Shanghaiist: Living on 1,000 RMB a month in Shanghai

flea

Sun, 06 May 2007 02:35:27 +0800

This is sad in that it is just over $125 US dollars a month. Most Americans can't even feed themselves for 2 weeks with that much, but to someone else in the world, it could mean surviving for a month. We really need to examine the world as a whole and make some changes.

zhendong

Mon, 19 Mar 2007 19:24:56 +0800

Pierre, I didn't hear her say she chose Shanghai for money. She said she was interested in a "job she liked", where she could be "creative", and learn about an industry. So maybe she chose Shanghai for long-term career development. Also, how do you know what her other life choices are? So she chose short-term suffering over potential long-term suffering back home. This makes you tell her to shut up? What do you mean money is the thing all chinese people want? Are most foreigners really so different? Remember the social welfare system in China is not so strong, even basic health services are only really guaranteed by having access to money. I don't think Chinese pursue money out of greed.

shaunm

Fri, 09 Feb 2007 21:37:46 +0800

Yes I agree, she is a good writer.. but don't forget that is what copywriters are good at.. :-) She found a place for RMB 400? Amazing. Lowest I can find most of the time would be around RMB 1100 - 1500 - and that's just for a small room! This is one very strong minded person, I respect her a lot, I know how hard it is to live with very little income.

benoit

Sat, 27 Jan 2007 16:17:34 +0800

Your way to write is beautiful. You have right to stay in shanghai if you wantt. You are free to dream and to fight for a better life in this city. You should write (novel), you havea writter soul. I wish you the best

pierre

Thu, 18 Jan 2007 23:35:39 +0800

just one question: why you want to live in shanghai? for money,just for money,that's the thing all the chinese people want.you prefer the money to your life,is it right? don't say that the life is difficil because that's your choice,you want it.

cheeze

Sun, 14 Jan 2007 06:26:42 +0800

This is an inspiring piece. I hope good things are soon to come for the writer, whose resilience and optimism are admirable.

danchuckles

Sat, 13 Jan 2007 02:11:33 +0800

That's a difficult life! Less than a day's work in the west for a month of living in a western priced city in China....it seems improbable...if not impossible. Xiao Nao must be a most determined person, admirable in all her efforts. The pursuit of happiness...and all the excellencies of riches prescribed by Deng....blown up in the reality of life for the other billion or so farmers and migrant workers. A depressing picture if based soley on financial freedom, yet so many find hope and great motivation for today....indeed, the modern Chinese' determination and character is admirable.

yu888

Fri, 12 Jan 2007 10:03:58 +0800

Having just read the original soucre article in Chinese, i must say that both the original writer annd teh translation are beautiful. Stories like this really need to be told so that some of the whiners and losers take heed to those who are really willing to work for something they believe in rathe rthan just bitch about life not treating them well. Of course that said, i hope this particular writer gets a new job somewhere to write more about this life as there is some real talent and depth to her. I am sure more than a few ad companies would hire her away for more, even just based on her story.

Alex

Thu, 11 Jan 2007 09:38:04 +0800

All 4 can help themselves the most by learning how to get what they want through an honest living, and that is to excel in their jobs and to convince the people they work with/interview with that they can do a high-end job.

Li Yan

Thu, 11 Jan 2007 09:20:40 +0800

what matters most is not how much you are making. It's how your look at yourself and your life.

null

Thu, 11 Jan 2007 06:10:08 +0800

It is sad to read about the struggles of young people trying to make it anywhere in the world. I admire the positive attitude of the young lady and wish her the best of luck in pursuing her dreams.

Micah

Wed, 10 Jan 2007 22:08:00 +0800

Did you translate that? It's beautiful.