About Daniel
Profile
Name: Daniel
Email: daniel@qiuliang.com
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Favorite color: Blue
Languages: English,
Mandarin,
Cantonese,
Hakka,
French
Music taste: New Age (Enya, Enigma, Secret Garden...),
Jazz (Diana Krall),
Folk (Allan Taylor),
Rock (Xu wei, Roxette, The Eagles)...
Future Plan: have a round_the_world trip....
Travel Experiences: Europe: France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Holland, Greece, Switzerland, Belgium, Austria and Monaco;
Asia: India, Cambodia, and Burma
Favorite place: Greece
My Way, My Dream
Childhood Memories
I was born and raised in Meizhou, the capital of Hakka which has a long history of migrations. In a series of migrations, the Hakka settled in their present locations in southern China, and then migrated overseas to various nations throughout the world. The migratory tradition continued with the redistribution of Hakka people in the most remote parts of the world. The Hakka have had a significant influence on the course of Chinese and overseas Chinese history and influences me as well in my life.
Usually, childhood is the most joyful time of a person's life. However, my boyhood was not golden but a peaceful time without any worries, simply only family and sports. Memory of my children was like a piece of blank paper. I don't mean to forget it on purpose, but whenever I want to recall these days, I can think of nothing special. The days were just like the taste of water, pure and natural.
Mature of Apple
I used to be a very quiet and indifferent guy till my second year in university. Somehow, suddenly an idea about converting myself into an extrovert came into my mind. Perhaps the potential consciousness of anti-tradition, which was hidden in the depth of my heart, finally woke up unexpectedly. All in all, I determined to face the world outside with a new look.
Then hobbies became the priority above everything. During those years, chess and Weiqi were both very popular among boys. Personally speaking, I don't think that would make me different, even though I was good at them. Musical instruments, such as flute and harmonica, were my first choices. A rosy dream of mine was that, on a lovely night, I would stand under the window of my girl's room, playing a romantic melody with my flute.
Well, I did spend some time with these hobbies yet they didn't last long. Finally I turned back to my studies and became a bookworm. I immersed myself in reading widely, including society, science, the arts and computer books. What's more, my interest in computers prepared me to be a good computer programmer in the beginning of my career.
In those days, I was active, enthusiastic and even wild sometimes. Though I didn't know what my future would be, as a very self-confident guy, I filled my heart with hopes.
I have a dream
After spending four years in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province, for my university studies, I made a big decision to come to Shenzhen which I believe is the most open city in China while almost all of my classmates stayed in Guangzhou. Why was I fascinated by Shenzhen? I do like her dynamism and activity. The city is an information center which is designated as a Special Economic Zone and famous for its extreme proximity with the boundary of Hongkong. Therefore Shenzhen has been acting as a window to see the outside world. This is the right place for me.
In 1999, the end of 20th century and my first year in Shenzhen, life was a little bit boring since I had no idea about the meaning of life and future. Occasionally, I found the lifelong goal of mine--traveling.
I had my first long trip in May of 2001. I went to Yunnan province in China. It was an amazing experience that revealed a totally different and fresh world in my eyes. Everyday on the way, my heart was full of indescribable feelings, not only for the beautiful scenery, but also for the people and their lives I came across. I was aware of my eagerness for a colorful life. Surely a person with rich experiences can face the world in a very positive way. Thanks to that great trip, an around-the-world trip became my lifetime dream.
I seriously got involved in adventure and travel, such as hiking, camping, backpacking, from May 2002 and spent weekends in those activities from that time. An unforgettable trip was a 17-day trip to Three Gorges with eight friends in Oct 2002. On that trip, I found the joy of being on the road and sharing with friends.
A Year In Europe
In March 2003, I joined an international company as a software engineer to develop software on cellphones. Luckily I was sent to another subsidiary company located in France. I spent a year in Europe . Taking the good opportunity, I had traveled around Europe and visited more than ten countries. From that experience I realized that I was approaching my dreams and enjoying the pursuit of them.
Days In Canada
I launched my independent immigration process at the end of 2001. After waiting for a long time full of hopes and almost forgetting it, I suddenly got the good news from the Canadian consulate in 2004 when I was in France that I was eligible for a face-to-face interview waiver and just needed to hand in my medical examination report. I did my medical examination in Paris and finally received my landing paper in May 2005.
I landed in Canada in August 2005 where I chose the beautiful place of Vancouver to live in the future. I was actually not ready to move to a new country immediately at that time and still wanted to stay in that company I was working for. The stay lasted two years and hesitation came up sometimes due to the difference of career between China and Canada.
Yet a trip helped me determined my plan.
That trip was for business in Vancouver from Feb to Apr 2007. It seems not the right time because it was the rainy season in Vancouver. However, after staying in Vancouver for more than two months, I found out I loved this beautiful place and this time I determined to settle down here at long last.
After returning to China, I quit my job in a short time, had a two-week trip in Yangshuo which is a really relaxing place, stayed 10 days in my hometown with my parents and packed my stuff and then came back again to Vancouver on Aug 7th, 2007.
My life continues in Vancouver...