What does Chengdu in Sichuan have in common with Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa? According to Alexander Demissie, it’s the spicy food, the warmth of the people and the mild weather. He should know, as he has lived in both cities. Demissie was born in Addis Ababa. When he was ten years old, his family moved to Lake Constance. After completing his Abitur (German high school diploma), he moved to Cologne, where he studied Regional Studies of East Asia with a focus on China and politics. He spent a year abroad in Chengdu.