Beyond Headlines: An American’s Journey in China
China, a land of the east, felt distant and enigmatic to many Americans. But for Cyrus Janssen, an American young man from Florida, the country became home for a decade, a place where he traded assumptions for awe, stereotypes for friendships, and headlines for humanity.
From Florida to Shanghai: A Leap of Faith
Two weeks before graduating from Florida State University, Cyrus sat in a room with nine peers, nervously sharing post-graduation plans. While others spoke of moves across states or entry-level jobs, Cyrus dropped a bombshell: “I bought a one-way ticket to Shanghai.” The room fell silent.
At the age of 22, armed with curiosity and a one-year work contract, Cyrus embarked on a journey that stretches into a transformative decade—a story of cultural immersion, unexpected lessons, and bridges built across continents.
Modern Development and Ancient Traditions
Cyrus arrived in China in 2008, the year when Beijing held the Olympics, expecting a brief adventure. Instead, he found a nation pulsing with energy, where ancient traditions blended with breakneck modernity. He witnessed firsthand the famed “996” work ethic—9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week—a rhythm manifesting Chinese people’s diligence and driving China’s economic rise.
Yet, beyond the hustle, he discovered a traditional Chinese culture deeply rooted in family. During Spring Festival, Cyrus marveled at the world’s largest annual migration, as hundreds of millions Chinese journeyed home, often enduring grueling trips of hundreds or thousands of miles, just to reunite with loved ones. The Chinese tradition of younger generations respecting the elders touched him a lot. “No matter what you achieve in life, nothing is more important than your family,” Cyrus realized, a lesson he embodied by prioritizing annual visits to his grandmother in Iowa, living 7,000 miles away.
Rich Culture and Different Lifestyle
As Nelson Mandela said, “If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head; If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.” Inspired by Mandela’s words, Cyrus put great efforts in learning Mandarin, a language where shuǐ (water) and shuì (tax) hinge on inflection. Learning Chinese isn’t just about words, he says, but also about making amazing and meaningful relationships.
In China, Cyrus also encountered a savings culture starkly different from America’s credit-driven lifestyle. From CEOs to entry-level workers, frugality and long-term planning are ingrained—a habit he adopted and advocated. Save early, invest wisely; it pays dividends.
Breaking Stereotypes, Building Bridges
Cyrus’ greatest enlightenment came during a rooftop dinner in Shanghai. Three young coworkers from a rural village pooled money to cook fish and share beers, eager to hear about America.
As Cyrus listened to their dreams—better jobs, better life, brighter futures—he saw reflections of himself. Every culture values family, hard work, and hope for the next generation. “We look different; we have different skin colors; we have a different language, different religion; but at the end of the day, we’re more similar than we are different.”
A Call to Action
For over a decade, Cyrus has a passion for building bridges between the United States and China. He said he has learned a lot of lessons in this amazing country in the east.
Cyrus’ advice is to “try it first”—a mantra he teaches his kids when they hesitate at new foods. He nearly missed China’s beauty due to naysayers warning of danger. Instead, he found “history unparalleled” “beauty unmatched” and “energy uncontainable”. Living there, he found out that headlines don’t define a nation, people do.
From his experience, China welcomes all foreigners and the country remains an incredible place to travel, visit and live. “Don’t change the world with opinions,” he says. “Change it with your actions.” To foreigners, he extends an invitation: go out there, have an open mindset and experience different cultures for yourselves.
In Cyrus’ story, China isn’t a headline or a statistic. It’s a mosaic of hardworking families, steaming street food, and rooftop conversations—a reminder that curiosity, not fear, builds bridges worth crossing.
