Memories of a Childhood in Wartime Shanghai
MEMORIES OF A CHILDHOOD IN SHANGHAI
INTRODUCTION
I remember it well.
It was the morning of July 4th 1946 when a non descript van picked up my grandmother, me, and our worldly possessions, which consisted of two suitcases and a Chinese trunk, and took us to board the troop ship USS General Meigs. The ship was to transport us from Shanghai to San Francisco where we were to begin a new life in the “promised land’, more commonly known as the US of A. There were lots of tears, hugs, and kisses with relatives and friends who came to see us off.
As our van honked and fought its way through the driving rain and heavy morning traffic of rickshaws and pedicabs, I was having second thoughts about my forthcoming adventure.
On one hand, as a ten year old, I was excited about taking a trip across the Pacific Ocean on a troop ship; and anxious to realize the visions I had of a future life in America. Admittedly, my visions were heavily colored by seeing too many Hollywood movies that flooded Shanghai after the war ended. I could see myself as a cowboy riding a bucking bronco in the wild west, much as John Wayne did it on the screen; or possibly join the US Navy and tap dance on the deck of a large aircraft carrier a la Gene Kelly.
On the other hand, I was saddened to be leaving some close family members, good friends, and familiar Shanghai landmarks. However, as a naïve ten year old, I was comforted by the unrealistic expectation that I would soon be reunited in America with the family members and friends who remained in Shanghai.
My childhood in Shanghai was influenced by two phenomena – significant world events that impacted Shanghai; and growing up in a non traditional family.
Because of world events, I experienced three distinctly different phases of Shanghai during the ten years I lived there. There was a Pre-World War II Shanghai; a wartime Shanghai; and a post- World War II Shanghai.
PRE WORLD
INTRODUCTION
I remember it well.
It was the morning of July 4th 1946 when a non descript van picked up my grandmother, me, and our worldly possessions, which consisted of two suitcases and a Chinese trunk, and took us to board the troop ship USS General Meigs. The ship was to transport us from Shanghai to San Francisco where we were to begin a new life in the “promised land’, more commonly known as the US of A. There were lots of tears, hugs, and kisses with relatives and friends who came to see us off.
As our van honked and fought its way through the driving rain and heavy morning traffic of rickshaws and pedicabs, I was having second thoughts about my forthcoming adventure.
On one hand, as a ten year old, I was excited about taking a trip across the Pacific Ocean on a troop ship; and anxious to realize the visions I had of a future life in America. Admittedly, my visions were heavily colored by seeing too many Hollywood movies that flooded Shanghai after the war ended. I could see myself as a cowboy riding a bucking bronco in the wild west, much as John Wayne did it on the screen; or possibly join the US Navy and tap dance on the deck of a large aircraft carrier a la Gene Kelly.
On the other hand, I was saddened to be leaving some close family members, good friends, and familiar Shanghai landmarks. However, as a naïve ten year old, I was comforted by the unrealistic expectation that I would soon be reunited in America with the family members and friends who remained in Shanghai.
My childhood in Shanghai was influenced by two phenomena – significant world events that impacted Shanghai; and growing up in a non traditional family.
Because of world events, I experienced three distinctly different phases of Shanghai during the ten years I lived there. There was a Pre-World War II Shanghai; a wartime Shanghai; and a post- World War II Shanghai.
PRE WORLD