Evgeny Kolesov spoke about how Russians live in China: interview 2016

“I first came to China in 1994, and two years later I already settled here,” says Evgeny. – I met my future wife Ira in Guangzhou, almost 10 years ago. Then I was in business, and she came to China, getting a job here. In general, there is nothing romantic in the history of our acquaintance. But my wife says that our meeting is fate.

– Of course, fate, – Irina enters the conversation. – Just imagine: two Russian people met in the multimillion-dollar Guangzhou! On the first day of my arrival in this country, I saw Eugene and immediately fell in love with him.

“When we go out to the city as a family, the Chinese always react to us violently,” says Eugene. – Until recently, due to the overpopulation of the country, there was a policy: “One family – one child.” Little ones are pampered, children are called “the little emperor” here. As a result, they grow up capricious, they twist ropes from their parents. Now they are allowed to have two children, and we have a completely non-Chinese case – four: Gordey – seven years old, Milan – five, Agatha – four, Yesenia – a year and a half.

We think over the family’s leisure time together. We play some games for weeks. Now, for example, they are carried away by war. Children from an early age go rollerblading. A year and a half ago we put them on skates. It is very hot in Guangzhou, so when they see ice, they squeak with delight.

“Our kids are all different,” says Irina. – Gordey won the Chinese TV Talent Show last year. In February, he fulfilled the norm of a candidate for master of sports in chess. This is one of the best results in the world! And he is also one of the youngest speedcubers on the planet (he collects the Rubik’s cube for speed). Agatha is most like dad. The same stubborn, I would even say stubborn. Doesn’t like to lose. Yesenia, by the way, is growing as well. Gordey and Milana are very kind. The eldest daughter takes care of Yesenia. I remember how a year ago she lifted the six-month-old Yesya, carried her across the room to the kitchen, when she almost sobbed, losing sight of me.

– Let’s go back to our leisure time. So, when we go to have fun, I turn off the phone, – says Eugene. – I think, if you get out somewhere with the children, have fun, and do not stand on the sidelines and do not read something on the phone. Today we went to the local Liuhua Park. It is 15 minutes away by car from our house. Here we play catch-up, hide and seek, ride the rides, blow bubbles.

– It seems to me that Zhenya is a big child himself, – Irina smiles. – Yesya painted all the walls at home, and dad indulges her! I once saw them sitting together, painting on the wall. I say: “What are you doing?” Esya threw the markers, ran away and hid under the bed. That would be fine, and daddy ran after her! The whole thing did not fit under the bed, but he hid his head.

– I didn’t fit in, because the children’s bed is low! Well, he stuck his head in! The rest does not count! The basis of raising children, as we understand it, is play. For example, they assemble a set and speak, but in English or Spanish.

There is only one difficulty in raising a child in China – there are few Russian peers. And I decided to return to Russia. Perhaps this walk is one of the last in China. Children rush to their homeland. And no deeds can allow me not to fulfill their desire.