My remarkable decade-long journey in China

Editor's note: We have asked expats living in China to share their own stories about the cities they work and live in. Ajay Seth is from Nepal and has been living and working in Shandong province for over 10 years.

I would begin with the word "缘份" (destiny) , which I often hear from my friends and family here, especially in Shandong province. My journey to China began in 2009 when I decided to enroll in the petroleum engineering program at China University of Petroleum (East China), where I studied, trained and attended workshops. Dongying is the city where I'm working at the moment and I call it my home.

As an international student in China, I was exposed to a whole new world of culture, language and customs. I call it "a world of multi-culture". In addition to learning about my chosen field, I had the opportunity to immerse myself in Chinese traditions, sample the country's delicious cuisines and explore the country's many historical landmarks and attractions.

I would say that my first impression of China was "an immensely vast country". It was the month of February when I flew from Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, to Qingdao via Guangzhou. I remember I had to take off my jacket as the temperature was warmer in Guangzhou and put it on again after I landed in Qingdao as the city was snowing. This was the point where I realized "China is a vast country".

I joined Kerui Petroleum & Gas in 2017 as a petroleum engineer responsible for overseas business development in the areas of oilfield services, supply of oilfield tools and equipment and new energy projects. Kerui focuses on the development of the oil and gas energy industry, and provides solutions in the research and development (R&D) and manufacturing of high-end oil and gas energy equipment, oil and gas field production enhancement and new energy development, oil and gas energy engineering (EPCC), etc. As an international company, Kerui prioritizes the local content for its overseas subsidiaries.

For me, working in Dongying is a fulfilling and exciting experience. One of the biggest challenges for expats working in China is the language barrier, however, as a petroleum engineer, my role is more technical and I work for overseas regions, so my Chinese language ability is adequate for day-to-day communication with my local colleagues.