Lost and Found in Translation
Efficient at what, exactly? You need to show some effort
Shanghai, a dance of epochs. Ancient temples whisper tales of bygone eras, while gleaming skyscrapers reach for the future. Amidst this rhythm, lively street markets pulse with life, but in the heart of the market, Olivia felt oddly out of place.
Born in Vancouver, Olivia had built a successful career as an architect in New York. Her graceful walk, a remnant of years spent training in ballet, contrasted with the bustling steps of the market-goers.
The Shanghai she walked was closer to Manhattan than the sepia-toned stories of bound feet she had been told.
On her second day, Olivia’s eyes recognised Ben. Tall, affable, his voice dashed with a hint of a Danish accent.
He was immersed in lively banter with Liu, a local dumpling connoisseur. Their laughter and mutual ribbing stood out amidst the market’s cacophony, Ben’s broken Mandarin bridging gaps with sincerity.
She approached him, "Hi, are you Ben? I'm so pleased Caroline put us in touch. I'm Olivia. Fancy some of those dumplings?" She reached for her smartphone and opened up the translation app.
"I've already ordered, even though my Mandarin is sometimes hit or miss. How about you? Given what your sister has told me about your family, I'd thought you'd be fluent." Ben replied.
Olivia replied, staring him straight in the eyes, "Why would I? This," she waved her phone with a grin, "is my secret weapon."
Ben smiled, a hint of sadness in his eyes. "I use my trusty digital assistant for some of my writing. Efficient, yes, but sometimes it feels like a shortcut. The hard part, the connection, is missing."
Olivia looked puzzled. "Isn't the end goal efficiency? And precision."
Ben looked back, choosing his words. "Efficient at what, exactly? When it comes to relationships... you need to show some effort."
In the days that followed, Olivia ruminated over Ben's words.
Her encounters, she observed, were fleeting—mere transactions. Politeness from the locals came easy, genuine connection did not.
Even Liu, who seemed so relaxed with Ben was formal with her.
One evening, under the glow of lanterns, Olivia approached Ben. "Teach me," she said, determination in her eyes.
"Okay, the first thing to know is that Mandarin has four tones. mā, má, mǎ and mà. Repeat after me."
Their lessons began. Olivia's first attempts were comically off-mark, eliciting chuckles from listeners.
Yet, with each mistake, with each correction, she felt more connected than ever before.
One sunny afternoon at Liu’s stall, trying to compliment Liu’s adorable niece playing nearby, Olivia confidently declared, "Tā hěn kě’āi."
Liu raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on his lips. "Kě'āi? You think she's pitiable?"
Realizing her error, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "No! I meant kě'ài! She's very cute."
Olivia, already embarrassed, could only groan at her series of linguistic faux pas.
Yet, amidst her blunders, she felt an ironic sense of achievement. For the first time in her life she stopped worrying about perfection.
The weeks blurred into a beautiful tapestry of experiences. Olivia reveled in her imperfect Mandarin.
One afternoon, they found themselves lost amidst Shanghai's winding lanes.
Relying on their wits alone, they eventually found their way back, laughing at their little adventure.
Amidst the rhythm of Shanghai's streets, Olivia and Ben's lessons grew from just linguistic exchanges to soulful connections.
Between lessons, they wandered the Bund, marveled at the juxtaposition of old and new architecture, and savored delicate xiaolongbao.
Liu joined them, to show off all the hidden parts of the city — those parts that had not been razed in the last thirty years.
One evening, as they sat by the Huangpu River, the lights of the city reflecting in the water, Olivia looked at Ben, her eyes shimmering, "Because of you, I see beyond the surface. I've found the soul of Shanghai."
Ben leaned in closer.
Just as their hands were about to intertwine, Liu’s voice rang out, "You think you’ve found Shanghai’s soul? With just Mandarin?"
He added with a playful smirk. "To truly understand, you must dive deeper. You need to learn Shanghainese!"
Olivia laughed, "Another language? Just how different can it be?"
Liu raised an eyebrow and smiled, "Well, it’s a completely tones to Mandarin. But this city is completely different too, don’t you think?”
Ben, always up for a challenge, asked, "Teach us our first word then."
Liu thought for a moment, "Alright. Try 'Nong’. In Shanghainese, it’s a warm way to say 'you’."
Olivia hesitated, reached for her smartphone then slowly put it away. "Alright, Old Liu, challenge accepted."
