Knot tied in ‘City of Romance’

TSC Tempest, or Doc Tempest, a 41-year-old Australian who has lived in China for seven years, including two in Zhuhai, said he leads a fortunate life having so many friends of different nationalities and marrying Janine Kruse from Hamburg, Germany.

Simply put, their wedding party was held at Harbour View Hotel on Saturday night.

Sworn as husband and wife in Hong Kong on Friday, the newlyweds held an informal reception at the hotel for relatives from Australia and Germany and friends from 13 countries.

“I think it’s a good match, a good balance,” said the groom. He had fallen in love with Kruse at first sight when they met at a party in Shanghai during the Chinese Lantern Festival in 2004 and they have been together ever since. He had accepted a contract to teach in China and Kruse had been assigned to work in China. “Work brings us together. And we choose to take opportunities,” he explained.

In an ivory dress and silk scarf with a flower in her hair, Kruse looked beautiful. “I’m a hundred per cent confident with my marriage,” she said, adding, “He is the best, best man in the world!”

Olga Andrews, Tempest’s mother who came from Australia a month ago to take part in her son’s wedding and to see her grandson Luka, said she is proud of her daughter-in-law. “I’m very content I have one more daughter now,” she said. Of Tempest, she said: “He has a good heart. That’s important, as a person with good heart always cares about others.” Visiting China is the most wonderful experience in her life, as there are so many wonderful people and they are so kind and nice to her, she added.

Hanni Kruse-Lebell, the bride’s mother who came from Germany with her husband, another daughter and two more relatives, said: “I’m happy to be here. It’s interesting that so many nationalities and a lot of Chinese are here.” She is content with her son-in-law, she said. Kruse’s uncle also showed satisfaction, saying: “He’s an interesting man and he is a very good English teacher.” He and his family from Germany will head for Guilin, Guangxi Autonomous Region, two days later before they go back home, he explained.

Hendrik Kutter, Kruse’s old friend who now operates a company in Germany, had come to Zhuhai two days before the wedding. A friend of Kruse’s for 23 years, Kutter used to live in the same neighbourhood and went to the same school. “She is very open-hearted. She always thinks of others,” he noted. “She had never known she would go to China, but now there she is. She knows what she wants,” he added.

Kutter displayed pictures he had taken from Kruse’s childhood to her teens and adulthood until establishment of her own family represented by a picture of three family members -- Tempest, Kruse and their 1-year-old son Luka. His humorous and heartfelt presentation aroused laughter and applause from the audience and deeply moved Kruse.

Guests painted their national flags and sang their anthems in groups. Of China, Germany, Australia, France, Denmark, the US, Lebanon, New Zealand, Mexico, Belgium, Hungary, Kazakhstan and Austria, Germany was the largest group, Tempest announced during the party.

A guest representative presented the newlyweds with a wooden case painted with three Chinese characters -- Fortune, Wealth, Longevity -- on the cover. She suggested everyone write on a piece of paper good wishes to the couple and put them in the case, which must not be opened for a year. “I think it’s romantic,” she said.

In response to blessings from relatives, good friends and guests, Kruse expressed her wholehearted gratefulness: “Thank you so much! It’s so unexpected!” From one end in the north and another in the south of the globe, the couple have met and established their family in a country in the middle -- China, and they chose Zhuhai, City of Romance, as their home. May the newlyweds be blessed with luck and prosperity; with longevity, good health and peace!