My experience as a travel intern in Shanghai
👉My poly offered overseas internship program to Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam as well but I chose china because 1. Improve my conversational chinese
2. Seems like a better environment in general
3. IT’S SHANGHAI 😇😇
1. Lose money —
First point I want to state is: I couldn’t earn any $$ after internship because we’re paying for the experience. ofc we signed up knowing this!
Compare the rent in Shanghai to thailand / vietnam, my rent was $750sgd+/month and I earn $550 ( after conversion ) so, there’s a clear loss already. BUT, factor in the agent fee which is ridiculously high - $2.4k sgd THEY DID nothing. throw money… sigh
⭐️Btw SG government provides funding, I calculated that the students in thailand+vietnam WILL earn money even after subtracting all the essential costs because things are cheap there and the fundings are enough to cover everything. Don’t forget: the living expenses, visa cost, airflight tickets, insurance and the list goes on. I am very appreciative of my parents, super thankful I could experience this ofc
💯Travelled to many cities
Shanghai is a city, just like Singapore. The bund is kinda equivalent to MBS but with more wow factor because the skyline is amazingly beautiful. However, a city is a city - everything is so fast paced, and the commutes are dangerously packed. The only good thing about SH was being able to escape to other cities. I travelled to 6 other cities in my 3 holidays that I took during the internship. (yesyes im so lucky) oh flight tickets are SO CHEAPPP. $120 return flights to beijing/chengdu/chongqing. I went to Harbin for around this price too hehehe. My internship was damn slack, we could work on weekends and make it up with leaves. So I took 5 days leave and went on a 9day holiday with my family !!
😆Meeting strangers
I had this goal of meeting 100 strangers because I didn’t associate myself with the schoolmates I came with. Just didn’t get along so why force it when I’m in a city with millions of people to encounter and befriend right. Hence, I used apps such as Bumble BFF / TripBff to meet travellers, I went on many hangouts (could average 3 a week ngl) - I hit it off with some but most weren’t vibey. Still, every stranger I encountered has altered my perception and changed me as a person.
++ I stayed in a condo then I met singaporeans and even schoolmates from other courses, so interesting! This service condo apartment has many different nationalities / european kids studying chinese in China schools and frequent parties to get to know each other basically bonding sessions.
🕐Efficiency of china’s apps
I can never return to the **mediocre life I led in singapore** ( I’m kidding) If y’all travelled to china you would understand how life changing meituan, alipay, wechat, dissing is. They’re living so far in the future, and we’re still using cash. The elderly population there are rlly technologically smart
Food delivery can be as low as $2sgd, for a proper full meal (bc of our strong currency) and booking beauty appointments are so easy. Even door to door phone repair can be done in 30mins - they fixed my phone in 10 mins.. seriously insane la. love china.
❌cons ———
hygiene here is quite bad, the uncles will anyhow spit on the floor pavements. I get its their lifestyle but they do this in train stations too. And, no mask even when they’re sick. Burping, and coughing loudly without covering too ..
ya anyways I miss home
In today’s digital era, many young people tend to stay indoors, heavily relying on apps like Meituan and Taobao for daily needs. Having personally experienced Shanghai’s tech-driven lifestyle, I can say it’s amazing how these apps streamline life — from $2 meal deliveries to quick beauty appointments and rapid phone repairs. However, as a community worker or guide, encouraging young people to step outside is crucial. One way to motivate them is by sharing real experiences, like the ones I had during my internship. Meeting new people in a foreign city, exploring multiple cities inexpensively via cheap flights, and discovering vibrant cultures can be life-changing. Using social apps to connect in a safe way can ease anxiety about new social settings. Additionally, organizing group outings or community events that blend tech convenience with outdoor adventure can help. For example, arranging group visits to local landmarks, encouraging photo walks in culturally rich districts like The Bund, or even casual meet-ups inspired by apps like Bumble BFF can foster real-world connections. Of course, it’s important to acknowledge concerns like hygiene and crowded commutes that I noticed in Shanghai, and advise young people on practical safety measures when they decide to explore outside their homes. Ultimately, balancing the convenience of digital apps with encouraged real-world interaction can empower young people to broaden their horizons, develop social skills, and enjoy authentic experiences beyond screens.
able to share the name of the condo?