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I'm Shanshan Lin, a 41-year-old woman from Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province in China. Today, as I brew tea in my cozy shop in Prague, I often reflect on the incredible journey that brought me here - a story of perseverance, love, and cross-cultural connection that still amazes me.
Growing up in Xishuangbanna, my childhood was simple but beautiful. Our region is famous for its tea mountains, where different elevations produce unique tea flavors. My grandmother, though illiterate, was my first teacher in life. She worked tirelessly in the fields, tending to vegetables and raising chickens to sell at the local market. Her words still echo in my mind: "A knife rusts without sharpening, and a person falls behind without learning." Her resilient spirit became deeply ingrained in my character.
English became my passion early on. Our neighbor ran a restaurant frequented by foreign tourists, and their conversations fascinated me. I fell in love with English movies and cartoons, and English became my best subject in school. However, following my mother's advice, I initially enrolled in medical school. It wasn't until later that I realized, "You never know what you like until you know what you don't like." Medical studies weren't for me - I craved something more dynamic and creative. So I switched to studying Business English.
Life took a cruel turn during my college years. My mother passed away unexpectedly, my father fell seriously ill requiring long-term hospitalization, and my beloved grandmother also passed away. I found myself alone, shouldering heavy responsibilities. But fate had other plans, sending me guardian angels in unexpected forms.
My first mentor was a Canadian English teacher, twenty years my senior. He not only helped improve my English but also guided me through difficult times. He encouraged me to become a tour guide and even helped promote my night market stall where I sold ethnic handicrafts. Later, a British friend with extensive connections in Southeast Asia helped me source products from Thailand and Indonesia, though those buying trips were challenging - battling 40°C heat, staying in cheap hostels, and once even falling seriously ill in Indonesia.
Then came 2016, the year that changed everything. I was 33, running an English training center and working as a tour guide when I met my future husband - a Czech doctoral student six years younger than me. Our first meeting was quite memorable. He was staying at a youth hostel across from my teaching center when he fell ill and needed medicine. I rushed to help him, remembering my own frightening experience of being sick in a foreign country.
The moment I first saw him in the hostel lobby, I was struck by his presence - tall, sturdy, with captivating eyes and a gentle demeanor. To my surprise, he immediately took the Chinese medicine I brought, trusting me completely. It turned out he could read Chinese, having studied the language in the Czech Republic.
Our connection deepened as I showed him around my hometown. We explored tea mountains, visited ethnic villages, and rode my electric scooter through the streets. In the evenings, he would join my English classes, interacting joyfully with my students. Though we both felt an immediate attraction, we tried to keep things friendly. He especially struggled with his feelings, even trying to convince himself not to fall for me because of trivial things - like my grey shoes! He worried about our age difference and his ability to provide a stable life, being a student at the time.
Eventually, love prevailed. Before returning to the Czech Republic, he finally expressed his feelings during a sunset walk by the river, naturally taking my hand as we crossed the street. That simple gesture spoke volumes - he had always been so respectful, never initiating physical contact before.
Our relationship blossomed through long-distance dating, with him visiting China more often than I could visit Europe. My first trip to Prague in 2018 was eye-opening. The city's ancient architecture, Gothic churches, and Baroque palaces created an almost magical atmosphere. Though the summers were manageable, the winters were a shock - my first experience with -8°C temperatures left my face numb and speech slurred!
Meeting his family was another adventure. His parents are academics - his father a university professor, his mother a fellow doctoral student. While his father welcomed me warmly, his mother initially had reservations about our cultural differences and communication challenges. But as time passed and we made efforts to connect despite the language barrier, she grew to accept and eventually love me.
We married in 2021, choosing to hold our ceremony in the mountains of Xishuangbanna. We wore traditional Jino ethnic costumes, and though COVID-19 restricted our guest list to about twenty people, his parents and friends joined via video call. We blended traditions with German honey wine and Chinese tea, making our celebration uniquely ours.
In 2022, we moved to Prague to be closer to his mother after her illness. The transition wasn't easy - I felt isolated by the language barrier and struggled to find my place. Then I had an epiphany. During my previous visits, I'd noticed that while Europe had tea merchants, they lacked deep understanding of tea culture and quality. With my background in tea and connections to Yunnan's tea mountains, I saw an opportunity.
Opening my tea house in Prague wasn't simple. Finding the right location took six months, as historic buildings here must maintain their original character. But once established, it became more than just a business - it's a cultural bridge. I teach customers about different tea mountains' unique characteristics, demonstrate Chinese calligraphy, and share stories about my homeland. My regular customers have become dear friends, some even helping translate for new visitors.
Living in Prague has taught me to appreciate different perspectives on life. Czech people value privacy and work-life balance, with no pressure about marriage or children. The city's pace is slower than China's, with weekends strictly reserved for family time. Though high taxes support free education and healthcare, people seem content with the trade-off.
Now, after two years in Prague, I've found my rhythm. My husband teaches at the university while I run my tea house. We dream of splitting our time between China and the Czech Republic in the future, maintaining connections to both our cultures.
Looking back, I'm grateful for every challenge that shaped my path. From my grandmother's early lessons in perseverance to the kindness of strangers who became mentors, and finally finding love across cultures - each experience has contributed to who I am today. My story proves that life truly is miraculous if you believe and work hard enough. Even in the darkest moments, something wonderful can emerge.
This is me - Shanshan Lin, a slightly introverted but determined woman from Yunnan, who found her happiness selling tea in Prague with her Czech husband by her side. My journey continues to remind me that cultural differences can become bridges rather than barriers, and that love knows no boundaries.
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