In this estranged and far away land, it’s hard not to want an anchor, something to tie us to the lives we had before coming to China. In this spirit, I found myself doing something unexpected, I looked for a way to reconnect to something I didn’t even know was important to me; my university. I mean, sure, I loved my four years there, I paid enough for them, but I thought the only real thing tying me to it was the debt I still owed. And yet, here I was typing in the words “University of Wisconsin- Madison, Shanghai” into Google search. Don’t get me wrong, I have Badger pride, and were I to meet a fellow alumnus by chance, I would be thrilled. But searching for one? Not really my style. I suppose, however, that being so far away is what makes us appreciate certain things we overlooked at home; at least this is the case for me. As it turns out, there is an alumni association in Shanghai. I was more than happy to write an email to the president of the organization and he promptly informed me of a reception that would be held Monday, September 21 welcoming the governor of Wisconsin, Jim Doyle.
A few years ago we wrote an article about the perception of a boom time in China and in Shanghai in particular and how foreigners from all over the world were treading their way to Shanghai in hopes of creating their own niche in China's booming economy. Times have changed, but people are still coming. At the Shanghaiexpat Coffee Meeting, I am meeting some people who are just landing in Shanghai on their tourist visa and starting a job hunt. Brave people. I hired one recently.
Summer is the season that new wave of expats begin to make plans for their move to China. We see the traffic to 
Whilst it’s common for corporations and companies to have agreements with a few agencies to keep consistency and cut costs, if you find yours isn’t up to scratch, ask first if you can change to another agent within the agency or see if your company deals with anyone else. Most MNCs or SMEs will have two or three agencies they have agreements with and some will allow their employees to choose their own agent.
Trying to find a new home in China can be frustrating. Property agents work differently than in the West. Having worked in the expatriate property agency industry for many years and being an expat myself, I thought I would to try to help people understand what goes on inside the industry and what they can do to make their move to China a lot smoother and more enjoyable. So, if you are a bit bewildered by the choice of agents, here is some advice for you that I hope helps. You can also view rental listings on our website by clicking 
I was just wandering in the city one day and I happen to come upon this huge book store over by People Square. I walked in and it was packed! There was barely any room for me to move around and I was absolutely speechless at how many books there were.
Moving countries and cultures – how do children cope?
The leading Spanish hotel brand, Gran Meliá Hotels and Resorts, has started the expansion of its regional presence in Asia with its newest five-star hotel, Gran Meliá Shanghai, the brand's first property in China, open on December 12th 2009. It provides various access to the city's many cultural, entertainment and shopping attractions, accommodating discerning guests and business travelers from around the world.
If you are looking for a comfortable, yet affordable accommodation in Shanghai, you must consider old houses in Shanghai. There are several reasons for preferring old houses over the new developments in Shanghai.
Shanghai has become the first city, who offers the social security system to the expat group. Based on the rule, foreigners and overseas Chinese who hold a Shanghai residence card and stay in a work contract with a Shanghai employer can now enjoy the city's social security and benefits, just as the local residents do.