If you have never been in China it's probably not what you expect it to be. If you come here for the first time from a western country, you're more than likely going to feel severe culture shock. Some people, especially if they are sent here by their company overseas, can't handle it and are gone a couple of weeks later. The food, the language, the people and their ways are completely different from what you are used to back home. Unless you go there for vacation, brace yourself and get ready!
On the second night after arriving in Shanghai I was woken up at 4.30am by what I thought was rapid gunfire right outside my hotel window. The sound was so loud I panicked. I threw myself out of the bed and onto the floor, peaked out the window and saw bright flashes, thick smoke and a few people out there on the otherwise dark street. A couple of seconds later it went silent again and I sat there confused with the heart rate of a rabbit.
Later that morning I found out that it was just fireworks. I would imagine that the amount of explosives in these firecrackers exceeds what is legal in most western countries. They set off firecrackers to celebrate, in this case the opening of a new store just across the street from my hotel window.
If you manage to handle the initial culture shock however, you adapt and learn these often strange ways of the Chinese culture.
I'm not going to get political in this blog, China sure has it's flaws, but it is by far the most interesting place I have ever been to. It is incredibly rewarding to live here, and you will come across people and opportunities you wouldn't find anywhere else. I have been living in Shanghai for 6 years now and I have gained experiences and learnt lessons I will never forget. Often you need to adapt way more than you might be comfortable with, stepping out of that comfort zone daily is rough and exhausting at times, but for me the reward outweighs the discomfort.
China is also the most convenient place you can live in, even for someone that does not speak the language. Public transportation costs a few cents, taxi/uber is very cheap, the metro can take you across town for $1, bullet train between Shanghai and Beijing (1100+ km) is 4 hours and $75. Everything can be ordered right to your door for practically nothing. If you never had to go to work, go out to meet friends or walk your dog, you could literally stay in your apartment forever.
If you ever get a chance to go here, for work or studies I can highly recommend it. There is something for everyone. Want to go get drunk and drive go-karts with your friends? Do it. Want a guided tour of downtown at 5am in the morning on an electric skateboard? Go for it. Air-guitar tournaments? Sure. Military theme park/museum with an actual aircraft carrier, tanks and a submarine? Have that too. Shopping? World class. Comedy clubs, karaoke, crypto/blockchain events? No problem.
I would also like to cover how it was during the pandemic outbreak last year. I have seen many news articles and verified Twitter accounts talking and speculating about how it really was and what was actually happening here. I will try to describe my experience in the next post.
