'My family had never seen a Kenyan': TheChinese living afresh in Africa
May. 10, 2018, 9:00 am By BBC @bbcafrica
在非洲找到新生活的中国人“我家里人从未见过肯尼亚”
Xu Jing and Henry Rotich, who fell in love a decade ago, during their interview at thecourtyard of the Fairmont Hotel in Nairobi. /BBC
十年前许婧和亨利·罗迪克相爱，在内罗毕费尔蒙特酒店的院子里他们一起接受采访。
"We fell in love but it was verydifficult at first," Xu Jing explains from the courtyard of the FairmontHotel in Nairobi.
"My family didn't know much aboutAfrica at all. They hadn't even seen a Kenyan before so they were veryworried."
Henry Rotich - the Kenyan in question - wasjust as concerned.
The pair had fallen for each other afterRotich was sent to China to learn Mandarin as part of his government job.
It took him many weeks to get his languageskills good enough to meet Jing's father over a nerve-filled lunch, at which heasked for his blessing.
"Her father didn't say much so I wasreally worried about what he was thinking, whether or not he even liked thefood we were serving him," Rotich recalls.
Apparently his mastery of Mandarin wasenough: a decade later, the couple are living in the Kenyan capital, proudparents to two children.
Jing now teaches Mandarin at the ConfuciusInstitute based at the University of Nairobi, one of an estimated 10,000Chinese nationals who have moved to the East African state.
Their family provides one snapshot of thegrowing links between Chinese and Kenyans - propelled somewhat by China'smassive investment in the country.
It is a pattern seen across the continent.Back in 2000, China-Africa trade amounted to $10 billion (￡7 billion). Thatfigure is now believed to have crossed the $300 billion mark.
“我们恋爱了，但一开始很难，” 许婧在内罗毕费尔蒙特酒店的院子里说道。
“我家人对非洲一点都不了解。他们以前甚至从没见过一个肯尼亚人，因此他们非常担心。”
对此肯尼亚人亨利·罗迪克(HenryRotich)也同样关注。
作为政府雇员，罗迪克被指派到中国去学习普通话。两人因此结缘。
罗迪克花了几周的时间，才学会了讲话技巧，一次午餐中，在尴尬的笼罩下他见到了许婧的父亲，请求她父亲同意他们在一起。
罗迪克回忆道：“许婧的父亲没怎么说话，我真很在意他的想法，甚至想知道他是否喜欢我们为他准备的饭菜。”
显然他的普通话已相当过关：十年后，这对夫妇已在肯尼亚首都定居，育有两子晋升父母。
目前，许婧在内罗毕大学孔子学院教普通话。估计已有1万名中国公民来到这个东非国家定居。
他们的家庭展现出中国和肯尼亚人之间日益紧密联系的一个映象。在某种程度上促使中国大规模在这个国家进行投资
早在2000年，中非贸易额就达到100亿美元(70亿英镑)，现在这个数字已认为突破3000亿美元大关。
RUMOURS
Jing and Rotich's story is a success, butthe relationship between the two peoples doesn't always go so smoothly.
Along Thika Road, a major new Chinese-builtsuperhighway linking Nairobi to the industrial town of Thika, rumours ofso-called "Thika babies" abound.
According to the whispers, Chineseconstruction workers have fathered hundreds of babies with local women, beforedisappearing into the ether.
Media outlets even reported the story of aschoolgirl, pregnant with a worker's baby, who was unable to identify him amongthe hundreds of other construction workers.
But for all the hysteria - there is even asong dedicated to the phenomenon - most Kenyans say they have never seenevidence of such children.
But that doesn't stop some believing therumours.
"I would say I've seen around 20… It'svery hush-hush as many of the Chinese fathers didn't stick around," Thatcher,a Kenyan-Chinese translator who lives close to the Thika Road, tells us.
"I think in 15 or 20 years' time, whenthese children are all grown up and going to colleges, then we will know thetrue scale of it."
流言蜚语
许婧和亨利·罗迪克的故事是个美好的结局。但两国人民之间的关系可并不总是那么顺利。
一条由中国建设，连接内罗毕和工业城市蒂卡得的蒂卡高速公路，公路周边到处流传着所谓“蒂卡孩”的传闻。
传言，中国建筑工人酒后乱性与当地妇女结合留下了数百个孩子。
媒体甚至还报道了一名女学生的故事，故事说她怀上了一名工人的孩子，但在这些工人中她找不出孩子的父亲是谁。
对这种混乱的情况，这里的肯尼亚人还因此写了一首歌，但大多数肯尼亚人表示从未没见过有蒂卡孩这种情况发生。
可是这并不能阻止一些相信这种谣言的人。
“要我说，大约我看能有20…由于中国父亲都离开了，真的不好说什么“。Thatcher，一位住在蒂卡路附近的肯尼亚人翻译对我们说道。
“我想，15到20年后，当这些孩子长大可以上学了的时候，大家就知道究竟能有多少了。”
'AFRICAN TIME IS CHANGING'
Disappearing fathers are not a problem inmost Chinese-Kenyan homes, of course.
For Jing - who grew up during China'sone-child policy - it is sometimes the sheer abundance of family members thatcan be somewhat overwhelming.
"We are used to having big extendedfamily and lots of big families coming to spend time with one another alot," Rotich says. "We're used to having say our nieces or nephewscoming to stay with us for long periods of time.
"In China they don't have that asmuch. Family may visit but for a shorter time and I don't think that closenesswith the extended family is the same."
And there are other cultural difference,such as over attitudes to time.
Jinhua Lu, a consultant advising Chinese companies how to best operate inKenya, says there are still barriers.
"I hate to generalise but there is anotion that Kenyans take things more slowly," he says. "They like toenjoy life and have a sense of community that the Chinese don't have.
"The Chinese come here and just havethe end goal in mind. They work long hours - they take very few breaks and willeven work over weekends just to get the project done as quickly aspossible."
It is something Jing and Rotich recognise.
改变中的非洲时代
当然大多数中肯家庭中，无父家庭不算问题。
但对于在中国独生子女政策中成长中的许婧来说，有时难以适应一个亲戚众多的大家庭。
罗迪克说道 “我们家以前就是个大家庭，常与家族里的人聚在一起，我们习惯让侄女侄子来我们这里住很长一段时间”。
“在中国他们可不这样做，家族里的人可能会来串门，但聚在一起的时间不长，对家里人我认为亲密的观念和我们是不一样的”
还有一些文化差异，比如时间观念。
中国顾问陆金华（Jinhua Lu）表示，在肯尼亚如何进行管理仍有困难。
“我不想具体解释，一种观念就是肯尼亚人非常懒散。他们贪图享受，没有中国人的那种集体意识”他说道。
“来这里的中国人，脑子里只想着最终目标。他们工作时间长-休息少，周末甚至也要加班，目的是让项目尽快完成。”
这也是许婧和罗迪克的共识。
"Yes it's true Kenyans can be morerelaxed about these things but Kenyans are changing… this concept of Africantime is changing. The pace of development is progressing well and people havemany things to do - so we have many things to do in our time."
And anyway, the civil servant adds, he haslearnt to be on time: "Xu makes sure of it."
And with more Chinese than ever beforearriving in Kenya, larger efforts are being made to overcome the cultural gap.
The Confucius Institute - where Jing works- is one of the Chinese government-funded programmes which they hope will helpsmooth relations between Chinese and Kenyans.
For the Kenyans who study here, the hope isthat they will go on to get well-paid jobs in Chinese companies. For theChinese, this is a strong statement that the country plans to have strong tieswith Kenya for the long run.
But the sight of a Chinese mother at theschoolgates still creates a bit of a stir.
"All the other mothers want to speakwith Xu and all the children jump up and down and say: 'It's the Chinesemummy!'" Rotich says with a broad grin.
"Our children look like ordinaryKenyans so when I go out with them, people ask what language is that they'respeaking?
"When I say: 'Chinese', they say… 'What?!They can speak Chinese!' They get so excited and everyone wants to ask usquestions and become our friends."
As for Jing, she sees Kenya as her future.
"I do miss China but Kenya is my homenow," she says. "Many of the Chinese who come here love this countryand I think many of them will be here for a long time to come," sheconcludes.
“确实，肯尼亚人不太注重这种事，但肯尼亚人正在改变…非洲人的时间观念正在改变。发展的步伐正在加速，有很多事情人们可以去做，所以在这个时代我们要做的事情很多。”
无论怎样，这位（肯尼亚）公务员说，他已学会遵守时间“许婧要求保证做到这一点”
随着越来越多的中国人来到肯尼亚，他们正努力克服文化上的不同。
许婧所在的孔子学院是中国政府资助的项目之一，中国希望这会帮助巩固与肯尼亚人之间的关系。
对于在这里学习的肯尼亚人来说，他们希望能在中国公司找到高薪的工作。对中国人来说，这是一个强而有力的征兆，预示着这类中国方案可与肯尼亚建立长久牢固的关系。
但在学校门口，出现一位中国母亲，仍会引起了一阵骚动。
“我们的孩子长的像普通的肯尼亚人，所以当我和他们出去时，人们都会问他们说话说哪国话？”
“当我说是中文时，他们就表示“什么？,他们说中文？”，然后他们变得非常兴奋，每个人都想问我们问题，和我们交朋友。
对于许婧来说，他认为肯尼亚就是他的未来。
“我非常想念中国，但现在肯尼亚就是我的家”她说，“有很多来到肯尼亚的中国人都很喜爱这个国家，我认为他们中会有很多的人会在这里待很长一段时间，”她总结道。
——外国网友评论翻译——
Kamlesh Juma • 3 hours ago
Is "Thatcher"the translator a real person or a creation of the writer of the article?
有“Thatcher”翻译这个人吗，不会是这篇文章作者吧？
chuma baridi • 3 hours ago
Kenyan men should marry more Chinese women!
Similarly, Kenyan women of Indian origin,Pakistan, Somali, etc..., respectively, to intermarry with other Kenyan menfrom different tribes, Luo, Kalengin, Kamba, Kikuyu, Miji-Kenda, etc....
This is where the fight to end tribalismand seclusion should start!
肯尼亚男人应该多娶些中国女人！
同样，还该多娶些印度、巴基斯坦、索马里等地的女人，让他们却和不同部落的肯尼亚男子结婚，如罗、卡伦金、坎巴、基库尤、米吉-肯达地方的人。
这是结束部落纷争、走出闭塞的开始
Swift Laggard II @chuma baridi • an hour ago
Then chuma itapata moto
然后满地是摩托车的突突声（注：这句瞎猜的）
Pik_Pik • 4 hours ago
Why are they holding hands like that?
他们怎么是这个样子牵手啊？
Kunta-Kinte • 4 hours ago
It's all good in Africa, Ms Rotich.
罗迪克夫人，愿在非洲一切安好。
wuod_aketch • 5 hours ago
Chinese propaganda.
中国式宣传
nguka2007 • 6 hours ago
well done Dr. Rotich. my quality assuranceteacher.
厉害，罗迪克，有了个素质高可靠的老师
Whiteguy • 6 hours ago
She married down.
他结过婚的
KiparaMoto @Whiteguy • 2 hours ago
At least she did not marry a pig
至少他没嫁给一只猪。
Abdullah Omar • 7 hours ago
And anyway, the civil servant adds, he haslearnt to be on time: "Xu makes sure of it."the trains too!
无论怎样，这位（肯尼亚）公务员补充道，他已学会遵守时间“许婧要求保证做到这一点”火车也该一样！
Bob • 9 hours ago +1
Talking about Chinese constructions inAfrica, they think it's all given for free, that's what their government tellsthem. They can't imagine that they are loans that we will eventually payback...... Besides all these, you can meet 1, 2 nice Chinese people, it's acountry of a billion plus. For marriage, 99% of Chinese families advises theirchildren to marry a Chinese or a white person but NEVER a black person. They'llreject very strongly.
说到中国在非洲的建设，大家都认为这些都是免费的，这是政府说给他们听的。他们想不到的是，这都是贷款来的，最终还是要还的…除此之外，你是可以遇到1，2个好的中国人，但中国可是个有十几亿人口的国家。对于婚姻来说，99%的中国家庭建议他们子女嫁中国人或去嫁白人的。黑人！他们会强烈拒绝的。
isaac @bob • 4 hours ago
....but it's better than....the INDIANS whohave lived with you for more than 100 years with no intermarriage withAfricans.
相比之下，和我们生活在一起100多年的印度人可从没和非洲人通过婚啊。
danson ungaro @Bob • 8 hours ago
nice to pour cold water on what one wantsus to believe is normal thing .Not just chinese but all those conservativemiddle and far eastern people ; including local asians who would rather diesingle than marry any of thousands of africans falling over themselves foranything "whitey "
真是让我们想知道真相的人清醒了一下。不仅中国人，还有那些有保守的中东和东方人；包括当地亚洲人他们比起那些成千上万千方百计想嫁给白人的非洲人，宁可单身老死。
Jalaal Kafkaesque @Danson ungaro • 8 hours ago +2
It is very normal 85% of all people in theworld are married in their immediate community, even British rarely marry welshor Scots. The problem is that among non-white (Ethnic African, Asians, Arabs,Somalis) they have a 100% approval rate to marry white and almost negligiblerating to marry blacks....It is a fact of life.
这不是很正常嘛，世界上85%的人都是和他们社交圈子里的人结婚的，即便是英国人也很少嫁给威尔士人或苏格兰人。问题是，非白人(非洲人、亚洲人、阿拉伯人、索马里人)，他们100%都想和白人结婚，而同意和黑人结婚的几乎没有.这是生活中的一个事实。
Pik_Pik @Jalaal Kafkaesque • 4 hours ago
Most people don't like themselves but thosewho do don't really care.
除了那些啥也不在乎的人，大多数人都看不起自己。
Whiteguy @Jalaal Kafkaesque • 6 hours ago
I wonder why...
为啥啊？
isaac @Whiteguy • 4 hours ago
.....caste discriminationsystem.....practiced by conservatists INDIANS.
印度奉行种姓制度都多少年了
Musengi O'le Munene @Jalaal Kafkaesque • 7 hours ago +1
You seem to have been locally mis-schooledas usual dude. The British/Briton are: English, Scots, Welsh and N-Irelandcitizens for your info. Now go ahead and spread your warped sensationalism andhalf-lies camouflaged in crude stats.
看来你的学都白上了，英国或大不列颠包括，英格兰，苏格兰，威尔士和爱尔兰，请了解一下。现在，请您继续散布耸人听闻、令人迷惑的误导信息吧。
Pishpek1 @Jalaal Kafkaesque • 8 hours ago
Yes, climbing the ladder.... and then goneall white!. A pity.
真是的，爬到梯子顶上，一切都看明白了!可惜
Bob • 9 hours ago +2
Very interesting piece, I'm currently astudent in China. Have been here around 4 years now. I can tell you for free,that Chinese despise Africans. They call us all sort of names, they compare usto animals, actually most of them think we live with animals in the wilderness.They don't even recognize that we speak English. They think we are dirtybackward creatures who knows nothing human. Many times, while walking on thestreets, these people take us pictures as if we're in a zoo, they sometimeseven try to scrub off our dark skin colour thinking it's dirt.
非常有意思的一篇文章，我现在在中国上学，我在这里已呆了4年。我可以免费告诉你，中国人看不起非洲人。他们用外号叫我们，他们把我们比作动物，实际上，他们大多数人都认为我们还在和野生动物生活在一起。他们甚至不知道我们说的是英语。他们认为我们肮脏落后，都很无知。有时候，他们在大街上看到我们，就像在动物园里一样给我们照相，甚至有时候他们想把我们皮肤上的黑色擦掉，认为我们皮肤上的黑是污垢。
Githeriman (EGH.OGW.HSC) @Bob • 6 hours ago
correct. and here we are worshippingchinese.
确实，我们都认为中国人至上
isaac @Githeriman (EGH.OGW.HSC) • 4 hours ago
....and INDIANS.
还有印度人
Gold Ruyondo @Bob • 6 hours ago
Even Mao Zedond who championed himself as afriend of Africans despised them..
毛还自诩是非洲人的朋友呢，鄙视他们。
isaac @Gold Ruyondo • 4 hours ago
.....Mahtima Gandhi too.
别忘了还有甘地
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