oderaoshanghai

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The Finale Finale

A black girl in China—that’s how I saw myself. Yet, there was no self to see—I wasn’t formed I had conformed. Coming to Shanghai I was afraid of everything and everyone. Things that people shouldn’t be afraid of like pigeons; things we fear like losing friends. I was resentful. Being at NYU had put me in mounds of debt.

Transferring isn’t an easy process when your 7000 miles away from home. You have already left your family, the train line you’re oh-so-familiar with, your city—now I was leaving behind the last thing that made me comfortable.

Being in China made me know what it felt like to be alone. When you’re drowned by sounds you struggle to hear your own. All alone, honed. I cried for the girls I use to overlook in highschool. For the first time ever I was being overlooked that made me miss my family.

How I found family in Shanghai floors me. So glad I opened doors for myself by shutting the ones behind me. I met people who know my name. A girl who’s a puzzle. People thought I was funny, charismatic—laughed at my jokes. I’m laughing now because I always knew they would like me. Who wouldn’t? How I could I know yet doubt my ability to belong. Why do we doubt ourselves so strongly?

Coming back to the states, I was full of light. I flew on a jet plane, yet flew myself to get to this place. A place that’s always been there. Always understood. I greatly appreciate the people in Shanghai because they showed me I was beautiful—I knew that. Showed me I was personable—I knew that. Showed me I was funny. I knew that as well. I travelled 7000 miles to discover what I already knew. Girl you will do it too.

-Odera

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Farewell to Shanghai! After all the laughs, mystery meats, ladies pushing me off the train, days on the toilet, and tears--it was all over...but it's not over! I made tons of friends (since I'm writing this after my experiences in Shanghai I can assure you that I still keep in touch with them like nothing has changed) and did a lot of growing! Although I'm only 19 (will be 20 soon...hooray!!) Shanghai was the best experience of my life thus far. I matured more in four months, then I had all from 3 to 13.

Check out some photos from our Farewell Dinner held on May 10, 2013 at the Le Royal Meridien Hotel.

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Ready, set...! At the end of the NYU Shanghai Variety Show, there was an auction to raise money for the victims of the Sichuan Earthquake. For 160元 (26.12 USD), I won a photoshoot. Right before our farewell dinner, photographer, David Pe, took some great shots of my friends and I, around ECNU campus. 

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This is the story of Li Zhou Lai. An elderly man who refuses to leave Shanghai until he finds his missing grandson. I wrote this article on May 7th for my journalism class, but I still think of Li and his story and feel like I can still help him by continuing to share his story.

SHANGHAI — There’s a homeless man who sits outside of Family Mart—two legs perched on a black staircase, shaking a bright cerulean blue cup. Unlike the homeless lady who also begs there— he doesn’t say much.

She flashes her deep yellow teeth and harasses people with her crinkled cup. He blank stares across the street and murmurs “xiexie” (the Mandarin term for “thank you”) when a stream of cast silver coins hits the bottom of his container.

A freshman student told me that the “homeless woman who stands outside of Family Mart” is pretty friendly and easy to talk to. Since I had always seen her during my late night trips to Coco (the bubble tea restaurant next door), I decided to interview her.

On Monday night, my friend, Rachel, and I, went to Zaoyang Road looking for the homeless woman. Rachel attended the Chinese American International School—one of the oldest Chinese English dual language schools in the country for nine years and said she could be my translator.

When we arrived, the woman wasn’t there. Pressed for time, I decided to interview the homeless man instead. The only thing is…he’s not homeless.

Li Zhou Lai is from Henan province—one of the largest provincial economies in China. In early March, the former oil worker came to Shanghai with his grandson. While at Jinshajiang station, he told his grandson to wait for him while he went to the grocery store. When he came back, his grandson was gone. For two months, the 10 year old boy has been missing.

“I’m not going back home until I find him. If I go back home without him, no one will be happy” said Li.

The 65 year old has one daughter and a son who lives in Sichuan, a province located in southwest China. The missing child is his son’s son and his only grandchild. Li also has a wife.

Before we could ask him any questions, he pulled out a picture of his grandson and a crinkled missing child’s report. Li carries all of his paperwork with him in a black coin purse.

He has gone to the Shanghai police station multiple times after the incident, but they keep telling him to come back. He’s also tried searching for his grandson on the internet.

His family has given up. Li’s son is in Sichuan and the elderly man is the only one still searching for the boy. But even he’s lost hope— “I don’t think they’ll find him, it’s already been two months.”

While sitting there, two foreigners on a black set of stairs, in front of Family Mart, we draw in a large crowd. One woman sits behind us and helps Rachel translate. Passersby stare at us with confusion and curiosity. “Why are a dark skin woman and a young lady who looks Chinese, recording and jotting down notes about a frail Chinese man in tattered garments?”— they’re probably wondering.

Li has no intention of going home. His hope is that by begging, he can get enough money to convince Shanghai officials to do a more thorough investigation of his missing grandson.

He understands that Chinese society is heavily influenced by “guan xi” (connections and relationships) and “face” (social status and prestige). And that a disheveled man with no money has little to no chance of getting things done, especially in a country filled with missing children.

In an article titled, “China’s Missing Children,” Foreign policy reporter, Charles Cluster stated that as many as 70,000 Chinese children may be kidnapped a year. That number largely has to do with China’s one-child policy. Many families, especially those that aren’t able to have a son or a daughter, abduct lost children and raise them as their own.

Twelve minutes into our conversation, the woman helping us translate, gets up and leaves. She comes back with 300 RMB (48.79 USD) and hands it to the man.

To lighten the air, we asked Li Zhou Lai what his happiness moment was. He replied, “When I was eating.” The man was hungry and willing to eat anything.

While him and Rachel chatted some more, I walked into Family Mart, grabbed two sandwiches, a bag of banana chips and water and handed it to him.

“I’m going to miss you when you go back to America,” he told Rachel and me.

He’s not homeless.

  By ODERA OKANEME

Published: May 16, 2013

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My Chinese skit for my final exam. Scenario: My partner, Rosario (aka LUO SA) and I, Odera (Chinese name: Ao DE La) are at a fancy Chinese restaurant. Rosario is the customer (who I guess was stood up, since he's at the restaurant by myself) and I'm the lazy, ghetto, Chinese waitress. Enjoy!

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Every Tuesday, my partner, Alexis and I, taught migrant students (the children of migrant workers) English. I'm not going to lie, somedays I wasn't in the mood to teach or prepare lesson plans, but those kids had so much energy that they really made every time worth it. For some reason, I thought Chinese kids would be calm, mildmannered and very obedient, but these kids were off-the-walls and I loved it--they all had so much character!!

The last week, Alexis and I bought them cookies and showed them my favorite childhood show (Arthur). Sadly, the kids looked extremely confused and only laughed at the parts where Arthur got hurt. Before we left, we tried to explain to them that we were going back to America, but I'm not sure they got it. It really was a pleasure working with them and Alexis! <3

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Well its been a month since I left Shanghai...(more like a month and two days, but who's counting...know what I'm saying?!) and since I put so much time and effort into this blog--it's only fair that I finish it off with how I spent my closing days in the city that always sleeps. Here it goes...!

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Today, May 1st, in celebration of Chinese Labor Day, the NYU Sports Club (led by my good friend Rachel) visited Shanghai Indoor Stadium to go rock climbing. The last time I went rock climbing was when I was about 5 years old and the wall was inside the Queens Science Museum and it was about 5 feet tall, so yeah, I was super scared when I saw this wall. But...it was cool and pretty tiring. They made us sign a waiver, which was all in Chinese, so I may have given away my kidney and sold myself to the military.

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I can't reiterate enough that the day just kept getting better. So after that, I DJed for a house party, which was a milestone for me since...I had always wanted to DJ and had practiced DJing in my room, but was too scared to ever DJ outside my room or to ask someone to DJ for their party. So yeah, everyone seemed to like it, which just goes to show how down everyone is here. :)

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So yeah, the day just kept randomly getting better! After buying my smazzy varsity jacket, my friends Rachel and Nick asked me if I wanted to go to the 2013 Shanghai Auto Show...um hell yeah I want to go to an auto show! Here are some pictures from the car show itself and the cab ride there!

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And here it goes, our Hip Hop dance performance for the NYU Shanghai Variety Show. The main appeal of the variety show is that all students who participate earn bonus points for Chinese class, but in all, the event turned out to be extremely lively and entertaining.

Special shout outs to Kevin, who basically choreographed the whole routine, Clifford, who did the jazz piece and Sahel, who did the belly dancing piece. And of course the rest of our crew (Bo, Strickland, Dot, Petra, and myself).

Also, PUT THE VIDEO in 1080HD quality! It looks a lot better that way!

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Smashed it!! After almost three months of preparing (it felt like 8 years), the Hip Hop Dance Crew performed for the NYU Shanghai Variety Show on April 27, 2013 and won 2nd place. This was a major accomplishment for us because we, especially our choreographers, Kevin, Cliff, and Sahel, put in so much work and effort, and I, have always struggled with doing choreography and performing infront of people. The days before the show, I was so nervous, and contemplating whether or not I should do certain routines, but everyone was so supportive and we killed it, so now that's all in the past. 

Our prize was two 50 kuai (about 8 USD) gift certificates, which allowed me to buy a smazzy varsity jacket...I had always wanted one!

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After a failed attempt to find a dress for the club, I spotted my girl, Queen Bee, on the corner of Nanjing Road. Bow down! H town! The Forever 21 and the Nike Store (I think those could arguably be my two favorite places in the world) were also pretty nice.

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Speaking of Rachel, here are some pictures of her and her daughter (also known as the little girl who's always running around the school cafeteria). By the way, those are my headphones she's wearing.

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“Don’t cry because its over, smile because it happened” — my idol, Skylar Diggins, after losing to UConn in the Final Four

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Fortunately, there's a good hand full of sports fan at NYU Shanghai. To celebrate the start of NBA Playoffs,the NYU sports club (led by my good friend Rachel) watched Game 1 of the LA Clippers and Golden State Warriors series in the Studio Lounge...but all I could pay attention to was Chris Paul and the Mr. Pancake pancakes.

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I think it's time that I share with you just how beautiful East China Normal University's (the institution where NYU Shanghai is located and where I live) campus is. Almost everyday I feel inclined to take a picture of a random bridge, stream, or bed of flowers. It really is an absolutely gorgeous place and feels like a close-knit community, which is cool and refreshing, especially when coming from a school that doesn't have a campus.