Focusing on immigration to Spain and life in Spain: It takes two and a half hours to fly from Paris to Barcelona. This is my first time in Spain. Mr. Ruan, a local Chinese businessman, came to pick me up, along with three readers who have been following my book. With the reception from the Chinese community, everything seems less unfamiliar.
Spain seems to be more modern than Paris. Upon exiting Barcelona Airport, all I could see were the landscapes of the countryside. The architecture is not as ancient. An hour later, I arrived at a famous brand discount store in Spain! I think this is what Mr. Enquan thought I would enjoy shopping, and indeed, I bought a suit that I quite liked!
I heard that it rarely rains in Spain, but just like in Paris, whenever I arrive, it always rains beforehand, and then the sun comes out as soon as I arrive. This pattern has not changed in over twenty years; it seems to be the case in every city I visit. The air after the rain feels particularly fresh, and I greedily take a few deep breaths, as if this is the only way to truly feel that I have arrived in Spain, a name I have long yearned for.
The fruits in Barcelona are abundant and delicious. The oranges are plump and vibrant, and their taste is surprisingly delightful, while the pears are sweet and fragrant, the sensation of eating them is simply like fine wine. It makes me want to "betray my country" and immigrate here! Haha, after loving my country for forty-two years, I cannot resist the temptation of a pear!
It is said that there are over a hundred thousand Chinese in Spain, or even more, distributed in cities like Madrid and Valencia, mainly engaged in the catering industry and some trade. Most of them arrived here around 1990 or later through various means of illegal immigration and have settled down, and now most of them are living well! No wonder so many people are willing to leave their homes and take such risks to come to a foreign country! Mr. Ruan, who picked me up, said he first went to Hungary and Bulgaria, then took a train and climbed over two mountains to reach Spain! Other Chinese came by sea, and some even pooled money together to buy a boat to come over—what a powerful force dreams can be, inspiring people to devise such arduous methods to reach the shores of their hearts!
In the past, many who came to Europe were from Guangdong, but after the 1990s, most were from Wenzhou and Qingtian! Most Chinese people do not know about Qingtian; I know it is a small county in Lishui, Zhejiang, which was a very poor rural area in the 1990s! Now, in Spain, the Mandarin spoken here is actually Qingtian dialect, and there are hundreds of thousands of Qingtian people across Europe, who have now taken root and blossomed, with many having integrated into mainstream European society!
The two who came to pick me up are representatives of Qingtian people, while the other admirers are from Wenzhou! Their temperaments are also different! Wenzhou people have a business-like demeanor at first glance, while Qingtian people display a strong sense of loyalty and unity! It is said that whenever a Qingtian person opens a shop in Europe, other Qingtian people will each contribute several thousand euros to support him, and even if the business fails, no one blames him; they will still offer support! Perhaps it is this spirit that has allowed Qingtian people to spread across Europe like bees in just twenty years!
I visited a very famous church in Barcelona! I still cannot remember its name! It is said that the designer of the church passed away when it was halfway built, so the church has been constructed according to his design, yet it has never been completed; it has been under construction for many years! When I visited, it was still being built, with one side showcasing architecture and sculptures from a century ago, while the other side used modern building materials! Some parts of the roof are new, while the lower parts are old! Such a building can actually make money, charging admission while it is still under construction! Each person pays 12 euros (120 RMB). The sculptures here have a bit of an African flair! This shows that Spain is an important city in Europe and also a gateway for Africa into Europe! Spain was once ruled by Morocco, so there is a special sentiment towards Morocco! Historically, Britain fought Spain for decades over maritime supremacy, and in the end, Spain was defeated and fell into decline, so the Spanish have some resentment towards the British!
Spanish is actually widely spoken; it is said that Brazil and Argentina in Latin America also use Spanish! The Chinese people I met can all speak fluent Spanish, making me feel that Spanish has a closer connection to Chinese and is easier to learn!
The sun sets late in Spain, often after ten o'clock! Therefore, they usually have dinner between 9:00 and 11:00 PM, and at 7:00 PM, you cannot find a place to eat, as restaurants are not yet open! So, during this time, we visited the Royal Palace of Spain, the bullfighting arena, and the Olympic venue!
The architectural style of the Royal Palace of Spain is indeed vastly different from that of the Louvre and Versailles! However, what struck me the most was that there were many people walking their dogs around the palace! This is akin to having civilians walking their dogs in Zhongnanhai! Spain has a king who lives here, and most of the time, he resides in the new capital, Madrid!
At dinner, I met several Chinese from Qingtian who have developed here, including a female boss who specializes in set-top boxes, a restaurant owner, and others who are already well-off and stay at home to accompany their children. After experiencing the hardships of entrepreneurship, most of them have achieved success and have established a foothold in markets across Europe.
That night, we had authentic Spanish seafood, which was truly satisfying. Lobster, shellfish, fish, and other unknown seafood were served in a large platter, and the taste was exquisite. The restaurant was full of people, and there was a shark displayed at the entrance to attract customers. The Spanish decor, combined with the seaside sailboats and this delicious meal, created a rare sense of happiness. Most importantly, in a foreign land, to meet so many friends who appreciate each other truly gives a feeling of being part of one family across the seas.
I shared insights on fortune, health, and psychology, fostering internal communication that brought many rewards to my friends. Unfortunately, the time was short, and we quickly drove to Valencia!
We arrived at this third-largest city in Spain at one o'clock in the morning and checked into the Hilton Hotel. In the hotel lobby, a dozen Chinese girls welcomed us with flowers, and the room was filled with fruits, making me feel once again the happiness of being cared for wherever I go. They all referred to themselves as my "honey," and so late at night, they were waiting for my arrival with happy faces! It made me feel particularly warm!
Opening the window, the city was lit up, clearly indicating its prosperity! Unable to resist, I went downstairs for a walk and could smell the Mediterranean air, which felt particularly fresh.
The two-day course attracted audiences from various European countries, including Italy, Hungary, the United Kingdom, and France. Of course, they gained a lot and enjoyed it very much, with many driving over from other cities in Spain, traveling four to five hours. I continued to provide them with formulas until midnight, and there were so many people that the Spanish police even came! Haha, it was lively.
Valencia has both ancient cathedral architecture and brand new modern buildings! In the past decade, Spain's economy has been very good, with many people from Europe investing in real estate here, along with a lot of money laundering! However, the financial crisis has caused the economy of this country to decline rapidly. Nevertheless, it still cannot hide its former extraordinary charm! Especially the aquarium in the city, which is a classic architectural work, with lines, colors, and overall architectural style that make you feel it is a building of the future! It combines very artistic design with very fashionable and avant-garde creativity!
The Mediterranean came into my view for the first time! I couldn't help but run on the beach! I encountered a clever and beautiful dog, probably a Golden Retriever or a Labrador! The owner threw a bottle far away, and the dog immediately ran to fetch it back; it was so adorable.
I still couldn't resist taking pictures of Spanish girls and their dogs! It seems that beautiful Spanish girls are not often seen! They say you can only see them on weekends! However, occasionally, there are still some striking sights!