Studying Abroad - Page 2

Winter Wolf · 03-02-2006, 11:31 PM

Spirits, I do in fact speak Mandarin Chinese, and I understand Shanghainese though I refuse to speak it on general prinicple. Have a very small smattering of Cantonese which is functionally useless for real conversation.

Sir D, as for drinking, let's put it this way: if you can afford it, they don't really care. Unless you look really young for your age, then I wouldn't know. But trust me on this much, drinking is overrated, and you'll find that beer in China is pretty much universally craptastic. The sole exception is Harbin Pijiu, but good luck finding it in Shanghai, I've managed to find it exactly twice in three years. Taboos: generally better to avoid religion and politics, two of the three universal things that set people off (Can't remember the third). Manners: what are you kidding? This is Shanghai, you'll probably have better manners than 90% of the people who live here. Treat people how you'd want to be treated and you should be fine.

Good places to go are the Museum at People's Square (it is very good), the Jing An Temple in Jing An district, the Bund (marginal educational value unless you're into architecture), Yu Yuan Gardens (watch your wallet here), and I think that pretty much wraps it up for the "big ones". There's supposed to be a big Daoist temple somewhere in this city, but I haven't ever been able to find it. Some of the parks are quite nice though.

Oh, two more very important things. Cab drivers will rip you off. I mean really rip you off, better to learn the busses and subways. And never change money except inside a bank. The black market money changers will rip you off even worse with skewed exchange rates and fake money.

johnny · 03-03-2006, 12:11 AM

Good luck down there Sir D, sounds like you're gonna need it.

Callum · 03-04-2006, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Winter Wolf:
Treat people how you'd want to be treated and you should be fine.

Masochists excepted?

Winter Wolf · 03-04-2006, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Callum:

quote:
Originally posted by Winter Wolf:
Treat people how you'd want to be treated and you should be fine.

Masochists excepted? [/QUOTE]Oh, we've got those too. And sadists, so if you're a masochist and you happen to find one of them, you should be set up pretty well!

Sir Degrader · 03-04-2006, 11:00 AM

Woot. Thanks for the advice. Hmmm, if I can find an internet cafe, I'm going to post my daily log somewhere, worst comes to worst, I'm going to handwrite it. This is the opportunity of a lifetime, and I'm not going to waste it.

03-02-2006, 11:31 PM	#11
Winter Wolf Manshoon Join Date: November 4, 2004 Location: Shanghai, China Posts: 226	Spirits, I do in fact speak Mandarin Chinese, and I understand Shanghainese though I refuse to speak it on general prinicple. Have a very small smattering of Cantonese which is functionally useless for real conversation. Sir D, as for drinking, let's put it this way: if you can afford it, they don't really care. Unless you look really young for your age, then I wouldn't know. But trust me on this much, drinking is overrated, and you'll find that beer in China is pretty much universally craptastic. The sole exception is Harbin Pijiu, but good luck finding it in Shanghai, I've managed to find it exactly twice in three years. Taboos: generally better to avoid religion and politics, two of the three universal things that set people off (Can't remember the third). Manners: what are you kidding? This is Shanghai, you'll probably have better manners than 90% of the people who live here. Treat people how you'd want to be treated and you should be fine. Good places to go are the Museum at People's Square (it is very good), the Jing An Temple in Jing An district, the Bund (marginal educational value unless you're into architecture), Yu Yuan Gardens (watch your wallet here), and I think that pretty much wraps it up for the "big ones". There's supposed to be a big Daoist temple somewhere in this city, but I haven't ever been able to find it. Some of the parks are quite nice though. Oh, two more very important things. Cab drivers will rip you off. I mean really rip you off, better to learn the busses and subways. And never change money except inside a bank. The black market money changers will rip you off even worse with skewed exchange rates and fake money. __________________ Calling a person a dog is just about the worst insult I can think of. Dogs deserve better than that.

03-03-2006, 12:11 AM	#12
johnny 40th Level Warrior Join Date: April 15, 2002 Location: Utrecht The Netherlands Age: 58 Posts: 16,981	Good luck down there Sir D, sounds like you're gonna need it. __________________

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03-04-2006, 11:00 AM	#15
Sir Degrader Thoth - Egyptian God of Wisdom Join Date: November 3, 2001 Location: Canada Age: 63 Posts: 2,871	Woot. Thanks for the advice. Hmmm, if I can find an internet cafe, I'm going to post my daily log somewhere, worst comes to worst, I'm going to handwrite it. This is the opportunity of a lifetime, and I'm not going to waste it.

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