Swapping Ego for Empathy

Imagine the scene of Atlanta’s gridlocked highways a few weeks back during the snowstorm. This is the usual Shanghai — congested and charmingly manic. Then picture the opening credits of The Walking Dead. The sight of an empty Hongqiao Railway Station was comparably eerie. I usually find myself strategically meandering past throngs of tourists and businesspeople, and jostling for a position at the ticket booth. This time, however, it was the week of Chinese New Years — a catalyst for the largest annual human migration in the world. Shanghai and its people were taking a well-deserved breather.