Italian expat loving books and Shenzhen

Writer: Liu Minxia  |  Editor: Zhang Chanwen  |  From: Shenzhen Daily  |  Updated: 2022-11-21

Editor’s Note

编者按

Shenzhen Daily has joined hands with the Information Office of Shenzhen Municipal People's Government to launch a series of reports titled “Decade of Transformation,” to tell the story of Shenzhen in the eyes of expats. Rafael Saavedra, a popular YouTuber who has been living and working in China for seven years, will host the series, showing you Shenzhen, a dynamic and energetic city from the perspective of 60 expats. This is the second story of the series. 

由深圳市人民政府新闻办公室与英文《深圳日报》(Shenzhen Daily)共同策划推出的系列全媒体国际传播作品《我们这10年:湾区老外说变化(Decade of Transformation)》已在各大主流媒体和互联网平台正式上线,该系列将集中展示过去十年以来深圳在各个领域所取得的伟大成就。此次系列作品中,在中国工作和生活了七年的知名网络博主Rafael Saavedra将向大家介绍60位外籍人士,通过他们的脚步和镜头记录和观察一座行进中的中国年轻都市。敬请垂注!


Profile

人物简介

Paola Sellitto, an Italian expat who currently lives in Shenzhen with her husband and two children, is the co-founder of Dragon Club, a reading club in Shekou. Sellitto has been interested in Chinese culture since she was very young, and she chose to major in Chinese culture, history and art in an Italian college, obtaining a degree in Chinese language and literature. Later, she moved to Shenzhen where she found another passion — books. This June, she opened a reading club in Shekou to instill a love of books among children.

Paola Sellitto女士是位热爱中国文化的意大利人,她曾在意大利学习中文及中国文学并获得学位。2006年来到深圳后,她就喜欢上了这座城市。目前她和丈夫已经在这里生活了十几年,育有两个孩子。在育儿过程中,她对推广少儿阅读产生了极大的兴趣,今年6月,她在蛇口创立了一家阅读俱乐部,旨在培养儿童纸质阅读习惯。


以爱育爱 意大利书迷在深推广少儿阅读




It is often said that those who follow their heart and pursue their passion can make a big difference in their life. Paola Sellitto, an Italian expat living in Shenzhen, is one of those who chose to live this way.

人们常说,那些追随内心追寻梦想的人总能有所建树。居深意大利人Paola Sellitto就是这样一位随心而活、随性而为的人。

Paola Sellitto rearranges books in front of a floor-to-ceiling bookshelf at Dragon Club, a reading club she co-founded in June, in Shekou. Photos by Lin Jianping except otherwise stated 

Paola Sellitto在位于蛇口的龙阅读书俱乐部整理图书。摄影:林建平

Sellitto, who has been interested in Chinese culture, chose to study Chinese culture, history and art in college in her home country. This interest saw her relocating to Shenzhen in 2006 soon after she graduated and obtained her degree in Chinese language and literature.

因为对中国文化感兴趣,她在意大利读大学时选择了中国文化、历史和艺术专业。出于同样的兴趣,大学毕业取得中国语言和文学学位后不久,她来到了深圳。

At First, she worked at a trade company and soon started a family. She left her job to dedicate herself to her family. It was during this period that she developed a great passion for books.

那是2006年,一开始,她在一家贸易公司上班,后来成了家就辞去工作,全心照顾家庭和孩子。在养育孩子的过程中,她逐渐对书产生了极大的兴趣。

Paola Sellitto works on her laptop at Dragon Club. Paola Sellitto

在龙阅俱乐部里工作。

When talking about books, “I don’t mean reading by myself, but how to guide children to love reading,” Sellitto told reporters on a beautiful November afternoon, when the sun finally appeared after rainy days, where the vegetation at the courtyard of Dragon Club, a reading club she co-founded in Shekou in June, shimmered in soft green hues.

“我(所说的对书的兴趣)不是指我自己读书,而是如何引导儿童读书。”Sellitto坐在自己半年前刚刚创办的龙阅读书俱乐部里,向记者娓娓道来。那是两周前一个台风刚过的午后,云开雨霁,天光放亮,窗外精心布置的庭院里,绿植的叶子泛着雨后独有光彩。

The entrance of Dragon Club. 

龙阅俱乐部正门口。

A quote from George RR Martin reads: “A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives only one.” The quote is one example from countless authors that celebrates the value of books and reading, and Sellitto hopes children could benefit a lot from reading.

“携书如历三千世,无书唯度一平生”。这句出自美国作家乔治·马丁《冰与火之歌》的句子,是众多传扬开卷有益提倡广泛阅读的名言之一。爱书的Sellitto希望孩子们也都会因为爱上阅读而受益终生。


Finding new passion

因书结缘 创立读书俱乐部

Like many other parents in Shenzhen, Sellitto tried to help organize school activities once her kids started schooling.

像深圳的许多其他家长一样,在孩子开始上学后,她就积极参与家委会工作,协助学校组织各种活动。

“When we organized book fairs, we saw children really enjoyed going around the table … touching the books, opening them and checking inside,” she said. “We set up our activities with a storytelling time and crafts related to the books. We found that children were very engaged and really showed interest in books and reading.”

“我们办书展时,会看到孩子们非常喜欢围着桌子转来转去。他们会摸摸书的封面,然后打开书,浏览里面的内容。”她说,“我们经常在活动中设置讲故事环节,还会做一些和书的内容相关的手工,这让孩子们非常投入,让他们对书和阅读产生兴趣。”

Children check books at a book fair. Courtesy of the interviewee 

孩子们在书展上看书。受访者提供

Sellitto is keenly aware of the many benefits of early reading, which have been proven by numerous scientific studies. She also has seen the benefits first-hand in daily life, so she decided to open the reading club to instill a love of books in younger readers.

Sellitto深知早期阅读的各种益处,这些益处不仅被许多科学研究所证明,在她诸如此类的日常观察中也得到了不断印证。于是,她决定创办这间读书俱乐部,期望让更多的小读者爱上阅读。

Paola Sellitto interacts with children during a reading event. Courtesy of the interviewee 

Paola Sellitto在一次阅读活动中和孩子们互动。受访者提供

"[We hope] to give the kids the opportunity not only to read the book, but also see different types of books, to [physically] feel the book itself, to smell the book, and to understand why one book is different from another one,” she said.

“(我们希望)让孩子们不仅有机会读书,还能接触到不同类型的书,让他们感受书籍本身,闻一闻纸张的味道,了解书与书有什么不同。”她说。

Children read at Dragon Club. Courtesy of the  interviewee 

孩子们在龙阅俱乐部里阅读。受访者提供


Promoting paper reading

以书为媒 推广纸质阅读

Aside from providing bookshelves filled with a wide range of genres meant for all age groups, Sellitto and her reading club organize various activities, one of which is called “Little Readers.” The program now involves over 200 children and would sometimes invite young readers to present their favorite books in front of an audience or a camera.

龙阅俱乐部一楼和二楼的阅览室里摆满了适合不同年龄段读者阅读的各类书籍。除了提供图书和阅读场所,Sellitto还致力于组织各种活动,其中有个叫做 "小读者"的活动,目前有200多个孩子参加。Sellitto时常会邀请这些小读者们面对观众或者相机分享自己喜爱的书。


A young reader, who identified himself as Ben, shares about a book in a video for the "Little Readers" program. Courtesy of the interviewee                                                                                                                                                                                                       小读者Ben分享读书感悟。受访者提供

“What I like most about the activities we organize is that we get the children to focus. They can stay quiet and concentrate on something while still having fun,” Sellitto said. “It’s not as if we are turning it into a class. It’s more like a way to keep them entertained, [while at the same time] learning something, but more indirectly.”                                                                                                                              我喜欢组织这些活动的最大原因,是孩子们在活动中会变得很专注。”她说,“他们可以保持安静,全心投入,并且乐在其中。这和上课不一样,这更像是让孩子们在娱乐的过程中顺带学习知识。”

Paola Sellitto interacts with participants during a reading event. Courtesy of the interviewee 

Paola Sellitto在一次阅读活动中和孩子们互动。受访者提供

As a longtime supporter of reading printed books, Sellitto tries in her own way to dissuade children from reading on screens. One of the exquisite handwritten signs she decorated, which hangs in the club reads: “Books are just TV for smart people!”

作为纸质阅读的坚定支持者,她总在想办法用自己的方式引导孩子们减少屏幕阅读。龙阅俱乐部里挂着几个她亲手书写的告示牌,其中一个上面写着:“书籍是智者的电视”。

A sign hanging by the door that reads: “Books are just TV for smart people!”

龙阅俱乐部的一块告示牌上写着:“书籍是智者的电视”。

“For young children, I would really support them to feel the book. This way, they have a different approach to literature itself,” Sellitto said, adding that “In addition, if children read from a phone or electronic device, they can get other distractions like a message notification or they know that in an iPad there is a game they can play.”

“我强烈建议小读者们多去摸一摸书,这样他们会对书籍有不同的看法。”她说,“如果他们用手机或电子设备阅读,会时不时分心,要么是因为一条新信息通知,要么他们总是想着那个iPad里面还有个游戏可以玩。”

Paola Sellitto reads a book in front of a floor-to-ceiling bookshelf at Dragon Club. 

Paola Sellitto在落地书架前读书。

Sellitto, a mother of two, tries to set an example. “I prefer to read a paper book instead of reading from my phone or tablet, because they never know what I’m really doing on my phone,” she said. “They might think I’m playing or typing messages or watching stuff on social media. You know it’s a different message or example to the children [by reading a printed book or from screens].”

作为两个孩子的妈妈,她努力以身作则,给孩子们树立榜样。“我更愿意看纸质书,而不是用手机或平板阅读。因为如果我用手机的话,孩子们不知道我到底在做些什么,”她说,“他们可能觉得我在玩,我在发信息,或者在浏览社交媒体。(父母读纸质书和电子阅读)给孩子们传达的信息是完全不一样的。”

A father accompanies a child reading a book at Dragon Club. Courtesy of the interviewee 

龙阅俱乐部的小读者在父亲的陪伴下看书。受访者提供


Enjoying life in Shenzhen

借书传情 乐享深圳生活

Sellitto recognizes that Shenzhen has a good public reading environment, and that November is Shenzhen Reading Month, which she thinks is a wonderful initiative. “I really support these kinds of activities. It’s good to let people know they can read books and learn from them,” she said.

谈到深圳的阅读氛围,Sellitto说她早就注意到了11月是深圳读书月,并认为这是一个很好的倡议。“我非常支持这样的活动,这可以鼓励人们读书,鼓励人们学习,是非常好的。”她说。

She said that there are similar annual events in her home country of Italy that feature many books fairs and activities to lure more people to read books.

她说,在意大利也有类似深圳读书月这样一年一度的读书倡议活动,期间会有许多书展和各类节目,来吸引更多人读书。

Paola Sellitto interacts with young readers at Dragon Club. Courtesy of the interviewee 

Paola Sellitto和小读者们互动。受访者提供

When Sellitto was asked to compare Shenzhen to a book category on the premise that each city has a prominent character, she immediately thought of something from a children’s book.

当记者问她,如果要把每座城市比作一本书,在她心目中深圳是一本怎样的书的时候,她脱口而出说道,深圳让她想起了童书中所描绘的一件宝物。

“What Shenzhen reminds me of is more than a book itself. It’s a feature of a book,” Sellitto said. “I can compare Shenzhen to Mary Poppins’ magic carpetbag, because everything can come out of this bag — technology, innovation, opportunity …”

“在我看来,深圳远不止是一本书,这座城市让我想起一本童书中所描述的一件宝贝。”她说,“我愿意把深圳比作魔法保姆玛丽•波平斯(Mary Poppins,澳大利亚女作家P. L. Travers所著儿童故事书中的人物)的神奇手提袋,从里面你可以拿出任何你想要的东西:科技、创新、机会……”

She said she herself benefited from what the city offers.

她说久居深圳的自己一直乐享其中。

A photo frame displayed at Dragon Club shows Paola Sellitto and her partner Marcia Yang posing for a photo during a book fair. Courtesy of the interviewee 

龙阅俱乐部书架上摆放的一张照片上,Paola Sellitto和合伙人Marcia Yang在一次书展中合照。受访者提供

“I enjoy a lot of the city since I’ve been living here for such a long time,” Sellitto said and added, “It has given me the opportunity to meet new people and gain a lot of experience.”

“我很喜欢这座城市,所以我才在这里住了这么久。”她说,“在这里,我有机会认识各种各样的人,获得了不一样的经历。”

Sellitto mentioned that she and her family once moved to Taiwan but returned two years later because they missed the city. “We missed the people and the lifestyle here, and I also like the environment for my kids,” she said. “So, we are in love with the city.”

她说她和家人曾经搬到台湾居住,但两年后又搬了回来,因为他们想念这座城市。“我们想念这里的人,这里的生活方式。我也很喜欢这里的环境,非常适合孩子们的成长。总之,我们爱上了这座城市。”