Patrick: Deciding to Live My Life Out Loud

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I relocated to Shanghai from Los Angeles on September 25, 2016. I came to Shanghai to work at Oriental DreamWorks which is the animation studio responsible for producing the Mandarin/Chinese version of Kung Fu Panda 3. I have worked in entertainment, specifically animation, for the past 25 years.

There are a few reasons I decided to take a leap of faith and relocate to China. Firstly, because I was out hiking with a friend who proposed the idea of working here. Secondly, I had never been to mainland China or Asia. But the most important reason is because I had emergency brain surgery seven years ago on May 13, 2010. After my surgery, radiation treatments, and journey through my recovery, I made the decision to “Live My Life Out Loud” and to “Live with No Regrets” with regards to seizing opportunities for adventure as well as personal and professional development.

Since my surgery, I have challenged myself with skydiving, hiking to the floor of the Grand Canyon, climbing to the summit of Mt. Whitney — the tallest mountain in the lower 48 US states (14,508 feet) —and traveling extensively. And now, I’m here in Shanghai, China continuing the adventure and Living my Life Out Loud and with No Regrets.

Patrick moved abroad after being offered the opportunity to work overseas in a field he truly loves, making animated films. While moving away from family and friends and overcoming culture shock was a challenge, he has come to truly embrace the lifestyle and people in his new home. He credits his time abroad with making him more patient and understanding and encourages others to take the same leap as he did!

Article Topics

Relocation

Settling In

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