外国人在佛山生活是一种怎样的体验？最近，我们采访到部分在佛山打拼的外国人。他们当中，有创建“佛山版大众点评”、为外国人提供衣食住行资讯的搭桥人；有为佛山项目做牵线“红娘”，帮助佛山经济变得越来越好的洋雇员；有把医院当成自己家，致力于改善外国病人就医体验的洋医生。今天让我们一起来认识创建“佛山版大众点评”的Aaron，看看他在佛山的追梦故事！
Recently, we interviewed a few foreigners who pursue their dreams in Foshan. Among them, Aaron created "Foshan version of Dianping", which offers local business search, user generated reviews, detailed business information, group buying and other merchant services for foreigners; Federica serves as a "matchmaker" for Foshan’s investment projects, and boost Foshan’s economy; Dr. Vikalp, a foreign doctor in Foshan, is committed to improving the medical experience of foreign patients. Let’s first learn about the story of Aaron in Foshan!
自创“佛山版大众点评”，已有超500家公司进驻
Aaron: a business bridge builder for Foshan to connect the world
在谷歌上搜索“佛山”，得到的关于这座城市的的信息不多，旅游、文化、生活和商业方面的详细情况屈指可数。据调查，超九成来到佛山的外国人认为，信息不足使他们在这座美丽又神秘的城市寸步难行。
Enter the word “Foshan”, and it’s hard to find detail information about travel, culture, life and business on Google. 9 in 10 foreigners who come to this mysteriously beautiful place find it hard to go around with such little information.
“很多外国人只知道岭南天地，其余的地方一概不知。” 亚伦在采访中告诉我们。因为热爱这座友好美丽的城市，亚伦决定用自身所学在佛山与外商之间搭建一座桥梁。在本地，“大众点评”是人们获取各种生活资讯的重要渠道，但却缺少英文版本。因此，亚伦与合伙人创建了“佛易网”，为外国人提供衣食住行各个方面的咨询。亚伦说：“我想让每个来到佛山的外国人能看到更大更真实的佛山。”
“Many foreigners just know Lingnan Tiandi (岭南天地), and nothing else.” Aaron told us in the interview. Touched by the friendliness and beauty of Foshan, Aaron made up his mind to build a business bridge between Foshan and the western world. In Foshan, dianping.com(大众点评) is highly popular with comprehensive information provided in different fields of city exploration, whereas there lacks an English version of dianping for foreigners who come to Foshan. Therefore, FoshanLine, a website providing all kinds of information about Foshan was founded by Aaron and his group. "I want to get people out there, all around, to see the real Foshan." Said Aaron.
只要是和B2C有关的，人们都能在“佛网易”上找到，包括医院、饭馆、咖啡馆、旅馆、娱乐场所、公司和商铺等。只要知道地址，用户就可以搜索到相关信息。如今，在佛山投资促进中心的帮助下，已有超500家公司在佛易网上注册，其中包括岭南天地和保利水城管理中心。
The website includes anything people can think of about B2C, such as hospitals, restaurants, cafes, hotels, recreational activities, companies and stores. With just one location, users can get all the information they need. Up to now, some 500 companies have registered on the website with the help of FIPA which introduced Aaron to various mall managements, such as Lingnan Tiandi Management and Poly Canal Plaza Management.
建立一个城市的门户网站并非易事。在过去的一年时间，亚伦与当地的合伙人合作，逐渐熟悉本地商业市场。“我之前在佛山的家具和陶瓷行业打滚了四五年”，因此他对于佛山市场有一定了解。为了确保每一条信息的准确性，亚伦和他的团队必须亲自确认其来源。像“如何从佛山到香港/澳门”这样简单的交通信息，他们会打电话咨询或者亲自走一遍。“我的预想是，4、5个月后，佛易网会排在谷歌“佛山”搜索网页的第一。“亚伦说道。假如佛易网达到这个目标，它将会是发现佛山、了解佛山的最佳窗口。
Building a website for a city is never an easy job. Working with a local partner for more than a year, Aaron familiarizes himself with the bolts and nuts of Foshan market. "I have worked in furniture and ceramics marketing for about 4 or 5 years." Said Aaron. In terms of detailed information, for example, how to get to Hong Kong or Macao from Foshan, Aaron has to check traffic information one by one through telephone or go there in person to make sure the originality and validity of information. "After four to five months, our website will be at the top page of google for the word Foshan. " If successful, Foshan Line will be the gateway for people outside China to see what is happening in Foshan.
与此同时，亚伦还从事网站优化，通过关键词搜索，客户的网站能够显示在搜索结果的前列。目前，近七成客户都是佛山的制造企业。两个月前，一家专做浴门防水胶的企业在一个月内获得了超400的网站点击率，远远高于其他企业在同期内收获的点击量。“平均每一百个浏览我们网站的人，就有8个潜在客户。”亚伦信心满满地说道。
Aaron has been doing SEO (Search Engine Operation) which aims at website optimization at the same time. With keywords from companies, Aaron can fix their websites high on search engine for a long period of time. Right now, 70% of the companies who buy this service are local manufacture companies in Foshan. Two months ago, a website of a company called Goldrays expert in shower door seal received more than 400 views within a month while other projects normally take a longer time span for the same results, which was a great success for his team. "Of 100 people who visited the website, there are 8 e-mails of potential customers in return." Said confidently by Aaron.
一家语言机构令他结缘佛山 这里更有“中国味”
A language institute linked him to Foshan, where it is more "Chinese"
一口流利的中文让亚伦在和本地企业打交道时更加得心应手。而他之所以与佛山结缘，也正因为此。6年前，一家语言机构推荐亚伦去佛山学习中文。在他看来，相比起其他国际大都市，佛山更有“中国味”——有沿袭至今的民俗和非物质文化遗产，还有保存完好的岭南古建筑。“假如留在其他城市，我估计还是会生活在外国人堆里，这样我的中文就不会说得这么溜了。”亚伦笑道。
Proficiency in Chinese has helped him greatly when dealing with local companies and stores. Language is also the main reason why Aaron came to Foshan in the first place. Six years ago, a language agency recommended Foshan to Aaron for learning Chinese. In his opinion, Foshan is much more "Chinese" with all its well-preserved customs, intangible cultural heritage and intact ancient buildings compared with metropolises like Shanghai and Guangzhou. "If I stay in international big cites, I will be surrounded by foreigners which is bad for me studying Chinese." Said Aaron.
在他看来，佛山充满了各种各样的机遇。“假如你想要舒服安稳的生活，你可以留在英国；但是如果你想寻求人生的机遇，你就要来佛山。”亚伦说道。他认为，作为世界陶瓷和家具中心，佛山有着理想的商业平台。
In his eyes, Foshan is a city of possibilities, town of opportunities. "If you want a comfortable life, you stay in the UK. But if you want to seek some opportunity, come to Foshan." Said Aaron. He thinks that as the world capital for ceramics and furniture, Foshan has a promising platform for people who want to make a business.
热爱这座城市，因为它低调而有内涵
Love the city because it is low-key but Sophisticated
在佛山的生活有其亲切的一面。“尽管佛山是个很大的城市，但是你总感觉它很小。”对亚伦来说，佛山有着友好的氛围。在这里，人与人之间不是独立的孤岛，他能够和不同的人建立亲密的关系，组建自己的朋友圈。此外，佛山毗邻广州，深圳和中山，不到2小时的车程可达，城际间的贸易和交流十分便利。
Life in Foshan has another dimension. "Foshan is a big city, but you feel like its small." For Aaron, it is easier to build decent connection with different people and stay in a small community which can be expanded at any time instead of floating around like an island. He prefers the friendly atmosphere here where he can easily keep relationships. With its convenient location, Foshan neighbors Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhongshan within 2 hours drive, which contributes to the communication and business with other cities.
在亚伦的家里，立着一个茶柜，摆着不下20种茶叶。身为一个英国人，亚伦天生对茶情有独钟。来到佛山之后，他更加热衷于收集各地各色的茶叶和体验本地文化。周末，他会和朋友们一起画画或玩桌游。
In Aaron house stands a cupboard of 20 different tea. As a British from Stratford-Upon-Avon, he brings with him the passion for tea and follows the local tea culture. At the weekend, he will paint pictures or play board games with his friends in Foshan.
“如果没有来佛山，我不会有现在的成就。”亚伦，一个中西方商业的搭桥人，正逐渐走向更大的世界。
“I would not be the one doing this right now if I didn’t come to Foshan.” Aaron said. Being a bridge builder of business, now he finds a bridge leading to a larger world.
记者：Karena、Eleanor