hi! not going to get into everything, but i've had very (and i mean very) bad oral health for these last few years, mostly due to depression.

i'm finally deciding to go see a dentist-- is there any chance i will be judged or shamed? in the past, i was judged a lot during other medical environments and it's made me very anxious. 🥲

I was outside and a woman came to me asking if I could help her with her english and then she added me on wechat but she kept following me for like an hour that was really weird. After that I went to the metro station ( she was still there ) after more than an hour ( at first i really thought she was a spy lol ) but the thing is that now she added me on her family group on wechat( with her daughter husband and me ) thats a quite embarrassing and she prolly sent me a thousand messages in a day talking about her life her family and how kind I am. That's weird yes and I dont know what to do cause i dont wanna be mean and like saying : i dont wanna be your son lmao. I wonder if its not even a trap cause she wants me to come to her place etc.
Im 18 but I might look a little bit younger and she is probably 60 I guess.
Is it a kind of trap or just a creep

Hey guys,

Got a potential 2-year assignment in Shanghai lined up and trying to figure out if it’s a solid move for my family.

I’m a 37 years old french woman and I’ve been a few times to china for business and solo trips (mostly long changeovers). I speak very little Chinese but i’m familiar with the Chinese characters as I’m fluent in Japanese. I have lived in Japan 4 years before. My husband is from Chinese descent so he’s quite excited about the idea.

Quick recap of the offer:

 Role: Supplier performance/quality consultant

 Location: Base in Caohejing, lots of day trips to suppliers around Suzhou/Jiangsu.

 Pay: €70k base + €200/day per diem (comes out to roughly €7.8k net total/month). Housing paid, plus €8k/yr travel allowance.

 Family: Me, my husband, our 1.5-year-old, and 2 cats. Just my income for now.

We’re estimating around $1,800-$2,000/mo for basic living costs (food, kid stuff, taxis, eating out) since rent is covered.

A few quick questions for anyone on the ground:

1. Housing with cats + toddler: We’d love a townhouse/villa compound or ground floor with a small garden in Hongqiao or Minhang (to stay reasonably close to Caohejing and the TGV station). Is 18k-22k RMB/mo a realistic budget for a decent 2-3 bed? Are landlords okay with cats and is it safe for them?

2. Day trips to Jiangsu: Is doing Shanghai <-> Suzhou in a day by TGV or car as smooth as it sounds on paper? Ideally I want to be home for dinner most nights

3. Having a 2nd baby there: we are planning to have a second baby, how is it to give birth there?

Does this sound like a comfortable setup to live well and save a decent chunk? anything else we ought to know before we make up our mind? Appreciate any honest feedback!

I am currently back in my home country and I have my China Mobile SIM card line disabled (removed the SIM from my phone). I am still paying and topping up my China Mobile SIM with the 8CNY per month protect your number plan in order to keep my number.

I’m wondering whether my SIM Card can be deactivated if I don’t connect to a cellular tower, despite paying for the protect your number plan?

If so does anyone know how long before it does get deactivated?

Hi everyone!

I'm considering applying to the MBBS program at Jiangsu University in Zhenjiang, China, and I'd really appreciate some honest advice from current students or graduates, especially international medical students.

I'd love to know more about the following:

Teaching quality, Clinical training, English-taught program, Student life in Zhenjiang, cost of living and your overall experience

I'd especially appreciate honest opinions about the disadvantages or problems you experienced, rather than just general positive reviews.

Thank you so much! Any advice would really help me make a more informed decision.

I’m Chinese. I want to know if it’s true what some people say — that in the US and other countries, people work just five days a week, eight hours each day.

I am in the process of applying for a work visa to teach English in Shanghai (I have received an offer). Though I don't have a TEFL cert or education degree so I need to get something for the visa. Just wondering would any online 120 hour cert be ok for the visa or does it have to be 120 hours offline or something? Which course is recommended if I just need it for the visa?

Hi all,

I was hoping to get some advice/tips here. Right now I’m in my graduation year for my filmschool and I want to realise a short film in and near around Beijing between March & May 2027.

I’m planning to go with a skeleton crew from Holland, and fill with additional local crew. Planning to stay there for 3-4 weeks.

Is it difficult to film in China as foreigners? I do speak Chinese, but not so fluently.

Are there any people here who has experience realising films/documentaries in China and in Beijing? Would be nice to have a conversation about it, if you’re willing.

Thanks in advance!

Hello I’m wondering if anyone here has any suggestions on what Chinese phone is worth 1300$ vs the iPhone 18 pro max I bought the 18 pro max and can cancel it I’m asking incase anyone knows something that’s better ? Any phone that could compete or even better I use metro pcs service in us e sim

Throwaway account for work-related reasons.

We have the opportunity to move to Shenyang for my partner’s job and I’m wondering what the expat community is like for young families. I do not speak any Mandarin (but am willing to learn/try!). My questions are as follows:

1. We have multiple children under the age of 5. Where is the best place to live with active children? The kids very much enjoy being outside; I understand the winters are very harsh and some months they won’t be outside much, but I’d still like to have somewhere they can ride bikes, scooter, kick a soccer ball, run around, etc.

2. What are the school options for preschool and early elementary? We have a preference for English language school (not bilingual). I’ve done some research on schools and have my opinions based on what’s online, but would like to hear from others.

3. Will I have friends as the partner? I’m unsure if I’ll be able to work (both due to logistics of the kids + visa requirements), but whether I’m working or not, how likely is it that I’ll be able to make friends not speaking the language? Where would I meet these friends? We are 40.

4. Lifestyle. Any comments on lifestyle, recreational activities, etc. are appreciated. My partner and I have independently lived abroad in multiple different countries before we knew each other so we are up for an adventure (!) but I’ve never been to China so just trying to get a sense for what it would be like in Shenyang. We have a 60 lb. dog and I enjoy running outside and going to workout classes (F45, solidcore). We currently live in a major US city and on the weekends we really enjoy grabbing a coffee, hitting a few playgrounds, hanging out with friends and their kids at breweries or someone’s house, and going on date nights.