Shanhai here I come
Discussion
Morning (well evening) All
Just a quick thread, will be moving to Shanghai in August with my Other Half who has landed a job at an International School over there.
Really excited about the move, already in talks with a few people with regards to work for myself and will be taking a TEFL course aswell to give me a fall back option, however the OH's pacakge is good enough that I dont really need to, its more for my own sanity and my own spending money.
Are there many PHers out there?
Just a quick thread, will be moving to Shanghai in August with my Other Half who has landed a job at an International School over there.
Really excited about the move, already in talks with a few people with regards to work for myself and will be taking a TEFL course aswell to give me a fall back option, however the OH's pacakge is good enough that I dont really need to, its more for my own sanity and my own spending money.
Are there many PHers out there?
Don't know.
However, great place. My missus is from there.
Remember hardly anyone speaks English. Expect to get stared at out of the tourist areas. Eat out in the local small side street restaurants, dirt cheap and some of the best food I've ever had. Take a fork if you can't use chopsticks. And you'll have to point at what you want and probably guess what it is because they won't understand you.
Hot summers, cool sometimes cold winters. Still up in the high 20s late October.
However, great place. My missus is from there.
Remember hardly anyone speaks English. Expect to get stared at out of the tourist areas. Eat out in the local small side street restaurants, dirt cheap and some of the best food I've ever had. Take a fork if you can't use chopsticks. And you'll have to point at what you want and probably guess what it is because they won't understand you.
Hot summers, cool sometimes cold winters. Still up in the high 20s late October.
Good luck fella.
As been mentioned not all that many can speak good english so try to learn as much chinese as you can before going over there long term.
Even some basic touristy stuff will give you a good step.
The language is quite hard to start off with but once you picked up some of the basics it can get a little more logical. Not easier, but a little more logic as to why it is like that.
I started learning the touristy stuff and it helped me no end when I was there. But then I found trying to build larger sentences did my head in, also the tones came quite difficult to me. But most Chinese can work out what you are saying if you have the right sounds within the sentence.
Shanghai, if you've never been before, is a very interesting city. Lots going on and plenty to do.
Enjoy your time over there.
As been mentioned not all that many can speak good english so try to learn as much chinese as you can before going over there long term.
Even some basic touristy stuff will give you a good step.
The language is quite hard to start off with but once you picked up some of the basics it can get a little more logical. Not easier, but a little more logic as to why it is like that.
I started learning the touristy stuff and it helped me no end when I was there. But then I found trying to build larger sentences did my head in, also the tones came quite difficult to me. But most Chinese can work out what you are saying if you have the right sounds within the sentence.
Shanghai, if you've never been before, is a very interesting city. Lots going on and plenty to do.
Enjoy your time over there.
Cheers gents! I am bloody excited I know that, have been feeling in a rutt for too long, this is the oppertunity I needed to look at changing careers and possibilities. Booked me TEFL course last night, so that will be the new tring to my bow, and the people I have done it through assist wth finding jobs aswell, so should I draw a blank I have an even better fall back.
Oh I will be trying pretty much all the street food I can, the missus on the other hand will not even entertain the thought, she is a fussy eater here, god knows how bad she will be out there! Cheers for the heads up on a fork, not something I would have thought of! I can use a chop stick if that means stabbing it into a pork ball??
Never been to Shanghai, hell, I've never been further than Greece (sad I know), but having done research, speaking with teachers over there that the OH will be working with (both new to the country in August, and established for a few years) the only down sides people are coming up with are the time difference to speak to people at home (the awkward over lap when we would start work and they finish) and the pollution!
Saw one of the appartments that the school provide, and when they said basically furniched I was expecting fishing cabin type wooden stool / table, but oh no! New build (relative) brand new furniture, modern etc etc etc, very very impressed!!
M888SXY said:
Don't know.
However, great place. My missus is from there.
Remember hardly anyone speaks English. Expect to get stared at out of the tourist areas. Eat out in the local small side street restaurants, dirt cheap and some of the best food I've ever had. Take a fork if you can't use chopsticks. And you'll have to point at what you want and probably guess what it is because they won't understand you.
Hot summers, cool sometimes cold winters. Still up in the high 20s late October.
Yep, have got a CD of Mandarin, was only £15 quid so will give it a bash, and if its no good, will get Rosetta Stone, but if it works have saved ourselves a few hundred quid depending on what package we go for. ALthough some things I have read state they dont really speak Mandarin, its Shanghaiese (sp)However, great place. My missus is from there.
Remember hardly anyone speaks English. Expect to get stared at out of the tourist areas. Eat out in the local small side street restaurants, dirt cheap and some of the best food I've ever had. Take a fork if you can't use chopsticks. And you'll have to point at what you want and probably guess what it is because they won't understand you.
Hot summers, cool sometimes cold winters. Still up in the high 20s late October.
Oh I will be trying pretty much all the street food I can, the missus on the other hand will not even entertain the thought, she is a fussy eater here, god knows how bad she will be out there! Cheers for the heads up on a fork, not something I would have thought of! I can use a chop stick if that means stabbing it into a pork ball??
AJI said:
Good luck fella.
As been mentioned not all that many can speak good english so try to learn as much chinese as you can before going over there long term.
Even some basic touristy stuff will give you a good step.
The language is quite hard to start off with but once you picked up some of the basics it can get a little more logical. Not easier, but a little more logic as to why it is like that.
I started learning the touristy stuff and it helped me no end when I was there. But then I found trying to build larger sentences did my head in, also the tones came quite difficult to me. But most Chinese can work out what you are saying if you have the right sounds within the sentence.
Shanghai, if you've never been before, is a very interesting city. Lots going on and plenty to do.
Enjoy your time over there.
Thanks mate, really helpful re the language. I haven't done any language since leaving school, used to love it, so hopefully still have a knack for it, but I did get fed up when the lessons turned from how to speak / read / write to the more technical aspect, so I may find myself ever so slightly frustrated, will see.As been mentioned not all that many can speak good english so try to learn as much chinese as you can before going over there long term.
Even some basic touristy stuff will give you a good step.
The language is quite hard to start off with but once you picked up some of the basics it can get a little more logical. Not easier, but a little more logic as to why it is like that.
I started learning the touristy stuff and it helped me no end when I was there. But then I found trying to build larger sentences did my head in, also the tones came quite difficult to me. But most Chinese can work out what you are saying if you have the right sounds within the sentence.
Shanghai, if you've never been before, is a very interesting city. Lots going on and plenty to do.
Enjoy your time over there.
Never been to Shanghai, hell, I've never been further than Greece (sad I know), but having done research, speaking with teachers over there that the OH will be working with (both new to the country in August, and established for a few years) the only down sides people are coming up with are the time difference to speak to people at home (the awkward over lap when we would start work and they finish) and the pollution!
Saw one of the appartments that the school provide, and when they said basically furniched I was expecting fishing cabin type wooden stool / table, but oh no! New build (relative) brand new furniture, modern etc etc etc, very very impressed!!
Yeah China is surprising in many respects. You can have latest high tech everything right next door to something that looks a bit 3rd world.
There are lots of contrasts around and this for me at least made China a very exciting place to visit.
Shanghai (the centre areas) is mainly high tech new buildings, very good public transport and nice and cheap coming from a European extortionate prices of travel.
(The new skyscraper should be well on its way to being completed by now - supposed to be about 2nd tallest in the world (I think) - it should be a good spectacle anyways.
The good thing if you are going in to teaching is that kids over there WANT to learn. Unlike kids over here that mainly see it as a burden to go to school and would rather be smoking dope and producing more kids. I had a couple of TEFL contacts when I was there and they said how much of a pleasure it was compared to teaching in the UK.
There are many cultural differences as you'd expect. Most of them I found 'fresh' and easy to accept.
Although like your other half, the food was the only issue I had.
There are lots of contrasts around and this for me at least made China a very exciting place to visit.
Shanghai (the centre areas) is mainly high tech new buildings, very good public transport and nice and cheap coming from a European extortionate prices of travel.
(The new skyscraper should be well on its way to being completed by now - supposed to be about 2nd tallest in the world (I think) - it should be a good spectacle anyways.
The good thing if you are going in to teaching is that kids over there WANT to learn. Unlike kids over here that mainly see it as a burden to go to school and would rather be smoking dope and producing more kids. I had a couple of TEFL contacts when I was there and they said how much of a pleasure it was compared to teaching in the UK.
There are many cultural differences as you'd expect. Most of them I found 'fresh' and easy to accept.
Although like your other half, the food was the only issue I had.
AJI said:
Yeah China is surprising in many respects. You can have latest high tech everything right next door to something that looks a bit 3rd world.
There are lots of contrasts around and this for me at least made China a very exciting place to visit.
Shanghai (the centre areas) is mainly high tech new buildings, very good public transport and nice and cheap coming from a European extortionate prices of travel.
(The new skyscraper should be well on its way to being completed by now - supposed to be about 2nd tallest in the world (I think) - it should be a good spectacle anyways.
The good thing if you are going in to teaching is that kids over there WANT to learn. Unlike kids over here that mainly see it as a burden to go to school and would rather be smoking dope and producing more kids. I had a couple of TEFL contacts when I was there and they said how much of a pleasure it was compared to teaching in the UK.
There are many cultural differences as you'd expect. Most of them I found 'fresh' and easy to accept.
Although like your other half, the food was the only issue I had.
That sounds superb, thank you very much! My current line of work is freight and logistics, but the TEFL thing is my back up plan, but the more I think about it, the more I wish to persue it, a fresh start in a new Country, with a new job which as you say, have people that are eagre to learn, rather than the misserable cod pieces in road transport!There are lots of contrasts around and this for me at least made China a very exciting place to visit.
Shanghai (the centre areas) is mainly high tech new buildings, very good public transport and nice and cheap coming from a European extortionate prices of travel.
(The new skyscraper should be well on its way to being completed by now - supposed to be about 2nd tallest in the world (I think) - it should be a good spectacle anyways.
The good thing if you are going in to teaching is that kids over there WANT to learn. Unlike kids over here that mainly see it as a burden to go to school and would rather be smoking dope and producing more kids. I had a couple of TEFL contacts when I was there and they said how much of a pleasure it was compared to teaching in the UK.
There are many cultural differences as you'd expect. Most of them I found 'fresh' and easy to accept.
Although like your other half, the food was the only issue I had.
The food I will love, and hav been fortunate enough in my relatively short working history to have worked with people from many different nationalities, and have always enjoyed the cultural aspect when observing and talking to different people.
M888SXY said:
Correct but they all speak Mandarin too.
Ah result! makes the £15 cd thing an even better buy! (will try and run some of it pass an old friend who is Mandarin, make sure I wont inadvertantly insult too many people when ordering in McDonalds 
peterperkins said:
Make sure you go on the maglev train from the station to the airport just for the hell of it. 451kmh 
I would love too, and may even make a trip of it, but we are taking the dog over with us, so may be a little impracticle (also may well be flying into Hong Kong then do an internal transfere to Shanghai, as it would mean minimal quarantine (although still has to be confirmed!)Andy_sx said:
Oh I will be trying pretty much all the street food I can, the missus on the other hand will not even entertain the thought, she is a fussy eater here, god knows how bad she will be out there! Cheers for the heads up on a fork, not something I would have thought of! I can use a chop stick if that means stabbing it into a pork ball??
Just be aware that it could very well be a pork 'ball' !! 
My grandad has been out there for 26 years. The city in which he used to live is nothing compared to now. The advances they have made in Shanghai since the 80s is incredible. He's been lucky to be part of the growth over there and made a real coup buying a new build apartment right in the heart of the city.
He works just outside the city and drives an old Buick of all things, he's managed 200,000KM in it! He learned the language over there when he first went and is now fluent in Mandarin and hates the 'slang and laziness' of what he calls the local accent of Shanghainese. They'll understand mandarin, but try to decifer their reply and you'll struggle. Apparently.
I've been over twice myself. Back in the nineties as an 8 year old and again when I was 13 in 2004. Due the visas we were able to simply go about the city of our own accord and back when I was 8, a little fair haired white boy was an absolute spectacle to most. One of the days I'd been stopped 30 times for people that wanted a picture with me and random people would rub my hair as I walked past.
My grandad is now in his mid 60s and looking to sell up over there and retire. I hope to go one more time before he does to get a taste of modern China.
He works just outside the city and drives an old Buick of all things, he's managed 200,000KM in it! He learned the language over there when he first went and is now fluent in Mandarin and hates the 'slang and laziness' of what he calls the local accent of Shanghainese. They'll understand mandarin, but try to decifer their reply and you'll struggle. Apparently.
I've been over twice myself. Back in the nineties as an 8 year old and again when I was 13 in 2004. Due the visas we were able to simply go about the city of our own accord and back when I was 8, a little fair haired white boy was an absolute spectacle to most. One of the days I'd been stopped 30 times for people that wanted a picture with me and random people would rub my hair as I walked past.
My grandad is now in his mid 60s and looking to sell up over there and retire. I hope to go one more time before he does to get a taste of modern China.
Nick, will remember that one just incase... it may well taste lovely, but cant say I would like to know, before or after!
Spanna, sounds awesome mate, and he kind of thing I like to hear, he made it his home and life
Bumped into my old boss this morning, who works for a shipping company, told him the news and that I noticed the company has a new office in Shanghai, and he is going to put a word in for me, which is another good potential for my independance out there
Spanna, sounds awesome mate, and he kind of thing I like to hear, he made it his home and life
Bumped into my old boss this morning, who works for a shipping company, told him the news and that I noticed the company has a new office in Shanghai, and he is going to put a word in for me, which is another good potential for my independance out there
Haven't checked the international forum for a while, live between HK and Shanghai when on this side of the world. Now based most of the time in Shanghai and busying myself here by getting into PH-related mischief.
F1 and Motorshow coming up, no PHers in town?
Good luck with the move and drop me a PM if you need any info.
F1 and Motorshow coming up, no PHers in town?
Good luck with the move and drop me a PM if you need any info.
Hi AJI, yes all settled in now thanks. Still so much to learn, but the city is amazing, so much to do and all so accessible as well, its like being in a different world.
Cant believe we have been here nearly 3 months already, and have been on holiday too since getting here (was meant to be a honeymoon, but it was that bad it got downgraded to massive waste of money). I am doing the TEFL teaching, and while I dont have many hours, its enough to keep me busy and also volunteer at my wife's school, turned a few full time jobs down and in some respects regret it, but the decision was made for the right reasons (lots of travel and newly married didnt tickle my fancy) but have learnt this place is more about who you know than what you know, so I am keeping upbeat.
Our apartment isnt the best (not like the ones we were shown before arriving here) but then the market went mental just before we arrived and made it very hard for the school to secure something suitable, but we have made it home and are opposite thumb / laya plaza and a 10 minute walk from the science and tech metro / fake market so a pretty decent location in my opinion.
Still have masses to learn about China, Shanghai and its people, but the culture shock is slowing down now (especially for the OH, I am a bit more blasé about things like that)
Thanks for all the advise everyone, made the process a lot easier for when we arrived
Cant believe we have been here nearly 3 months already, and have been on holiday too since getting here (was meant to be a honeymoon, but it was that bad it got downgraded to massive waste of money). I am doing the TEFL teaching, and while I dont have many hours, its enough to keep me busy and also volunteer at my wife's school, turned a few full time jobs down and in some respects regret it, but the decision was made for the right reasons (lots of travel and newly married didnt tickle my fancy) but have learnt this place is more about who you know than what you know, so I am keeping upbeat.
Our apartment isnt the best (not like the ones we were shown before arriving here) but then the market went mental just before we arrived and made it very hard for the school to secure something suitable, but we have made it home and are opposite thumb / laya plaza and a 10 minute walk from the science and tech metro / fake market so a pretty decent location in my opinion.
Still have masses to learn about China, Shanghai and its people, but the culture shock is slowing down now (especially for the OH, I am a bit more blasé about things like that)
Thanks for all the advise everyone, made the process a lot easier for when we arrived
Gassing Station | Asia | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff