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Being the new guy anywhere sucks, but being brand new to a country can really be scary. Rebuilding social networks and finding the places to operate a functioning household are tough in any new enviroment, but can be doubly difficult when faced with a seemingly insurmountable language and culture barrier. For those still trying to figure which side is Pudong and which is Puxi, this Saturday there might be help:
CCI and Kathleen Lau, author of Riding the Dragon: A Practical Guide to Living in Shanghai, are pleased to announce the second annual fair dedicated to newcomers in Shanghai. The seminar will be held on Saturday, September 24, all day at Kathleen’s 5 Rooftop Restaurant & Bar.This is the only event of its kind in Shanghai, giving an opportunity for newly arrived foreigners to learn from Shanghai-experienced expats about many interesting and useful topics. Meet other newcomers and get all the information you need to settle in Shanghai from foreigners who have been here for many years. Workshops include setting up a small business as a foreigner, learning survival Chinese and buying Chinese antiques. Participating fair exhibitors include: real estate, travel agencies, language schools, health services, etc.
Yeah, buying Chinese antiques will surely help anyone get by. And this seminar is in Puxi, by the way.
Saturday, September 24, 9:30 am – 6 pm, Kathleen's 5, 5F Shanghai Art Museum, 325 Nanjing Xi Lu (near Huangpi Bei Lu). Tickets: 200 RMB per person (includes lunch, seminar sessions, and fair entrance).
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I'm intereseted in why the author thinks Puxi is a plus for this event.
Also, I'm with the poster on ShanghaiExpat who says you might get more out of attending a Sunday coffee meeting or ShanghaiExpat mixer and making some friends there. But then, that's just a hunch.
And come on, "Riding the Dragon"?
Ignore that last comment, I'm just feeling hyper-cynical today.
I think the Puxi mention at the end was in reference to this earlier sentence: "For those still trying to figure which side is Pudong and which is Puxi ..." In fact, I know it was -- because I added it to the post. Agreed that Riding the Dragon is weak. If the dragon exists in China, it most definitely doesn't reside in Shanghai.
Kathleen (the author) has been around for a long time. She started the original "That's" magazine in Guangzhou and then started the Shanghai edition as well. She had the original Kathleen's restaurant on MaoMing, that transitioned into KABB (Kathleen's American Bistro). And the location of the fair is at her latest restaurant. And the book is a good read, specially if you are new.
Still, "Riding the Dragon"?