Key Takeaways:

• The Power of Familiarity in Urban Spaces:

During the first day’s urban exploration, it became clear that familiar elements in Shanghai’s urban environment played a significant role in helping participants feel more at home. The ability to find places that reminded them of their hometowns—whether through architecture, atmosphere, or cultural echoes—allowed participants to see Shanghai not as a foreign city but as a place where pieces of their past could be found and cherished.

• Culinary Practices as Cultural Anchors:

The second day’s culinary exploration underscored the critical role that food plays in maintaining cultural identity and emotional well-being. Preparing and sharing traditional dishes not only allowed participants to reconnect with their roots but also provided a tangible way to express and preserve their cultural heritage in a new setting.

The act of sourcing ingredients and adapting recipes to fit what was available in Shanghai also highlighted the flexibility and creativity required in the adaptation process. While participants faced challenges in replicating the exact flavours from home, they found comfort in the process of cooking familiar dishes and were able to create a new sense of identity by blending their culinary traditions with local influences.

The shared meal and reflective dialogue fostered a sense of community among the participants, who found common ground in their experiences of adaptation. This communal experience reinforced the idea that while individual journeys of cultural adaptation are unique, they are also deeply connected by shared challenges and triumphs.

• Building a Dual Connection:

The concept of “blending cultures” emerged as a key theme, with participants recognizing that they could integrate aspects of their home cultures into their new lives in Shanghai. This blending process not only helped them to feel more at home in the city but also allowed them to evolve their identities in a way that honours both their past and present experiences.

Areas for Improvement:

• Depth of Cultural Exchange:

While the intervention successfully facilitated initial connections, there is room for deepening the cultural exchange among participants. Future interventions could include more structured discussions or activities that encourage participants to delve deeper into their cultural identities and explore how these can be integrated into their lives in current city.

• Ongoing Support and Connection:

The success of the two-day intervention highlighted the importance of ongoing support and connection among participants. To sustain the benefits of the intervention, it would be valuable to establish regular follow-up sessions or create a more formalized community network where participants can continue to share experiences, explore the city, and support each other’s adaptation processes. This could include monthly cultural exchange dinners, city exploration outings, or online forums where participants can stay connected.

• Integration of Local Insights:

Incorporating more local insights and expertise into the intervention could enhance participants’ understanding and appreciation of Shanghai. Collaborating with local people could provide participants with a deeper understanding of the city’s history, culture, and culinary diversity, further enriching their experience and helping them build a more nuanced connection to current city.

Research question:

Given the insights gained from the interventions, I adjusted my research question to reflect the specific strategies and elements that have proven effective in addressing the emotional dilemmas of youth migration.

Therefore, revised research question is

How can the exploration of urban food culture serve as a bridge between home and new environments for youth migrating within China?