We Asked Expats: How the Hell Did You End Up in Shanghai?

It’s a common question for expats living in Shanghai, we get it from friends and family back home, strangers on the airplane, at job interviews, first dates… pretty much everywhere. But there’s a good reason we get that question, because the answer is almost always strange and interesting. 

Tommy Zhao

(30, American, Vans Content Production Manager)

Skateboarding brought me to Shanghai. It was either stay in the States and work some cushy Fortune 500 desk job or go to Shanghai with $1K USD and skate as long as possible till I run out of money. Luckily, things worked out and I only had to starve for like 3 months.

Vy Vu 

(34, Austrailian, FitFam Community Manager)

How the hell did I end up in Shanghai?

I wish it were a far more interesting story than it actually is; one filled with unicorns and rainbows. But it isn't...

6 years ago I left Oz having resigned from my job of 5 years and with high hopes of new experiences and greener pastures. I did my first ever solo trip as a late twenty-something that lasted 3 months around the US and Canada; but with no responsibilities to go back to Melbourne, I ended up in HK.

Frantically realizing I needed to return to adult life, I looked for employment and I landed one with a German fashion company. I worked really hard (maybe too hard) and got a surprise email from an old contact saying they were looking for a Product Development Manager in Shanghai. I’d never been to mainland China, nor did I know anyone there. And besides, I’d now fallen in love with HK. Filled with uncertainty, I met my previous boss for a casual interview and was then flown to Shanghai. 

It wasn't quite greener pastures at the beginning. The ‘culture shock’, the language, the new surroundings, wechat... I felt like a fish out of water and it made me home sick for HK, my family and my friends. But now here we are; Shanghai and I are soulmates, still working in Fashion and living a highly active life. And who needs greenery when you’ve got a skyline like that?

Gabby

(29, American, Creator of ShanghaiLoveNotes /LesQueers,Inc.)

In 2010 I fell in love with a woman from the UK, and in 2012 we wanted to get married. Even though the law permitted same sex marriage in Massachusetts where I lived, the federal law didn’t recognize same sex marriage so she wouldn’t be able to move to Boston and live with me, even if we were married. As she was a teacher in the UK, and since I had just graduated, I suggested we teach in China and be together until the laws in America changed. It was a difficult decision to have to choose between my country, and my partner: but we knew that eventually the law would change towards equality, and it did… But, now I am in love with Shanghai.

Lebogang

(Motswana from Botswana, 32, Basketball coach)

A friend of mine that I'd known from my days in Japan invited me to come over and see shanghai during the shanghai 2010 world expo. I was only meant to be here for a 3 month holiday and I fell in love with the city. Often times we are shown the bad side of China but when I came over it was not like I had anticipated. And here I am 8 years later.

Tom 

(63, American, CEO of Stillwater Hospitality Group)

In 1995’, Portman Developments in Atlanta asked me to go to Shanghai for a 3 year stint to take control of the Design/Construction Dept for the Shanghai Centre on Nanjing Xi Lu. I never left... been here 21 years to-date except for a one year stint in Thailand and another in Hong Kong.

Chase

(28, American, Operating Partner of The Rooster)

I graduated from university and didn't have a whole lot going on back home.  My brother was living here and told me to come out to China so I did!  Found a job teaching English right away and decided I liked it here.  6 years later I've changed industries a few times and run a bar.  Life is good.

Ginger 

(24, American, Copywriter)

I didn't know what I wanted to do with my life after college so I came here to figure it out.

Theo

(27, Swedish, Owner of Floatasian)

I heard a rumor that Chinese women love tall Scandinavian men like me, so here I am 4.5 years later and I believe it's not just rumor.

Yahya

(29, Lebanese, BD , brand activation, liquor distribution industry)

The question to the question is how long will I stay here? Shanghai is a great cosmopolitan city where anything is possible , haven't planned to leave any time soon, fell in love with the city, culture and the forward mentality, great diversity of places to go and people to meet. Maybe too long…

Edan

26, American, Editor In Chief of Skatehere.com

So, originally in college I studied abroad in Nanjing for about a year. I met a famous skate photographer named Terry Xie while doing that. One day he was like “hey man, you want to go to Shanghai for a Nike skate competition?” And I was like well yea of course. I went, and it turned out the MC of the event was my cousin who I hadn’t seen in years named Jason. So after the competition we we’re all hanging out and having beers, and one of the skate guys, Jeff, was like “hey why don’t you come out here and live, I could hook you up with a job.” I had to go back to Nanjing to finish school, I went back home to California and got a hold of Jeff. He told me the offer still stood so I was like fuck it, and I bought a ticket. 

Yohana

(26, Eritrean, Founder On The Go Coffee Roasters)

After high school, I took some time to figure out where I wanted to go to college. I wanted to go somewhere unfamiliar where I didn’t know anyone or couldn’t speak the language. I looked at the map and bam Shanghai. And here I was, a 20 years old wide-eyed kid who had somehow stumbled upon Asia’s best kept secret. Fast forward 6 years, it was the best decision I ever made. Funny though, I came here cause I wanted to get away but I ended up doing what we do in my culture best, make coffee.

John

(29, Canadian, Exporter)

It was 2012 and I was operating a freight and logistics company servicing customers in Vancouver as well as the neighboring cities. When working in logistics you visit a lot of warehouses and get to find out where things are going to and coming from, as well as how much and how often. Having that business quickly showed me that everything was either going to, or coming from China, not to mention a high percentage of my customers were Chinese or Asian. After that I started noticing China a lot more. It was everywhere! On the news, in the paper, in the book stores, in the grocery store and beyond. The topic of China, along with a huge amount of Chinese individuals (approx 35% of Vancouver’s population has Chinese ancestry) were omnipresent in my life. So I started taking Chinese lessons for fun, and one day I decided to sell my business, pack two bags, and move to Shanghai! I didn't know anyone or anything, was just something I thought sounded good.  That was 5 years ago and the rest is history.  

Aya

(33, Russian, BD Developer at Uniplan)

I’m 33 years old originally from Moscow came to Shanghai in 2006. From studying Chinese to having wide experience in working at the art galleries to the top venues ended up being in charge of business development at the leading live communication agency Uniplan.

Lacychu

(26, Jamaican, Business Development & Artist Management @ SHFT. Asia)

Simply put, School Opportunities! At 18 years old, my parents said to me, "How would you feel going to China and learning the language?" Two weeks later I was enrolled in an International School in Shanghai and two weeks after that I touched down in Shanghai and began my adventure! It's been 8 years since that pivotal decision and I have no regrets. It's been the best time of my life and I'm ever thankful to my parents for giving such an opportunity and hella blessed to have met such amazing people on this adventure.

Maggie

(25, American, Corporate Audit Associate)

I got on a plane, flew over the arctic circle and 15 hours later landed in Pudong. It's the Shanghai cliche - I came for a 6 month short term assignment and two years later I'm still here. I fell in love with the vibrancy of the city so when 6 months was up I put in for an international transfer and called my family to let them know I wasn't returning to the US. I've been living here ever since. – 

Patrick

(26, American, Manager CPG)

I first came to China five and a half years ago as part of a language exchange program and was blown away by how dynamic the country was. Returning back home to finish my degree, I knew that I wanted China to be a part of my career, and quickly found a job and moved back weeks after graduating. Four and a half years later, I have seen more than any expat should - the rise and fall of Yongkang Lu (RIP), the death of Lola and Lola/Hollywood bastard stepchild that was created in its wake (remember that last night at Surpass Court wowee). I have seen an Ayi stop a public bus at full speed. I have seen a grown man shit on the street. I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been spared.

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