Simon’s mother comes from Normandy, his father from Brittany and he describes himself as “Armoricain”. He’s been working in shipbuilding in China for the past decade. Simon tells us about his journey from Normandy to Shanghai, his ties to the region and his plans to celebrate Chinese New Year on February 9th.
There's an exciting industry in Normandy. I often meet Chinese people who have heard of Rouen since it has lots of Chinese students there.
Let me introduce myself…
My name is Simon Le Penhuizic and I work in shipbuilding in China. My studies took me to Nanjing in 2015. I met my Chinese wife when we were both working in Tokyo in summer 2017. I’ve lived in Shanghai since 2019 and we finally got married in 2023 after the endless pandemic.
I was lucky that my studies took me abroad and I could work in several industries. It gave me a real open mind and my love for travel keeps it alive.
Simon Le Penhuizic and Normandy
My grandparents on my mother’s side live in Tilly-sur-Seulles, between Bayeux and Caen. My father’s family come from Morbihan, so I describe myself as “Armoricain” because I feel like I come from both Normandy and Brittany. I have family living in Calvados and I was lucky enough to work in Caen for a short time.
Nowadays at work, I meet plenty of colleagues from Normandy who come from shipbuilding or nuclear backgrounds. There’s an exciting industry in Normandy. I often meet Chinese people who have heard of Rouen since it has lots of Chinese students there.
My role as an ambassador
In my everyday life, I still cook using butter and explain the benefits of crème fraiche and cider to the Chinese. Our two nations are both very proud of our food heritage and it’s a great ice-breaker. It’s also easy to show the Normandy coastline on maps with Cotentin and the mouth of the River Seine. Unlike the British who are more likely to have heard of William the Conqueror and Operation Overlord, the Chinese don’t necessarily know much about the area. You often have to show them pictures of Mont Saint-Michel, Étretat and camembert to give them a better idea of it.
Something I like to do here in Shanghai is point out that one of the city’s best-known buildings, Wukang Mansion on Huaihai Road (which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year), was once called Normandy Apartments. The road was actually called Avenue Joffre in 2914 and was one of the main roads in the French Concession area.
Your Chinese New Year
My mother’s jetting off from France on February 2nd to join me for Chinese New Year. She’s going to celebrate New Year with my Chinese in-laws in Ürümqi in Xinjiang. The first day of the Lunar New Year is February 10th. We’re going to spend our time visiting family, cooking at home, swapping foie gras for jiaozi dumplings, watching Chinese New Year TV programmes, playing mahjong, watching fireworks and so much more.
Become a Normandy ambassador abroad
At heart, by adoption, by birth… You’re from Normandy.
More than anything else, you love Normandy: its diversity, its lifestyle, its dynamism.
The network of ambassadors brings together all those who, like you, share the values, the spirit and the desire to bring the region to life.
Together, let’s make Normandy shine.
