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Q&A from Thibaut Grzelak

@ThibautGrzelak @Xiaohongshu.com

  1. "Where are you from, and is this your first time visiting China?"

Hi, my name is Thibaut, I'm 27 and I come from France. In 2017, I visited Beijing and really appreciated it. At that time, I told myself I would come back to work one day if I got the chance, and here I am!

  1. "What brings you to China, and what interests you the most?"

I like Chinese culture, Chinese food, and the Chinese way of life. I also think the country is really nice and has a lot of places to visit, from mountains to seashores.

  1. "Can you share some cultural or travel experiences that have stood out to you in China?"

As my Mandarin is not really good, I often have confusion or trouble when I communicate with people. For example, when I try to buy some food, they don't really understand and give me something I didn't ask for, or sometimes they have no idea what I am asking. Anyway, people will try to help me, repeat the question many times, and use their hands to show me! I also think people are really kind and welcoming, and if you show interest, they will be happy to help you or share a moment.

  1. "3 things in China that challenged you?"
  • Administrative part: Even for work, it is quite difficult to have all the documents and pass the controls. Even when arriving in the country, you need to follow a lot of procedures (working card, police to declare your address, etc.) and it is difficult because of the language barrier.
  • Food: Here I had the chance to try a lot of food I didn't know, like durian, stinky tofu, and some fishes. It is anyway a nice surprise and part of the experience.
  • Work: The way people work here is quite different from what I used to know. At first, it can be a bit surprising and you need to adapt to new habits!
  1. "3 tips for other foreigners traveling in China?"
  • Install Chinese applications before leaving and make sure they work (Alipay, WeChat, maps, translator) or it can be tricky and challenging.
  • Check hotels carefully because most of them refuse foreigners.
  • Learn some basic Mandarin!
  1. "3 reasons why foreigners should consider visiting China?"
  • It is a nice country with a strong culture and welcoming people. The country has great landscapes, from tea fields to mountains.
  • The food is a real experience and as the country is very vast, you can have a lot of different experiences.
  • The country is not really well known and they might be surprised by what they will discover!
  1. "3 favorite photos or short videos you take in China"
  • Thibaut Grzela at the WaiTan/the bund in Shanghai

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  • Thibaut Grzela in Qingdao, holding a bag beer

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  • Thibaut Grzela in Zibo, eating grilled skewers

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