Introductions

You should post that in city information thread. 

Hi all! Darrick here. I'm a californian primarily having gone to high school there. Grew up in Hawaii (windward Oahu), Alaska (Anchorage), and California (San Francisco) but I was born in Colorado and half of my family is from the deep south (Alabama and north Florida). I did my graduate studies in anthropology and got divorced all in Austin, Texas where my three boy's (17,19,21) still live.

Now, I'll be moving to Shanghai in less than three weeks!

I'm going on a ten month contract to teach oral English at Sanda University.

Anybody else in the Shanghai area?


D

Welcome aboard, Darrick, and welcome you to China!!

Well, Suzhou's a short train ride from Shanghai, and you'll find a few of us there.  But now that you mention it, I can't think of any Saloonies in the Big Whore.  Good choice though, if you like big cities.  Shanghai is a discount new York (not that I've ever been).

Thanks George!

CAD, that's just what I'm hoping to find in 'the big whore' Well, something like I imagine NY to be anyhow. Like yourself, I've never been either. There was good pay, position and quite a bit of anticipated diversion that went into the decision to try Shanghai as a 'first post' in China. The adrenaline is already flowing freely. I'm going to be exhausted by the time I actually arrive. 

D

I think you'll get a kick out of it.  I originally moved to Suzhou because Raoul found me a great job, and it's proximity to Shanghai.  Now, thanks to that high speed train they put in, I could go from standing in my apartment to sitting in a Shanghai subway car within an hour.  Technically I could commute.

Real estate in Shanghai is too expensive, though, while in Suzhou it's still dirt cheap.  So I'll have to be a weekend metrosophisticate.

Welcome, Darrick! Have a drink or two on Con! 

Welcome Birddog and Darrick! I swiped Stil's credit card, so drinks are on Stil me

Thanks, Eric! --
 and welcome, Darrick!

I've been in China for 4 years now (in Nanjing -- about 3 1/2 hours northwest of Shanghai), but I only joined this forum a few days ago. The folks are extremely hospitable and helpful here.

All best wishes with your new job at Sanda. I made some comments about that school a few days ago in the reviews forum.

Please let me know if you have any questions and/or concerns about teaching and working in China. I've been to Shanghai a number of times, but very briefly each time. Shanghai is a great city, but it offers a limited view of the rest of China. I hope you will have the chance to travel or perhaps teach in other cities, as well! Foreigners get little special attention in Shanghai (that's good!), but in other places (not only in rural areas but cities as well), you will be stared at like some sort of exotic zoo animal. 

Chinese people are mostly quite friendly and hospitable, but they can be extremely aggravating to work for! 

All best wishes to you and wishing you pleasant travel to Shanghai!

Also a big WELCOME from me.

I think, I am the only one here who is not a teacher - but that is ok for me, that means I am somehow special

that means I am somehow special thumbup

Don't kid youseff!!! Just means you isn't as smart as we is!

@George
We can talk about that again as soon as I get my Job in China - then we compare our salaries 

Oy there, money does not make you smart, only rich and affluent and powerful and lets you live a life on easy street and..errr...I mean...guess it is smart to have money...umm...potts, blitz und donnerwetter! 

Well said, Eric...............................I think!!

Money = corruption in China.

Teachers = no money ergo not corrupt. 

We are the GOOD ones!