Mr. E is a physical education teacher from the Philippines who has lived in China since 1992. He gave up his home in the Philippines to explore the world, first going to Thailand and then choosing China. In his first year in China, Mr. E had difficulties with the language and culture but now finds it much easier to communicate. The most shocking thing to Mr. E when he first arrived was the public hacking and spitting. He is satisfied living in Beijing and does not have plans to move unless absolutely necessary.

1. DAILYINTERVIEW
2 March 2011
This is a picture of Mr.
E’s picture from the
BISS official website.
Mr. E has been to
Thailand first, then
China.
The Man who Gave up his home
Just to explore the world
By Eileen Yeo
Mr. E, the physical teacher upgrades that I find difficult to the world so I was like ‘Hmm,
of the Elementary Section in comprehend.” time to get in there.’ ” He
BISS has generously allowed an Mr. E left Manila, describes how it was a little hard
interview on him and his Philippines in 1992 and headed emotionally the first year that he
migration process to China. Mr. to Thailand. When asked the came here. “At the beginning, it
E, full name Elmer Ryes, was reason for leaving his birth was difficult to keep connecting
born in Manila, Philippines, country, he replies humorously, with the home country instead of
“Sometime in January,” “I wanted to get out and and moving on with the new country
according to him. The exact explore the world. And world and enjoying it so yea, it was
date of his birth shall remain peace.” Mr. E stated that he difficult the first year.”
confidential. wanted to leave his country Mr. E amusingly said that he
Mr. E fondly remembers his himself, and that it was a used his star alignment card and
birthplace as “nice, warm, lots of personal choice. flew here in economy class when
green, blue skies, clouds and Mr. E then felt ready to asked how he got to China.
some rain.” He shared that he move on, and chose China Upon questioning, Mr. E stated
misses his birthplace when he because it was the best offer at that he did not favour neither
goes back to visit. “I feel like a the time. “It was a mystery to China nor the Philippines, rather
stranger when I go back to visit,” me,” he said, “and I wanted the that they both have their own
he disclosed, “I am lost. The adventure, I wanted to learn pros and cons.
language has evolved, and more about the chinese culture, Mr. E describes how he was
sometimes I don’t understand being one of the oldest countries stopped in Tian An Men Square
the language itself. There are in the world and having been by a couple of guards in his first
some cultural changes and shut down for many years from year in China. They wanted to
1 (Continued on page 2)

2. DAILYINTERVIEW 2 March 2011
Story of a new life
In Beijing, China
By Eileen Yeo (Continued from page 1)
take his picture because he was wearing shorts in “When I first came to China, what
April, which was still considered winter in China. shocked me most was the hacking
Mr. E describes how he was worried when the and the spitting that everyone seemed
guards surrounded him. “I thought they came to to do. I had to keep an eye out at all
arrest me!” Mr. E exclaimed.
times so I can dodge the spit that
When we inquired about interesting stories of
the people around him settling in China, he simply people spat out.”
said, “Communication. Communication was Mr E.
funny, because people were trying to explain what
they wanted to the shopkeeper or waitress or
person on the street what they wanted with
broken, barely intelligible chinese and gestures.”
Mr. E claims that the culture and the language
is starting to make sense to him now, and it is
much easier to communicate than it was when he
first came here. He said that he has not thought
about changing countries since he got here, as he
was still enjoying China. The first thing that he
looked at when he chose a country was safety, and
China was a lot safer than Philippines.
Mr. E is still single and does not have any
children. When questioned if he thought that if he Coming up next... Amy Wang from BISS
had children, would his children like China or International School, 16.
Philippines better, he said practically that it would
depend on the parents, the way they thought
about countries.
Mr E. said that he is very satisfied living here
in Beijing, China. He would not want to move
anywhere immediately unless absolutely necessary,
and even then he would choose a country that was,
again, safe.
That’s all for today’s special interview on Mr.
E. Stay tuned for tomorrow’s Daily Interview,
where we will be starring Amy Wang, student.
2