss these issues with their children. Like most people, my focus is not on whether there are these behaviors, but on ensuring safety.
I have a Chinese female friend. Her high school son doesn’t have a girlfriend yet. She is very worried that her son will still be a virgin when he graduates.
(Climbing and hiking is a challenge for people to nature and for themselves)
After hearing what she said, I was a little worried about my 11-year-old son. My son rarely plays with girls, only boys.His friend's girlfriend has changed several times, but his son has not even one.
is right, you read it right, this is a very common thing in Europe, and it is definitely incomprehensible when put in China.
After my son was born, I worked as a Chinese teacher for a long time. I first went to a private tourism school, and then transferred to a public middle school.
After the epidemic began in 2020, Europeans generally believe that the source of the new crown comes from China. Although they are still friendly on the surface, their attitude towards Chinese people has changed a lot in their hearts. Even when walking on the road, there are often children shouting "Corona" to Chinese people.
At that time, school teaching was greatly affected by the epidemic, so I did not continue to teach Chinese. Instead, I found the job of the project manager now, returned to the formal workplace, and began to pursue my own career.
(The company I work for now temporarily put down my burden of work and appreciate the comfort of the white and quiet world)
Looking back on my first half of my life, I got a double master's degree very early because I looked at the world from my parents' shoulders, but for the sake of my family, I didn't get on the right track of my career until the past two years.
. Most of the classmates who graduated from China at the same time have made great achievements in their careers, including Zhujiang Scholars , Yangtze River Scholars and Dean of the College. Among my classmates who returned to China after finishing MBA with me, they had already earned one million yuan in annual salary early.
Many people think that I have spent so many years on my family and wasted great time, which is a pity for me. But in fact, I am willing to accept it. If I were given another chance to choose between my family and career, I would still make the same choice.
Thanksgiving life gives me a warm family and an ordinary life, plain, quiet, happy and fulfilling. In fact, isn’t this what the world pursues?
If a good person misses it, it will last for the rest of his life; if a child misses the time of his growth, he will never go back; if he misses his work, he can still find it again. For the people I love and those I love, it’s all worth it!
[Oral: Shanshan]
[Editor: Lisa]
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