Sharol Gauthier - CultureShock! Shanghai: A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette (CultureShock!)

2019 Marshall Cavendish International (Asia) Private Limited

Text Sharol Gauthier

Published by Marshall Cavendish Editions

An imprint of Marshall Cavendish International

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National Library Board, Singapore Cataloguing-in-Publication Data

Name(s): Gauthier, Sharol.

Title: CultureShock! Shanghai : a survival guide to customs and etiquette / Sharol Gauthier.

Other titles(s): Shanghai : a survival guide to customs and etiquette | Culture shock Shanghai |

Series: Culture shock!

Description: Singapore : Marshall Cavendish Editions, 2019. | Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifier(s): OCN 1113858154 | ISBN 978-981-4751-84-1

Subject(s): LCSH: Etiquette--China--Shanghai. | Shanghai (China)--Social life and customs. | Shanghai (China)--Description and travel.

Classification: DDC 951.132--dc23

Printed in Singapore

Photo Credits:

All photos by the author except the following by Iman: .

Cover photo by Zifeng Zhang on Unsplash.com.

All illustrations by Sukhbir Cheema

Culture shock is a state of disorientation that can come over anyone who has been thrust into unknown surroundings, away from ones comfort zone. CultureShock! is a series of trusted and reputed guides which has, for decades, been helping expatriates and long-term visitors to cushion the impact of culture shock whenever they move to a new country.

Written by people who have lived in the country and experienced culture shock themselves, the authors share all the information necessary for anyone to cope with these feelings of disorientation more effectively. The guides are written in a style that is easy to read and covers a range of topics that will arm readers with enough advice, hints and tips to make their lives as normal as possible again.

Each book is structured in the same manner. It begins with the first impressions that visitors will have of that city or country. To understand a culture, one must first understand the peoplewhere they came from, who they are, the values and traditions they live by, as well as their customs and etiquette. This is covered in the first half of the book.

Then on with the practical aspectshow to settle in with the greatest of ease. Authors walk readers through how to find accommodation, get the utilities and telecommunications up and running, enrol the children in school and keep in the pink of health. But thats not all. Once the essentials are out of the way, venture out and try the food, enjoy more of the culture and travel to other areas. Then be immersed in the language of the country before discovering more about the business side of things.

To round off, snippets of information are offered before readers are tested on customs and etiquette. Useful words and phrases, a comprehensive resource guide and list of books for further research are also included for easy reference.

Construction began on the glamorous Pudong skyline a mere 30 years ago.

I have to admit in hindsight that one of my first thoughts about Shanghai was that it wasnt a very livable city. What did I know, then? Not much, it turns out. At that point, I hardly knew the city at all! Five years later, I see Shanghai through a very different lens. Clearly, I had culture shock. The truth is, Shanghai is a spectacular city. Better than that, it is a fascinating and exciting place to live.

During some of my time in Shanghai, I wrote a blog about China, which forced me to look closely at the city, its people, its culture, and our lives there. From the kernels of those observations, this book grew into something tangible and (I hope) helpful. Working on this project raised many questions, and I want to acknowledge the people who helped me find answers.

Thank you to Tracy Lesh of Shanghai and Beyond for answering language questions as well as food questions, and for being such a fantastic guide on a trip to Longmen Village. Thank you also to Allen Tan, not only for treating me to a delicious Chinese (and Malaysian) meal in Singapore, but also for helping parse the particulars of Chinese culture and language. My gratitude also goes out to Shanghais most interesting expat, Betty Barr, who granted me time for an interview. What a pleasure it was to learn the fascinating story of Betty and her Shanghainese husband, George Wang, who were both born and raised in Shanghai during the 1920s and 30s.

Many friends at Shanghai American School were generous with answers as well. Sandy Hong and Serena Lu, members of the schools dedicated Chinese staff, offered helpful tips about Chinese culture. Serena also provided me with a long list of her favorite Shanghainese dishes. Iman Syah, whom I first met during a trip to the Lhagang (Tagong) Monasteryin the hinterland of the Tibetan Autonomous Prefectureshared photos for the book and his thoughts on Shanghais nightlife. Tiffany Kelley, colleague and good friend, was a regular go-to person whenever I needed help remembering details. Xiao Lin, our driver, deserves a shout out as well. He was always up for long conversations with me about our two countries; Xiao Lin taught me more about China and what it means to be Chinese than anyone else I know.

A hearty thank you goes out to my editor She-reen Wong at Marshall Cavendish International (Asia), who had the crazy idea, after reading my blog, that I should write a book. And I would not have finished CultureShock! Shanghai without the help of my mother, Harol Marshall, also a writer. Thank you for being my first set of eyes, and more importantly, for your encouragement in the very beginning, when reaching the end seemed far away.