20/07/2025
Originally from Kerala in southern India, Shalaka moved to China a few years ago following a job opportunity for her husband.
โWe had two choices: the familiar comfort of Dubai or the unknown of China. I chose the latterโit felt like a new beginning.โ
When she first arrived, she had no friends and couldnโt speak a word of Chinese. โI realized I couldnโt just wait for friends to appearโI had to step out of my comfort zone.โ
So Shalaka began chatting with neighbors on benches and chatted with vendors at nearby shops. One day, while caring for cats outside her building, she met a girl who spoke some English. They hit it off immediately and started teaching each other languages. โShe became my first friend in Shanghai!โ Shalaka recalls warmly.
Passionate about photography, Shalaka captures life through her lensโthe morning light in old alleys, the mist over Guangfulin, smiling faces of passersby, and historic buildings along the streets. She shares these small moments on social media. โI love places with historyโtemples, relics, and the stories behind them. It makes me happy to see many people discover a different side of China through my photos,โ she says.
What moves her most are the spontaneous, genuine connections between people. Once, on a rainy day, she met a mother teaching her child English. They quickly became friends, going on picnics and walks together.
โOne day, while sitting in the car, the seven-year-old girl, Dodo, suddenly hugged me and said, โShalaka, youโre my Indian mom in China.โ I almost cried. That moment is my sweetest memory here. Since then, theyโve become my closest family.โ
Reflecting on the similarities between Chinese and Indian cultures, Shalaka says, โWe both deeply value family and tradition.โ This bond to roots is especially precious in todayโs individualistic world.
Today, Shanghai is Shalakaโs second home. Sheโs building her connection to the city at her own pace.
โMany ask me, โWhy Shanghai? Why China?โ My answer is simple โ right here, right now, is the best place to be.โ Shalaka remarked.๐ฅฐ
๐ท:
๐: .sunshine
โ
