This week's episode is with Amy Sommers, Author of Rumors from Shanghai, a Seattle native who is now back living in the city after a stint living abroad, living in Shanghai. We discussed what it was like to return to a city that she knew so well, and how her understanding of home has changed as a result of her and her family's experiences during their time in Shanghai. The conversation covered topics such as how our concept of home can shift when we move away, the importance of community and connection, and how to find a sense of belonging in a place that is constantly changing.
Amy Sommers is the author of a book titled Rumors from Shanghai. It is about an African-American man, Tolt Gross, whose job brings him to live in Shanghai. He soon learns about a secret plan that Japan is plotting against Pearl Harbor but is concerned that no one will believe the word of a black man. Set in a pre-revolutionary era the book vividly captures the people of Shanghai, the history of the city's nightclub culture, architecture, and the environment of Shanghai.
Our conversation covered topics such as how our concept of home can shift when we move away, the importance of community and connection, and how to find a sense of belonging in a place that is constantly changing.
Amy Sommers is the author of a book titled Rumors from Shanghai. It is about an African-American man, Tolt Gross, whose job brings him to live in Shanghai. He soon learns about a secret plan that Japan is plotting against Pearl Harbor but is concerned that no one will believe the word of a black man.
Set in a pre-revolutionary era the book vividly captures the people of Shanghai, the history of the city's nightclub culture, architecture, and the environment of Shanghai. She got to know Shanghai through the eyes of people who gave lectures and walking tours. They showed her the city's hidden treasures and helped her to understand its complicated history. Amy is grateful to them for giving her a deeper understanding of the fascinating Shanghai.
Throughout my interview with Amy Sommers, she also shares her personal story of returning to Seattle which has undergone a significant transformation in the intervening years. When she left in 2004, it was still a relatively small city with a scrappy, DIY attitude. But by the time she moved back in 2015, it had become a major tech hub, and that change was evident in everything from the skyline to the people on the streets.
In some ways, it felt like coming home to a place that is both familiar and new, and she's excited to see what the next chapter of Seattle's story will bring. Amy offers insights into the challenges and rewards of making a home in a city that you love, after living in China for 11 years.
To purchase the book Rumors from Shanghai, click here
If you want to know more insider knowledge on life in Shanghai, tune in to episode 17 of the Are We Home Yet Podcast!
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