Born in USA but in love with Shanghai way
Print Edition
IT’S often said that appearances can be deceptive. This is especially true of Chris Hertzler. The fit and energetic 50-year-old looks years younger than his age. He reckons the secret to this is probably down to Mary, his pet dog.
Most of the American’s weekends are spent with Mary in Shanghai, where taking her for exercising walks often leads to an adventure of some sort.
“We just walk around, and it’s really enjoyable,” he says.
Having been in Shanghai for eight years now, Hertzler admits he lives like a typical Shanghainese resident, taking a bus to work on a weekday while taking his dog to the park and his girlfriend for dinner on a weekend.
The two girls play an important part in Hertzler’s world, as he savors life in this incredibly vibrant city, along with the delicious Chinese cuisine.
“You can get any food you want in Shanghai. You can get basic Chinese food or very high-end Chinese fare,” he says excitedly.
Living in Shanghai was not without its problems when he first arrived in the city.
“People didn’t speak English, I didn’t speak Chinese,” says Hertzler. “But mostly we just had a beer and were happy to be together. That was pretty special, pretty nice.”
But, since those tentative first steps were made eight years ago, he has taken things in his stride and hurdled every obstacle in his path.
Q: Can you share your most impressive moment in Shanghai?
A: I would have to say the day I first got here left a lasting impression, but I wouldn’t say impressive — it wasn’t impressive at all.
I came in on a Saturday and I was working on the following Monday, so I had one day to rest. I thought, “Well, that’s good, ‘cos it’s a long flight and I don’t know what’s going to happen.” So the flight was on time, everything went well, and there was a driver waiting for me at the gate. Then we started driving from the Pudong airport, and he’s driving really fast, and it’s like ‘Oh My Gosh! This is a little bit dangerous.’ But everyone was driving this way.
We got to the serviced apartment and I got checked in and they said, “No Internet, no Internet.” Okay, no problem. So, the driver, who actually turned out to be a really nice guy, became a really good friend later. It was very difficult to interact with anyone, so I decided to go out and walk down the street.
I went out. I was right across from Laowaijie (or Foreigners Street on Hongmei Road in Minhang District). I saw a little walking path, it didn’t look like much. So I thought I went the wrong way and there was nothing there, so I turned back and found a couple of convenience stores and people making food on the street. I thought, “Well, I’m not gonna eat that, ‘cos I don’t know (if it’s safe).”
So I had no idea what I was doing yet. It was a little big nerve-wracking. So I went back and took a rest. Then I woke up and I was very hungry, but I was really, really nervous. I couldn’t find anything and didn’t see any restaurant I wanted to go into. So I went back to that little store.
Then as soon as I went outside, I saw that lights were shining, all kinds of stuff and I thought, “That looks alright!” So I walked down, fantastic! I saw a lot of places to eat, so I had dinner at a Mexican restaurant, talked to some people. I walked back, played some pool. So, the next day, Sunday, I went right back down there. It’s just absolutely fantastic!
From that experience, I tell you, it was incredible. I met so many people, people who wanted to take me around Shanghai and take me to different places. The people are just great, not just foreigners, Chinese too. I met about three or four Chinese guys down there that were just great, good friends. The people, they’re just friendly.
Q: How do you usually spend your weekends in Shanghai?
A: I walk my dog, Mary, mostly. She can walk for five hours, no problem — a lot further than I can! I stop at the store and get a beer and I walk and talk to her. I think about the week’s problems and things I need to do next week for work.
Q: What do you love about Shanghai?
A: It’s gotta be the food! You can get any food you want in Shanghai. You can get some basic Chinese food; you can get very, very high-end Chinese food; you can get food from other Asian countries; food from Germany and you can even get Polish food. But, you know, that’s what makes the world go round and it’s good, I really like that.
Q: Do you have something you dislike in Shanghai? And any suggestions?
A: One of the funny things about Shanghai is that you can walk three blocks and you would think you’re back in the same place again, if you’re not familiar with the place. Everything looks the same on certain streets and in certain places. You know you can go and just walk and think, “Wasn’t I just here?” They are just some smells and a couple of other things that I’d like to change but not much.
A lot of people complain about the taxis, but you know what? I think 80 or 90 percent of them are really good; it’s just 10 percent that aren’t. They are the ones that might try and rip you off. I used my Metro card in a taxi once and then when I went to use it again it was empty!
Q: Compared with your native country, are there any shortages in Shanghai?
A: Not too many… small, piddly things, maybe the clothes that you buy. The shirts I’ve bought in Shanghai only seem to last about two or three months before they start to fade or the material gets really rough.
And I probably pay more for them in Shanghai than I do in the United States. But I can’t just throw them away. I don’t know why, it’s something in human nature.
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