Full Version: Learn what life is like in Shanghai, China for Australian scientist Tim

Learn what life is like in Shanghai, China for Australian scientist Tim

[img]http://expatinterviews.com/files/imagecache/thumb/files/th_Tim-Beckenham.jpg[/img]Moving to Shanghai, China, where he now lives with his girlfriend, wasn’t in Australian expat Tim’s initial plans. However, he’s finding Shanghai to be a good location to finish his education and exercise his skills as a scientist and as an instructor. Read Tim’s account of various aspects of living in China - from his learning of the language to the cost of housing to the wealth of activities that the city of Shanghai has to offer.
  
Tim Beckenham  



October 28 2006

-Where were you born?
I was born in Hay, New South Wales, Australia. Yes, that's one of the places featured in Bill Bryson's book “Down Under.” I spent a lot of my youth traveling around with my family. For the last few years, I called Brisbane, Queensland my hometown.

-In which country and city are you living now?
Shanghai, People's Republic of China

-Are you living alone or with your family?
I live with my awesome girlfriend Linda.

-How long have you been living in China?
We have been living in Shanghai for 18 months.

-What is your age?
I'm (gulp) 29.

-When did you come up with the idea of living in China?
Honestly, I never really considered Shanghai or China as a place to live and work. Before coming to Shanghai, I was studying as a graduate student in Australia. I had always planned on leaving Australia after studying, but always envisaged that I'd end up somewhere in Europe or North America. However, while searching for science-related jobs, I found an awesome job description with a great company and I decided to roll my luck. After researching more about Shanghai and China, I thought this was such a great life opportunity that I accepted an offered position. After a year and a half and lot of effort, the job itself didn't work out, so now I'm looking for that next opportunity in Shanghai.

-Was it hard to get a visa or a working permit?
Not at all. The company that hired me provided a migration agent service that provided me with a Z class visa which is one of the classes of visa that allows you to work and stay in China. The requirements for a Z class visa included passing a thorough medical exam, establishing my expert credentials and sponsorship by my employer, as well as other standard background checks. This may sound daunting, as there's a lot of red tape in most Chinese bureaucracy; however, with a little patience & research you can do this yourself. Many expats also recommend renewing or changing Chinese visas in Hong Kong.

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?
This was provided by the company during my term of employment. Now, I'm self-insured using an international insurance plan.

-How do you make your living in China? Do you have any type of income generated?
I was working as a contracted research & development scientist for General Electric. I found this job through the Internet advertisements; I applied and was successful in my application. The recruitment process took about six weeks. Unfortunately, I left this job two months ago as my hired job description wasn't being met, it wasn't creating nor would it create a path towards my chosen career goals, nor would it develop my skills as a scientist during my contracted term of employment. As these were the key reasons for me to come to Shanghai, quitting that job was a tough decision considering the commitment taken to relocate overseas, and particularly as I brought my partner with me.

-Do you speak Chinese and do you think it's important to speak the local language?
When we arrived in China, neither I nor my girlfriend spoke any Chinese languages. During my time here, I have learnt basic Chinese Mandarin. Linda has progressed much further than myself and is currently studying at a language college. I have been lucky to travel widely during my life so far, and one value I have taken to heart is that I believe it is respectful to learn the language and culture of the place you live. Most people warm to a little bit of interaction in their local language, and in Shanghai especially, so throw in a little bit of Shanghaihua! (Shanghai's local dialect). I would recommend acquiring some basic Chinese Mandarin - it makes life a lot easier.

-Do you miss home and family sometimes?
I miss my family and my old friends. Luckily for me, there's only a negligible time difference between China and Australia so it is relatively easy to stay in touch. Ready and available access to the Internet makes a huge difference in making life comfortable in China. Shanghai is so big that most people's interests can be covered. There are both vibrant and emerging scenes in Shanghai that cater to almost every facet of recreation. I tend to take advantage of the numerous sporting associations around this city. As Shanghai is also in the world's eye, it is a dynamic place that attracts an endless stream of exhibitions and other major events. It is definitely a place for people with short attention spans.

-Do you have other plans for the future?
After leaving my job, I was lucky enough to enjoy two months of travel. In the short-term, I'm concentrating on completing my education and finding work that complements my skills as a biologist/research scientist/instructor. I have received a number of proposals from contacts that I have forged during my time in China regarding potential businesses and manufacturing of innovative products and this appeals to my creativity and interests. In the long-term I'm definitely looking to pursue a career in applied environmental sciences with a focus in biotechnology & the scientific service industries whether that be in China or elsewhere in the world.

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?
Buy in Shanghai? The real estate is equivalent or more expensive than prices back in Australia! We rent an excellent, fully-furnished 135 square-metre three-bedroom apartment in downtown Shanghai that boasts its own drinking room. The rental cost is approximately USD$700 a month, and most of our expat friends believe this is a huge bargain. The Shanghai rental market is notorious for its inflated prices on rental apartments. Many prices are negotiable, NEVER take the first offer, and bargain hard! Anything is negotiable. There is always an empty apartment in Shanghai, it is definitely a renter's market for apartments. You could expect to pay anywhere between RMB2000 (USD250) per month for a basic two-bedroom apartment or above USD$6000 per month for a villa living out in the suburbs.

-What is the cost of living in China?
Like rental apartments, you can pay any price for anything here in Shanghai. A truly Western lifestyle will cost you the same if not more than back at home particularly in the areas of western dining, health insurance and schooling. This can be offset by the low prices of basic necessities and labour. For expats on high incomes and large packages, you can earn a lot of money by living in Shanghai. However, most major MNC's have cut back on many of the perks and if you're not diligent in your negotiation & research before relocating you could end up having little monetary benefit by relocating.

-What do you think about the Chinese people? How do they treat foreigners?
How you get treated in life depends on the people you interact with. It’s the same for life in China. Like all cities of +15 million people, you get a complex cross-section of people. Most Chinese are mildly curious about waiguoren (foreigners), with others curious to the point of obnoxiousness. Be prepared for staring and random shouts of 'HELLO!' from all corners. In general, the Chinese people are friendly, respectful and gracious people. On the flipside, some citizens’ personal hygiene practices leave a lot to be desired, and I have commonly encountered an unrepentant streak of contempt exhibited towards non-Han Chinese people based upon either blatantly racist, anti-Western or Chinese-superiority sentiments.

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in China?
You will always be stimulated by your surroundings in China. There's so much life and activity that you should never complain of boredom. Again, the cost of living is quite low and you can live well on little, or like royalty on just a little bit more. Shanghai and the rest of China are so densely populated that it is difficult to truly find some solitude. I really miss green-space, wilderness, and peace & quiet. Despite any preparations, most expats are subjected to a massive culture shock when they first arrive in China. Many expats also lament the poor air quality and pollution around major Chinese urban areas.

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in China?
Shanghai is an amazing city. I would definitely recommend the lifestyle here and the exposure to Chinese culture. Professional work is often much more difficult than back home due to communications across time zones, and cultural and language difficulties. Many China-based expats also find there are greater pressures and expectations about delivering business and meeting goals in China from back home, yet these difficulties might not be fully appreciated. Urban centres such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hong Kong are very, very different from other second-tier cities in China, so be careful to do your homework on any placements in cities outside these areas. A Western lifestyle will be much more difficult to lead outside these centres. Be respectful of the contrasts in cultures between the Chinese and the West. Expectation gaps between different cultural backgrounds can cause problems at times. Patient & clear communication about your expectations and concerns will counter most problems when crossing this expectation gap.

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about China?
There are a lot of resources for foreigners living in Shanghai. The best repository of information about life in Shanghai has to be the Shanghai Expat forum. Wangjianshuo's blog also contains a lot of step-by-step information about Shanghai. For entertainment & nightlife, check out Shanghaiist and smartshanghai.com. For other bits and bites, you could just check out my own site that links to all the other goodies I've discovered about Shanghai and China but ran out of space for here.