MICHAEL NELSON’S plan for the next few years is to write a novel about the aboriginal villagers of Shenzhen.

　　Before he came to China from Alabama in the United States at the beginning of this year, Nelson, 29, planned to write a novel about China. But he didn’t know much about the country or the language.

　　His master degree in English literature from Brown University in New York helped him find a job as an English teacher in Huizhou. But six months later, he decided to move to Shenzhen to look for better opportunities.

　　“I had never heard of Shenzhen in the U.S.,” Nelson said.

　　“The history of Shenzhen may be boring for some people living and working here, but it has really been fascinating for me.”

　　“I’m especially interested in the local villagers who have witnessed the dramatic development of Shenzhen from a border town to a modern city over the past 20 years,” he said.

　　He is now working in the Com.Com English training center and living downtown.

　　There are two things he likes to do. When teaching in the classroom, he likes his students to talk about their experiences in Shenzhen.

　　In his spare time he likes to talk to Chinese friends in restaurants and bars in his neighborhood. This helps him get to know more about the city.

　　“If things work out, I’d like to find a Chinese wife. For some people, the cultural differences may be a barrier for intermarriage, but for me, they will make marriage more exciting and interesting,” Nelson said.