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Published: March 11th 2009
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View of the River from Glamour Bar
Scene of the Shanghai International Literary Festival (SILF). This past weekend, I attended the Shanghai International Literary Festival (SILF) at the Glamour Bar on the Bund. Started 7 years ago by Michelle Garnaut, owner of the Glamour Bar and M on the Bund restaurant, this annual event hosts writers from around the world over three consecutive weekends in March. I won't be able to attend the two other weekends, so I bought tickets to almost all the events of this first weekend. These included an opening night reception, ten talks, a screening of a silent Chinese film set in Shanghai, and a sit-down luncheon.
What a “shot in the arm” the Lit Fest was for me! I’ve been finding teaching English to French teenagers rather hard-going, and although I try to keep busy as much as I can, being alone here as a Western woman isn’t always easy. SILF provided an excellent opportunity to hear some great talks and to meet some very interesting people, authors and attendees alike, in a beautiful environment. (Take a look at the view from the Glamour Bar!). I came home with a whole stack of business cards, and one encounter has since led to my joining a weekly “writers’ group” and a
monthly book club. These are activities I have in Paris, and I am delighted to have found them here in Shanghai as well.
The photos you’ll see will show you just some of the SILF speakers and give you an update of what I’ve been doing over the past two weeks. However, I didn’t always have my camera with me, so here are some further notes:
Last Thursday, I organized and hosted (with the help of two members based in Germany) a drinks get-together for InterNations, an international web-based association which I joined in Paris, at a local Shanghai venue, the Mediterraneo Bar and Restaurant. Fifty people, mostly foreign expats but some Chinese people as well, showed up, and everyone said how much they enjoyed it. Several new volunteers are going to help me organize another one next month in a different venue.
And last Friday afternoon, three very friendly and helpful “trailing spouses” (two American and one British) of expatriate men working here --I met these ladies through the American Women’s Club—took me to the Fabric Market to find material for a dress I wanted to have made for my son Sebastien’s wedding in Paris on
Markus Zusak
popular young Australian author of "The Book Thief" April 4. Not only did they help me choose the fabric, but they also negotiated with a tailor to have it custom-made. Margaret, the British lady (who in another life was a seamstress) and I are returning to the Market this Friday to pick up the dress, but I’ve been warned that it’ll probably need to have some alterations done. I’ll be bringing my camera along this time! (N.B. on Friday. Yes, it needed alterations. And I did take some photos, which I've included below.)
The weather is turning warmer, alternating between rainy and “sunny” (well, overcast sunny) days. The apartments are still cold, however, and most of us continue to heat them when we’re home. The differences in climate between outside and inside and the heating by air conditioning are “toxic”, though. I’ve got nose and throat trouble again - a common complaint in China—and haven’t been able to sleep properly or go to school to teach for the last two days. Obviously, the pace of life here, the pollution, and the occasional “blues” don’t help your resistance in fighting off infection.
Luckily, a week’s holiday is coming up this Saturday! I’m off to the island of
Frances Wood
Head of the Chinese collection at the British Library, ms Wood is a worl authority on China. I bought her book "The Lure of China" about foreigners from other eras who came to China and wrote about their experiences. Phuket in Thailand for a week of sun, beach and rest. My young German friend, Inga, will be joining me there two days later. We’ve taken single rooms, as we have different interests and lifestyles. I’m sure she’ll be jogging all over the island and dancing the night away, whereas I’ll be reading a book under a parasol on the beach and going to bed early! Still, we plan to have meals together, and it’ll be nice to have the company.
It’s going to be very hot in Thailand at this time of year, and I didn’t bring any summer clothes to Shanghai with me. Rather than opting to have a few things custom-made at the Fabric Market (off-the-rack Chinese sizes are much smaller than ours, and I’m having trouble finding clothes that fit me), I went over to Marks and Spencer’s the other day and bought a few tops and pants in Western sizes. But the prices of “Marks and Sparks” (which has closed most of its stores in continental Europe) here are also “Western”, so I doubt the store is going to last long here, either.
Another place where prices are high is the Parkway Medical
James Fallows
American, "Atlantic" journalist whose latest book, "Postcards from Tomorrow Square", has just been published. What an excellent speaker he is! Center, a branch of which is located in the Shanghai Center not far from where I live. I took a taxi over there earlier today to find out about seeing an English-speaking general practitioner. After discovering that an out-patient consultation costs anywhere between 600 and 1000 RMB (between 60 and 100 euros), I settled on just buying some tablets for sinus trouble and colds at the pharmacy there. We’ll see how they work first.
By the way, the Shanghai Center is where the Portman Ritz Carlton Hotel complex is. Bill Clinton put the place on the map because he stayed there when he was president. In addition to the hotel, there are expat serviced apartments and an “American Center” housing international businesses. And in the basement is City Market, an upscale supermarket where you can buy everything you miss -from frozen waffles to Campbell’s soup to imported wines and cheeses—but, again, at high Western prices.
More news soon - from Phuket!
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Brenda
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Pics
Wonderful pictures! You can really see a flavor of China! Xiexie!