Latino girl finds spiritual home in Shanghai
Print Edition
FOR one young Mexican girl, coming to China was her destiny. Lucero Garza Lam arrived in Shanghai over 10 years ago and fell in love with what she now calls her spiritual home.
“It is one of the best decisions of my life,” she says proudly. “Shanghai changed my life completely.”
Traveling to China was inevitable for the Latin American girl. Lam came to the world's most populous country to find herself, discover her mother’s Chinese roots and to understand the culture that courses through her family’s veins.
“My mother is a mix of Chinese and Mexican, and I’m living under the influence of Chinese culture,” she says. “It was this curiosity that pushed me to understand how things are in China."
Shanghai has never disappointed her. The 33-year-old found her partner in China, a professional career and a beautiful Chinese name 海美 she loves. But most importantly, Lam grew up.
“Staying in Shanghai is my dream,” she says. “I've learned a lot of things since leaving home. I will always have that connection with China, even if I return to Mexico in the future.”
Q: It has been a decade. Do you still remember the reason you came to Shanghai?
A: Yes, sure. The first time I came here was in 2005. That time I was studying Chinese in Mexico. I came with my classmates for a small tour. We stopped in different cities and stayed together for two weeks.
I would say Shanghai was already a very modern city at that time. Shanghai’s infrastructure was very developed. It was amazing! I was so impressed that the city seemed to be very well organized. Though there were only a few buildings in Pudong New Area back then, now the area is totally different.
Q: Could we say that this special tour has changed you?
A: It changed my life completely! Every single day I was in Mexico, I just kept thinking about my goal of coming back to Shanghai.
To make it happen, I applied for a scholarship to do my masters degree in Shanghai. So I didn’t stop and just followed my dream.
Q: Please tell me about your families.
A: It is a long story. My grandparents met in Mexico. My grandmother was Mexican, and my grandfather was Chinese. They got married in Mexico.
In the 1960s they came to China to see relatives. Unfortunately they couldn’t leave the country during the cultural revolution (1966-76), and for the next 20 years had to stay in China.
My mother was born in Guangzhou where learned the Chinese way and culture. She can speak fluent Cantonese. She moved to Mexico in her 20s and met my father who is a Mexican there, and settled down.
After I was born, my mom told me stories of life in China, which made me wonder what it was like at that time. It is a good opportunity for me to see how China has developed since my mom lived here.
Q: Try to recall the moment when you told you parents you wanted to go to China?
A: My mother was happy, because she felt that I was connected with her. She always supports and encourages me. And I think I can understand more about her roots now.
My father was concerned and worried about me because he didn’t really know what China was like. He never had the chance to travel here.
Q: What do you do in Shanghai now?
A: I applied for a scholarship to study my masters degree here when I finished college in Mexico. After I finished my studies, I got a job in Shanghai.
I am currently working in a building materials company. I am a contract manager for the purchasing department. I have been with the company for almost six years.
It was my very first job after I finished my studies.
Q: How do you spend your weekends?
A: Normally I spend weekends with my husband, my mother-in-law or with friends. My husband is from India, and he is an only child. So since my father-in-law passed away a couple of years back, my Indian mom stays half a year with us in Shanghai and half a year in India.
He loves Shanghai as well. Normally we discover new places in Shanghai, for example, Qibao or some other places near Shanghai, like Suzhou, Hangzhou, or Moganshan. We like being in touch with nature.
Q: What do you love about Shanghai?
A: It is so modern. You will see people in the parks, exercising, doing tai chi, dancing. I like the small things about people. They enjoy their lives.
Most of the people here are under a lot of pressure at work, but they still spend time with their families and also enjoy their hobbies. I like that part about Shanghai.
Q: Any suggestions to make Shanghai a better city in future?
A: People here smoke too much. I know there is a new regulation about this issue. But some people don’t listen. I think we should put more pressure on education. It is good for everyone (if smoking is restricted). We have a beautiful city and we need to take care of it.
Another thing is about the bike sharing. It is a good service, but the problem is that they are using the pedestrian spaces to park the bikes. I think it would be nicer if there were designated places to park them.
Q: If the whole world was listening, what would you say?
A: I never thought I would be here. Many people tell me I should have stayed in my own country and got married. They say I should lead a normal life like other people have.
When I came to China, and I started dreaming and working towards my goal. I found the world is so big. You can go anywhere you want. It opened my mind. I've met so many people from different places, not just Chinese. That makes me feel thankful for life.
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