Expats in suzhou enjoy full lives in their home away from home

The Suzhou government knew from the very beginning that favorable government policies and excellent infrastructure were not enough to attract expats to work in the Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP) - the zone also needed to have a vibrant leisure scene for people to achieve a good work-life balance.

In order to achieve this, the authorities had set up a special department dedicated to this cause.

Suzhou native Dai Liya is a manager at the SIP's Community Working Committee, and she is in charge of nine expat communities in the Huxi area within the zone. Her job primarily revolves around helping the more than 6,000 foreigners in her area assimilate into the local environment as seamlessly as possible.

"It can be quite daunting to relocate to another country where you don't speak the language, so that's why we're here to help them to hit the ground running," said Dai.

"The government is very serious about providing these talents with a comfortable place to live. We have even made it a point to hire graduates from the top local universities who are proficient in English so that we can better communicate with our international peers."

One of the first things that foreigners receive upon settling down in SIP is a leaflet created by Dai's department that contains pertinent information about the various services in the zone. Dai also helps arrange for a get-together session involving representatives from various service providers so that expats can get a clearer idea about where to go for their various needs, such as the payment of bills, buying of groceries and medical assistance.

The committee also organizes a host of events all year round to engage the expats. Every year, Dai and her staff organize two major events - an arts and cultural festival in May that promotes Chinese culture as well as international exchange, as well as a dragon boat festival in June where people get to learn how to make Chinese dumplings and participate in various races.

There are even several wives' clubs that offer a range of activities, from Chinese cooking lessons to taichi classes and calligraphy sessions.

Expats themselves have also contributed to the thriving community scene. Having arrived in SIP two years ago, the Sootheran couple run Gallery 4, which was opened in 2010 by fellow American John Grayson.

"We aim to provide something for everyone in SIP, regardless of whether they are expats or locals. The gallery is just a fantastic meeting place for people to come and experience international culture," said Jeffrey Sootheran.

"The variety of people we draw, from people of all nationalities to local children and old ayis, is one of the things I love most about the gallery."

Gallery 4 hosts new art exhibitions every few months and pairs them with live music performances. It also offers a variety of programs, including English lessons as well as art and dance classes for children and adults. Bethany Sootheran, who has a background in ballet and used to dance for the Mississippi-based Ballet Magnificat!, is the primary instructor for the dance classes at Gallery 4.

Many of the events fuse international and local culture - last year, she spearheaded a dance event that combined contemporary, hip hop and traditional Chinese dance moves into a 40-minute performance. This June, the gallery hosted a unique exhibition conceptualized by American photographer Nathan Pelton that featured the photographic works of the children of Chinese migrant workers.

"Being in a place like this and seeing the impact it can have on people and the connections it creates, especially in a place where language barriers exist, is very satisfying," said Jeffrey Sootheran.

"Here in Suzhou, I've discovered how the strength of community has been taken to a whole new level. Back in America, people are more individualistic but here in China, relationships and camaraderie are valued more. It is a refreshing contrast."

alywin@chinadaily.com.cn