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Qidong Through Their Eyes | Irish expat blends family, farming, and social media in Qidong

en.nantong.gov.cn

Updated: 2025-10-13

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Irish expatriate BoJack helps his wife's grandparents harvest fresh green soybeans. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

At a farm in Wangbao town, Qidong, on Oct 22, Irish expatriate BoJack helped his wife's grandparents harvest fresh green soybeans.

BoJack, 36, hails from a warm, close-knit family in Ireland, where his ancestors have run a century-old bakery. At 28, he met a young woman from Qidong while she was working in Australia, and the two soon fell in love.

When she moved to New Zealand on a work visa, the couple kept in close contact through daily video calls. Upon learning that she planned to return to China, BoJack was resolute: he wanted to marry her and build a life together, no matter where it would be.

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The dessert shop run by BoJack and his wife in Qidong. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

Today, the couple has three adorable mixed-race sons, including a set of twins. They have opened a dessert shop in Qidong. BoJack speaks the local dialect fluently and often shares glimpses of their daily life online. His videos have become popular on Douyin, where he now has over 246,000 followers.

BoJack's story highlights how love, family, and cultural exchange can flourish in a small city like Qidong through the blending of international roots with local traditions.