Finding home far from home: a British's retirement in Changshu

"My name is David. After 41 years working hard in the U.K., seven years working in China, I've decided to retire here, specifically Changshu, such a lovely city."

David Dakins, born 1960 in Buckinghamshire, England, began working at the age of 16 and joined the multinational Vita Group in 1988. In early 2017, he asked to be part of the company's new business in China, Vita Foam Products (Changshu) Co., Ltd. He went on to live and work in Changshu for more than seven years, until the company's operations there came to a close.

Less than half a year after leaving Changshu, David realized he was already missing the "home" he had built there. In 2024, he finally made up his mind: he flew back to China and settled in Changshu for good.

David then began his retirement routine. Unless he has other plans, he takes a leisurely stroll after breakfast. For lunch, he favors self-service local eateries where, for a little over 10 yuan, he can choose from dozens of dishes. In the afternoon, he heads out for another walk, and when he gets tired, settles into a cafe to read. On weekend evenings, he likes to meet friends at bars to listen to live music and chat. This is what retirement looks like for an old British in China.

When David first arrived in the winter of 2017, he went through a period of self-doubt. "I had no family here and couldn't speak the language. What kind of decision had I made?" he recalls. But as work and daily life unfolded, the hospitality of the people around him gradually put him at ease."
Wherever I go - restaurants, hotels, parks, even just walking down the street - I can feel people's kindness. I always feel welcome," said David. Not much of a singer himself, he was once coaxed by friends into a recording studio to sing John Lennon's "Imagine" together. He vividly remembers a gathering in Changshu where 20 people from 14 different countries laughed and talked, as if there were no cultural barriers at all. Choosing to retire in China, however, also meant being far from his hometown. Back in the U.K., his parents are aging, his three sons have families of their own, and his four grandchildren are at the loveliest stage of life. "We video-call often, but it's nothing like a real hug," he said. Returning to Britain once a year for a family reunion never quite eases the long stretch of longing.
Fortunately, his eldest son will come to China for a visit next spring. As David talks about it, his eyes light up: "I want to share everything I have here with him and I hope more of my family and friends will come and see this place for themselves."

(Source: 常熟发布 (WeChat ID: cs-fabu))
Source：iSzhou