Shanghai surprise

Name: Graham Robinson
Age: 27
Hometown: Rossland, B.C.
Location: Shanghai, China
Job: Web video pro­ducer, StudioX Networks

I moved here because I wanted to start a branch office for StudioX and a Chinese version of Djvibe.com, our social network for DJs.

The first thing I did was travel around different parts of the country to get a feel for the youth culture in China.

The biggest shock was the gap between rich and poor. Most expats don’t get to see this until they head outside of the rich cities. It really makes you appreciate how well we live in Canada.

The best thing about being here is there are so many nightclubs that are all packed. This has been great for business.

The biggest challenge has been learning the language. Learning Mandarin before you plan on heading to China makes things a lot easier, including chatting up cute girls at the club.

The biggest misconception I had was I thought China would be very rural and undeveloped. I was way off the mark. Shanghai has some of the most amazing futuristic buildings I have seen anywhere. The city is just so massive it’s hard to believe.

What I miss most is hanging out at Kitsilano Beach and just enjoying the sun and the fresh air. In Shanghai it’s buildings as far as the eye can see and the sky is grey and polluted.

The people are hardwired for business. I have been in 20-minute bargaining wars over a pair of sunglasses in the market. Most of the time I get tired and give in.

Their biggest concern is money. Salaries are way lower in China and the job competition is fierce.

The standard of living is great! If you make a Western salary in China you can live like a king.

The food is very cheap. You can have a Chinese dinner for about two dollars. If you have a Western food craving, it feels like they have a KFC on every city block.

What B.C. could learn from Shanghai is how to advertise.