王金帥
北京冬奧會開幕式上,沙特代表團入場,這是沙特阿拉伯、更是海灣阿拉伯國家合作委員會(GCC)國家有史以來第一次派出運動員參加冬奧會。填補沙特這一歷史空白的,是沙特高山滑雪運動員薩勒曼 · 胡韋什和法伊克 · 阿卜迪。
這則新聞,讓我在機緣巧合下認(rèn)識了沙特阿拉伯人ALBASRI REDHA,也了解了很多關(guān)于他在浙江生活8年中的故事。他告訴我,自己喜歡中國朋友叫他小龍。
說到此次是沙特阿拉伯有史以來第一次派出運動員參加冬奧會,而且是北京冬奧會,小龍表示,包括他自己在內(nèi)的所有沙特阿拉伯人民都很期待薩勒曼 · 胡韋什和法伊克 · 阿卜迪能夠在比賽中取得好成績!
“在替母國運動員加油喝彩的同時,我也衷心祝愿中國運動員能在自己的主場有出色的表現(xiàn),我會替他們加油的?!毙↓堈f。
沙特位于亞洲西南部的阿拉伯半島,東瀕波斯灣,西臨紅海,境內(nèi)沙漠廣布,其北部有大內(nèi)夫得沙漠,南部有魯卜哈利沙漠。除西南高原和北方地區(qū)屬亞熱帶地中海型氣候外,其他地區(qū)均屬熱帶沙漠氣候。夏季炎熱干燥,最高氣溫可達50℃以上,冬季氣候溫和,年平均降雨不超過200毫米。就是在這樣一個年平均氣溫在20℃左右的國家,冬季時有很多人工冰場,可以滑冰。
小龍告訴我,沙特也有專門的冬季運動俱樂部?!?004年,沙特阿拉伯代表隊開始參加冰球比賽,2010年贏得了阿拉伯國家冰球賽的第3名。你們以為這只是男人的運動嗎?2018年,我們國家還組建了第一支女子冰球隊?!毙↓埥榻B說。
沙特阿拉伯足球隊是亞洲的強隊,手球也是該國的體育競技強項。此外,有很多人更喜歡冰上運動。
說起體育競技比賽,小龍一家頗有淵源。小龍身材健碩,曾經(jīng)獲得過沙特阿拉伯全國拳擊冠軍,他弟弟也取得過海灣國家拳擊冠軍的優(yōu)異成績。
小龍的父母一直很支持小龍和弟弟從事拳擊運動,一家人都很喜歡運動。
小龍說:“從小時候起,我一直堅持拳擊運動。拳擊不僅可以鍛煉身體,還增強了我的自信心,塑造了我的個性,對我產(chǎn)生了巨大的影響,給了我積極的能量,讓我可以微笑著面對生活中的所有困難。雖然現(xiàn)在不參加比賽了,但我一直保持著健身的習(xí)慣,一周健身三次。”
說到當(dāng)時為什么會選擇定居杭州,小龍露出了微笑。他告訴我:“我之前來過杭州出差,第一眼就愛上了這個很漂亮的城市,這里有滿目的綠色、安靜的環(huán)境、美麗的山水、文明的居民。所以,當(dāng)我老婆懷孕以后我們就確定來杭州生活了,我覺得杭州對于有孩子的家庭來說,很宜居。和孩子們一起在這樣的城市里生活很開心,杭州這座城市很包容,也很便利?!?/p>
說起對杭州的愛,小龍就停不下來。如今,他和妻子已經(jīng)擁有了兩個可愛的孩子,微信朋友圈封面就是兒子和女兒的合影,一兒一女湊成一個“好”字,他很滿意目前的狀態(tài),幸福感溢于言表。
接下來,杭州將在今年9月舉辦亞運會,小龍表示,他已經(jīng)迫不及待地想親身感受亞運會的盛況了。他說:“亞運會時所有阿拉伯國家都會參加,從各國相互交流切磋體育競技、感受杭州和浙江乃至中國的發(fā)展來說,這是一個很難得的機會,我會給阿拉伯運動員和中國運動員加油!”
小龍和妻子目前在杭州西湖區(qū)文三西路開了一家名叫“俄式餡餅”的俄羅斯面包店,因為妻子是俄羅斯人。聊著聊著,小龍便熱情地邀請我去他家的面包店看一看、嘗一嘗,面包店里都是自家制的正宗俄羅斯面包、各種餡的餡餅、俄羅斯傳統(tǒng)派、俄羅斯蜂蜜蛋糕、大列巴,一開始做的是街坊生意,后來口碑相傳,回頭客很多,在“大眾點評”APP上人氣也很高,許多吃貨慕名前來。
小龍笑著說:“我們家的東西都是現(xiàn)場做的,不加任何添加劑。歡迎來我們店里,嘗嘗正宗的俄羅斯風(fēng)味面包和點心?!?/p>
Saudi Arabia’s Former Boxing Champion on His Country’s First Winter Olympics
By Wang Jinshuai
With the Saudi athletes walking into the opening ceremony at the National Stadium in Beijing on February 4, 2022, it marked the first time in history that Saudi Arabia — indeed, a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) country — has qualified for the Winter Games. Salman Al-Howaish and Fayik Abdi will represent the country to compete in giant slalom and slalom.
Through this piece of news, I got to know Redha Albasri, a Saudi who has lived in Zhejiang for eight years — and he preferred to be addressed as “Xiao Long” by his Chinese friends.
As it is the first time that Saudi athletes have participated in the Winter Olympics, the Beijing Winter Olympic Games no less, Xiao Long said all the Saudi people, himself included, are looking forward to the two players doing well in the games.
“While cheering for the two, I also sincerely hope the Chinese athletes can get good results on their home soil. I will cheer for them as well,” Xiao Long said.
Saudi Arabia, or the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as it is officially known, is a vast nation that occupies most part of the Arabian Peninsula in southwest Asia, facing the Gulf to the east and the Red Sea to the west. The country’s landscape consists of boundless stretches of desert and rugged mountain ranges, including the Great Nafud desert in the north and the Rub’al Khali desert in the south. In summer, the highest temperature can reach more than 50°C, and in winter, the climate is mild. The average annual rainfall does not exceed 200mm. Still, in a land with a daily mean temperature at over 20°C, you can find many artificial rinks in winter.
Saudi Arabia is one of the top teams in Asia in football and handball, but there are many who are into winter sports. Indeed, Xiao Long told me quite a few winter sports clubs in Saudi Arabia have been established as well. “In 2004, the Saudi Arabian team began to participate in ice hockey and in 2010, it won the third place in the Arab Cup of Ice Hockey. You think this is just a man’s sport? Our country already fielded its first women’s ice hockey team in 2018.”
In fact, with a strong build, Xiao Long once won the national boxing championship in Saudi Arabia, and his younger brother was crowned champion in the GCC Boxing Championship. Xiao Long’s parents have always supported him and his brother in their boxing endeavor, and the entire family are sports enthusiasts.
“I’ve been practicing boxing since I was a kid,” he said. “Boxing not only helps build my body, but also strengthens my confidence, my personality and has a huge impact on me, giving me positive energy and allowing me to face all the difficulties in life with a smile. I don’t compete anymore, but I keep working out three times a week.”
Xiao Long smiled broadly when asked why he chose to settle down in Hangzhou. “I’ve been to Hangzhou on business before and I fell in love with this beautiful city instantly: greenery everywhere, a quiet environment, a beautiful landscape and civilized residents. When my wife was pregnant, we decided to move to Hangzhou, which I think is very livable for families with children. I’m happy to live in such an inclusive and convenient city with my children.” When it came to his love for Hangzhou, Xiao Long just couldn’t stop talking. Now, with two lovely kids, he is quite satisfied and full of happiness; the cover of his WeChat Moments is a photo of his son and daughter.
The Asian Games will be held in Hangzhou in September, 2022 and Xiao Long said he couldn’t wait to see for himself the spectacular event. “All the Arab countries will be in the Asian Games, which is a golden opportunity for them to compete in sports and experience the development of Hangzhou, Zhejiang and China. I will cheer for Arab and Chinese athletes!”
At present, Xiao Long and his wife, who is from Russia, run a Russian bakery in Hangzhou. While we were chatting, he invited me over to his bakery and try the bread. Inside his shop are homemade authentic Russian bread, pies with all sorts of fillings, Russia honey cake and rye bread. The bakery started as a neighborhood business. Then through word of mouth, it has become more and more popular, with quite a few repeat customers. On Dazhong Dianping, the Chinese version of Yelp, the bakery enjoys a high rating, attracting many foodies.
“Everything in our house is freshly made without any additives,” Xiao Long chuckled. “Welcome to our shop and taste authentic Russian bread and pastries.”