If Zhongguo translates as country in the middle, then Thomas Willie  could well mean, man in the center. The multilingual Indonesian-born nightclub sales manager is fluent in Chinese, English and Bahasa and often holds court among a coterie of international friends.

In fact, the scene of one restaurant encounter with the China Daily resembled a United Nations summit, with students from England, Lesotho (inside South Africa) and Vietnam huddled around Willie's table.

Since moving to Beijing from an Indonesian island not far from Singapore five years ago, Willie, who has a Chinese grandfather, has become completely enamored of the Chinese capital's blend of old and new.

"A lot of it is about old culture," he says with enthusiasm. "And the other half is the modern, but the old part of the city is so nice."

"When I was in primary school I thought China was very poor but now it is a very big market," adds the man who introduced himself late one night at a noodle bar.

The 25-year-old business graduate of University of International Business and Economics leads a nocturnal lifestyle cultivating relationships with patrons of the popular hip hop and trance music nightclub, Hei Hei.

"The club is a very typical Chinese club but I want to know more about Western nightclubs - and the prices are OK," says the consummate businessmen, who unlike so many people with the gift of the gab is equally good at listening.

Like so many of his generation who are riding the social conveyor belt of China's development, Willie views the world as his oyster.

He hopes to run his own nightclub-cum-bar within five years, a proposition not at all unlikely for a fellow who traverses cultures as comfortably as the millions of Chinese riding on the back of a push bike.

"Eastern people are different from Western because the latter can enjoy just one dish for a meal but Chinese think about so many foods from different kingdoms and dynasties," Willie says.

Batlokoa Sekhamane met Willie about two years ago and describes him as the quintessential hospitality worker. "He's very, very social and can get along with various types of people. He's a very adaptable character," says the 24-year-old international trade student. "He has a lot of connections with many people and makes connections very easily and that's what you need in business."

(China Daily September 7, 2007)