My Summer Story with CIEE Shanghai | Shanghai feels like a second home

By ELIZABETH ANNE MEYER, CIEE Shanghai Summer 2024 ACL

大家好！我是Liz，我的中文名字叫马风明。2024年夏天，我来到上海学习中文两个月。我探索了上海的许多地标，我非常感谢在华东师范大学学习！ 很难相信我的旅行快结束了!

Studying abroad in Shanghai was an unforgettable experience that deeply enriched my understanding of Chinese language and culture. Immersed in the daily life of the city, I had the chance to improve my speaking skills significantly through meaningful interactions with locals. Looking back at the beginning of the trip, I have become much more confident in my spoken Mandarin. These conversations not only helped me become more fluent but also opened doors to learning about Chinese history and modern life in Shanghai.

One of my most cherished memories is my regular visits to a small convenience store, where I often chatted with the 爷爷 (grandfather) who worked there. I would always go in there to buy a bottle of tea and chat. Despite our age difference, we developed a warm friendship. He would patiently listen to my attempts at Mandarin and offer corrections, helping me refine my pronunciation and vocabulary. What made our conversations particularly special were the moments when he would teach me about Chinese writing. He would draw characters on his phone, and explain their origins and meanings, which gave me a fascinating glimpse into the depth of Chinese culture. These lessons not only improved my language skills but also deepened my appreciation for the historical context behind the language.

Another key part in my Shanghai experience was the small 生煎包 (Chinese pan-fried buns) shop near the school, a local specialty. This hole-in-the-wall restaurant quickly became my go-to spot after focus group classes, where I would wait for the delicious buns while chatting with the owner and the other regulars. Our conversations often revolved around Shanghai itself, with customers sharing insider tips on the best places to visit, hidden gems, and must-see events in the city. I also heard a lot of stories about other people’s travels to the US, places they’ve been and things they remember, and they asked me a lot about where I was from and my experience there. These exchanges not only improved my conversational skills but also helped me navigate and appreciate Shanghai in ways I might have missed as a typical tourist. The owner would also give me samples of different foods that they offered, refusing payment, saying the conversations we had were payment enough for her. The sense of community at this little restaurant made me feel more connected to the city and its people. (The name of the restaurant is 吴江路生煎 for anyone who is wondering, very cheap, 4 buns for 7 yuan!)

One of the most unexpected and rewarding friendships I formed was with a middle school girl I met at a mall while searching for merchandise related to a book we both loved. Our shared passion for the novel sparked an instant connection, and she generously took me under her wing, guiding me to find the best merch and even introducing me to events across Shanghai that I would have never discovered on my own. Together, we explored pop-up events, a comic fair, and a themed restaurant all in Shanghai, giving me a chance to get to talk to a lot of younger people. Through her, I not only improved my language skills but also gained a deeper understanding of contemporary Chinese culture and the interests of the younger generation. (I also learned lots of useful slang and idioms!) 

My time in Shanghai was transformative, largely due to the meaningful interactions I had with locals. My speaking skills improved dramatically, but more importantly, I forged connections that made Shanghai feel like a second home. These three people are just a few of the many that I got to have interactions with, and there are so many good friends that I now have here. This experience taught me the importance of being willing to go out and make your own connections, especially when in a new environment. You never know the people you might meet or the impact they could have on your life. Stepping outside of your comfort zone to engage with others can lead to the most rewarding and unexpected friendships, turning a foreign place into a community that you will cherish long after you've left.