M. Noyan Rona's Chinese Dream
- By Zhang Xue
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E-mail China.org.cn, February 26, 2014
Honorary Citizen of Shanghai
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Rona and other volunteers in Changning District, Shanghai.[China.org.cn] |
In 2012 Noyan Rona was named an "Honorary Citizen of Shanghai" – the top award for foreign nationals who have made extraordinary contributions to socio-economic development of the southern metroplis. Since its establishment in 1997, Shanghai has granted 35 foreign citizens this special honor. In August 2013, 57-year-old Rona received his Chinese green card – permanent residence permit for foreigners. Rona believes he has finally become truly Shanghainese.
Today, Rona is quite a well-known figure in Shanghai, if only for his "meddling." In 2009, he was elected head of foreign volunteers in Changning District for the Shanghai World Expo. Leading a group of expatriates who love Shanghai as he does, Rona helped the local government correct street signs miswritten in foreign languages. He loves being a volunteer and likes to correct shortcomings around the city because he takes the city as home. His greatest achievement as a volunteer comes out of the conviction that he has done what should be done. For example, he has raised suggestions to various organizations and people in Shanghai, including local government, shops and administrators of parks.
This perhaps begs the question, why would a foreigner embrace such a sense of responsibility for Shanghai or China? Rona replied that he doesn't regard himself as a foreigner or an outsider to local society. In his view, if every person in the city were to display and act on a sense of responsibility, life in the city would be even better.
At a feedback meeting organized by local transport authorities, Rona suggested that advertisements should not cover the rear glass of taxis since they could block the drivers' view of behind the vehicle, so constituting a potential hazard. His suggestion was soon adopted by the municipal government. Since then, such ads have been only allowed on the lower part of cab windows. After the change and the story behind it were covered by TV news shows, Rona became famous among cab drivers. Once when Rona was walking along the street, a cab driver pulled over and invited him for a free ride. Although Rona had merely intended to cross the road at first, he got into the cab and chatted with the driver. Rona enjoys this type of interaction because, in his view, this makes him more like a local.
All such social activities, whether correcting improper practices, cleaning up litter in the neighborhood, acting as a traffic safety volunteer or financing 10 needy students, have been in Rona's spare time, since his focus is still on his professional work. He says he takes on these social activities out of conscience and has no intention of earning repute.
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