This Is My Home

Narrator: Hasmik Hakobyan
Armenian National, Doctor of International Economic Law
Honored with the title of "Light of Civilization · 2021 Annual Figure of China Cultural Exchange" at the 2022 Think Tank Outlook China Innovation and Development Forum.
Founder and Director of the Teachers' Professional Development Center, and International Curriculum Teacher at the International Department of Chongqing No. 8 High Schools Education Group

Looking back over the past 14 years, I realise that Chongqing has shaped me just as much as I have contributed to it. It has taught me that cultural differences are not barriers – they are invitations: invitations to learn, to listen, to grow and to love.

This Is My Home

Some cities don't just welcome you—they call you. For us, that city was Chongqing. In 2012, my husband, Dr. Rami Khalil, our sons Sami and Youssef, and I made the move. Now, 14 years on, we're still here—living. working, and thriving in this incredible city.
To me, Chongqing is a city of layers – not only the physical layers of its famous mountains and valleys, but layers of history, resilience, warmth and boundless energy. The first time I saw the city, I was captivated by its dramatic landscape: the Yangtze and Jialing rivers carving their way through steep hills, bridges that seem to defy gravity and buildings rising like bamboo shoots from the cliffs. It is a city that refuses to be flat in any sense of the word.
What impresses me most is not simply the boldness of the city’s architecture, but the spirit of the people who live here. The warmth of Chongqing people matches the heat of the city’s famous hotpot. They are direct, passionate and generous – qualities I deeply admire. In a city whose terrain can make simply getting around a challenge, I have never encountered impatience, only a shared sense of wonder and pride in what has been built here. Chongqing’s urban development is more than an engineering achievement; it is an expression of the collective determination of people who refused to be constrained by geography. They carved a modern metropolis out of the mountains and, in doing so, created something uniquely Chinese, uniquely Chongqing and truly unforgettable.

The Most Vivid Expression of the Chinese Dream

Chongqing was – and remains – a city on the rise, a gateway to western China and a living example of the country’s transformation. As someone who has dedicated my life to cross-cultural communication and educational exchange, I could think of no better place to make a contribution. Here, I can put everything I have learned – my PhD in International Economic Law from Chongqing University, my two master’s degrees from Armenia and the United States, and my professional experience across Armenia, Europe and the Middle East – to work in a community eager to engage with the world.
China’s global influence continues to grow, with the country making important contributions in science and technology, culture, trade and diplomacy. It needs people who can represent it thoughtfully and confidently on the world stage. We hope to nurture young people who can explain clearly and with pride what China stands for: its history, its values, its innovations and its aspirations for peaceful development and shared prosperity.
I also chose Chongqing because I believe in the Chinese Dream, and I see the city as one of its most vibrant expressions. This is a place that honours its ancient heritage while embracing the future with open arms. Through both individual and collective efforts, I hope to show the world China’s strength born of unity, the beauty of its cultural diversity and the transformative power of education. I am honoured to be part of that story.

Happiness Lies in the Connections Between People

In Armenia, friendship is often forged through shared history and long tradition – you grow up together, and the bond becomes almost familial. In Chongqing, I found something similar, but with a distinctly Chinese warmth: an immediate and wholehearted sense of inclusion. My Chongqing friends never treated me as a foreigner. They treated me as a neighbour, a sister, a jiejie – a big sister. They invited me into their homes for meals, taught me how to make jiaozi during Spring Festival and patiently helped me get to grips with the local dialect, Chongqinghua. When my pronunciation made them laugh, they laughed with me, never at me, and always encouraged me to keep trying.
What draws me to them most is their resilience and their ability to find joy in everyday life. Life in Chongqing has its challenges: the summer heat is legendary, the hills are steep and life moves fast. But my friends here never complain. Instead, they always find reasons to celebrate – sharing a meal or taking a walk through the old lanes of Ciqikou. They have taught me that happiness is found not in comfort, but in our connections with other people.

Gratitude to Chongqing

What attracts me most to Chongqing is its spirit of constant transformation. This is a city that never stops moving forward, never stops building and never stops dreaming. It embodies the energy of contemporary China – dynamic and ambitious, yet deeply rooted in its history. And amid all this rapid growth, its people remain grounded, welcoming and generous. That balance, I believe, is Chongqing’s greatest treasure.
In Chongqing, I discovered that home is not necessarily where you are born, but where you are truly welcomed. Here, I found not just a home, but a sense of belonging, a purpose and a love that crosses mountains, seas and bridges.
Fourteen years later, I can say with all my heart: we chose Chongqing, and Chongqing chose us too.

Image provided by interviewee
Chinese Article: Wang Jingjing