China?

[shanghaismog]

I know there are a few MNers in China and was hoping for a bit of info from the ground. We may end up taking a posting, most likely in Shanghai (less likely Singapore) at some point during this year.

We´re seasoned expats but have never lived out East before. Many things appeal but one of our main concerns is the air pollution out there. How bad is it really? I´ve seen some pictures from the last week or so and it looks pretty awful - much worse than I´d realised! Obviously long term impact is unknown at the moment if you´re there now, but how does it affect your daily life (if at all)? We´re quite an outdoorsy family and do a lot of running and exercising outdoors and I´d be devastated if we had to move indoors on a regular basis. Would this be the case? Does the pollution make you think about the food you eat? I don´t know an awful lot about it obviously but if the water supply has a lot of heavy metal toxins, then surely the animals/veg could be contaminated at some level? I realise this sounds a bit precious but I´m a bit at sea with it and media hype doesn´t help. Would appreciate a bit of context!

Schools/housing/costs etc I can find heaps of info online about but if you have any insights that would be helpful please feel free to share (we have kids age 6 & 9) - particularly regarding Mandarin teaching in the schools. We have experience of pretty second rate local language tuition here and the kids aren´t learning much. Do they come away having learnt Mandarin after a few years, or does the expat bubble negate this to a certain extent?

If you´re there, would you recommend we take the opportunity or do you reckon we´ve missed the boom years and there´s trouble afoot in the next 3-5 years?

I have messaged you!

I have lived in China for nearly 5 years, but don't live in Shanghai although know several families who do live there.
Pollution is bad (but not as bad as Beijing) and there are days when you will not want to be outside. I consider the food I eat in terms of contamination of products. In 2008 there was an issue with melamine being added to milk, baby formula and milk products and I will only buy imported dairy products. I also avoid Chinese fish. You can buy imported salmon.
Housing is expensive in Shanghai but the bigger issue is location and distance from school/work. Dulwich has a good reputation but usually waiting lists to get in.

Re shopping - Shanghai has Next, M&S, Carrefour, City Shop, Walmart etc so you can get anything (at a price).
Re learning Mandarin - I can only tell you about the school my children attend:

• mandarin every day for 40 minutes and there are 4 groups from Advanced (native speaker) to beginner. My dd started learning at age 2 and her pronunciation is excellent. Ds started at age 8 - reads and writes in mandarin. Personally I think you have to dedicate some time to support children with the language - extra lessons or learn yourself. Having an ayi in your home can help the children with the language although she is unlikely to speak standard mandarin and you may struggle in the beginning. Hope this is of some use.

Thanks for your replies! It sounds like the pollution/contamination is a legitimate worry for us - I wasn´t sure whether we were overreacting or not!

We´ll have to wait and see what´s offered to us. We´re up for another adventure, so who knows!