Yang Mei

yangmei_szdaily@163.com

WHILE cultural differences can deter some from living abroad, Jaime Crehuet embraced them when he moved from Barcelona, Spain, to Shenzhen in 2021. This Spanish teacher and translator thrives on cultural exchange and sees himself as a bridge between Spanish-speaking countries and China.

“Not to judge, just learn,” he said repeatedly during his interview with Shenzhen Daily, emphasizing his approach to navigating cultural differences.

“I see a lot of differences, but I always have an open mind and a willingness to learn, not to judge.”

Brought to Shenzhen in December 2021 through an international program from the Embassy of Spain, 31-year-old Crehuet now teaches Spanish at the Shenzhen Polytechnic University.

He’s even found love in China, marrying a Chinese woman and becoming a father.

Crehuet finds daily life in China full of fascinating experiences, each an opportunity to deepen his understanding of Chinese culture.

When recounting a humorous anecdote from a visit to his wife’s family in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, he said, “My wife’s family prepared a lot of food on the table, but I like to save room for fruit after dinner. My father-in-law seemed concerned when I had an orange after each meal. So I asked him what was wrong, and my father-in-law thought I wasn’t full because I didn’t like the food!”

Leveraging his master’s degree in teaching Spanish as a second language and a year of translation studies at Peking University (2014-2015), Crehuet now works as a freelance translator and interpreter.

He translates economic, financial, legal, and industrial documents as well as Chinese movies and TV series.

Crehuet finds immense joy in teaching the Spanish language and culture to his students.

He’s equally passionate about promoting Chinese culture to Spanish-speaking countries through translation.

Crehuet observes a growing interest in China from the Spanish world, which is fueled by China’s economic boom. “The world is increasingly interconnected, so we need more cultural bridges,” he noted.

With his bicultural perspective, Crehuet acknowledges misconceptions on both sides.

According to Crehuet, the biggest misconception Chinese people have about Spain is the prevalence of bull fighting.

“Bull fighting is not as common as Chinese people think,” he explained. “Some areas have banned it, and it’s illegal in my province Catalonia.”

A common misconception among Spanish people about Chinese people is that they are introverted. “Living here,” he said, “I don’t find them shy. We simply express emotions differently. Even emojis on WeChat can have opposite meanings for Chinese people and foreigners.”

Friendliness is a defining characteristic of Chinese people for Crehuet. Discussing a recent visit to the city by his family, he shared, “They were struck by how friendly everyone was. In Spain and Latin America, it’s normal to talk to strangers on the street. They found this common here too, with people curious and even asking for photos.”

Crehuet goes beyond teaching and translation. He uses social media platforms like YouTube and Xiaohongshu to create Spanish-language videos teaching Chinese idioms and sharing his daily life.

Looking ahead, Crehuet plans to expand his reach beyond the university by participating in more cross-cultural events.

When asked about recommendations for first-time Shenzhen visitors, Crehuet suggested the double-decker sightseeing buses, Laojie Pedestrian Street in Luohu District for delicious street food, and Lianhua Hill Park in Futian District for a nature escape.