My name is Mark, I was born in Chicago, USA and now I live in Shandong.

I am fortunate that my father gave me a good education and cultivated my diverse talents. I inherited my father's parenting philosophy and homeschooled my two children so that they could successfully enter college and have a good job.

A chance trip to China started a wonderful journey for me. Not only did I find a job in China, but I also married a beautiful Shandong wife.

Now that I have lived in China for 5 years, I have gained 15 kilograms because I fell in love with Chinese food. I love China and the United States, and I am willing to contribute to the Sino-US friendship with my modest efforts.

I was born in Chicago, USA. It is the third largest city after New York and Los Angeles, and it is an important financial center in the world. More than 30 Fortune Global 500 companies have their headquarters here.

Chicago is adjacent to the Great Lakes, and the winter temperature is low and windy. Maybe because my ancestors are Nordic immigrants, I really like the weather in Chicago, especially the beauty of the changing seasons.

My father ran a construction company and was a great father as well as a successful one. He often took me on trips and taught me about architecture himself, so at an early age I had a lot of building engineering skills and even knew how to install drainage and heating systems.

My father gave me a top-notch education and gave me practical knowledge. Under his guidance, I learned to fly a small four-seat single-engine aircraft and learn to handle various weapons. Together, we drove across America to learn about geography, history, cities, and people on the ground.

(Music playing)

I love my father very much and have learned a lot from him, especially the sense of responsibility towards children and the way they are raised.

After graduating from college, I chose to become a teacher at a university, teaching English linguistics. I chose the career of a teacher because I had more free time to help my father run the company.

Our construction company mainly builds factories, apartments, office buildings, and can also build roads. I have been in contact with it since I was a child, so I can fully assist my father.

I really love Chicago, it's a multi-ethnic city with cuisines from all over the world. I'm a food lover and can feast on Italian pizza, burritos, French snails, and Cantonese morning tea.

My time in Chicago lasted until I had two children, and from then on, I moved to the countryside, two hours away.

(Chicago skyline)

When my child grew up, faced with the choice of education method, I made a decision: to educate my children at home. The United States advocates general education, encourages students to study liberal arts and sciences, and students have the opportunity to try various fields to find their ultimate academic direction and career interests.

Thanks to the general education in the United States, in addition to language, I also have profound attainments in law, mathematics, science, and history.

As a teacher, I know how to teach children and I have the ability to teach them all kinds of knowledge. In the process of educating children, it will not only develop their interests, but also strengthen our relationship. So I decided to teach my children at home until they go to college.

In the United States, because there are no student status regulations and no unified college entrance examination, children study at home. After completing their studies, they can apply for college by registering for the SAT and AP exams.

(Go out to play for photos)

Many states in the United States allow home schooling, and there are many supporting measures. There are textbooks and websites for home-schooled children, and children can go to public schools to take exams. In recent years, the number of children choosing home schooling has been increasing year by year.

According to the characteristics of children, I develop suitable learning content for them and grasp the pace of learning. One of the benefits of family education is that it can teach students according to their aptitude, and it can also take children to learn knowledge in person.

When it comes to a certain piece of American history, I take them to the place where it happened and visit museums to see real historical materials. The most important thing in family education is to allow children to engage in normal social activities and physical exercise.

The village we live in is clean and tidy, with a beautiful environment, surrounded by forests, lakes, and many hiking trails. Children can enjoy themselves in nature and have a good time.

(Me and my two sons)

People who live in the countryside raise cattle and grow crops, and they have a very close relationship with each other. There are often pork roast parties, with cooking specialties, tasting pork that has been roasted for a day, and people sit together and have a good time.

Life in the country was peaceful and peaceful. Later, the children were admitted to good universities, and they did well in school. After graduation, they also found very good jobs. The eldest son works at Tesla, and the younger son works at a technology company.

In 2017, after the children worked, we took a vacation trip to Hong Kong. Hong Kong is a bustling international metropolis, bustling with people, and it is worthy of being one of the most densely populated cities in the world.

(Carefully preparing lessons)

The cuisine in Hong Kong amazes me. There are a wide variety of specialties, especially in tea restaurants, which have small shops but an endless stream of people. Each store has its own unique characteristics and is inexpensive.

The children returned to the United States for work reasons, and when I had free time, I wanted to visit the vast Chinese mainland in the north.

So I applied for a visa. I thought it would take a long time, but I didn't expect it to be approved in 15 days, or a three-year tourist visa. The efficiency of the Chinese government is really high.

I flew from Hong Kong to Shanghai, which is also a cosmopolitan metropolis. It was a particularly wise decision to choose Shanghai. Although I don't understand Chinese, I have no barriers here, and I always find people who can speak fluent English when I encounter difficulties.

My first visit to the Chinese mainland, I wanted to know more about this land. So I went to the Temple of the City God, the Oriental Pearl, tasted the fried buns, Yangchun noodles, and went to the coffee shop to chat with people to understand the humanities here.

(I'm in class)

As time went by, I became more and more aware of the breadth and depth of Chinese culture, and my stay in Shanghai became longer and longer, even a little reluctant. Until a subway ride made me want to stay here completely.

One hot summer day, by a friend's appointment, I took the subway early in the morning to my rendezvous. Wearing a suit and tie, I experienced for the first time the morning rush hour, when the subway was crowded and airtight.

For some reason, I suddenly went blank and fainted. When I woke up, I found that I had been helped to the platform, with my coat off, my tie untied, and my cuffs and neckline loosened.

People saw that I had come to my senses and confirmed that I was in good health before they left. I was very moved by the kindness and helpfulness of the people of Shanghai, and I have wanted to stay in China ever since.

(Me and my Shandong wife)

The god of luck soon arrived. During a chat with someone in a coffee shop, a young man took the initiative to chat with me and asked me if I would like to work as a foreign teacher in Zibo City, Shandong Province. He would help with work visas and living issues.

It's really hard to find a place to step through the iron shoes, and it takes no effort to get it. This is exactly what I want, so I went to Zibo to do a survey first.

Zibo is a city with a long history. It was once the capital of Qi during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. There are many historical and cultural relics.

Boshan cuisine is one of the birthplaces of Shandong cuisine. There are many famous snacks, such as Boshan fried meat, Boshan crispy pot, and tofu box. Among them, the tofu box was once praised by Emperor Qianlong. It is one of the top ten classic dishes in Shandong and a state banquet dish in the Great Hall of the People.

Shandong is the hometown of Confucius and the birthplace of Confucian culture. Confucius' thought "The road returns to benevolence, and the benevolent loves his lover." It is deeply respected by the people of Shandong, so the people here are simple and kind.

Ride an electric bike to work.

These are all things I like and even dream of, so in 2018 I came to Zibo Language School as a teacher.

As a teacher for many years, I am very good at teaching, especially finding that basic education in China is very strong. Students have learned a lot of grammar and recited a lot of words in school.

My task is to correct their mistakes, so that they can learn from Chinglish in the shortest possible time and learn to think and express like native English speakers.

In the process of teaching, I found that Chinese students are more shy, especially afraid of making mistakes. "If a person is not born with knowledge, who can be confused? If you are confused and do not follow a teacher, you will be confused, and you will not be able to solve it in the end." If you have doubts and mistakes, you are not afraid of them. Once you solve them, you will master knowledge. People grow up by making mistakes. If you don't make mistakes, you will not know your progress.

(Be a judge for the English word contest)

I have always considered myself a very lucky person. Unexpectedly, the god of luck once again favored me and met someone in Zibo who wanted to join hands for a lifetime.

I met her through a friend, and she is a successful professional woman who works as an executive in a real estate company in Zibo.

She is beautiful and intellectually elegant, and her English is also very good. We can communicate without barriers. The first time I saw her, I was shot by Cupid's arrow.

I worked in the construction industry in the United States, and she worked in a real estate company. After a deep conversation, we found that we had a lot in common, and we all felt that it was too late to meet.

Soon we decided to register our marriage because it was an international marriage, and we were very worried that my wife's family would not accept me.

Luckily, the first time we met, my wife's family had a good conversation with me. Maybe my wife's translation skills were high, or maybe I was too friendly. Because Chinese friends and students all said that I was exactly like that cute Santa Claus.

(We are married)

On June 6, 2019, we registered our marriage. On that day, I said "I love you" to her countless times. I am also willing to say this every day in the days to come, because I will not get tired of saying it many times.

The married life is happy and happy. My wife gets off work late, and I look at the window every day. Once, my wife made a video of my infatuation and posted it on the Internet, which unexpectedly attracted attention.

Then we shared some of our daily lives online, and like most Chinese couples, we went for a walk after dinner, and we also went to square dancing. Square dancing is really a down-to-earth form of exercise, and I love it.

I am truly grateful to my wife's family for allowing me to enter the homes of ordinary Chinese people, experience the joy of family, and gain a deeper understanding of the Chinese people.

(Wedding photos)

My mother-in-law is a highly skilled home cook, especially her dumplings, which are delicious on earth. The Chinese food made me addicted, which caused me to gain 15kg directly.

On September 12, 2020, we held a Chinese-style wedding ceremony. The ancient Chinese wedding ceremony was really amazing, and every step made me feel a sense of grandeur. In fact, marriage should be like this, and everyone needs to take it seriously.

There was no shortage of procedures for picking up relatives, removing the lid, wearing shoes, worshiping elders, etc. At that time, the guests were crowded and everyone was enthusiastic. My wife and I were busy toasting, and as soon as we had time to sit down, I couldn't wait to eat those carefully selected delicacies.

Connect, fly wings, love each other, forever. The wedding is both solemn and festive, and finally came to an end with the blessings of relatives and friends, which I will never forget.

(Traveling with his wife)

In 2021, due to the epidemic and policies in China, the language school in Zibo was closed. While I was looking for a new job, luck came again. A university in Tai'an recruited foreign language teachers, and I successfully applied again.

Tai'an City is named after Mount Tai, which means that the country is peaceful and the people are safe. Tai'an is built on the mountain and the city. It is a famous tourist city in China and a famous historical city.

As a teacher, teaching in the United States is the same as teaching in China. Both need a combination of books and reality. The teaching method should be humorous and interesting, and the content should be novel and not rigid. At the same time, teaching should also cultivate students' self-confidence and understanding ability. Learning results will be good if you use an entertaining way to teach.

Some Chinese students hope to attend Harvard University or Berkeley University. Living in the Midwest of the United States, I find schools in my hometown more attractive.

(Chinese dress wedding photo)

The Midwest region is a relatively vast geographical area of the United States, including the Great Lakes region and the Great Plains region. The natural environment here is good, the price is not high, most people are descendants of Nordic immigrants, and the folk customs are simple and open.

The English here is the most authentic American English, and the educational resources are very good. There are many famous universities, including the University of Chicago, Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Northwestern University. Midwestern schools continue the pioneering liberal spirit, and education is more practical.

Americans who grew up in the Midwest have a similar family philosophy to Chinese people. Work hard, focus on family, provide a good growth environment for children, and cultivate their spirit of hard work and innovation. So, I can quickly adapt to life in China.

I love the teaching profession, and I especially like the enthusiasm of Chinese students for learning. They not only study hard, but also are curious and curious about the world. I know everything, and I am happy to answer any questions they have.

(I took a photo with my wife at home.)

When my students learned that I could fly a plane, they were very excited and curious. In fact, learning to fly a plane in the United States is not very expensive, around $11,000, and there are many schools to learn to fly.

For experience flying, it's $200 a time. The instructor assists in takeoff and landing from the right seat of the plane, and can turn, climb and descend by himself during the flight.

In the process of learning, you can also come into contact with a lot of knowledge, because you need to learn the dashboard of an aircraft, learn to judge the impact of complex weather changes on flight, and so on. In fact, learning to fly an airplane is equivalent to seeing the world from a different perspective.

Working in Tai'an made my wife and I a weekend couple. Tai'an is a 2-hour drive from Zibo. We work hard in our respective positions on weekdays and get together on weekends.

(Soaring in the blue sky)

If we had free time, we would travel together, see the mountains and rivers of China, and taste the local food by the way. My wife designed the route and arranged everything for the trip. I really like the high-speed rail, it's clean and tidy and fast, it's a great achievement in China.

My wife is a very good planner. We went to Chongqing, Chengdu, Shanghai, Xishuangbanna and other places together. We ate the hottest hot pot in Chongqing and grabbed rice with our hands for the first time in Xishuangbanna. And it was the only foreign tourist on the Three Gorges cruise at that time, and we also won the honor of taking a photo with the captain.

(I am traveling with my wife.)

During my travels in China, I was able to see the different geographical environments of China, meet a variety of customs, and taste a variety of delicious foods.

The Chinese people share many similarities with the American people. They share a strong sense of responsibility towards their families, work hard to earn money, and create a good environment for their children.

There are people in many parts of the world who want to live a relaxed and comfortable life. I respect that lifestyle, but I also value a positive outlook on life like China and the United States.

In the future, I will work hard to learn Chinese. The reason why my Chinese learning progress is slow is because my friends around me want to practice English with me, so there are fewer opportunities to speak Chinese.

(Let's taste delicious food together)

Before coming to China, I never expected to stay here, let alone live here for 5 years, with a Chinese wife and a happy life.

I love China and hope to travel to all corners of China in the future. I also love the United States because it is my beautiful hometown. I am willing to make contributions to Sino-US friendship with my modest efforts.

[Oral: Mark]

[Edit: Catkins in August]