Editor’s Note

More than a quarter of China’s foreign resident population live in Shanghai, with many considering the cosmopolitan city their second home, thanks to its rich and diverse culture and welcoming environment. Each of Shanghai’s foreign residents have their stories about life in this vibrant metropolis and how the city compares to where they come from. From these tales of two cities we can learn something of the differences and similarities between cultures, the challenges of adapting to life in Shanghai — and all the fun, excitement and frustrations that come with this.

Since moving to Shanghai in 2013, the Duffy family from Ireland’s capital Dublin have gone out of their way to become part of the city, taking Chinese names, learning Chinese ... getting to grips with shopping on Taobao.

Indeed, the family of four can claim to include a genuine Shanghainese, as younger son Fionn was born in the city.

“When we arrived there were three of us and our older son Aodhan was just one year old,” said Eoghan Duffy, deputy consul general at the Consulate General of Ireland, Shanghai.

“Now there are four of us and Fionn, our younger son, was ‘made’ in Shanghai and born in the Redleaf Women’s Hospital, just across the street,” added the proud dad.

As just that moment, Catherine Bannon Duffy, a fellow diplomat, though currently following a career as a mom, walks in with 6-month old Fionn sleeping peacefully in a carrier on her back.

Eoghan explains that all the family have Chinese names, with “Dai” a transcription for Duffy.

He’s Dai Feihong — Dai the flying water bird; Catherine has the rather more glamorous Bai Xiaolan — Bai the morning orchid.

Their sons, named after the Chinese zodiac year in which they were born, have names sure to delight any little boy. Aodhan is Dai Xiaolong — Dai the little dragon while Fionn is Dai Xiaoma — Dai the Little horse.

The couple’s first impressions of Shanghai can be traced back to when Catherine was posted to Singapore a few years ago and they spent their holidays traveling in China.

After trips that took them across the country, an opportunity came for Eoghan to work at the Consulate General of Ireland, Shanghai.

“I love Shanghai as it’s open and welcoming,” Eoghan said, “People here are friendly, family-oriented and love children.

“It’s also a city with a rich history — for example the Gascogne Apartments we live in were built by the French in 1935.

But it’s also a city with a modern perspective, and I can see that every day as I look from my balcony on Huaihai Road.”

Coming from a country with a total population of 4.5 million, the Duffys said they’re always amazed by how Shanghai — with a population of more than 24 million in 2013 — manages to function as a city.

“Just look at the streets, the buses and the Metro lines. Then imagine how much effort it needs to take to keep it clean and orderly.

“There’s a lot to learn from Shanghai in the way the city is managed,” Eoghan said.

“It is true that air pollution is getting more and more serious. But it’s better to take the scale of the city into consideration before we make any criticism,” he added.

A typical morning of the Duffys usually starts with the quick, fresh breakfast by the roadside. They both love jianbing — a pancake with fried egg that is sometimes wrapped up with a little piece of bacon.

When Eoghan goes to work, Catherine goes to school, taking Chinese lessons at Jiaotong University. She said that her teacher is very strict, so there’s always plenty of homework to do.

And fitting in time for homework is not easy as since the birth of their second son, taking care of the children takes up much of the couple’s time.

But in free moments, when the weather’s good, they like to take the kids out for a walk in Xujiahui Park.

And Catherine has put her Chinese to good use by mastering Taobao.

“When I learned to shop on Taobao, I found unlocked China right in front of me. You can buy almost everything there,” she said.

“And it’s helpful for me to practice my Chinese as well as to pick up some useful Chinese phrases from the reviews of other buyers.

“It’s a good place to get to know China: what people eat, what they use, what they wear, what they love, and indeed, what they hate,” Catherine added. And to avoid buying counterfeit goods, she has a simple tip. “My experience is that if it is too cheap, don’t buy.”

Saturday night is sometimes spent listening to live music at the Tipsy Fiddler Irish Pub on Xingfu Road, or dining out with Chinese friends. Eoghan says the family loves the food in Shanghai — especially the shrimps and fish.

“We’re both from Howth, an outer suburb of Dublin,” Eoghan said.

“Like Shanghai, it originated from a small fishing village and remains an active center of the fishing industry.

“Much of our food at home comes from the sea or rivers, which we also find in the wet markets of Shanghai.

“It’s really great to see the same kind of food being interpreted in a different style and taste,” he added.

“I’ve also learned to like things such as chicken and duck blood soup to go with the xiaolongbao,” Catherine added,

“The locals like blood soup just as we Irish like our black pudding, which is generally made from pork blood and the innards of the pig. The basic idea is not to waste food.”

Having lived in Shanghai for a year and a half, the Duffys say they enjoy the Chinese festivals — describing them as rich in tradition, history, great food, not to mention dazzling lights and flashy decorations!

They most look forward to the Dragon Boat Festival on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar when the days are warmer.

Eoghan said: “I know this festival is held to commemorate the great Chinese poet Qu Yuan from the Warring States Period (476-221 BC). I admire Qu Yuan for his righteousness, he reminds me of Fionn mac Cumhaill, a great Irish figure.”

Qu drowned himself in despair after his Qu state was defeated by the Qin state in 221 BC. People raced in boats to retrieve the body, throwing rice balls into the water so that fish would eat those instead of the poet’s body.

“I also love the people for what they did after Qu jumped into the river. It makes me see the goodness of the Chinese people.”

A member of the rowing club at University College Dublin, Eoghan said he would love to join a dragon boat racing this year.

But currently Eoghan said the Irish in Shanghai are busy preparing for St Patrick’s Day on March 17.

“The day commemorates Saint Patrick and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland, as well as celebrating the heritage and culture of the Irish in general,” Eoghan said.

“With Irish emigration around the world, St Patrick’s Day is also widely celebrated by Irish communities around the world — such as in Britain, Canada, the United States, Argentina, Australia and New Zealand.

“For this year’s St Patrick’s Day in Shanghai, we have planned a game of hurling, Irish dancing, a concertina show and a parade for anybody who would like to come and join in.

“We expect that it will not only be a celebration of joy and happiness for the Irish working and living in Shanghai but also a good way to reach out to Shanghai people.”

Q&A

Q: What’s your favorite place in Shanghai?

A: The Yuehu Sculpture Park in Songjiang. There’s a tree house and the kids love it.

Q: What’s your favorite food in Shanghai?

A: Xiaolongbao.

Q: What’s your favorite pastime in Shanghai?

A: A weekend excursion to the water towns.

Q: What do you like most in Shanghai?

A: People here are open, friendly and love children.

Q: What do you think Shanghai needs to work on to make the city better?

A: People should know to stop at red lights, just for safety concern.

Q: What’s your favorite place in your hometown?

A: The Howth Cliff.

Q: What’s the specialty food from your hometown?

A: Black pudding.

Q: What’s your favorite activity when you are home?

A: Cycling.

Q: What’s the most asked question back home about Shanghai?

A: People often ask us if the food at the Chinese restaurant back home tastes the same as in Shanghai.

Q: Any advice you would like to give to new arrivals?

A: Learn the language.

 

Irish shamrock biscuits — a great activity for kids

Ingredients:

100g butter, softened

100g caster sugar

1 egg

a few drops of vanilla essence

a few drops of green food coloring

200g self-raising flour

1 tablespoon ground ginger

How to make:

Place the butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl and beat until creamy. Add the egg, green food coloring and vanilla essence, mix again until smooth. Sift the flour and ginger into the mixing bowl then stir with a wooden spoon to make a soft dough. Wrap the dough in clingfilm and chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour.

When chilled, dust a work surface with flour and roll the dough until it is about 5mm thick. Use shamrock-shaped cutters to cut out shapes and place on a baking sheet. Bake biscuits for 10-15 minutes at 180 degrees. Dust with icing sugar or edible glitter.