2008年湖南的冰災(zāi)令我難忘，大家都積極參加抗擊冰雪的行動(dòng)，我和華菱鋼鐵的同事們也參加了這些活動(dòng)，到長(zhǎng)沙火車站清除冰雪。廣播和電視臺(tái)采訪了我們，哥倫比亞廣播公司北京辦事處也采訪了我，大家似乎都想知道，一個(gè)美國(guó)人為什么會(huì)加入這場(chǎng)抗冰救災(zāi)的活動(dòng)中，同中國(guó)人民并肩戰(zhàn)斗?

我來(lái)長(zhǎng)沙已經(jīng)兩年半了。之前，我對(duì)長(zhǎng)沙的了解僅來(lái)自互聯(lián)網(wǎng)的介紹:長(zhǎng)沙是湖南省的省會(huì)城市，市區(qū)約有160萬(wàn)人口，加上周邊地區(qū)共600萬(wàn)人口。全省約有6000萬(wàn)人口，氣候多變，南部地區(qū)屬亞熱帶氣候，經(jīng)濟(jì)以農(nóng)業(yè)為主，水稻產(chǎn)量占全國(guó)的15%左右，這里也是毛主席的家鄉(xiāng)和最初的革命根據(jù)地。但我仍不清楚這里是平原還是山區(qū)?是綠樹(shù)成蔭還是荒山禿嶺?經(jīng)濟(jì)發(fā)展到什么程度?開(kāi)車的人多還是騎自行車的人多?華菱鋼鐵經(jīng)營(yíng)業(yè)績(jī)?cè)趺礃?這里的人們會(huì)友好地對(duì)待我嗎?還是會(huì)認(rèn)為我是一個(gè)自私的西方人?帶著這些問(wèn)題和疑慮，我來(lái)到長(zhǎng)沙這個(gè)陌生的地方，來(lái)到華菱鋼鐵這個(gè)我為之奮斗的公司，我將努力地去適應(yīng)新的環(huán)境。當(dāng)然，我對(duì)米塔爾集團(tuán)的委派感到非常高興，這對(duì)我來(lái)說(shuō)是一個(gè)很好的機(jī)會(huì)，我可以利用自己30年鋼鐵工業(yè)的實(shí)踐經(jīng)驗(yàn)，為集團(tuán)和華菱鋼鐵做出自己的貢獻(xiàn)。

我親眼目睹的一切已超過(guò)了我最好的想象:華菱鋼鐵的生產(chǎn)工藝和研發(fā)配備了最新和最好的技術(shù)裝備，同時(shí)投入大量的資金進(jìn)行技術(shù)改造，以進(jìn)一步提高技術(shù)先進(jìn)性和生產(chǎn)能力。我的同事們知識(shí)豐富，勤奮工作，工作中取得了許多成就，對(duì)我的建議也是積極采納和實(shí)施。另外，政府在住房和基礎(chǔ)設(shè)施的投入是巨大的，舊樓改造，新的高層建筑拔地而起。許多人從全省各地來(lái)到長(zhǎng)沙求職，尋求高薪工作。城市房地產(chǎn)和基礎(chǔ)設(shè)施的建設(shè)速度令我這個(gè)初來(lái)乍到的外國(guó)人感到吃驚，我把它稱之為“中國(guó)速度”!

2008年湖南的冰災(zāi)令我難忘，50年一遇的寒冬嚴(yán)重地影響了人們的生活，工廠停產(chǎn)，供應(yīng)短缺，供電設(shè)施損壞嚴(yán)重，造成停電事故。交通運(yùn)輸也受災(zāi)嚴(yán)重，數(shù)萬(wàn)人滯留機(jī)場(chǎng)、火車站和高速公路。但是在抗冰救災(zāi)活動(dòng)中，凸顯了中國(guó)人民所擁有的奮斗精神和美好情操，大家都積極參加抗擊冰雪的行動(dòng)，清除道路、橋梁、火車站和人行道的積雪。我和華菱鋼鐵的同事們也參加了這些活動(dòng)，到長(zhǎng)沙火車站清除冰雪。廣播和電視臺(tái)采訪了我們，哥倫比亞廣播公司北京辦事處也采訪了我，大家似乎都想知道，一個(gè)美國(guó)人為什么會(huì)加入這場(chǎng)抗冰救災(zāi)的活動(dòng)中，同中國(guó)人民并肩戰(zhàn)斗?

我認(rèn)為湖南的地形很適合農(nóng)業(yè)，有利于生產(chǎn)水稻和其他農(nóng)作物。湖南綠化搞得很好，讓我吃驚。行駛在縱橫交錯(cuò)的公路上時(shí)，兩旁滿眼都是綠色。這里有豐富的水源，有利于農(nóng)田灌溉。湖南真是一個(gè)美麗而富饒的地方!

另一個(gè)令我驚訝的是湖南人對(duì)毛澤東深深的愛(ài)戴和崇敬，雖然他已過(guò)世，但人們經(jīng)常自豪地談?wù)撍?，以及他?duì)于新中國(guó)的巨大貢獻(xiàn)，他的故居、曾經(jīng)就讀的學(xué)校和博物館，無(wú)不展示著他的豐功偉績(jī)。

華菱鋼鐵的領(lǐng)導(dǎo)和同事們，不但對(duì)我非常友好，而且對(duì)我的生活也是無(wú)微不至地關(guān)心。為我配置舒適的住所，幫助我購(gòu)買日常用品、食品和其他必需品，讓我感受到家庭一樣的溫暖。同事們經(jīng)常邀請(qǐng)我到他們的家里做客，或者一起去餐館品嘗長(zhǎng)沙的美味佳肴，陪我參觀湖南的名勝古跡，讓我領(lǐng)略了偉人家鄉(xiāng)的秀美、張家界的奇觀、龍舟賽的精彩。他們還教我學(xué)中文，使我對(duì)中國(guó)的古代文明有更多的了解，悠久的歷史甚至勝過(guò)希臘。湖南已成為我的另一個(gè)“家” ，我已經(jīng)適應(yīng)了這里的飲食，熟悉了這里的人和他們工作、生活的方式。

2008年我獲得的兩大殊榮，是我一生中最難忘的。我參加了2008年北京奧運(yùn)會(huì)長(zhǎng)沙站火炬接力的活動(dòng)!成為奧運(yùn)圣火傳遞長(zhǎng)沙站接力的兩個(gè)外國(guó)人之一。雖然1972年在希臘我曾參加過(guò)奧運(yùn)火炬接力，但在湖南這一次參加的奧運(yùn)圣火傳遞，將成為我一生難忘的記憶。每個(gè)人都會(huì)因?yàn)橹袊?guó)能成功舉辦奧運(yùn)會(huì)而感到非常驕傲，人們將圣火傳遞當(dāng)成一次盛典。接力活動(dòng)非常熱鬧，圣火按規(guī)定路線傳遞時(shí)，沿途都能看到人們揮舞著旗幟，聽(tīng)到他們大聲喊著“加油!”我想這是每一個(gè)圣火傳遞者都難以忘懷的景象。這一年經(jīng)湖南省外國(guó)專家局的推薦我還獲得了湖南省政府頒發(fā)的“瀟湘友誼獎(jiǎng)”。得知自己獲此榮譽(yù)時(shí)，我簡(jiǎn)直不敢相信，工作中我做出了什么業(yè)績(jī)能得到如此的殊榮?華菱的同事們非?？隙ǖ貙?duì)我說(shuō):你當(dāng)之無(wú)愧!更令我興奮的是，我的妻子當(dāng)時(shí)正好在長(zhǎng)沙，和我一起分享這種快樂(lè)與榮譽(yù)。

盡管全球金融危機(jī)已經(jīng)影響到華菱鋼鐵和湖南經(jīng)濟(jì)，但我很高興地發(fā)現(xiàn)，中國(guó)也許是受經(jīng)濟(jì)危機(jī)影響最小的國(guó)家，經(jīng)濟(jì)下滑的程度比大多數(shù)國(guó)家小，可以樂(lè)觀地認(rèn)為中國(guó)將是最先走出陰霾的國(guó)家。對(duì)于華菱鋼鐵來(lái)說(shuō)，我們將充分利用米塔爾集團(tuán)先進(jìn)的技術(shù)資源，轉(zhuǎn)讓其世界領(lǐng)先的汽車板和電工鋼生產(chǎn)技術(shù)，實(shí)施好十一五規(guī)劃中的“四大工程”和“三大基地”，依靠產(chǎn)品結(jié)構(gòu)調(diào)整化解世界金融危機(jī)對(duì)公司的不利影響。

(本文作者納索斯·拉扎里蒂博士，美國(guó)人，現(xiàn)任湖南華菱鋼鐵股份有限公司副總經(jīng)理兼技術(shù)總監(jiān)，2009年度中國(guó)政府“友誼獎(jiǎng)”獲得者，本文曾獲“感受湖南——外國(guó)專家征文比賽二等獎(jiǎng)”)

I came to Changsha more than two and a half years ago.Before arriving I knew about it only what I was able to read on the internet: It is the capital of the Hunan Province with about 1.6 million people in the city proper and over 6 million in the metropolitan area.The province has about 60 million people.Its climate varies， being subtropical in its southern parts. It is mostly agricultural， producing about 15% of the entire production of rice in China. It is also Chairman Mao's home province and initial power base.I had no idea whether it was flat or mountainous， covered by vegetation or barren， to what degree it was developed， did it have cars or were people mostly riding bicycles?What was the state of this company called at the time Hunan Valin Steel Tube and Wire Co.， Ltd.?Would the people be friendly and treat me well or see me as a selfish westerner?These and so many more were my questions about the place， the people and the company where I was to spend the next few years of my life. So I came with some apprehension， having some definite work plans in mind but otherwise determined to simply try to fit in and survive as best as I could.Of course I was very excited about the assignment， which for me was a great opportunity to use my previous experience of thirty years in the steel industry in order to make a small contribution to my company and to Hunan Valin.

What I actually found surpassed even my most wishful thinking:The company was already equipped with some of the newest and best facilities in the world for production and research with plans in place for significant additional investments to further improve its technology and capabilities.My colleagues at all levels were knowledgeable， hard working and committed to their company and its success.They were open minded to my suggestions and supported their implementation.

The level of investment in housing， offices and infrastructure was unbelievable.Old buildings were torn down and in their place multi story high rises were built to house businesses and people， many of whom left their homes in the country side and came to Changsha and the other major cities in Hunan in search of a higher paying job.The speed of erecting these buildings and other facilities was and continues to boggle the mind of the uninitiated foreigner.I have come to call it \"Chinese speed\"!

The weather was about as I expected， except for what I named \"the surprise of 2008\"!The most severe winter for this area in 50 years played havoc with life as we knew it.Plants shut down， supplies became scarce and electricity was cut off because of lack of coal for the power plants and downed power lines.But hardest hit of all was transportation， with hundreds of thousands of people stranded at airports， rail stations and even the wonderful interprovincial highways.People were said to have spent well over 24 hours stuck on the highways without food and water.But out of this catastrophe emerged the wonderful spirit of the Chinese people who all pitched in， manual labor and office workers alike， as best they could to clear ice from roads and bridges， train stations and sidewalks. My colleagues from Hunan Valin and I also participated in this activity， clearing snow and ice from the platforms of the Changsha train station.The response of the people was tremendous: Radio and TV reporters became aware of an American assisting in this effort alongside all the Chinese people and came to hear my story and why I had decided to participate.The next day I even spoke to the Beijing office of CBS (one of the major American TV networks) about it. Everyone seemed to want to know why an American cared to assist in this activity.Inside buildings and offices were very cold and difficult to heat and keep warm.I thought that if I had my way I would propose changing the building codes to improve insulation， at least for all new buildings; in the process I am certain a great deal of energy would be saved even if the initial cost will be a little higher.

The terrain indeed fit the agricultural model that I envisioned for Hunan.There are many fields for growing rice and other staples.But the big surprise was the hilly terrain， with all hills completely covered by trees and bushes.Driving along the highways big and small everything looks green.And there was evidence of abundant water available for irrigating the fields and for human and animal consumption.How richly endowed Hunan really is in this very precious resource!

Another source of amazement is the deep love and adoration people in Hunan reserve towards Mao Zedong.After all this time after his death people frequently proudly spoke of him and his importance to China and were always eager to show his home， school and museum and explain his achievements.

My colleagues at Hunan Valin Steel Co.， Ltd were not only friendly but from the beginning became very concerned about everything affecting my life here.They made sure I had a suitable apartment to live in， helped me purchase the little things necessary to make an apartment a home， arranged for me to have food and other necessities.They made sure I never spent a major Chinese holiday alone and without something to do or something new to see in Hunan. Visits to the Provincial Museum in Changsha， Zhangjiajie during Spring Festival to see its natural wonders and the town of Miluo for the dragon boat races and related history of the area are only a few examples of all the great experiences I have been fortunate to enjoy.They invited me into their homes or out to dinner in one of the wonderful restaurants that Changsha has plenty of.They were from the beginning very eager to teach me their language and their rich history， which even predates my own Greek heritage， and can be proud of at least as many important achievements.

But some of the greatest experiences of my life are undoubtedly connected with two events that took place in 2008: My participation in the 2008 Beijing Olympics torch relay when it went through Changsha and the Friendship Award that I received from the Governor of the Hunan Province at the recommendation of the Hunan Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs.

Again， through the efforts of my colleagues at Valin and the support of the Hunan Sports Bureau I was one of only two foreigners and the only westerner selected to carry the Olympic flame through Changsha.Even though I had carried the Olympic flame once before in my native Greece during the 1972 Olympics torch relay， participating in Hunan was something that will be etched in memory for the rest of my life.Everyone was so proud of China's opportunity to host the Games and so committed to their success that the atmosphere prior to and during the relay was very festive.With flags waving and \"jia yo\" heard all the time the people of Changsha followed the route of the flame and became participants in this once-in-a-lifetime spectacle.

When I was informed that I was selected to receive the Friendship award during the National Day holidays at first I was totally incredulous:What had I done， other than my job， to deserve such an honor?Again it was my Valin colleagues who firmly reassured me that I truly deserved it and although I still found it difficult to believe， I was deeply honored and humbled enough to accept the selection and receive the award in a wonderful ceremony.What made it doubly enjoyable was that my wife happened to be in Changsha at the time and was also able to share in this experience.

It is fair to say that Changsha and Hunan have become for me another \"home away from home\". I easily adjusted to the wonderful Hunan cuisine and have become very familiar with the people and their way of working and living.Work continues to be as exciting as ever， despite the global financial crisis that has affected both the companies I work for and the local economy.It is good to see that China is perhaps less affected by the global downturn than most of the other economies and there is optimism that it may pull out of the crisis sooner and better than most.

As to Hunan Valin， we will make full use of advanced technology of ArcelorMittal ， and transfer of its world-leading automotive plates and electrical steel production technology， the implementation\"four major projects\" and \"three bases \"of the Eleventh Five-Year plan， adjust product structure to conquer and resolve the effects of theworld financial crisis on the company.