Polish woman's love for Anji's bamboo
Swicka Jessica Ewa from Poland recently captivated audiences in her livestreaming room, as she introduced bamboo weaving techniques in fluent Chinese from Anji county, Huzhou, Zhejiang province.
The Polish woman is in her thirteenth year in Anji, propelling local bamboo products onto the global stage through her dedicated efforts.
In 2009, a chance encounter with Ren Dongxu, an entrepreneur from Anji showing bamboo products on social media, started Jessica's story with the county and its bamboo.
Her attraction to the art led her to Maji village in Anji in 2012. Its lush bamboo-covered mountains, picturesque villages, and the Ren family's generations-old bamboo art workshop solidified her decision to make this bamboo haven her permanent home and later marry Ren.
"It did take some time to adapt when I first arrived, but now here is home," Jessica said. Her house presents the harmonious fusion of Eastern and Western decorations, such as the Polish pottery beside the celadon tea set.
What impresses Jessica most these years is the transformative impact of the Green Rural Revival Program in the village and the influx of cultural and tourism projects. "In the past, online shopping would take several days, but now we have a smart logistics station; We needed to go to the urban area to drink coffee, but now there is a boutique coffee shop within the village," she said.
Jessica presents bamboo products through livestreaming with her husband. [Photo provided to Huzhou News Media Center]
Ren's factory has developed nearly 100 kinds of eco-friendly bamboo products while Jessica presents the bamboo crafting process on her social media. She also hosts "International Afternoon Tea" gatherings every Saturday, inviting local youth and international guests to communicate in English on various topics from Polish amber to Anji white tea.
As a bamboo product promotion consultant, rural English teacher, and cultural tourism ambassador, Jessica's unwavering dedication underscores her commitment to sharing rural China's story with the world.
