As Shenzhen becomes a more established and renowned city, more and more immigrants have been coming to work and reside here. This beautiful city now consists of people of countless ethnic backgrounds and nationalities. One could say that Shenzhen is a melting pot of different cultures, as the origins of these immigrants themselves are as diverse as the city they have come to make a living in.

 

Shenzhen is a first-world society with swanky skyscrapers, lush greenery, and a strong feeling of community spirit which gives it such vibrancy and life. Therefore, it would come as no surprise that the city is home to a wealthy immigrant population consisting of expatriates from countries all over the world, such as (but definitely not limited to) the United States, Korea, Japan, and France. Most of them were posted overseas to Shenzhen for work, in banks, law firms, and tech companies, which enables them to live very comfortably, sometimes even leading lifestyles that border on luxurious. Their children are often educated at international schools such as SIS, where they are equipped to achieve similar success in the world. Many of them want for nothing and belong to happy, close-knit families. This idyllic lifestyle may seem like the stuff of dreams, as there are numerous immigrants from such privileged backgrounds to be seen roaming the streets of Shenzhen on a daily basis—especially in the Shekou district where SIS is located—but there are far more tragic tales to be told.

 

Most people are only familiar with one side of the story: the ‘feel-good’ part about all the wealthy immigrants mentioned above. However, were you ever aware that there are also immigrants right on the other side of the economic spectrum? There are some migrant workers from rural or underdeveloped areas of China who are largely uneducated and struggling to find decent work and fair wages living in Shenzhen too. They come here to take on menial work in industries such as manual labour and manufacturing, and many of them work several jobs, around the clock, in order to put food on the table, make ends meet, and support their families. Relatively unskilled due to a lack of opportunities to escape the harsh cycle of poverty, they are often the construction workers, cleaners, and factory workers that we encounter just as often in Shenzhen. They work extremely hard and toil away in less-than-satisfactory conditions to earn money and ensure that their families can still live a good life, which is a great struggle in itself. Speaking of their families, the children of these less privileged immigrants most certainly—and very sadly—are unable to live the lives that the aforementioned wealthier immigrant kids live. They may not be able to afford to go to fancy schools which give them a sense of certainty in their future, learn fun hobbies like sports and music, or play the video games that mean all the world to children from richer backgrounds. This makes their childhoods one of sadness that they may not get to enjoy themselves as much as other youngsters their age, and one of fear that they will someday pay the price for it, not to mention the already pressing concern that their parents may not have enough money to provide for them. At such a tender age, they should should not need to bear these burdens on top of the everyday difficulties of children their age—which is why SSI is there to introduce some pleasure and excitement into their lives, in the form of stringed instruments that make such amazing music. This gives them a much-needed chance to experience the sparks of joy, big and small, that their lives are so sorely lacking. 

 

However, troubles do not solely plague immigrants of less fortunate circumstances. The more privileged immigrants (like many of the students at SIS) also have their own fair share of challenges that they too face every single day, though it is a different set of hurdles that they are forced to deal with. The challenge of settling into a new country, in a new continent for many, brings about the issues of language barriers, culture shocks, and apprehension at how ‘foreigners’ such as themselves will be received in an already deeply complex society. As you can see, rich or poor, being an immigrant definitely isn’t a walk in the park!

 

Despite this, it is a universally acknowledged truth that any obstacle, no matter how difficult, can be overcome with lots of perseverance and some heartwarming kindness. SSI consists of many immigrant students at SIS too, who know how hard it is to be living in a foreign place, and we hope to help other immigrants, especially those who are less blessed than ourselves, to smile amidst the tough times and derive enjoyment from music. Looking out for one another and striving to better our shared society can truly enable us to move mountains and conquer anything that may cross our paths.