Zhang Qian

    zhqcindy@163.com

    AS the year 2016 draws to an end this weekend, the Shenzhen Daily invited a few expatriate readers to share their most unforgettable memories of this year and hopes for 2017. For many of our readers, the year has been filled with joy and sorrow, success and failure, separation and reunion.

    A few of our readers’ reviews of 2016 and hopes for 2017 were selected as follows.

    Uliana Ivanova

    Russian, employee at DJI

    “Surreal” and “intense” are the two words that can most accurately describe my 2016 and the events that happened around the world.

    I have experienced a lot of “first times” this year. For example, I found a job that I value so much at DJI and it’s the first time I have worked for a technology company. Also, I participated in many competitions for the first time such as the Chinese talent competition and a video-making contest.

    I also visited a lot of places this year. Guizhou was one of my destinations and I visited a Miao village for the first time, which was extremely fascinating.

    The not-so-good thing about my life in 2016 was that I have been sick a few times this year. I was working under great pressure at the beginning of my new job and I was even hospitalized for a while.

    The year 2016 was a surreal year for the world too because there were so many famous celebrities that passed away, such as the “Star Wars” actress Carrie Fisher. Also, the “Brexit” and Donald Trump’s winning of the presidential election were the two unbelievable events that happened this year.

    For 2017, I hope I can lead a more relaxed life.

    Loic Kobes

    French, entrepreneur

    My startup team decided to get out of its comfort zone, so we moved from Shenzhen to Shanghai for three months to test more ideas and got challenged by investors and mentors, but ultimately we learned a lot and those lessons will make us all better businessmen.

    The year 2016 was the first year that I have ever shared my life with a special person: we traveled together, lived together and made a lot of sacrifices to allow her to continue her studies and for me to live my dream as an entrepreneur.

    I hope to get back into sport, which helps me find the right balance in life, but also travel with my girlfriend.

    Ronny Verdoodt

    Belgian, founder of an international charity group

    The support of my family for what I do will always be the most meaningful thing in my life every year. Except that, “A Heart for China” is something that for me has made the year meaningful as we can share simple happiness with others, particularly the ones that are forgotten by society.

    The year 2016 made me realize that life isn’t easy for many, and my trips to some poor villages in Guangdong Province showed me how fragile we really are.

    I have no definite plan or goal set for 2017 as it saves me from disappointment if it is not reached.

    At the end I know what I want and where I want to go. I believe that if we keep doing what we do as a group, then more fulfilment will come.

    Selena

    Russian, actress

    As an ambassador of Russian and Chinese friendship, I say that the most meaningful were the events that we organized dedicated to Chinese and Russian friendship. Biggest among them was the Pavilion of Russian and Chinese Friendship in the framework of the China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair (ICIF) in 2016.

    As an actress, most meaningful for me in 2016 was acting in movies and TV shows such as “The Last Frontier,” “Ice Beauty,” “Women’s Battalion,” and “General Peng Dehuai.”

    In 2016, I was really honored to become an image ambassador for our Russian jewelry brand “MOISEIKIN.”

    I am really happy with 2016 … lots of great achievements.

    I hope that 2017 will be a healthy and a clean year, and more people and countries will take part in environmental protection and green energy.