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CharlesB
Newbie
Joined: Feb 23, 2004
Posts: 3
Status: Offline
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Feb 25, 2004 - 08:20 PM |
 
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| Post subject: Just moved to Shanghai |
Hello people....
Just moved here to Shanghai a few weeks ago. Cannot speak yet, do not know my street address and have only walked around by myself within my neighborhood. (I do keep things like my address and phone number in my pocket) Mercy, sounds like I need to get out more!
Living in Pudong within a few miles of my work. My wife and daughter will not be arriving until May, mercy sooner if I can get it done.
Even though I have not made it around much, I love it! I cannot wait until I learn the language. Just a few questions for now.
Anyone know where I may get a good CD rom language program?
My daughter is 5 years old. Do the international schools go to class all year or have summer breaks as they do in the States?
I would like my daugher to go to a school where half the day is Chinese, the other English. I want her to learn the language and even learn to write. ...At least for a couple of years. Anyone know if there are any within Pudong?
I am from Oklahoma, small town about 35k (well medium for Ok) and my wife grew up in a town of 1200. 16 million people is a lot of change!
I have been told there are westerners living near me....have not found anyone on my little walks...pondering....wondering if they stay in too much also. I'm living off Nunan Road, Nanhui District.
May need lots of help and very gratefull for it all!
Charles |
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nzyyf7
Newbie
Joined: Feb 11, 2004
Posts: 6
Status: Offline
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Feb 25, 2004 - 09:44 PM |
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Charles,
Instead of helping you out, I would like to ask you a favor. Since I am still in States and will be moving out to work in Shanghai in June. I would really appreciate if you can forward any answers you got regarding school - half day in Chinese and the rest in English, becasue I have a duaghter 6 years old too. Thanks in advance.
tony.xie@delphi.com
Tony |
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yu888
Board Deity
Joined: Jan 25, 2003
Posts: 18042
Location: ZhongShanParkArea SH
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Feb 26, 2004 - 02:09 AM |
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Wow, first off, welcome to Shanghai! It seems you have made the jump before some of your questions have been answered, but I think you will likely do fine. I think that a live tuotr/ teacher will likely do beter than tapes, and given the inexpensive cost of labor here, you may just find that to work better.
Not sure about schools since I dont have kids yet.
Come to PuXi on Saturday mornings around 11 (see "Announcements") for our weekly coffee meet so that you can get your weekly dose of English speaking and compare notes with others! |
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Michael
Moderator
Joined: Mar 22, 2002
Posts: 5291
Status: Offline
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Feb 26, 2004 - 10:29 AM |
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Hey Charles,
Welcome. Yes, you have to get downtown a bit. Come to the coffee meeting on Saturdays and see whats up. Thats a start.
Language wise -the first thing you should probably learn is how to tell a taxi driver where to go. You can have someone at your complex write down something the taxi driver will understand.. but getting around in taxis ( if you don't have a driver) is really a starting place. You can also taxi to the subway in PuDong and take the subway to the coffee meeting.
Real learning of course, comes with practice. You should find a tutor who can come out there or someone you can meet somewhere close. Start you own language notebook and write down a few new words everyday. Good CDROMs and books are available - check the foreign language book store on Fuzhou Lu near FuJian Lu. Get yourself a little red dictionary and keep it with you.
You should probably contact the schools directly. It may depend a lot on what is close to you. Most have websites listed in the weblinks section or in the Yellowpages of the site. |
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MaryR.
Reacher
Joined: Aug 26, 2003
Posts: 317
Location: Shanghai!
Status: Offline
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Feb 26, 2004 - 10:58 AM |
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Hi Charles,
That´s great if you get a little familiar with the city before your wife and daughter come - my husband could do a little navigating, and it made things go a lot quicker for me!
I´m working with a tutor, I´ll check and see if she still has openings, and if you like she can contact you through this board. She´s great - we´ve been meeting less than 2 months, and I think I´ve made a good amount of progress.
Take advantage of any services your housing offers - mine offered a shuttle bus to shopping areas, I went to all of them even if I wasn´t interested. It was a good way to see what´s out there. As Michael said, get familiar with the taxi/subway system, you can get around without much chinese at all. Try to meet other foreigners in your building/area, and ask them for recommendations on close restaurants, stores, etc. (I met a lot of my neighbors on the shuttle bus!) Browse this board, and you´ll get LOTS of good information. Every weekend we pick a new area to try to "explore" and I feel like I know a good amount for the time we´ve been here (4 months). During your free time act like a tourist rather than sitting at home!
I´ve also never lived in such a big city - 500,000 max for me, but I really love it here. There´s so much to do and see, and I almost always feel safe.
Ask if you have any other questions, someone on here can usually answer the weirdest of questions!
Take care,
Mary |
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Mandorla
Seeker
Joined: Dec 16, 2003
Posts: 45
Status: Offline
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Feb 26, 2004 - 04:14 PM |
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I hear that the INSTANT IMMERSION 8 CD Mandarin set is supposed to be good. Worth a try. |
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ashcan
Seeker
Joined: Dec 17, 2003
Posts: 43
Status: Offline
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Feb 26, 2004 - 09:24 PM |
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Hi Charles. I am not yet in Shanghai, but will be in August with my wife and 2 daughters. We will also be living in Pudong (somewhere - not sure where yet though!!). I am a teacher and will be teaching at Concordia International. It is an American School and primarily teaches in English, however there is a daily component of Mandarin. This is not half day, however I am fairly sure it may be an hour a day. I have a 5 year old who will go to Kindy so I am pleased that she will be exposed to the language from such an early age!!
Might catch up with you when we arrive if you are still walking the neighbourhood!
Cheers
Paul |
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okido
Rocker
Joined: Sep 14, 2003
Posts: 667
Location: A planet called Earth
Status: Offline
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Feb 27, 2004 - 01:25 AM |
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Charles,
For things to do, check out the Calendar section in this website. There are LOTS of things, events, activities, posted there for people to enjoy what this city can offer.
Cheers
Okido |
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CharlesB
Newbie
Joined: Feb 23, 2004
Posts: 3
Status: Offline
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Feb 29, 2004 - 09:26 AM |
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Thanks everyone!
Thus far I have only walked to and back from a little market near my house. Each day I get a little braver and will make it downtown to meet a few of you.
I want to get a bike within the next week or so and ride to work each day. For now I am riding with a co-worker or being picked up by the company driver but want to be on my own more. As soon as I can get to the Metro shopping cntr, I will pick up a bike. And yeah... I see that I must grow eyes out the back of my head....
Middle of this week I got sat TV, the reception is poor....is this normal? Had DSL installed yesterday and thus far seems normal.
From what I gather much of what I see here in Pudong is new, only a few years old. My house for example was built in 2001 yet I am suprised how old it apears in some ways. I also understand that the value has increased significantly in the last couple of years, sounds like a great investment. Anyone have any experience in buying homes? I will be here for the next five years, just thinking it may be worth doing in the near future.
Do motor sports exist at all here in China? I put a lot of hobbies on hold to come to China, raced motorcycles and ATV's. Before making this move I had checked and knew there were little to none in China, but almost feel that if there is any kind of horsepower and humans together there must be some kind of motor sports. Just curious.... Sometimes being a gearhead is hell.....
Charles |
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Hans
Reacher
Joined: Feb 01, 2004
Posts: 225
Status: Offline
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Feb 29, 2004 - 12:48 PM |
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| CharlesB wrote: |
Do motor sports exist at all here in China? I put a lot of hobbies on hold to come to China, raced motorcycles and ATV's. Before making this move I had checked and knew there were little to none in China, but almost feel that if there is any kind of horsepower and humans together there must be some kind of motor sports. Just curious.... Sometimes being a gearhead is hell.....
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Gearheads & Motorsports....
well, there is the Tianma Circuit http://www.stc2002.com/ and the F1 Track http://www.f1china.com.cn brings Formula One Races as of this year (26th.september) and Shanghai Red Devils motorcycle club: www.butchshanghai.com and a couple of outdoor / indoor go-kart tracks. your living in Nanhui county? there is go-kart track opposite Magnolia Seaside Resort (near Binhai Golf course). yeah, once a year they have the infamous 333 rallye, old VW Santana's with rollcages and "drilled" exhaust systems.....(goes around Sheshan mountain every year april/may), good for a laugh.
happy trails! Hans |
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CharlesB
Newbie
Joined: Feb 23, 2004
Posts: 3
Status: Offline
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Feb 29, 2004 - 02:42 PM |
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Hans,
Thanks alot!
Charles |
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trunk_monkey
Newbie
Joined: Feb 11, 2004
Posts: 4
Status: Offline
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Feb 29, 2004 - 10:05 PM |
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Hey Charles,
I just arrived in Shanghai a few weeks myself. I was going to head out to the Tian Ma local track to talk to head of the motorcycle club out there. I used to race a bit in the US at the MRA in Colorado, so I’m looking for something with a bit of speed. The fellow at the track told me he has some 125cc GP bikes and some rumors about some 250’s. Their not racing them at the moment because there isn’t enough interest locally to put together a light GP class. But at the very least it should be a hoot to see the scoots running around for the afternoon. Anyway, I was going to collect some additionally info and I’ll let you know if I find anything new from what Hans already posted. Spring is coming and I’m getting the itch. |
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thatsshanghai
Newbie
Joined: Sep 02, 2004
Posts: 1
Status: Offline
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Sep 03, 2004 - 02:00 PM |
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Charles:
There is an American International school in Shanghai. And there are a lot of Bilingual schools in Shanghai. Should be no problem for your daughter to find an ideal school.
I am a local Shanghainese, if there is anything I could help, please let me know.
BarkleyShi
shihaiguang2@hotmail.com |
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