Paris of the East

Shanghai has been referred to as the Paris of the East for decades. It is easy to see the similarities in the grand architecture, picturesque gardens, and charming alleyways. At the same time it can be overwhelmingly clear that you’re living in a country that is still ruled by a Communist government with a completely different set of customs and traditions compared to the United States. At first, discovering these differences can feel exciting, adventurous, and intriguing. Having my first “authentic” Chinese meal and my first conversation on the street in Mandarin were definitely great highlights for me when I first experienced culture shock in a “positive” way. However, as time goes on during your study abroad experience, life in Shanghai can feel like a “daily” set of cultural challenges. Whether its people taking pictures of you, adjusting to a different body language, or the inability to properly communicate with people, there are many parts of culture shock that can affect a person. Overall, nothing can prepare you for how it feels to be immersed in a city more different than any other place you’ve been to. For me, half way through the program I was able to find a balance. It is impossible to 100% understand a culture that you weren’t brought up in, but you can learn how to appreciate the experience and the challenge it offers you. During these moments, you realize what it truly means to respect different cultures and start deeply searching for the ways people can connect universally. From the simplest example of using chopsticks versus a fork and knife, you discover that there’s a million ways to think and do something. When I started adopting this mindset, I was able to stop looking at differences as contradictions to what I was taught, but as new perspectives on the world.