Global Village

Then and now

Many old China hands have seen great changes over the decades, however most agree the biggest changes have happened during the past 10 years. One Shanghai expat on chinamadness.com listed the major differences between Shanghai in 1997 and 2007, and his amusing assessment is very accurate. Counting down from 10 to 1.

10 - 1997: Your friends at home think you're weird.

2007: Your friends at home think you're cool.

9 - 1997: Expats, students and teachers rock Shanghai.

2007: Halfpats rule!

8 - 1997: The guy next to you in the bar is Coolio.

2007: The guy next to you in the bar is some bloke.

7 - 1997: Not much going on in Pudong.

2007: Not much going on in Pudong.

6 - 1997: Drinks are cheaper than your dinner.

2007: Drinks cost more than dinner.

5 - 1997: Bouncy dance floors.

2007 - Bouncing to international DJs on the dance floor.

4 - 1997: Teacher scolds you for open-toe shoes without socks.

2007: Chinese colleague comes to work wearing low-cut jeans shorts.

3 - 1997: Fighting for a bus seat.

2007: Fighting for tickets to Christina Aguilera.

2 - 1997: London is expensive by comparison.

2007: London is expensive by comparison.

1 - 1997: You're told that your Chinese is good, but not as good as Da Shan.

2007: Who the hell is Da Shan?

Nanjing appeal

The 2007 American Food Festival was held at Nanjing's Metro Supermarket and the USA Agricultural Department was there promoting its fruit, cheese and wine to locals for the first time. The event also proved popular for the growing expat population.

According to the statistic data of the public security department and education bureau, in 2002, the number of inhabitant foreigners was 4,583, including 234 children from 27 countries studying in Nanjing.

At present, the total number of foreigners has reached 11,321 with 2,149 youngsters from 41 countries.

For more expat info about Nanjing go to www.odtn.com

How Bazaar

Expats in the capital are loading up on goodies to take back home for Christmas and one of the most popular places to buy them is the housing compound bazaar. What is most appealing is the international variety of products on sale. Family and friends back home are just as impressed with a neckless from India as a mahjong set from Wuhan.

Most of the money raised goes to charity and the fair-like atmosphere makes it a fun day.

The Grand Hills estate in Beijing is having a bazaar today.

Just off the Beigao exit of the Airport Expressway, Grand Hills is located between the East Fifth Ring Road and the Wenyu River.

AND ANOTHER THING ...

You know you've lived in China too long when you start walking backwards in the park listening to a transistor radio, when "squid" sounds better than "steak" and the last time you visited your mother, you gave her your business card.

(China Daily 12/07/2007 page19)