Captivated by Chinese Culture

Gabrielle Marie Caponigro, aged 21, was drawn to China by her fascination with Chinese acupuncture. She is a junior at Loyola University Maryland, and arrived in China for a Chinese language study program last September.

"I came to China because I am interested in Chinese medicine. Learning Chinese language will help me learn Chinese medicine," Caponigro told China Today.

Gabrielle Marie Caponigro at the Great Wall.

Her love of Chinese medicine originates from one experience she shared with her mother. When she was in high school, her mother had some medical problems. "She went to many different doctors, but they couldn't cure her. They gave her medicines, but it only got worse. Then she happened across acupuncture therapy, which effectively helped her relieve the pain," Caponigro recalled. Totally amazed by this completely different medical approach, Caponigro decided to shadow some professional acupuncturists for a couple of hours a week after school, watching them talking to patients, giving massages and performing acupuncture. After witnessing so many treatments of traditional Chinese medicine that successfully eliminated knee and back pain and dealt with the sideeffects of cancer treatment, she decided to learn the skill herself.

As well as Chinese, her program included Chinese medicine, wushu and Buddhism, which have deepened her love of Chinese culture. "I really like martial arts. I like the idea of qi," she said. She often performs Taiji, "It feels good both mentally and physically. It's calming," Caponigro remarked.

Caponigro is not alone among Americans in becoming more and more fascinated with Chinese culture after they come to China, and this helps them settle into living and working here.

Avila's broad knowledge of Chinese culture has helped him a lot in running his English school.

"If they know you take the time to learn the culture, and you're interested in China, they're more likely to help you," Avila said.

Avila is attracted in particular to Tao Te Ching, "Because it goes in line with my thinking," he explained. "For example, it says 'the way that can be followed is not an eternal way.' I now fully understand it from my own experiences, because I often change my way. If you follow one path, something blocks your way, but you continue to struggle against the block as you feel this is the only way to do things, it will put a lot of stress on you, and you'll end up failing, as you have only this one way. This way you never change or learn. You have to figure out another way, the way around, or the way to solve this problem," he concluded.

This philosophy is perfectly reflected in his attitude towards the future of his school. "I've never thought about it. I just rely on my hard work. Stay flexible and be positive. If it fails, I'll find a different way," he said. The idea of Taoism has truly penetrated his way of thinking.

As these American expatriates become more integrated into the local society and more used to Chinese ways, China is becoming more like home. When reminiscing about coming to China with his now wife, Nilsson hit upon an experience shared by many of his peers: "At first, we said let's do one year, and then it became two years. After three years, we found we were still not done here. After five years, we've found we're probably not going anywhere else."