In many aspects, life as an expat in China is like anywhere else: eating, shopping, going out and chatting with other people.
Alfons Mairhofer, Area Sales Manager Asia at A&T Wiener Neudorf / Austria shares the experiences he has made as an expat in China:
Unfortunately I cannot return at the moment because of the worldwide travel restrictions due to Covid-19. Like many people I hope for a quick return to normality - until then my memories help me to suppress my wanderlust.
Carrying a mobile phone with proper internet reception seems to have become a crucial aspect of my daily life in China. As introduced previously, there are a number of essential applications such as electronic payment applications, transportation and navigation apps, communication & information apps and many more. Chinese not-only messenger app WeChat has become a scarily important pillar and provider for my social communication, financial transactions, mobility needs, and travel planning. This is also due to the fact, that many foreign platforms that I usually use for these things, are blocked in China and are therefore not accessible. Luckily my family got used to the slower response rates on western messengers and does not think I went missing anymore if it takes longer than a week to receive my reply.
Crowds of screen fixated passengers on subways, bumping into each other while entering or leaving the compartment, not even glancing up while walking and transferring between subway lines, to such an extent, that officials feel motivated to air an information campaign on subway TV screens, educating about the risks for body posture, the dangers of being distracted in traffic and on the go, and to adopt manners of using headphones while listening to music or watching videos in public. I’d hope for these campaigns to show effect soon.
I like to get around with public transport, and Shanghai is great spot to do so. It’s convenient to get almost everywhere in the city by subway and the fares are reasonable. By using a public transport, card payments can be done fast and easy by just swiping it at the turnstile before accessing the tracks. If some requirements are fulfilled, you can even transfer or unlock a "card” on your phone.
There are several providers (Ofo, Mobike, etc..) and the bikes are easy to identify by their distinct colors. If there isn’t one right in front of you already, it usually takes less than 5 minutest to find one around the next corner. It is quick to unlock them by scanning a QR code on the handle bar with your phone and off you go. Main issue: besides a mobile internet connection you will require an electronic payment method activated on your phone - this can be a vicious circle.
Remembering my bike driving education classes when I was 6 years old, one thing I brought from home was my small portable bicycle lamps as the shared bikes are usually not equipped with either lights or reflectors and the least thing I want to do is get hit by a taxi in Chinese traffic.
While their driving style can be questioned sometimes, I am still relying and grateful for the existence of Shanghai taxis, at least in some cases. Subways do not operate between midnight and early morning, heavy rain can make it an unpleasant experience to ride a bike or walk around, or the suitcase is just too heavy and big to be carried around the subway during rush hours.
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Alfons MairhoferArea Sales Manager AsiaAviation & Transportation, Wr. Neudorf / Austria
After his studies at the University of Applied Sciences in Upper Austria with a focus on medical engineering, Alfons completed the Master of Arts in Business for Global Sales & Marketing. Alfons studied abroad for a term in Seoul and did several internships in Austria. In private Alfons is very sportive and enjoys hiking, skiing and climbing. Since he is 6 years old he plays several instruments such as piano, saxophone and flute. Alfons has been working as Area Sales Manager for Asia at ISOVOLTA in Wiener Neudorf / Austria since 2015. |
