10 Things I Love About Living in Shanghai

Phoebe at work!

 1.  Having my nails done, AT HOME, at a reasonable price!  Phoebe is awesome!

One of those great sunsets

 2.  Amazing sunsets.  WHY they are amazing is probably due to all the muck in the air, but I guess you don’t look at gift-horse in the mouth, right?

3.  The sight and smells of springtime.  There are some beautiful flowers just coming out, the weeping willows are a soft green and the white magnolias (the flower of Shanghai, I am told) are just beautiful right now.

4.  New places to explore in the city, which I try to do every second weekend if possible.  I have been to some really interesting nooks and crannies, as well and seen and done some amazing things.  

5.  Teaching Year 1!  I love my class and I cannot believe how much I have been enjoying the challenges of teaching Year 1!  They are great kids.

Sue, William and I at the
Great Wall at Dandong

6.  Travelling further afield.  This has been wonderful after all the years of not being able to do so.  I have been fortunate enough since moving here, to have travelled to various places in China, Boracay, Philippines and back to New Zealand.  A trip to the States is looming!

7.  Seasons in the northern hemisphere.  Once again, I didn’t realize how much I missed winter at Christmas and summer mid-year!  

8.  Using the languages I know.  This one crops up all the time at BISS.  We have children who have come from many far-flung places or whose background involves one of the cultures or languages I know.  I love being able to help ease them into the school and routines with understanding and language.  International week is great, too!  

Shanghai's beautiful skyline

9.Shanghai architecture.  It is truly amazing to see the vast array of buildings on the skyline and also those tucked away.  It is a very modern city, but here and there are some preserved buildings.   

Easy and cheap getting around
by subway

10.  The subway system!  What a wonderful way to get around.  You miss the traffic and the rain (or snow!), it is very quick and very cheap.  If you miss one, there is another one within a couple of minutes!   And you just might see anything!  

Interesting sights on the subway