About

Shanghai Novice is a website dedicated to all you newbies in Shanghai and all of you who just can’t bring yourself to leave! It provides informative articles on the things you want to know from dealing with culture shock, to finding accommodation and learning Mandarin online for free. It also serves as a hub for young people in Shanghai to connect with other like minded, fun people. Stay tuned for events, competitions and a constantly updated blog about novice life in Shanghai as well as all the fun, quirky, strange and amazing things this city has to offer. Be sure to sign up to the Newsletter for the most up to date information from the blog and upcoming events and competitions.

About the Editor

Hi all, my names Sasha. I’m a little 5 ft 2, 22 year old Aussie girl who came to teach English in China in February 2010 for only 6 months and just never left! Not so long ago I decided that the life for me was in the bright flashy city of Shanghai. I found a job, packed my bags and here I am still in Shanghai and still loving it!

In Shanghai I’ve worked as an ESL Teacher, I’ve worked creating orientation programs for new foreign teacher’s and I’ve spent a lot of time aimlessly strolling the french concession! I love this city, I love the atmosphere, I love the nightlife, I love the food, I love the east meets west infusion of culture and ideals. It was Shanghai that convinced me I could really make a life in China, it was Shanghai that convinced me to stay.

In Shanghai I’ve been through it all, the traumatic experience of apartment hunting, finding a job while getting dangerously close to my visa expiration date. I’ve jumped out of moving taxis with my best friend to avoid the over priced fair, I’ve spent 4 days in bed after contracting a nasty case of food poisoning. I’ve spent a Christmas here, a birthday here, I’ve spent countless nights dancing away the weeks worries. And all that I have learned I want to share with you so that you will no longer be a Shanghai Novice!

I’ve not just spent my time in Shanghai though, before that I was teaching in a small city called Keqiao in Zhejiang province just south of Shanghai. I also spent a summer backpacking around central and southern China (I’m a girl with a very severe case of the travel bug!). You can read about my China and other world travel adventures on the sister site On UR Way Travel, also while your at it read the free online travel magazine!