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November 30, 2011

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Home » Feature » Education

Slowly adjusting to life in Shanghai

I came to China because my father was assigned to work here in China, and eventually he made my family move here because most of his work was centralized in China. So there was not much need to stay in Singapore anymore.

I found it difficult to immediately adjust to the studies and the way lessons and everything else was taught. I was only used to a Singapore school curriculum, so it took time to get used to everything being taught and how it was taught at SSIS.

We might not understand the cultural background and traditions of another race when going overseas to study, so we might accidentally hurt someone's feelings or insult their culture by saying things that you actually didn't even mean in the first place.

I like that the city is big, and has many shops located very close to many homes here and there and everywhere, so it's very easy to buy things that are just a step away from your house. I also like that there is a huge variety of things you can eat in restaurants in Shanghai, including Western, Thai and Indian. And restaurants aren't hard to find either. They're usually close to estates and houses, and are always easy to get to.

I have made a fair amount of Chinese friends at school, at my home estate and so on. Usually if the people are from my school, I met them because I knew them sometimes when other friends of mine mention their name, or I knew them because they were in my classes before.

The great, spicy food of Singapore and the nice temperatures in Singapore are kind of what I miss most. I'm not used to chilly Shanghai, as when I first moved here, it was already autumn. But I am getting used to it with the help of thicker jackets and clothes and a heater.

My goals for coming to China were to improve my understanding of Chinese culture and language and to broaden my horizons.

I have learned more about ancient Chinese culture and also other practical activities related to Chinese culture. Still, I have a long way to go!




 

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