Some Westerners living in China can remember the country before the arrival of the coffee chain, there are even a few who have been here since China began opening up in the 1980s. Occasionally, however, the odd laowai crops up with connections to the Middle Kingdom that go back much further.

 

Jon Brantingham is one such case. The 46-year-old father of four arrived in China aged three, and has spent most of his life here since.

 

His ancestors first came to China in the late 19th century. Brantingham's great grandparents, originally from Ohio in the United States, were married in Jiangsu Province on January 17, 1900. His kids will be the fifth generation of his family to be based in China.

 

"My great grandparents had a deep love for the Chinese people and this has been passed down from generation to generation," says Brantingham, a healthy, wiry marathon runner and businessman.

 

As missionaries and medical doctors, his great grandparents, Isabella French DeVol and George Fox DeVol, worked together in Luho, 40 kilometers north of Nanjing. There they built a church, a hospital and a large house and all three are still very much in use today.

 

"I took my family to Luho over the Lunar New Year holidays this year," says Brantingham. Armed with a couple of old books with black and white pictures and aided considerably by his near-perfect Mandarin, Brantingham set about finding the three sites associated with his great grandparents. "It was a real thrill to go there after all these years and to see that the work that my great grandparents began is continuing to this day."

 

Brantingham reports: "The hospital is still called the Peace Hospital, it's now a traditional Chinese medicine hospital. The house where my great grandparents lived is now the administrative office for the hospital, the church has services every day and a healthy congregation."

 

While Brantingham's grandmother left for the US, her brother, Charles, remained in China and was later imprisoned during the Japanese invasion. Brantingham's father, having spent much of his life as a missionary in Taiwan, became an industrialist establishing the manufacturing company that his son now runs. The company manufactures key hardware products for utility companies in Europe and North America.

 

As an early version of what are now referred to as third culture kids, Brantingham describes his experience as a student at a Taipei international school as: "Very positive, I was lucky, that's where I learned my Mandarin. I had friends from all around the world but it threw up some difficulties when we went back to the States. Most of my contemporaries just couldn't associate with my stories of Asia. I quickly learned to just keep quiet."

 

Visits to the States for the Brantingham clan these days are like this: "The first two or three weeks are great and we don't want to return to China but after six weeks we're anxious to get back," says Brantingham, who is also chairman of the board of the Community Center Shanghai. His four sons are aged between two and 10, their Mandarin is "coming on fast."

 

"Back in the States I wouldn't be able to contribute as much as I can here," he says sincerely.

 

Business brought Brantingham up to Shanghai full-time six years ago from Taiwan. Once settled he swiftly got involved with the Community Center Shanghai. "The CCS is addressing the needs of the expatriate community. Before the CCS there was nothing. Now we have two centers, we aim to be citywide soon," he says.

 

There are two headquarters just now, one in Jinqiao, Pudong, the other on Julu Road in Puxi. The CCS provides a number of services including counseling and classes and it has, beneath its broad umbrella, a number of charities. See www.communitycenter.cn for more details.

 

"Right now we're working on a youth project, that's a big need, there's simply not enough for young expat people to do here."

 

On arrival he also joined a local "old timer" basketball team and played alongside Yao Ming's father.

 

"I never got to meet Yao Ming, but I enjoyed getting to know his parents. During that time their son was still playing in Shanghai and he was considered as an NBA draft pick. It was quite a thrill to see Yao selected No. 1 in the draft and then to watch him succeed in the NBA. His success, no doubt, has something do with having great parents."

 

Looking to the future, Brantingham has no plans to leave China any time soon. "We'll be here for at least ten years," he says.

 

To understand China, it's crucial to have an understanding of where the country has come from, says Brantingham. "What we see today is amazing, but when you understand a little of what the Chinese people have gone through, it's even more amazing," he says.

 

He recommends new arrivals to immerse themselves in Chinese culture as much as possible. "The more understanding you have of Chinese culture, the more you'll enjoy living in China." He also says it's possible to tell right away whether or not someone will enjoy living in China. "You can just sense it," he says.

 

Brantingham is full of admiration for the Chinese people. "I admire and respect what the Chinese people have accomplished. They should be rightfully proud of their achievements. I feel very privileged to have been here. My journey mirrors their journey. It's been an incredible transformation over a very short period of time."

 

Jon Brantingham

 

Nationality: American

 

Age: 46

 

Profession: Business

 

Picks and hates

 

Former French Concession, the Bund, Jinmao Tower.

 

Traffic, particularly on the A20.

 

Q&A

 

Favorite way to spend a weekend?

 

Watching my boys play soccer at Jinqiao soccer field,

 

Walks along Pudong side of the Bund.

  

What can be done to improve Shanghai?

 

More parks in which you are allowed to play on the grass.

 

Don't allow cars to turn right on red to save pedestrians.

 

You notice these things with four kids.

 

Life's motto?

 

Live with the eternal in mind.

 

Three words to describe yourself?

 

My wife says, caring, generous, athletic.

 

Thanks honey!

 

Advice to new expats?

 

Get connected and involved as soon as possible. There is a lot to experience and enjoy. Two or three years go by fast.

  

(Shanghai Daily March 27, 2007)