Possibly moving to Shanghai...need help!

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mem0998

Reacher

Joined: May 25, 2005
Posts: 266
Location: NJ
Status: Offline

Posted: May 25, 2005 - 02:16 AM
Post subject: Possibly moving to Shanghai...need help!

Hi,
my husband may be transferred to Shanghai in August for his job. We have two daughters...16 and 11. We're Americans.

I have so many questions..if anybody could respond I would appreciate any help you can give me.

Is American tv available anywhere..? What about movies...any movie theaters show American movies in English?

What about clothing? Are there American sizes available (really what I mean by this is..will I find clothes to fit my non-Asian body type?) Or do I need to do as much shopping as possible in US?

Finally (for now!), does anyone know how expat kids behave? Are they better behaved than kids in US (in terms of drug use, alcohol use, etc). Or are things worse because they may be so privileged?

I know I sound very foolish, and perhaps biased. I am excited about this opportunity and also very scared. I am trying to figure out what our new normal would be.

Thanks again for anyone who can offer advise...Melissa

tnmom

LoopKicker

Joined: Mar 04, 2004
Posts: 931
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline

Posted: May 25, 2005 - 06:53 AM

Quote:

my husband may be transferred to Shanghai in August for his job. We have two daughters...16 and 11. We're Americans.

First issue for you will be getting a school lined up that meets your needs. Choices for older grades are more limited and it's an important stage in your kids' education (I have a 15,13 and 10 year old and school was our big issue when we moved here last summer). The American School has a waiting list and you are probably already too late - not sure about Concordia's space available or any of the other schools with upper grades.

Quote:

Is American tv available anywhere..? What about movies...any movie theaters show American movies in English?

Our housing compound provides sattelite TV that has a few American channels: CNN, MSNBC, BBC, HBO, Star Movies, Star World, Discovery, Cartoon Network. Star World shows a lot of American TN including Oprah and American Idol. THe channels vary from place to place. If you want additional choices you can purchase your own sattelite system. There are English movies in theaters, but DVDs are only $1 so we have never gone to the movies.

Quote:

What about clothing? Are there American sizes available (really what I mean by this is..will I find clothes to fit my non-Asian body type?) Or do I need to do as much shopping as possible in US?

Depends on your size - if you are larger than a US 8 you will have difficulty buying clothing off the rack. You can get knock off stuff at the market or have items made at the fabric market or by a tailor. Shoes are a bigger issue if you wear larger than a US 8.

Quote:

Finally (for now!), does anyone know how expat kids behave? Are they better behaved than kids in US (in terms of drug use, alcohol use, etc). Or are things worse because they may be so
privileged?

I think kids are pretty much like they were in the US. There's a little more freedom here because it's a pretty safe place. Like the US, a lot depends on the parents. There are a good share of "absent" working parents that are not supervising their kids well - but I saw that a lot in the US too. Our family rules have pretty much remained the same but we are a little more restrictive than other families.

Magnolia
Board Biatch

Joined: June 01, 2004
Posts: 31098

Posted: May 25, 2005 - 11:53 AM

I would concur with all that tnmom has said.

While the DVD's are inexpensive and found virtually everywhere, should your kids want to see a movie in a theatre, there are a limited number of Western and American movies released in Shanghai each year. You will want to be sure that the screenings are in English with Chinese subtitles rather than dubbed. The new Star Wars movie has released at the same time as everywhere else, but they may get a kick out of telling their friends back home that they already have the DVD, which was available the next day (and a good copy).

I am a bit strange about clothes and don't really enjoy shopping here. It's just more difficult and time consuming. Would possibly suggest stocking up on basics and such at home so the kids have those and then feeling out the shops and such for styles that they like.

No kids myself and for the most part, I don't see that many teens around, but every once in a while, you will see a few in the dive bars... but that is rare. Not sure what happens in the younger clubs or if they are there or not.

Shanghai is a great city and while there will be challenges, there will be a tons of wonderful things to explore!

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