a photo Guanglan Gongyuan (park) taken from my old Oppo phone
When I was a kid, I had always thought that I will somehow die in the snow! haha :)) The onset of winter is always accompanied by either excitement or dread. For most, it's the season of holidays, festive cheer, and heartwarming traditions. But for a young person from the tropics, like myself, winter often signifies a monumental shift in life's landscape. It is a stark departure from everything familiar; a canvas radically altered by hues of cold and fresh experiences.
In recounting my first winter in Shanghai, China, I went into a journey of contrasts, revelations, and self-discovery. It’s less about the geographical pivot, and more about the profound cultural and personal transformation that came with it.
Expectations vs. Reality
As an expatriate student freshly transplanted to one of the world's megacities, I harbored romanticized visions of snowflakes and ice-skating, like something plucked from a Hollywood holiday movie. Yet, this wide-eyed expectation was immediately dashed by the city's foggy, damp reality. Shanghai's winter was less about picturesque snow, and more about bone-chilling winds and grey skies that melded seamlessly with the towering urban sprawl.
The Weather
The winter of Shanghai unfurls as a routine of monotony — days of uniformly overcast skies, with an occasional smattering of rain, or sleet. The mercury rarely dipped below zero, but the pervasive dampness seemed to seep into every crevice of my being. The weather's temperament, at best, was unpredictable, which forced an on-the-fly adaptation to layers of clothing and a newfound appreciation for thermal underpants.
Shanghai winter was more about endurance than enjoyment. The contrast with my memory of tropical life was stark — days no longer simply rolled by; they were events to be planned around heating units, warm drinks, and strategic use of electric blankets.
The Shanghai Tower, It is the tallest building in China and the world's third-tallest building by height to architectural top.
Cultural Differences
The traditions of #Chinese New Year were a symphony of new experiences. It wasn't just an occasion; it was an event that gave testament to the rigors of preparation, the zeal of celebratory fireworks, and the warmth of familial reunion. Streets lined with festive lanterns, and the cacophony of firecrackers, not to mention the beautiful customs of red envelopes and dragon dances, provided a vivid and welcoming introduction to the essence of Chinese winter culture.
Yet, amid these celebrations, I found #solitude in the city. For as much as I admired and respected it, the cultural mosaic was still distant and foreign. I yearned for a familial context, for warmth and belonging, which, in the shuffle of international student life, felt particularly challenging to attain.
queing for xiaolongbao in Jia Jia Tang Bao https://www.tripadvisor.com.ph/Restaurant_Review-g308272-d1015824-Reviews-Jia_Jia_Tang_Bao-Shanghai.html
Exploring the City
Shanghai's winter was a compelling season to explore, albeit from indoor vantage points. #Famous landmarks like the Bund transformed into a poetic somberness, and the chic cafes exuded a charm in their constant invitation to escape the chill. Malls became mini-winter worlds, adorned with Christmas decorations and that peculiar, comforting blend of holiday sounds and smells that transcended language or climate.
Occasional forays out to local hotpot eateries indulged me in the deliciousness of a communal, warming meal, an experience that became synonymous with winter socialization among my new friends and me. The city's colder #season was as much about culinary adventures as it was about #braving the elements.
photo from pexel: The Bund (Waitan in Mandarin)
Challenges and Adaptation
Battling the cold became a metaphor for the broader #adaptation to life in a foreign land. It was not just about finding warmth in a cup of tea or a fleece-lined jacket; it was about warming to the idea of a new life that, while foreign, was rich with learning and the seeds of personal growth.
The winter of #Shanghai was an exercise in resilience, and more importantly, an opportunity to foster a new emotional ecosystem. The cold, both literal and figurative, motivated me to seek out the company of others, to engage in activities and pastimes I might have otherwise been ambivalent towards. It pushed me out of my proverbial shell.
Looking back
My first winter in #Shanghai was not one of fancy ice-skating or idyllic snowscapes, but of depth and breadth. It was a season that demanded more of me — more endurance, more curiosity, and an openness to the unknown. It was a rigorously testing period that ultimately led to the thawing of old prejudices and the growth of new, cultural sensibilities.
The weather may have mirrored the chill in my heart at times, but it also served as a necessary elemental antagonist, prompting within me an appreciation for the security of routine, the warmth of community, and the boundless depth of human adaptability. I survived! and in fact loved it, specially eating icecream every winter with my Shanghai friends! It was a season that, in freezing the motions of my comfort, compelled me to savor the slow thawing of life's mysteries. And for that, I am immeasurably grateful.
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