Uncategorized RELOCATION CITY TOUR 11 February 2009

Had our relocation agent take us out on Saturday for a city tour/sightsee. Specifically, we wanted to see where we could buy groceries (both local and Western), electronics, get clothes tailored, go to an (English-speaking) doctor, etc.. Basically all the neat ‘lil things that will make life smoother and easier in Shanghai. It’s overwhelming but SO MUCH FUN to discover an entirely new city.. it’s brilliant! I’m looking forward to settling into the rythmn of things and making Shanghai my home.

There is massive, massive temptation here to just squirrel yourself away and stick to all the Western areas, activities, etc…. simply because it’s just easier. I can’t even describe how tough it is simply to have a conversation with a random local. My head hurts at the end of each day from the sheer amount of concentration and effort needed – for something as simple as just having a conversation with someone.

My resolution though is that by the end of this year, I’ll be ‘just like a local’ – to be fully accustomed (ie. don’t swear like crazy and hate ’em) to the local customs and shoving, to be well-acquainted with my surroundings and now where all the “Best (whatever)” are, and most of all, to be fluent in Chinese. I may very well just fall flat on my face and have a breakdown and insist we pack our bags and leave, but at least I’d have tried πŸ˜‰

Wish me luck!


The amazing City Shop, the expat-friendly supermarket

They even have POP TARTS!!!!!!! *squee*

Huge Japanese supermarket

Going past Jingan Temple

A whole street selling antiques and nick nacks

A live (!) cricket for sale at the Pet Market

A pot of lovely chrysanthemum tea


Let’s Chat!




Let's Chat!

You’ve been so busy while I’ve been away! It’s taken me so long to get through all the fabulous food pics – omg, you’ve had some really good food. Mmm πŸ˜€

Katie @ byootaful.com

You’ve been so busy while I’ve been away! It’s taken me so long to get through all the fabulous food pics – omg, you’ve had some really good food. Mmm πŸ˜€

Katie @ byootaful.com

omg, why didn’t the cricket jump away?! yikes! Those shops and streets all look so interesting.

Wishing you both loads of luck, love, but I know you can do it, albeit I know it’s not easy. Hopefully you’ll get to live somewhere that is a good mix of both worlds.

omg, why didn’t the cricket jump away?! yikes! Those shops and streets all look so interesting.

Wishing you both loads of luck, love, but I know you can do it, albeit I know it’s not easy. Hopefully you’ll get to live somewhere that is a good mix of both worlds.

Relocating is hard! Especially from one completely different country to another. All the best but you’re so easygoing and bubbly, I’m sure you’ll do just fine πŸ™‚

yeah, it is SUCH a mega different.. but as Chris said, that’s exactly what’s so fun about it, heh. this year is gonna be crazy!

Wow, what a HUGE cricket!

The supermarkets look awesome!

I know Chinese is a very hard language to learn and master, but I have full confidence you will beat your goal and be much happier already within 60 to 90 days.

Wow fluent by the end of the year? Big goal! πŸ™‚ Good luck though!

Hah, city shop. There was one of those right near me (like less than 10 mins walk) but I never bothered with it (except to buy some peanut butter M&Ms cos we don’t get those in Australia) because it was SO overpriced. The Germans all like to get sandwiches from there though!

Japanese supermarket – have you tried Natto? It’s this fermented bean thing. Apparently it’s like Vegemite for us, it’s one of those things that Japanese kids grow up eating and therefore love, but everyone else thinks it’s gross. I’m in the “it’s gross” camp. Ew.

But city shop has VEGEMITE!!! we bought that, Reese’s peanut butter and some european jam. it came up to 188RMB… freakin’ hell. Nothanks to natto though, it sounds way too weird πŸ˜‰

Hey we’re THISCLOSE to moving to Top Of City at Jingan.. have you heard much about it??

You can do it! πŸ™‚ I agree there is nothing like discovering a new area. It’s a challenge…but a fun one. I am DYING over that cricket! How did you get so close? I would have fainted, haha!

hehe I used the zoom on my lens and put my body far faaaar away as far as i could be! there were TONS of em all round.. i was clinging onto chris πŸ˜‰

Relocating is hard! Especially from one completely different country to another. All the best but you’re so easygoing and bubbly, I’m sure you’ll do just fine πŸ™‚

yeah, it is SUCH a mega different.. but as Chris said, that’s exactly what’s so fun about it, heh. this year is gonna be crazy!

Wow, what a HUGE cricket!

The supermarkets look awesome!

I know Chinese is a very hard language to learn and master, but I have full confidence you will beat your goal and be much happier already within 60 to 90 days.

Wow fluent by the end of the year? Big goal! πŸ™‚ Good luck though!

Hah, city shop. There was one of those right near me (like less than 10 mins walk) but I never bothered with it (except to buy some peanut butter M&Ms cos we don’t get those in Australia) because it was SO overpriced. The Germans all like to get sandwiches from there though!

Japanese supermarket – have you tried Natto? It’s this fermented bean thing. Apparently it’s like Vegemite for us, it’s one of those things that Japanese kids grow up eating and therefore love, but everyone else thinks it’s gross. I’m in the “it’s gross” camp. Ew.

But city shop has VEGEMITE!!! we bought that, Reese’s peanut butter and some european jam. it came up to 188RMB… freakin’ hell. Nothanks to natto though, it sounds way too weird πŸ˜‰

Hey we’re THISCLOSE to moving to Top Of City at Jingan.. have you heard much about it??

You can do it! πŸ™‚ I agree there is nothing like discovering a new area. It’s a challenge…but a fun one. I am DYING over that cricket! How did you get so close? I would have fainted, haha!

hehe I used the zoom on my lens and put my body far faaaar away as far as i could be! there were TONS of em all round.. i was clinging onto chris πŸ˜‰