Bulgarian student, Nikolay Marinov, who worked hard to become Mr. China. He came to Wuhan to improve his understanding of China and to promote exchange activities between Bulgaria and Wuhan.

“I’ve found what I’ve always dream of here in Wuhan,” Nikolay Marinov said about his time in Wuhan. Two years ago, he packed his bags and came to China; he came alone. After deciding to come to China, he had another decision to make. Which city did he want to go to? “A lot of foreign students choose cities like Beijing and Shanghai because they are international cities,” he said. But, Marinov didn’t want international; he wanted the “real China.” The way he sees it, China is more than just Beijing and Shanghai. After considering some of the information he had collected, he decided to come to Wuhan, a second-tier city in the heart of mainland China.

At first, Marinov didn’t find Wuhan enjoyable at all. As a newcomer, he encountered many different problems. He knew nothing about the language, he had no friends, he wasn’t accustomed to the food, and he was unfamiliar with the area. These were just a few of the problems. Fortunately, at Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, he made friends with his supervisor, Wan Ming; he later became something of a father figure for Marinov. This kindhearted mentor did not only help Marinov with his studies, he also helped him overcome difficulties by helping him make Chinese friends, teaching him Chinese, and encouraging him to take part in student organizations. Last year, Marinov was invited by his mentor to spend Spring Festival with him and his family. In just two years, Marinov has learned to blend in with his surroundings. That which he once considered strange is now home. “I have a lot of friends here in Wuhan; they are my family,” he said.

Although times were tough in the beginning, Marinov considers it a blessing that he was able to encounter such challenges. He came here because he wanted to experience the real China, and he did. “Wuhan exposed its unique characteristics to me; these are characteristics that can’t be found in other cities.” Marinov is fond of the Wuhan people, Wuhan dialect, hot-and-dry noodles, and duck neck.

Becoming Mr. China

“Mr. China” was the name given to him when he was a graduate student at Zhongnan University of Economics and Law. Marinov is determined to explore the culture and history of China; he decided to start with the language. During his first year of graduate school, Marinov encountered a Wuhan girl who was willing to help him learn Chinese. He was fascinated by the language and dedicated to his studies. Every day, at 7:00 P.M., he would sit and watch CCTV news. His desk was covered with scraps of paper with Chinese words scribbled on them.

After he began to make progress with the language, he decide to expand his studies to include Chinese history and culture. He read China’s Five Thousand Years in order to become familiar Chinese history. He watched various documentary films so that he would better understand Chinese geographical features and places of interests. He studied Chinese martial arts. He found himself being swept away by the spirit of this country. Marinov explained that he was especially fond of Chinese festivals and the significance of each.

Marinov decided that he wanted to spend the 2012 Spring Festival with a Chinese family. He got his wish. After receiving an invitation from a friend, he was able to spend the festival with a Chinese family in Huangshi. During his 10-day stay, he met with many different people. He particularly enjoyed chatting, mostly through gestures and body language, with a 75-year-old woman. He said that it is common people and the simple things that make him love China.

Being Mr. China is about more than loving China, it is about appreciating and understanding this country and its unique cultural and historical heritage. Marinov has spent almost every holiday period travelling with Chinese friends. He has been to Beijing, Shanghai, Zhangjiajie, Anhui, Zhijiang, Shangdong, Guangxi, and many other places. He plans to travel to even more places in the future. “I prefer to travel with Chinese friends. They make the experience more enjoyable, for they can provide additional information about Chinese culture and customs,” he explained. 

Contributing to Sino-Bulgarian exchange activities

In October, 2013, as a chairman of the Party Organization of the Bulgarian Socialist Party in China, Nikolay took part in the first international forum for young political leaders from China and Central and Eastern European Countries in Beijing, which was organized by the International Department of the CPC Central Committee and the All-China Youth Federation. During that meeting, Marinov met the Vice President of the People's Republic of China, Li Yuanchao, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

According to Marinov, he and his organization plan to start another organization in Wuhan; this organization will be responsible for promoting cooperation and stronger cultural, political and economic ties between Bulgaria and China.

Back in 2009, together with some of his compatriots, he created and chaired the Informational Youth Union, a NGO dedicated to providing services for student activities. As it developed, this organization linked together the famous universities of Bulgaria and became one of the largest student organizations in the country. The Chinese Embassy in Bulgaria occasionally asked the Informational Youth Organization to host communication and exchange activities for them. Marinov wants the organization in Wuhan to be as successful and influential as the Informational Youth Union

This news reproduced form Chanjing Weekly.