6 Lessons Expats Should Learn About Living in Shanghai

Moving to a new country can be challenging by itself. Then try and add to the mix an entirely new culture with a huge language barrier (and very little English), not knowing anyone there and weird food - that is just downright overwhelming!
 
Here is advice from someone who has been there, got the t-shirt and lived to tell the tale – Jane Taylor – on what to do when you get to Shangai.

1. Learn Mandarin, or at least the basics

 
I remember my first ride into the city from the airport and being thrilled that all the road signs were in English and that all the shops had English names. “That will be really helpful until I get my Mandarin up to speed” I thought to myself. Everyone had warned me that learning Mandarin would be hard but I wasn’t going to be working so I had lots of time, and I’m a university graduate so I know how to study. How hard could it be?
 
Well, let me tell you, it is hard, really hard, harder than anyone warns you. And then you discover that most people in Shanghai speak Shanghainese anyway, which is virtually a whole other language. And those helpful road signs and shop names? Well, that’s about all the English you get. So not only can you not understand anything anyone says to you, but you can’t read anything either. Not even a label in a supermarket!
 
So, understand the language issue is a major barrier to settling in and (realistically) you will probably never be fluent in Mandarin in the 2 or 3 years you spend here. But do learn a few basics as soon as you can, the greetings and pleasantries, a few numbers, the time and directions for communicating with a driver/taxi and most importantly learn how to bargain (how much, too expensive).
 
For anything more complicated install a translation app but beware of Google Translate. I use a Chinese app (Simutalk) that my driver downloaded for me and that appears to work well - I no longer get messages from him like “Ah good wife, we went to export” and “Don’t be exasperating” (which I like to think was also a mistranslation).

2. Arrange your health check quickly

This is something everyone knows they have to do but no-one really talks about. Unfortunately it is just something that has to be endured but make sure you or your sponsoring company have made an appointment so at least the process is quick and efficient. Keep in mind that you will have to pay in cash for this.
 
When you arrive at the medical centre, prepare yourself to leave your modesty, sense of personal space and dignity in the change room along with most of your clothes! Thereafter, keep smiling as you shuffle through a succession of examination rooms in your industrial bootie covered shoes and thin hospital gown, surrounded by hundreds of strangers. There will be more people being checked over than you ever thought possible - it is an eye-opening assembly line of people applying for visas to stay in China every day all year round.

On a practical level, you can expect to have your eyes tested, your blood pressure taken, a quick ECG for your heart, an ultrasound of the abdomen area, a chest x-ray and blood tests. But don’t worry, it’s very professional and it is highly unlikely the medical will cause anyone to deny you a visa. In around an hour you will be all finished up and able to put your clothes back on.

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3. Appreciate and make use of your driver 

If you are lucky enough to have a driver, appreciate him while you can. It is totally fantastic to never have to look for parking. Even more so to have a few drinks and not have to rely on public transport to get you home. That is until you come out of your first school function or other expat gathering and realise that absolutely everyone has virtually the same car, just in a few different variations of metallic paint.
 
At this point you start walking up and down trying to remember if your car was grey or bronze for about 20 minutes until you eventually recognise your driver. So, right now, run outside and make a note of what exact shade of paint your car is and more importantly memorise the number plate. And put your driver’s number on speed dial. You will be grateful for this advice sooner than you think. 

4. Invest in a VPN, but take care when using it

Talk to anyone who has been here for more than a month and their number one issue will be internet connectivity. Internet access in China is generally good and cheap, but the biggest problem for expats are that they usually want to access international websites. The Chinese government is very strict with what they allow and monitor the internet very closely. This means that many popular, international sites like Google, Facebook and YouTube are banned while others are incredibly slow.
 
You can overcome this by investigating VPN’s but it is debatable whether this is legal or not. Starting February 2018, the Chinese government plans to block access to all VPN’s in the country. Alternatively, on the more legal side of things, you can use search engines like Baidu, Sogou or QiHoo 360. 

5. Keep track of people's names, make a list

 
Don’t worry, feeling like you don’t know anything anymore is not age or Alzheimers. Everything here is so very unfamiliar that it’s like you have to learn how the world works all over again. You are learning more in a day than you probably have since you left school or college. Especially names?
 
You will meet so many new people and they will nearly all be welcoming and friendly. Many will turn into lifelong friends and some will become the family you left behind. Welcome it all. Join those classes, go on those outings and enjoy the social life.  And ask questions all the time - just make a note of the answers. Anfu Lu will seem easy to remember but when you get back home you will wonder if it was Fuan Lu or Luanfu or any other combination of vaguely Oriental sounding syllables.
 
Your fellow expats are a wealth of knowledge gained through their own experiences of living here and no-one minds sharing. They will gladly provide advice on every aspect of life in Shanghai - just remember to ask as it may seem second nature to them by now. Most importantly get your new friends to introduce you to their “guy” at the AP Plaza or the Fabric Market or the Flower market. The prices will miraculously drop and you’ll soon be shopping like an “old hand”. 
 
Always take a business card and (unlike me) make a note on it so that you can remember what you bought and what you paid, so you don’t have to start all over again when your collection of Mandarin business cards means absolutely nothing to you (like me).  Before you know it, you will be the person who all the newbies ask for advice! 

6. Get out and explore to avoid ABCDs

Don’t worry we all have those days. There’s even a code for it - ABCD - A Bad China Day. But, trust me, there will be many more good China days. To break out of this, get out of your shell and go meet new people or explore Shangai.
 
To help you with this, there are many organisations and community groups in Shanghai such as The Shanghai Community Centre (mentioned above) and The Shanghai Expatriate Association (www.seashanghai.org). Both host regular coffee mornings and other events and activities for members.
 
Finally, just remember you came here knowing China was different and excited because Shanghai is a great cosmopolitan city which can offer a unique experience for you and your family if you are prepared to embrace it. So learn some Mandarin, take up Mahjong and enjoy. After all, any place where people dance in the park every day, is going to be beautiful.uthor: Jane Taylor