Life in China

A Kiwi Celebrity Chat Starter That Actually Works in China If you are a New Zealander heading to China for uni, a job, a working holiday, or a longer stint with your partner, you will eventually hit that familiar first-chat moment: “Where are you from?” Say “New Zealand” and the next question is often not about visa paperwork, rugby, or whether we really have more sheep than people. It can be, surprisingly often, “Do you know Lorde?” Or Taika Waititi. Or Sam Neill. Sometimes somebody brings up The Lord of the Rings before you have even finished introducing yourself. ...

Shenzhen weather is not Auckland weather with better dumplings For a Kiwi arriving in Shenzhen, the first weather shock often happens before you have even found your flat, sorted your SIM card, or worked out why your new mate says “just scan it” every five minutes. You step outside after breakfast: hot. You walk ten minutes: properly sticky. Then, by late afternoon, the sky goes dark, rain belts down, and your carefully chosen canvas shoes become little wet sponges. That is China weather Shenzhen in a nutshell: warm, humid, fast-changing, and not especially interested in whether you packed sensibly. ...

A Decent Haircut in China Should Not Require a Gamble You have just landed in Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Chengdu, or wherever your university, job, or flat-share has taken you. You need a haircut. Nothing dramatic, ideally. Perhaps a tidy-up before a first class, a fresh trim ahead of a job interview, or a colour appointment before meeting mates for dumplings and a few beers. Then somebody drops a WeChat screenshot into a group: “Hair plus promo code — 30% off, book through this mini programme.” ...

Shenzhen Weather Is Part of the Arrival Experience For New Zealanders landing in Shenzhen, the weather can be the first little reality check. You may step off the plane in a decent shirt and sneakers, thinking you have packed sensibly, then meet warm, damp air that feels as though it has already had a cup of tea and decided to sit right on your shoulders. That is not a complaint about Shenzhen, by the way. It is simply the deal. Shenzhen sits in southern China, with a warm, humid climate, a long wet season and sudden heavy downpours that can turn an ordinary walk to the metro into a mission. For students heading to campus, people starting a new job, or Kiwis joining family in the city, understanding Shenzhen China weather is less about becoming a weather nerd and more about making daily life run without unnecessary drama. ...