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January 05, 2010

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AShanghaieseinAmerica

"Shanghai is a lot of cool things, but peaceful isn't one of them...finding a bit of that in a city this big is a gift." Your above remarks induced me to reminisce about the Shanghai in my childhood memory. Hailed from Shanghai 23 years ago, I remember many areas in Shanghai, including the area where you’re living (my grandparents lived near Wulumuqi road), was indeed peaceful and elegant, even though there were 7 million people lived in Shanghai. (Shanghai’s current population is over 30 million). After visits to Shanghai in recent years, I have been very sad to see that Shanghai is losing many of her distinguished characters and culture, let along her own dialect – the Shanghaiese language. In Shanghai today, children are banned to speak their mother language – the Shanghaiese dialect in School. The government has launched various campaigns to educate the mass public that speaking Shanghaiese is “uncivilized” and is an ugly custom. As a result, a whole generation of young people in Shanghai doesn’t know how to speak their mother dialect.
I miss the Old Shanghai.

Kristin Bair O'Keeffe

Thanks so much for taking the time to write a response to this post. I loved hearing your thoughts about Shanghai old vs. Shanghai new. Gosh, I can't even imagine Shanghai with only 7 million people in it. That must have been amazing (and quiet).

AShanghaieseinAmerica

It was thrilled to see your response to my comment. I have been really enjoying reading your blog. It is fascinating to read stories about living in my hometown from an American’s perspective. Thanks very much for sharing your experience and thoughts with us.

camino santiago

Never knew such sacred things about shanghai, Thanks for sharing. :)

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ABOUT

  • Kristin Bair O'Keeffe

Kristin Bair O'Keeffe
Shanghai, China

I live in Shanghai, China, with my Irish
husband and Vietnamese daughter.
Throughout the past four years, I've
crisscrossed the globe more times than
I can count, and while doing so, have
discovered what a kooky, miraculous,
and lovely place our world is. My experiences
enlighten me, inspire me, and crack me up.

kristin(at)kristinbairokeeffe(dot)com