编者按：当今中国，发展成就令世界瞩目。中国作为世界第二大经济体，正在日益走近世界舞台的中央，长期在中国生活的外国友人们，不仅看到了中国的飞速巨变，更在耳濡目染中，读懂了中国可持续发展的“幸福奥秘”。红网时刻新闻特别推出中国共产党第二十次全国代表大会策划报道“二十大·老外看中国”，让我们从不同行业的外籍人士的亲身经历中，领略不一样的中国。
Editor's note: Nowadays, Chinese achievements have attracted worldwide attention. As the world's second-biggest economy, we are going forward to the center of the world stage. Many foreigners who are living in China have witnessed not only the development of China, but the happiness rooted from the sustainable development of the economy, technology, society, culture and so on. Good living in China, the special reports for the 20th CPC National Congress, focuses on those foreign friends from all walks of society. They will tell you why they choose to stay here.
来自英国的曹小龙。
Benjamin Green, who comes from England, works as a teacher in Changsha WES Academy.
红网时刻新闻记者 张兴莎 陈珉颖 李美燕 长沙报道
“我喜欢上了辣椒，习惯了微信支付，最重要的是还找了个湘妹子做太太。”来自英国的曹小龙（Benjamin Green）现在是长沙玮希国际学校的一名外籍教师，他说来中国的12年间收获了爱人与家庭，更感受到了科技带给生活的巨大改变。
“I have gradually grown into spicy food, got used to Wechat pay, and got married with an amazing wife here.” Benjamin Green, who comes from England, works as a teacher in Changsha WES Academy. The young man arrived in China in 2010. Over the past 12 years, Benjamin has settled down in China and witnessed the China’s rapid development including economy, technology, transportation and so on.
曹小龙在雪中的长沙尽情玩耍。
Benjamin enjoys the winter in Changsha.
和大多数外国朋友一样，曹小龙最开始爱上中国是因为武术电影。他非常崇拜著名武打影星李小龙，所以自己中文名的“小龙” 二字也因此而来。他在少年时代就想来中国看看，所以，2010年曹小龙终于带着敬仰来到了这个国家。他站在北京街头第一感觉就是特别的大，无论是中国的建筑，还是中国道路，都很大气，还有中国人的友好热情也给他留下了美好的第一印象。
Like many foreigners, Benjamin’s affection for China originated from Chinese martial movies, initially. Therefore, he chose the Chinese name Xiaolong as his first name, after Bruce Lee (Xiaolong Li), a very famous Kungfu Star. He was very eager to visit China when he was a little boy. His first impression of China was that it was such a large and grand place, when he stepped on this land back in 2010, because what he saw on the streets of Beijing were countless skyscrapers and broad roads. More importantly, he always remembered the locals for their hospitality.
一晃12年过去了，曹小龙说自己就是中国变化的最好见证者，也是变化的参与人。
Time flies, 12 years have already passed and Benjamin regards himself as not only the witness of Chinese development but also a participants well.
曹小龙正在给学生们上课。
Benjamin is in class.
“我刚来的时候，微信、支付宝，手机打车软件，电动车还没有普及。而现在任何东西都可以电子支付，新能源车满街跑，很多技术都领先欧洲。”曹小龙说，他惊讶于近些年中国科技发展的速度，在这里生活真的非常方便，而且越来越便捷。
“Things such as WeChat, electronic payments, car hailing services has continued the impressive development. Now, everywhere uses electronic payments, even if I visit other countries like Thailand, I can pay by Wechat. As for cars, if you look at companies like NIO, XPeng and BYD, they are going far ahead of what’s going on in Europe.” Benjamin was surprised and pleased by the speed of the development of Chinese technology and enjoys the convenience China provides him.
除了生活便捷，曹小龙眼里的中国还有一大优点——非常安全。晚上独自一人走在路上，也完全不用担心安全问题。曹小龙说，生活在中国，他感觉到了满满的安全感。
Moreover, China is a very safe place, which is the one of most important factors for him to choose to stay here. “To walk alone at night or walk in dark areas, I never feel afraid”, he says.
曹小龙和太太。
Benjamin and his wife.
被问及为什么留在湖南，曹小龙毫不犹豫地说：“那当然是因为我太太，她就是湖南人！” 他与爱人同是对教学充满热忱的资深教育工作者，因为工作，他们在中国相知相识，正是对爱情的追求和对教学的热爱，他决定定居湖南。
To be with an incredible Hunan lady is the reason for Benjamin to settle down in Changsha, Hunan province. They fell in love with each other over similarities in the education and career pursuits and interests.
作为湖南女婿，他感触最深的是浓浓的家庭观念，大小节日和家人一起聚餐，全家老小一起庆祝生日，和家人分享美食和趣事。最可贵的是，家人之间大小事情彼此互帮互助，包括自己的几次搬家，不论天气有多热，全家都会主动来帮忙，这些在英国都是很少见的。
In China, what he learned was the deep bond families have together here, no matter the size of the family. “They look after each other, help each other, and will have dinner together for any important occasion or just to connect as a family”, Benjamin has been touched by his Chinese family who helped him move house several times no matter how hot the weather was. “It is not so common in England for people to do these things”, he says.
童年时曹小龙与母亲和兄妹的合照。
The old picture from Benjamin and his family.
曹小龙说：“现在，我自己的家庭观念也变得更强了，学会了如何更体恤和孝顺自己的父母。中国的生活带给了我非常多更好的改变！”
“China and its people helped me grow and change for the better. I found a deeper way to connect with my family, and how to show more respect for our parents.” Benjamin says.
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