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Creative Expression

During a trip to Hong Kong to celebrate Chinese New Year, after months of lockdown, I relished the local skatepark near my father’s apartment where I could skate with other like-minded people. Returning to a more remote area of Shanghai where I lived and taught, I conceded that I would have to go downtown to find skate spots. However, on a walk down a street between two universities, I saw remnant telltale signs of skateboarders: a tucked away mobile metal rail; a tall stair set; and a stone platform with a waxed edge. I felt less lonely knowing there were skaters close by.

I returned one weekend on my board and found many other skaters. I would learn that all of them were students from the two universities I taught at or another university nearby. As a beginner without Mandarin, I felt nervous and acted standoffish. However, the skaters were friendly and approached me first, asking at which school I was a student. I replied that my Chinese was not good and I was an English teacher from Canada. They asked around, laughing, as to who among them had the best English.