Life with Chinese Characteristics, Chapter 10: When you feel the world is broken, come to Shenzhen Stories

It has been nearly a full school year now that I have been living and teaching in Shenzhen, China. It has been a year of many professional triumphs as I have felt reinvigorated inside of my classroom. It has been a year of cultivating new friendships as I have connected with new souls from around the globe that have also landed at Shekou International School. It has also been a year of a good deal of dismay and angst for me, as for some number of you, in the face of American politics. Since moving abroad nearly four years ago, I have become a more informed and mindful citizen of the world's truths. I am still ignorant to much, but my horizons have expanded immensely, and with that expansion, all kinds of realities have entered my conscious. This year I have found it especially difficult to remain informed and still keep faith that more good goes around than bad, and that we will not let our differences divide us to destruction, inside and outside of our neighborhoods, on or outside of American turf.

The thing is, no one can make any guarantees about what the future holds, of course. It has been buried within my darker moments that I have had to remind myself that true goodness continues to gain ground. Not just the words, but the actions of so many of my family members and friends offer me hope when I lose sight of the brighter horizons.

It is through the work of one of my new friends, Trey -- and his friend Siobhan -- that a monthly event christened Shenzhen Stories was born. This afternoon many of us attended the fifth installation of Shenzhen Stories in a quaint coffee shop in an area of the city named Bao'an.

The little nook is called F518 Idea Land. Trey and Siobhan rock at connecting with people active in
social, creative and artistic networks to find the best venues for Stories, often hidden from plain sight.

The premise for Shenzhen Stories is to bring people together in this "beautiful, fun, confusing city," as Trey characterized Shenzhen, to hear "incredible stories about the human experience," to understand the nature of our "criss-crossing" lives, and to consider "hey, maybe we're not as different as we thought ... gosh, we should be friends."

Trey getting our afternoon started with greetings and good humor.

Every month about six speakers tell a true personal story revolving around a theme (open to interpretation) such as At First Sight, Smoke and Mirrors, and Close Calls. The thread that connected each story today: Continue? As we listened to the following men and women recount pivotal points in their lives, we learned intimate details about strangers, we got to know our friends more deeply, we saw ourselves in parts of others' experiences, and we found our family members in the heart of certain stories. Today, as always, the stories were as diverse as those who told them, and yet, throughout these two hours, the art of storytelling, in its most raw and authentic form, connected us all. 

Note: The following photos are from Shaun Kirkwood. He and Brittany, one of our brilliant departing art teachers, are traveling through Australia, Shaun's home turf, in a van, next year. This is an unsolicited plug for them. Follow their adventures on Instagram @shaunyandbeetravel. 

Siobhan is from Shenzhen's sister city, Edinburgh, in Scotland. She kicked off today's event recounting how story-telling is woven into Scottish culture. Siobhan will continue to share the power of story-telling in Cape Town next as she departs for South Africa with her boyfriend in two weeks.

Brittan, from Boise, Idaho, told the audience about checking all of the boxes, the one about marriage, a baby, and a more traditional job. After a good look at his life, he did not entirely continue down that path. He is now a stay-at-home dad. Identifying as an artist since 8, he has put passion into starting ISZAF, International Shenzhen Artist Forum.

After being a very young, successful "corporate slave" for a number of years, Nausheen, originally from Pakistan, set out on the road less traveled when she became a movie director.

Lo and behold I ran into an Ecuadorian in Shenzhen. I am sure he is not the only one, but Jorge's life in Quito as a graphic designer by day, and graffiti artist in his free time, was a cool connection to discover today.

Clayton is a third culture kid, raised predominantly in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.She is my English colleague and friend, but in her previous life she was an actress striving to get her big break in New York City. She now teaches drama at SIS and directed a great mystery-comedy act this winter.

Rudy hails from San Diego, California. Just two years ago, at age 58, he learned that the man he had called his dad his entire life was not his biological father. He has now connected with his biological paternal family to create a part of his identity anew.

Each of these stories was a tapestry woven from hardship, fear, change and triumph. While listening to each story, we pondered our own humanity and the humanity of others. During each story, in moments marked by laughter, silence and awe, we felt compassion for strangers and friends alike, we reflected on our commonalities. Most beautifully, we felt connected.

Driving home, Trey noted that "the greatest joy in life is to not be surrounded by strangers." He and his wife, my friend, Katie arrived to Shenzhen from South Carolina two years ago. Trey has intentionally set about helping us to see that even if we do not know someone else's name, even if our paths cross for just a short time, even if we come from cultures with different customs, at the heart of it, we are not foreign to one another really. 

As Siobhan sets out on her new journey in South Africa, with the intent of bringing Cape Town Stories to fruition, there is talk of Stories sprouting in Singapore and Bangkok too. Perhaps you'll be so moved by Shenzhen Stories to start a chapter in your city, or town, or suburb as well. 

Tonight I reflect on the quote scrawled on one of the white boards in my classroom, thankful for Trey and Siobhan's vision, and renewed in my optimism that light continues to trump the dark.

"Do not be dismayed by the brokenness of the world. All things break. And all things can be mended. Not with time, as they say, but with intention. So go. Love intentionally, extravagantly, unconditionally. The broken world waits in darkness for the light that is you."

L.R. Knost