“Wuhan and I”

Erika Zoeller Veras1, Daniel Bicudo Veras

2

1 Brazilian PhD Researcher at Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, P.R. China, 430070

2 Brazilian Teacher at Hubei University, Wuhan, P.R. China, 430062

(E-mail: crossculturalbusiness@gmail.com, daniar73@gmail.com)

Our journey to China started in 2003, when we decided to come to this multifaceted country.

After our first Chinese experience, nothing would be the same again. What should be a year of

international experience became the beginning of a long term relationship. We started to get

more and more involved in issues related to China. We studied Chinese for a year, and after we

went back to Brazil for two years we worked with Chinese companies and governmental

delegations visiting Brazil. Moreover, the Chinese community in Sao Paulo/ Brazil, our

hometown, is quite strong, which also gave us the opportunity to always be in touch with

Chinese culture, as well as the language.

China was always on our minds, so we decided it was time to come back, this time to the

splendid Wuhan. Erika got a scholarship to do her MBA at Wuhan University of Technology and

Daniel got a teaching job. Wuhan? We didn’t know much about the city. After some insomnia

nights, we finally decided that Wuhan it would be. It was 2006 and we landed here on a very hot

summer day. The ride from the airport gave us some signals that the city was going through huge

transformations. Constructions everywhere.

Little by little we became fascinated by Wuhan people’s cordiality, kindness and friendliness.

Time went by and we decided to stay longer and explore the potential that this city could provide

for our personal and professional growth. Years later, Erika not only got her Masters Degree, but

also enrolled in her University’s PhD. Program, where she is currently studying and bridging an

international academic cooperation between Wuhan and Sao Paulo. As for Daniel, he teaches at

Hubei University, taking part in an academic cooperation involving the Confucius Institute in

Sao Paulo, the Sao Paulo State University (Unesp) and Chinese Government (the Han Ban). In

2012 we witnessed the launching of the first Center for Brazilian Studies at Hubei University. It

is a great pleasure to see Wuhan as an important platform of the Sino-Brazilian cultural relations

– and be part of it.

We also had the pleasure to have our nephew Georges with us in Wuhan too. He graduated in

International Trade and Economics at Wuhan University of Technology last year. At the same

time, we are twice happy; our niece Yasmin (Georges’ sister) is also in Wuhan. She first came in

2011 to study Chinese language at Hubei University, and now, in 2013, she is back to Wuhan for

more. You see, we can never get enough of this splendid city! We are blessed to have such an

amazing opportunity to have our family in Wuhan. It is a unique moment in our lives. It’s not

every day that you can have a big family in such a far away country.

This long term relationship gives us the chance to understand this challenging city. It has been a

particular experience. If you stay away from Wuhan for a couple of months, you may not

recognize some parts of the city when you return. Old buildings will have been torn down, or

new skyscrapers will have emerged on a land where once there was nothing. Wuhan has more

and more modern buildings; it is a city rich in style and luxury. However, behind the modern

buildings that sit on wide and stylish avenues, there are always narrow and winding alleys, areas

where the traditional Chinese way of life can still be seen. There, it is possible to find small

shops and people chatting, playing board games, or preparing food, their children playing nearby.

They all live together like a big family, enjoying the simple pleasures of life. American author

Pearl Buck once defined that as the pinnacle of refinement. The modernization of Wuhan will

bring changes to traditional ways of life. It calls for development; that is the way things go and

we can only hope that this unique sense of community won't be lost in the process.

We have been witnessing the transformation of the city in terms of landscape, facilities and the

newly-born subway connecting faraway places and shortening distances. Meanwhile, the city has

gained places such as the Hanjie, new bridges, shopping malls, restaurants, theaters and others.

In 2012, with joy we learned that the government is working hard towards making Wuhan an

internationalized central city. Erika had the pleasure to meet the Mayor of Wuhan, Mr. Tang

Liangzhi in person during the launching of the “Home in Wuhan” Project. The project that

completed now more than a year is a fundamental step to establish Wuhan as an international

city and it is already bringing benefits.

Could we have had all this learning and development in other Chinese city? This we can’t tell,

but it was Wuhan that welcomed us and offered us unique opportunities, day by day broadening

our horizons. When we first came, we didn’t expect we would stay that long. Now it has been

seven years. Wuhan has (and will always have) a special place in our family history. We have

made friends; we have made a life here. Every day is a new discovery. As long as we are happy,

we will stay. Thank you, Wuhan!

Some photos

The family in China - from right to left: Daniel, Erika, Georges and Yasmin

Mr. TANG Liangzhi (Mayor of Wuhan) and Erika Zoeller Veras

Erika at the Presidential Sino-Brazilian event in Beijing - 2011

Hubei University 2010 – with the Brazilian summer course students

Erika & Daniel with international students from Indonesia, Peru, Brazil, Ecuador and Colombia (at

Wuhan University of Technology – 2009).