Growing up in Croatia, Ela Caruzzi always felt a spark for China sparked by her dad’s unfinished dream. As a little girl, she heard stories of her father studying in Beijing four decades ago, dreaming of a career in film 🎬.
At 16, while classmates chased the West, her dad told her, 'Go to China. That's where you'll truly grow.' With a promise to master Chinese, Ela flew solo to Kunming in southwest China in 2023. Trading the Adriatic sun for Yunnan’s misty hills, she dived into language and local life—and never looked back.
Not long after arriving in early 2025, her Chinese teacher in Dali invited her to celebrate the Spring Festival 🌸. Ela feasted on dumplings, joined traditional dances, and received red envelopes brimming with good wishes. 'In that moment, I truly felt at home,' she says.
Now, in late 2025, Ela is a proud student at the prestigious Beijing Film Academy. From Croatia’s cobblestone streets to Beijing’s trendy hutongs, she’s living her father's dream—and filming new ones of her own 📽️.
Ela’s journey shows that cultural bridges aren’t just built by borders, but by people daring to chase stories across continents. Sound familiar? Whether you’re a young creator from Delhi, Jakarta or Manila, her adventure proves that when passion meets purpose, magic happens ✨.
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A Croatian girl carries on her father's unfinished Chinese dream
cgtn.com
