20 Years Ago, A One-Way Ticket To China, An Old Suitcase And An Adventure
Taking risks in life
Adios
I waved goodbye to my teary mum at the airport in Madrid not knowing what to expect. I had a one-way ticket to Shanghai, 600 euros in bank notes in my pocket and no credit card. All my belongings were packed in an old leather suitcase my late dad had bought years ago.
Back in 2003, China was neither interesting nor sexy. I didn’t know anyone there, neither did I know anyone who had ever been to the Red Giant. I never chose China, but somehow, China chose me. I had applied for an internship to work at the Spanish Government abroad. My first choice was Sydney, an idyllic place with sunshine and beautiful beaches followed by Miami. Asia was not in the cards and definitely not China.
The unknown
Destiny had a different plan for me and so Shanghai it was. It was either a safe but unexciting internship in Madrid or a step into a daunting world I knew nothing about. I took a leap of faith, entered the nearest internet coffee place and paid 5 euros for a cappuccino and 30 minutes of wifi to find out more about my future life. That’s how things worked back then.
I googled “Shanghai”, not exactly sure what I was looking for trying to absorb as much information as I could. I learned about the population, the currency and the touristy spots, but there was no playbook for a 20 year-old Spanish girl who wanted to move there alone. It would have to be an adventure and I was ready to write the first page of my own playbook.
20 years later
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the beginning of that adventure. China was hard, especially at a time when foreigners were scarce and people didn’t speak English. The weather was harsh and humid, and the taxi drivers were often rude. There was only one place where we could eat real pizza in Shanghai. It was called Damarco, and I used to go there once a week to savour my divine treat.
China was a wild ride too. It was a beast that was changing every day, a land of opportunities for those who dared to venture into it. Things were not easy, and therefore the little wins were ever more rewarding. I learned to speak Mandarin, I travelled in local trains and slept in youth hostels. I discovered places most Westerners have never heard about. I visited Shangri La and found parts of the Great Wall in Beijing but also all the way in the desert in Inner Mongolia, which is different from Mongolia. I learned to eat with chopsticks and knock my fingers on the table when I’m served tea. I studied the Chinese proverbs people use during Chinese New Year and I learnt to avoid the number 4 at all costs, because it sounds like death, even though I never cared.
I spent many nights alone in my little flat and many nights out in the fanciest clubs that started to pop like mushrooms. I saw Shanghai transform itself and become a cosmopolitan capital. I became curious rather than judgmental and I learned to appreciate the differences rather than to criticize them.
The adventure continues
20 years later, I have lived in the 3 Chinas: Taiwan, China and Hong Kong. I still don’t have my return ticket and the adventure goes on. Opportunities in life don’t usually come wrapped up in silken ribbon, but they are there for those who are willing to take the risk and leave everything behind with a one-way ticket and an old suitcase.
“I write to right” — Veronica Llorca-Smith
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