Living in Xinjiang: Interview with Josh, founder of FarWestChina

Today we’re going to talk with Josh Summers, the founder of Far West China, as far as I know the best website dedicated to Xinjiang, one of less known and most beautiful provinces of China.

Josh, thank you for accepting to answer to some questions for SDC. You arrived in Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang, in 2006. How did you end up there?

My pleasure! I’m honored to chat. Our arrival in Xinjiang back in 2006 is a long story that can be summed up in pretty much one word: “accident”. Seriously, who in their right mind travels halfway across the world to a place they can barely find on a map, much less properly pronounce? People who don’t know what they’re getting into, that’s who.

That’s not even the craziest part. Once we arrived in Urumqi in 2006 we only stayed there for two days. Our ultimate destination was Karamay, an even smaller and more remote town about four hours deep in the desert. We did it party out of a sense of adventure but mostly because a trusted friend convinced us it was a good idea. Ha!

I know that, after you spent some years in US, in 2013 you decided to go back to Xinjiang. Why?

I never really wanted to leave Xinjiang in the first place, I just hated teaching English. Some people are good at it and love it but not me. I prefer doing business and the opportunity just wasn’t there in Karamay. It wasn’t until 2013, after my son was born, that the appropriate opportunity arose for us to return to Xinjiang.

Even if Xinjiang is much less known the Tibet, the political situation of the two provinces is, under many aspects, similar. After the terrorist attack of last months, do you think that is still safe to travel to Xinjiang?

I’ve been holding my breath this past week as we’ve silently passed the fifth anniversary of the Urumqi riots. That was July fifth and thankfully nothing happened. Things have been tense under the surface in Xinjiang for years now but as far as I can see all is calm on the surface.

Here’s what I always tell people: despite the news reports, Xinjiang is in my opinion just as safe as any other part of China. You probably need to be more worried about getting in a car accident – which happens all over China – than getting caught in the middle of this ethnic conflict.

How are you living this situation?

I’ve certainly been concerned this past month but never been too scared to leave my home. The most recent bombing occurred less than two miles from my home here in Urumqi and yet life continues as normal in our neighborhood. There are more metal detectors to walk through, more military patrols and now many of the public parks are heavily restricted, but honestly that feels quite normal in Xinjiang.

During the riots of 2009 you lived ten months without internet or the possibility to call abroad.
Source: http://www.saporedicina.com/english/living-in-xinjiang-interview-with-josh-of-farwestchina/