I often reflect on just how different my life was three years ago. I was in a different district, with a different job, and very different feelings about being in China.
When I decided to move to China 2019, I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect in terms of living conditions. Apart from a few google searches adamantly telling me to carry my own toilet paper while travelling, I was pretty much tabula rasa.
That all changed once I arrived to what would be my place of residence for the next ten months. Although I had little expectation, I was still taken aback by what I saw. I was moving into a small, dilapidated apartment (that had not been well-maintained by the previous tenant), with only a kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom (missing a bathroom sink). There were three āyís (保姆), a term that means nanny or housekeeper, literally translated to mean auntie, cleaning the apartment in a frenzy.
After 30 hours of air travel and a 5-hour train ride from Beijing to Shanghai, I was exhausted. The last thing I wanted to see were elderly woman infringing on my personal space to do last minute cleaning. I sat down on my new bed in silence, filled with emotion, partially regretting the way I just uprooted my life.
Afterall, I just recently graduated with my master’s degree, and left what seemed to be a comfortable first-world life for the unknown. I felt embarrassed that my apartment wasn’t what I thought I should be living in. And that feeling extended to the surrounding neighborhood and community. In the entire ten-months, I never had guests over.
Truthfully, those feelings had more to do with my own feelings of shame. It exposed my own pretenses of what I thought my life should look like. Fortunately, I wasn’t a tourist, and had the opportunity to see my home and surrounding environment for an extended period. I learned that beautiful things aren’t always apparent at first glance.
What at first appeared to be a rural-esque community in Yangpu District was a charming locale filled with community and culture. Over time, I began to fall deeply in love with the area, and even grew attached to it. My perceptions had totally changed, because I was changing. Yangpu had a deeply positive effect on me.
I decided to photograph my community as a keepsake. It has become a reminder of my old life, and old way of thinking. I still miss that place. It holds a special place in my heart. Wherever you call home, whether it be the affluent Xuhui District, or humble areas of Yangpu, a home is still a home.
For ten transformative months, I was privileged to call 185 Jiamusi Road, mine.
Thank you.
-Max
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