EIGHT expats from eight countries will compete in the final of the 1st Shenzhen Expats Chinese Talent Competition in the Grand Ballroom of the Westin Shenzhen Nanshan hotel on Friday. Beating more than 300 expats from 30 countries in preliminary contests and seven at the semifinal, eight expats have entered the final. In the Chinese-language speech section, finalists will express their feelings in “I Have a Shenzhen Dream” in five minutes. In the Chinese talent section, they will recite Chinese poems, perform stand-up comedy, play drama and sing well-known Chinese songs. The competition is being hosted by the Organizing Committee of the Shenzhen Speaks Foreign Languages Campaign and the Information Office of the Shenzhen Municipal People’s Government, and organized by the Shenzhen Daily. Admission to the final is free of charge. (SD-Agencies) Eight finalists 1. Benjamin Skelton From New Zealand, runs his own electronics business and lives in Shekou. He has chosen a Chinese talk show for the final. 2. Maria Carolina Meza Campuzano From Colombia, her Chinese name is “咖丽” —— 咖 or coffee, for which Columbia is famous; 丽 from 丽江, which is her favorite place in China. She’s going to be a mother next year. 3. Maria Rose Anikieva Her mother is Russian and her father is Australian. She’s an actress and has played in many TV series and films. She is promoting Universiade. 4. Ekoue Koukpem Known as Mike, from Togo. Shy person, working in Shenzhen. He has chosen a song featuring elements of Beijing Opera. 5. Anthony Prempeh He heard the name of the late Chinese hero Lei Feng from some Chinese workers at a construction site in his home country Ghana. He runs his own company in Shenzhen. He will perform stand-up comedy at the final. 6. Seau Bee Groh Doris, a Malaysian whose ancestors migrated to Malaysia more than a century ago. She stunned the audience with the song “Legend” in the semifinal. She will sing “The Story of Spring” at the final. 7. Caisa Quinn An 8-year-old Norwegian, her mother is from Britain and her father from Norway. She will sing well-known Chinese song “Jasmine” and perform a fan dance. 8. Oh Hyoon Jin Or Jinnie, a high school student from South Korea. She will perform a comedy with her schoolmates from the Green Oasis School. About the final Free admission Time: 2:30-5:30 p.m., Friday, Nov. 19 Venue: Grand Ballroom, 3/F, The Westin Shenzhen Nanshan (in the same building as the Holiday Plaza, opposite the Window of the World) Metro: Shi Jie Zhi Chuang Station (世界之窗站), Exit A | 