Megan Shank dot com

The site www.meganshank.com is now up and running. It’s far from being polished or complete, but so much of one’s life is a vulnerable and public process, why worry if the virtual element of one’s existence is as well? Or have I simply drank too much coffee again today? In any case, please do enjoy.

To recap the past month, I’ve quit my job at City Weekend and begun at Newsweek Select, which has just been fantastically interesting. In December, Adam came and visited for two and a half weeks, during which time we made nearly 300 shish kebabs of varying ingredients for our Jesus’ Independence Day BBQ. We entertained approximately 40 people at my new place. Afterwards, exhausted, we watched films and took long walks. It was wonderful.

In other news, the beautiful and talented Crystyl Mo has asked me to contribute chapters to a travel book she’s editing called “To Shanghai with Love.” I am thrilled, of course.

Life is good right now. My new job challenges and stretches me in such a new way. I’m editing in Chinese, then I’m translating into English, then I’m thinking critically about my own translations OR I’m writing in English, then translating it into Chinese, then going over it with another Chinese editor with a critical eye. The precision of language, its definite meaning, weight, tone, is all so lovingly, so preciously considered. What does something mean? It’s a question I’ve always been fascinated by — how language can seduce or devastate, and all of the color and complexity involved with it just engrosses me.

On the 10-minute walk to work past old French and Chinese houses along tree-lined roads, the scenery passes in perfect meditative bliss. Through Fuxing Park I go, stepping gingerly around the retired folks practicing tai chi or dancing the tango to a little office on the luckiest floor. I play with words all day — some round, some boxy– and I think to myself, this is really where I want to be right now. I’ve found something…and of the experience itself that question with which I toy all day — what does it mean– doesn’t beg to be asked.

This entry was posted on Saturday, January 13th, 2007 at 8:32 pm and is filed under Blog. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.