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 😉
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
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 😀
Katie @ byootaful.com
Hehe yeah we’ve been going crazy eating here… time to cut back!
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 😀
Katie @ byootaful.com
Hehe yeah we’ve been going crazy eating here… time to cut back!
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.
I know! All the crickets were just standing there.. maybe they were happy being fed and so didn’t wanna run off 😉
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.
I know! All the crickets were just standing there.. maybe they were happy being fed and so didn’t wanna run off 😉
Be safe hun… sometimes sticking to Western stuff may save your life…
Hahha that is super dramatic! 😉
Be safe hun… sometimes sticking to Western stuff may save your life…
Hahha that is super dramatic! 😉
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 🙂
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.
i figure if we’re IN the country, hopefully learning the language will be easier? *fingers crossed*
glad you & chris are settling in fine and dandy in SHA! =)
weeell.. getting there! 🙂
ok get to know your surroundings well k, so i can pop by anytime and you can bring me around! :DD
Wow fluent by the end of the year? Big goal! 🙂 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 😉
Hey we’re THISCLOSE to moving to Top Of City at Jingan.. have you heard much about it??
You can do it! 🙂 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 😉
good luck!! 🙂 i know you can do it!!
I love stupid lil gatchy things like that 😉
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 🙂
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!
How long are you going to be in Shanghai for?
Minimum will be 2 yrs..
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.
i figure if we’re IN the country, hopefully learning the language will be easier? *fingers crossed*
glad you & chris are settling in fine and dandy in SHA! =)
weeell.. getting there! 🙂
ok get to know your surroundings well k, so i can pop by anytime and you can bring me around! :DD
I’m sure you’ll be able to acheive your goal. You’re always so motivated.
Weeeeelll… we’ll see how we go once Dec rocks round 😉
Wow fluent by the end of the year? Big goal! 🙂 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 😉
Hey we’re THISCLOSE to moving to Top Of City at Jingan.. have you heard much about it??
You can do it! 🙂 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 😉
good luck!! 🙂 i know you can do it!!
I love stupid lil gatchy things like that 😉
How long are you going to be in Shanghai for?
Minimum will be 2 yrs..
I’m sure you’ll be able to acheive your goal. You’re always so motivated.
Weeeeelll… we’ll see how we go once Dec rocks round 😉