Shanghai

When you’re walking around China speaking in English, or looking particularly western, you’re guaranteed to get questions, stares, picture requests, or all of the above. Whether you’re eating at a restaurant or just standing in line, locals are always curious to know what brings you to China. I’ts always interesting to hear what questions locals have and being able to ask them questions as well about Shanghai. Especially walking around on campus, students often come up to me asking to practice their English. It can feel intimidating practicing your Chinese with locals at times, but eventually with practice it becomes easier and easier. My favorite way to start a conversation is by asking locals what they’re eating and if they have any recommendations at a restaurant. People are always excited to talk about food and introduce foreigners to new dishes.
Especially in Shanghai, there is no shortage of malls, markets, shopping plazas, or stores. There’s a joke locals like to make that every week it seems that they’re opening the new best mall in Shanghai. There is such a wide spectrum of places to shop that it’s possible to accommodate any type of budget. Fake markets are especially famous here. At the fake market you can find a wide range of copy brand name products like bags, shoes, electronics, and even swell water bottles. Because most items are significantly cheaper in Shanghai than the US, it’s also very easy to get carried away with buying a lot and not realizing how much you’re spending. Furthermore, as someone who typically uses a credit card for most purchases it’s been an adjustment having to solely use cash. When only using cash, a trip to the ATM becomes more of a ritual. As a result, I’ve found it to be useful to account how much I spend everyday just so I’m cognizant of what my spending habits are.