They live between cultures - often for decades. Their homeland is Germany, their home is China. Usually, it is their profession that has brought these expatriates to China, and their stay has turned out to be longer than planned. Far from home, they are no longer part of Germany, yet they will never be Chinese. The shift in perspective is their everyday life. Their role as cultural mediators allows them to recognize the strengths and weaknesses of their own culture while also understanding why and when Chinese people act and think differently than we do. They are witnesses to the rise of a new world power that will also shape Europe's future. We can learn a lot from these pioneers of globalization and benefit from their experiences. Bestselling author Frank Sieren, one of Germany's leading China experts, has met and spoken with some of them.