Q+A | Richard Sears

Q: What's your personal China story? What drew you to China?

A: My story with China goes back over 40 years. In 1972, I decided to learn another language, and chose Chinese because one-fifth of the world's population spoke the language. I washed dishes for one year, and got a one-way ticket to Taiwan and the 40-year story began.

What's the secret to your success in China?

My website has been online since 2002. But only in 2011 were some ordinary Chinese people interested in it. For many years, nobody noticed my website. But weibo made my website widely known. It's partly because I made a big website and partly by accident.

What's your life's dream?

To have my website completely explain every Chinese character, the history, the etymology. To let visitors completely understand Chinese characters. There's no point wondering how long it will take for my dream to come true. You will keep learning more and more.

One of my goals is for my website to last for 100 years. I know there will always be people interested in Chinese characters.

More and more Americans are learning Chinese online. Years ago, you couldn't buy a Chinese book in a bookstore. Only rich people and crazy people came to China. Right now, no matter where and when, people can learn it online.

What's your take on the Chinese Dream?

I have many opportunities to talk to young people. For the first time ever, they tell me they learn science for the sake of science. It's a new generation. When I was a child, my parents encouraged me to find my interests. But for your last generation, you didn't have your own interests. I encourage people to find their own interests and chase their own dream. Just like me.

What's the biggest lesson you've learned working and living with Chinese?

After 40 years learning Chinese and speaking Chinese every day, I am half-Chinese. I can eat with chopsticks. I like Chinese food.

Do you still find something that will keep you here?

I want to stay in China for the rest of my life. I want to apply for a resident visa.

What will China be like in 20 years?

Very different. I want to say in 100 years, no one will write characters but they will write pinyin. This is not what I want. It's just what will happen. I wrote a story that grammar has to die. It will get old and die, just like the Chinese characters.

(China Daily Africa Weekly 05/02/2014 page29)