By Lydia Knoche

　　AN Austrian food and beverage trainer at Shanghai's largest hotel, the Shangri-La has been working in China since 1990, while integrating himself into Chinese social life.

　　Exchanging lessons

　　It is a long way from Villach in Austria to Shanghai, and there is a huge cultural difference between the rural European town and effervescent Shanghai. But 54-year-old food and beverage trainer Hubert Karcher made his way half-way around the world and can now look back on 14 years in the country - 12 of them in Shanghai.

　　In contrast to most foreigners working and living in Shanghai these days, he arrived at a time when foreigners were still something of a rarity.

　　Working for the Hilton Hotel, Karcher first left his home country of Austria to go to Thailand. He later moved from Bangkok to Shanghai, in 1990. Except for short visits, since then he has left Shanghai only once, in 1999, when he moved to Dalian to take charge of a new Hilton Hotel. Only two years later he returned, and now confesses that "after 10 years in Shanghai you are stuck to the city."

　　In his opinion Dalian is a beautiful and picturesque city and a good place for spending holidays, but it is for that reason "a little bit laid back". "Shanghai is certainly a more lively place with different attractions" he said, explaining his decision to return.

　　Strict schools

　　In January 2003 Karcher changed his place of work from the Hilton Hotel to the Shangri-La Pudong. He works six days a week and at least 12 hours a day.

　　Married to a Chinese woman since 1991, with whom he has an 11- year-old son, the workaholic sometimes regrets spending so much time in the hotel, considering the short time which is left for his family - especially for his son, who goes to a Chinese boarding school.

　　"I appreciate Chinese schools most of all because of their strictness, but sometimes I really think they give too much homework. My son is often working on schoolwork for the whole of Saturday and Sunday."

　　Karcher speaks mostly in English with his son and sometimes even in German. In school the boy is taught Mandarin and Shanghai dialect. Karcher's son is the only one in his class whose parents are not both Chinese, but instead of being uncomfortable with this situation he enjoys a special attention, which he likes, according to his father.

　　Positive development

　　During his 14 years in China Karcher has recognized stunning developments in the country, especially in regards to service industries: "Fourteen years ago meiyou (not available) was a common expression and when you entered a shop the employees would not even greet you. These days everyone smiles at you and is interested in having you as a customer," he said.

　　While recognizing the fact that Westerners can still learn a lot from the Chinese way of cooking, he maintains that his work as a food and beverage trainer in a Chinese hotel is important, in order to internationalize its cuisine and open it to Westerners.

　　In all his time in Shanghai he has particularly admired Chinese politeness.

　　"Even in cases when people have very little they will invite you to share whatever they have," he said.

　　Furthermore, he has noticed the way Chinese people have been eager to improve relations with foreigners, always looking forward to the chance for contact with them. This increasing interest had been very visible, for instance when Chinese people ask foreigners questions about their backgrounds on the streets.

　　Nevertheless the hotelier also has some advice for Westerners who come to China: "They should consider where they are and know that not everything is like it is at home. They should make efforts to understand the local society, since Chinese people are easily upset, especially by the harsh and direct Western manner of handling topics. Ignoring these difference will mean it is difficult to be successful in China."

　　In addition, he suggests "you have to work together with Chinese people in order to learn something from each person you meet, because no one is ever totally qualified in life."

　　Finally the Austrian admits to missing his hometown of Villach sometimes, a small town near the Slovenian and Italian borders. He usually visits it once a year, but concedes at the same time: "It is only nice for a certain time but if I had to stay too long it would get boring." So he does not seem to have any plans to leave Shanghai for long.