There are some major differences/peculiarities:
- Slow internet with many restrictions
- As Western as Shanghai is, most people don’t speak English
- People still smoke indoors everywhere and anywhere
- Chinese people are not big coffee drinkers, mostly tea
- You cook in a Wok, as opposed to in a pan; you have a rice cooker
- Most things are very cheap: food, taxis, going out, common expenses
- While cell phones are cheap, most electronics surprisingly are more expensive
- There is no tipping in China and anything can be delivered, including Subway sandwiches
- Pollution, not so strong in Shanghai, but there is definitely a very distinctive smell & fog
- Crazy driving, cars sometimes don’t stop for pedestrians on a green light, bikes everywhere coming from all unexpected directions
- Many people on bikes/scooters wearing masks, either to prevent from inhaling dust or getting tanned; apparently, to be as light skinned as possible is encouraged and admired, hence I am looked at constantly
- The transport card is used for many different purposes: subway, bus, taxi, ferry, even for buying groceries
- Much cleaner newer modern and precise subways than New York, crazy crowded as you would expect, rush hour is definitely redefined! Be ready to push and to be pushed around
- You can get everything delivered home as well as get everything made, clothing-wise
- There are security points that scan your purse/bag every time you go inside a subway
- The importance of business cards and the manner in which you give them
- Napkins are not common on dinner tables, you usually have to ask for them
- Very different public bathrooms
Most peculiar is people’s lack of emotion; they’re all very serious and introverted. For them, emotion is a way of losing face, a social prevailing concept in China. Respect, honor, dignity and pride for themselves and for others is very highly viewed. If you get into an argument or become angry, they consider that you are embarrassing yourself and you lose their attention and respect. Face or mianzi as they call it, is crucial in any social situation.
