(New Year Goes to the Grassroots) Taiwanese couple celebrates the Chinese New Year in Changchun: every little bit of daily life brings together a lot of happiness
China News Service, Changchun, January 29 (Gao Long'an) Tangyuan and dumplings are ready, what dishes should be paired with the braised pork? Stewed pork ribs with pickled cabbage Or pork belly... Xu Guangjie and Chen Naici were chatting about what dishes to cook for the New Year's Eve dinner. When the phone rang, he turned around and picked up his laptop to revise the design draft. His wife sat next to him and the conversation continued.
At the beginning of 2017, Taiwanese designer Xu Guangjie received an invitation from a friend and came with his wife to work in a university in Changchun, Jilin. At that time, Xu Guangjie was already well-known in the industry, and mainland China was no stranger to him. "Since 2010, I have often come to Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Dongguan for work. At that time, I was going to work in Changchun. I was quite looking forward to seeing the snowy scenery in the Northeast."
Xu Guangjie and Chen Naici are both designers. Suddenly switching careers to education is more or less a challenge in life.
Xu Guangjie and Chen Naici work and live in Changchun. Photo by Gao Longan
Now it seems that their original choice was correct. The past few years in Changchun have been a period of growth for their career development. In 2019 and 2021, the couple led the students to win the Red Dot Concept Design Award, the award in the design field, twice.
"I got several international awards that I dreamed of before, but I got them after coming to Changchun." Xu Guangjie said that perhaps the new city and new environment inspired creative inspiration, and Changchun is their "blessed place".
During the Spring Festival last year, due to the COVID-19 epidemic, the two decided not to return to Taiwan for the New Year. Although the situation is better this year, they still decided to stay in Changchun. Xu Guangjie said that they had made an agreement with their parents to watch TV channels together on New Year’s Eve and show off their New Year’s Eve dinner.
On the eve of the Spring Festival, the Jilin Provincial Committee of the Taiwan Democratic Autonomous League and the Taiwan Compatriots Association of Jilin Province held a "Joyfully Come to the Fireplace" New Year cloud reunion event for Taiwanese compatriots who live and settle in Changchun. Xu Guangjie and Chen Naici and Many Taiwanese compatriots chatted about their work and life over the past year, and their hometown accents and nostalgia turned into festive laughter.
Xu Guangjie and Chen Naici experience skiing in Changchun. Picture provided by the interviewee
From the design studio to the university classroom, from eating glutinous rice balls during the New Year to eating dumplings during festivals, from yearning for the beauty of the snow scene to experiencing the excitement of skiing for the first time... the little bits and pieces of the five years have gathered together into a full happiness.
Xu Guangjie often cooks the most famous Taiwanese delicacy Braised Pork Rice to let friends from the mainland try it; the sweet and sour Northeastern famous dish Pot Pork has become Chen Naici's favorite. Recently, she also likes Pork Belly Stewed with Sauerkraut. I have a soft spot for . They said that this year they plan to cook a double New Year’s Eve dinner of Taiwanese food and Northeastern cuisine.
A new year, a new beginning. Xu Guangjie and Chen Naici drew a sketch for life in the Year of the Tiger: go to Changbai Mountain, take advantage of the winter vacation or summer vacation, just have fun; and then lead the students to compete for an international award, red Click or IF, it will be good if you really put your mind to it; buy a house and settle in Changchun, live in a high-tech zone or Shuangyang District , and live a comfortable life... (End)
Source: China News Network
