The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Chinese family formally welcomed to International City by Councilman
When Lu Zhao “Ruby” married Lorain resident Jose William Vasquez Jr. on Sept. 28, 2016, in China, members of the Vasquez family visited Beijing for the ceremony.
Now the Zhao family is taking their turn, making their first trip to the United States.
And Lorain — The International City — is welcoming them with City Councilman Mitchell Fallis presenting a formal resolution from the city to the Zhao family in a ceremony at council chambers on Sept. 21.
The Zhao family is spending three weeks in the area where they are getting the opportunity to learn about the culture and customs of their son-in-law and were greeted with a formal resolution from the city.
Fallis read the resolution emphasizing Lorain’s role as the International City and the home to 80 different nationalities, embracing cultural diversity as one of the city’s strengths in extending a hand of friendship.
After reading the resolution with Ruby providing assistance as a translator, the councilman presented each member of the Zhao family with a replica pin of the historic Lorain Lighthouse noting the lakefront icon’s historic role in providing a guiding light to the shore.
“In 2017 we are celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Lorain Lighthouse.
As the lighthouse sets out a beam to captains of ships to welcome them to our city, we have a replica of the lighthouse to give to the family to welcome them to Lorain,” Fallis said.
With his daughter Ruby translating, Weijjun Zhao, a sports journalist in Beijing spoke of the beauty Lorain County’s landscape in the first few days in the area.
“Lorain is a beautiful city, especially the Great Lakes and the lighthouse. A couple of days ago we had time to walk by the lake and see the lighthouse and the landscape was so beautiful,”
he said. “We didn’t really do a lot of things in the last couple of days because everyone was pretty much jet-lagged. But we walked around the community and really explored the area.”
Vasquez’s father, Jose William Vasquez Sr., said hosting the Zhaos was an opportunity to return the favor and hospitality they were shown on their trip to China.
“Beijing is beautiful, but so many people. And when they come over here and that we live so peacefully with houses and gardens and so much open space.
And they came in the fall. Imagine if they came in the summer,” the elder Vasquez said.
Vasquez added since making the trip the family has taken to heart the opportunity to share their culture and way of life in acting as guides for the trip.
“It’s been fantastic. You know they don’t eat with chopsticks here and they want to do it the American way,” Vasquez said. “We took them to a farmers market to see to show them how we do things and they loved it. That’s the way they do it over there,” he said.