I’m moving soon! Don’t worry, I will still be in Shanghai, just much closer to the city-center (which may be good news for you, if you like the photos I post to Instagram @carlinrein). It is certainly good news to me. It will cut down on my commute time to the art gallery I curate by about 2-3 hours per day, leaving me plenty of time to explore Shanghai and write about it for you guys.
Moving from dorm life to apartment life has been surprisingly easy so far. This has actually been my first apartment-hunting experience, since my undergraduate institution had compulsory on-campus residence and the dormitories here were provided free-of-charge. It’s at the same time frightening and exciting (but mostly exciting). In describing my thoughts and feelings to my friends and family, what I got in response were mostly smiles, nods, and assurances that they felt the same way moving into their first place.
I’m especially excited on three points. The first might seem superficial, but it is something that might become an essential part of my decision-making process for years to come: the balcony. My room has a private outdoor balcony overlooking the Suzhou River and a massive series of condos behind it, all seen from the 14thfloor. At night, the buildings light up and flash, causing multi-colored lights to dance on the water as the traffic below the buildings, which is virtually silent from that height and distance, moves steadily along. A friend and I are already planning a room-warming party, complete with banjo, harmonica, and beers on the balcony (a Minhang district tradition that will carry to Putuo district).
The second point of excitement is simply the location. On top of being closer to the gallery (a major, and I cannot stress this enough, MAJOR benefit), the apartment is in the same neighborhood I lived in during my first Shanghai life, over the last few months of 2017. Those were happy days that were numbered from the start, and I’m more than happy to be back in a place that can help me remember them. It’s also quite central, which will mean my time commitments will feel less transactional, cabs home will be more affordable, and more cultural experiences will be had.
The third point of excitement is the roommates. I haven’t always had the best luck with roommates, but when I’ve been lucky, it’s been out of this world. Two of my previous roommates I count as some of my best friends in the whole wide world (here’s to you, Sam and Sargis). The current group in the apartment is quite diverse, coming from such places as Italy, France, Germany, and Japan. I relish opportunities to get to know different types of people and their cultures, and living amongst one another is a great way to share in each other’s stories.
All of these benefits considered, I’ve started realizing that I will miss “good ole Minhang” (the suburb in which I’ve been living). Being sort of a mix of villages and big city, this slice of Minhang has been a good place to think. It’s been quiet, with just enough amenities to not be bored to death, but not enough to become totally distracted either. It’s been a place to immerse myself in whatever research, or thoughts, or points of interest my friends and I want to focus on. Minhang, for me and others, has been a nice incubator to think and grow. So while I am looking forward to having my time in the big city back, I am thankful for the opportunities enjoyed from living a less-developed yet more developmental space.
With love,
Carlin