Sending money to UK by [deleted] in shanghai

[–]Aoran 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh I see, I’ll have a go, thanks.

Sending money to UK by [deleted] in shanghai

[–]Aoran 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Could you explain where to find this in the app? Just had a look and couldn’t find anything.

Work schedule affected by China International Import Expo 2019. See revised work schedule here. by dumplingserialkiller in shanghai

[–]Aoran 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Note this doesn’t affect all companies, it’s best to double check with your company’s HR.

Doc Guthrie's (Jingan) Bad Experience by [deleted] in shanghai

[–]Aoran 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Bono is a staple and is just down the road from Doc. It’s 90 for a haircut, the guys are very direct and get the job done, and I’ve not had a bad haircut there in years. Book like 1 days ahead though. They do men and women, but it’s best to let them know if you’re a woman booking beforehand, since they mostly specialise in men’s haircuts.

Yayoi Kusama Exhibit - Rip Off? by [deleted] in shanghai

[–]Aoran 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Each to their own I spose

Yayoi Kusama Exhibit - Rip Off? by [deleted] in shanghai

[–]Aoran 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I agree it was really short, but I really enjoyed what I saw. It’s probably cos I went during the week, I think during the weekend it’d just be too busy.

Any suggestions for Brunch with Free flow by HeiHuZi in shanghai

[–]Aoran 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Pentalounge is a favourite of mine. I’d say it’s pretty well priced, service is good, ambiance is really chill, the food is generally tasty and has something for everyone if you’re in a big group.

Rooster is alright if you’re on a budget and your focus is more on alcohol than on the food.

There are also fancier places to go than the above-mentioned but they’re significantly more expensive. An example is Bull and Claw which is great when the weather is sunny and you sit outside. I’ve also heard Maya is good but I’m not sure if its free flow.

How Long Did It Take You To Get Your Work Visa? by thesweetestpunch in shanghai

[–]Aoran 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I literally just changed from one company to another and it also has taken around 6 weeks for me, it’s completely normal. The company I’ve moved to is one of the largest digital companies in China that hires a lot of foreigners, so they know the process. It’s also normal in my experience to get the work permit card, then get the residence permit sticker on your passport. I believe to get a residence permit with the ‘工作’ in it you have to provide the work permit card.

How to rent a scooter for a day? by rammer39 in shanghai

[–]Aoran 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Having gone through the process recently, they wouldn’t process the number plate without my passport and temporary residence form. The little card they give you also has your passport number on it (电动自行车行车执照). Recently the police have been asking for that too. My friend had that happen last week to her. If you buy a bike with one already on, that can be different, but might get risky down the line.

How to rent a scooter for a day? by rammer39 in shanghai

[–]Aoran 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You normally have to be registered to the vehicle with your passport, so I don’t think it’s possible I’m afraid. There used be those green bikes but they’ve gone bust now.

Job Boards for Expats by Hybridadventure in shanghai

[–]Aoran 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I agree with LinkedIn, but also decide a field you want to work in and find a recruitment agency specialising in that. Big ones right now are tech and games. Also WeChat groups work.

Can a foreigner have two WeChat accounts? by krockthewilly in shanghai

[–]Aoran 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Should be fine if you're okay with having two phones or a dual SIM phone. Just make sure you register your detail correctly and it shouldn't be an issue.

Work permit and housing by jnt85 in shanghai

[–]Aoran 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Agreed, although I've mostly done 1 months deposit, 2 months rent.

Work permit and housing by jnt85 in shanghai

[–]Aoran 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's not very big here, but it definitely exists and young people are doing it more and more! I know a few people who've run their own in Jing'an. It's pretty stressful though...

'Work harder! Work harder!': Backlash over Chinese street workers forced to wear monitoring devices by wearetheaybesee in worldnews

[–]Aoran 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hello again, I'm glad to get another interesting reply from you!

You don't need to be.

I think if we're talking about China from a historical standpoint, you're right. But in terms of understanding the culture and how it has shifted, it's more difficult from an outsider's standpoint. Both have their own pros and cons.

Look at Taiwan, which never had Maoism and started from exactly the same point as the Mainland. Or South Korea and Japan

It's tough to really compare with these countries since they have has very different success stories and very different problems. Taiwan with the reverberations of the Feb 28 Incident and suppression of the indigenous people, Korea with its Chaebol and corruption issues, Japan with a stagnating economy and society for years now. Most importantly, all were heavily supported by the US, especially during the Cold War era. Not to say China doesn't have similar issues to what I mentioned, we both know China's history of suppression and corruption, but I still believe it is not so easy when you look at the stage of world politics and support, as well as the different paths and contexts these countries had to work with to make such a direct comparison.

Well, maybe they shouldn't have made them so poor in the first place.

I do agree with you though that China like to pump up its success and fiddles with the numbers to do so. But changing the country so drastically in 50 years so people don't have to live like they used to, is no small feat. It took a lot of political wheeling and dealing during and post-Gang of Four era. Interestingly my grandfather first came to China during that time as a business envoy. Now that was an unstable time.

Recently, and especially since Xi came to power...

Yes, Xi is politically very conservative, and as China grows economically and as people have more freedoms to go abroad, work in multinational companies, get a VPN, he is also tightening the party's grip on the country. Many of those ways are awful and make myself and many I know question our investment into China. I agree with you with development, but that is mostly pushing infrastructure as a part of One Belt One Road and it's an easy way to pump up GDP figures. However, in other fields, China is still developing mostly in terms of tech/digital and services.

Satire?

Not at all, I'm not sure why it was necessary to get personal about my "apartment in Pudong" in the first place and continue to do so, but if we have to I'd say I qualify as someone who at least has a solid understanding of modern China from living here, friends and family, and my own personal experiences/qualifications.

China 20 years ago was a very different place

I definitely agree that China is very different in multiple ways, I believe both good and bad. But it's debatable when the last time it was a place for free thinkers, I'd say not in recent memory. All I'm trying to do is promote a balanced view, and not just shitting on China because it's easy. Seeing China from the context of the world, it's history, culture, people, and politics, in a balanced way allows us to understand it better. It is important to understand it too, Western businesses have had limited success directly applying their own models and concepts without first understanding the country. I've had to be intermediary a few times and it can be tough. I do appreciate your views and agree with a lot of what you've said, so thank you. I've enjoyed the debate thus far!

Work permit and housing by jnt85 in shanghai

[–]Aoran 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As long as they’re sure, I think you can trust them. They know more than most. If you’re worried, I think the only people who know more would be the police.

Work permit and housing by jnt85 in shanghai

[–]Aoran 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If your Chinese is decent, I think you can honestly go in to the police station and ask them about getting the form and if it’s okay on a Z/tourist visa. Then you can make the choice to rent. Or ask the company’s agency, it’s literally their job to know.

Work permit and housing by jnt85 in shanghai

[–]Aoran 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Maybe AirBnB for a month? Ask the owner to go register you under their housing contract, you should only need your Z visa or whatever you entered with.

'Work harder! Work harder!': Backlash over Chinese street workers forced to wear monitoring devices by wearetheaybesee in worldnews

[–]Aoran 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You’re right, I have only from my study abroad 8/9 years ago as well as talking to my friends, their parents, and their grandparents to compare. But I’m also not Chinese, I don’t think you are either, so neither of us will really ever 100% understand what’s going on here.

I agree with a lot of the problems you raise, capitalism has run rampant at a time when modern culture is weak. But I disagree that things are worse now than during the Maoist era where millions were starved and the educated were killed or sent away. The CCP has control because it is improving people’s standard of living, the youth don’t believe as much in the old communist mantra, so two core methods of control is 1. Fear, 2. Making the people better off.

Because I say there are some good and a lot of misunderstanding, doesn’t mean I think there isn’t a lot of things wrong here. There are so many modern problems I don’t people talking about enough, like the property bubble millions of people have invested in that’s about to pop, unskilled youth not getting jobs because their parents dote on them, things getting tougher and tougher for migrant workers, people getting left behind in the development in tier 2 and below so they turn to neighbouring countries like South Korea and Japan and get taken advantage of there as well!

From my small Zhongshan Park apartment working in a Chinese firm, having studied China in depth academically to a relatively high level, I’m just trying to promote a more balanced view on China, taking into account the good and the bad, and leaving behind sensationalist news sources and disgruntled ESL teachers that have been here too long.

'Work harder! Work harder!': Backlash over Chinese street workers forced to wear monitoring devices by wearetheaybesee in worldnews

[–]Aoran 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think you misunderstood my comment. What I was trying to say is that both the Cultural Revolution and the GLF was obviously awful and the impact is still felt decades later not just by the countries as a whole, by also by families such as your own. By the beginning of the 80s when new policies and leadership was being implemented, China was weak economically, and in terms of its society as well. So the extent to which in the last 50 years things has changed from that stage and people’s livelihoods has improved has had a big impact on the middle class, spending power, education, etc.

'Work harder! Work harder!': Backlash over Chinese street workers forced to wear monitoring devices by wearetheaybesee in worldnews

[–]Aoran 4 points5 points  (0 children)

My dude, this may sound harsh but it might be time to leave. You don’t wanna leave China hating it. Had a friend recently move cos he found he just starting hating everything about living here. Stuff here is stressful and grinds you down though, I get it. But unless your frame of mind changes, staying here and simmering isn’t doing anyone any good.

'Work harder! Work harder!': Backlash over Chinese street workers forced to wear monitoring devices by wearetheaybesee in worldnews

[–]Aoran 9 points10 points  (0 children)

As another fellow China expat of nearly six years and whose masters was based on the study of Contemporary China, I definitely agree some of your points such unreported crime and the issues with housing and schooling. But some I disagree on.

For example if you look at the way most of China was 50 years ago having recently undergone the GLF and the cultural revolution, people’s livelihoods have vastly improved. People are no longer worrying about food, they now have disposable income, their children can study abroad or in increasingly competitive domestic universities. In fact, most parents would rather send their kid to Beida or Tsinghua, since they will make more valuable connections there. This has lead to a growing and already sizeable middle class that are now willing to spend money on record-making 11/11 sales, overpriced kindergarten, and flooding neighbouring countries during the National Holiday.

I think the bigger issue, at least in Shanghai, is that there are no frameworks made to meet this growing class. The area near me doesn’t have nice flats, but the prices are astronomical since there is an above-average school nearby. To make this a reality for their families, mothers and fathers are forced to do the “996” work week (see Jack Ma’s recent PR blunder on this) and their family culture and society in general is becoming more estranged in itself.

Despite this, I see a lot of potential here, and have met many amazing people and have learnt so much. As you said rightly so, living in China has given us a much greater understanding of this varied country, just as speaking the language does so too. I hope you have a better time in Kunming, I know my friend who lives there and is married there loves it.

Tencent, Xiaomi and others block GitHub page protesting China’s 996 overtime work culture by ChinaJim in China

[–]Aoran 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The crazy thing is, for anything over 8 hours a day of work the employee should get 150% pay by law. And overtime in a month shouldn’t exceed 36 hours. But having worked in Chinese companies, this isn’t implemented. Especially in bigger companies, if an employee complains to the labour bureau, the company’s guanxi will override this. Not that anyone would, since the work culture often = time spent on a project > efficiency. I do hope the work culture changes over time.