Before Moving Back to Germany, One Last Goodbye to Shanghai

After more than thirty years in Shanghai, this family was preparing to move back to Germany.

Their daughters grew up here. Their home held old school papers, Chinese furniture, handmade dumplings, balcony plants, and all the ordinary routines that had slowly become family history.

We began the morning on the Bund, then returned home for dumplings, tea, stories, plants, old books, and one last song at the piano.

Near the end, they stood on the balcony and waved.

Not a dramatic goodbye. Just a real one.