Chapter Five: Far from home, part 1
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In part 1 of this two-part series, Clay and guest host Maggie follow Li and Suyi — two young Chinese individuals — and their stories of how they grew up and came to Shanghai. This episode explores what it’s like growing up on China’s economic periphery, removed from the ever-growing metropolitan areas along the coast, as well as some familiar stresses of growing up, how these experiences shape who we become, and the unfamiliarity of living in a new place. 

12:09: Growing up in Guiyang

19:02: Respect through education

26:03: Pressures from the hukou system

35:22: The gaokao

Music credits: 

“Analytical Skeletons),” “Vaporize Me),” and “Crumbling Chia Pets),” by csus; “Wait What),” “Fake Mustache),” “Road Trip),” and “Sad Ending),” by Purrple Cat; “Hi),” by Dovi; “#001 - Free Chilled Lofi Beat - 70bpm),” by PATENT; “Me 2),” by LAKEY INSPIRED; and “cool nights),” by Dixxy.   

Works consulted:

A tourism video of Guiyang); The origins and social consequences of China’s hukou system), by Tiejun Cheng and Mark Seldon; China’s Hukou system creating barriers to real urbanization), by Chong Koh Ping; Why are China’s little emperors getting so fat? Blame the grandparents, study says), by Ariana Eunjung Cha; One-child policy), by Kenneth Pletcher; and White and beautiful: An examination of skin whitening practices and female empowerment in China), by Evelyn Yueng.

Thanks to Mike and Nowness Shanghai for letting me use their recording studio.

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