So many considerations and decisions to make and in the background a company waiting for you to make a decision with a timescale that no matter how long, will be too short.

 

Education, language, food, standard of living and financial incentive are all the factors that start to run through your mind.

 

Education

 

Location is probably the most important factor here as the standard of education for an expatriate child can be great in the big cities and in the small cities can be hit or miss.

 

Take shanghai as an example the number of schools catering to expats is quite extensive and are dotted all around the city to ensure that you are in the catchment area of a few. Of course it is probably a good idea to ensure your company knows the cost of schooling here when offering you a financial package with average costs of US$25,000, it’s not cheap. You can on the other hand, rest assured that the level of teaching and amenities at these schools will be high.

 

If you are to be offered a position in a smaller city like Shenzhen for example then on the positive side the cost of education will be lower. However you also run the risk of your children’s level of education being substandard. You will need to do more research to ensure that you get a good school with adequate teaching staff and class sizes.

 

Language

 

The next fear will be: “How do I get things done if I don’t speak the language?”  From ordering food, to transportation and working with your colleagues/staff these fears are normal.

 

Out of necessity within one month of living in china expats typically learn what I would call ‘taxi Chinese’.  Being able to say the cross roads you want to go to and being able to direct the driver is something that you will need but also comes surprisingly easy.

 

I myself live in Shanghai, and have done so for seven years. In that time my Mandarin has not progressed from that first month. With a big expat community and a dedicated government phone line dedicated to helping you in those difficult times.

 

When translation is needed or you are lost, language will only be an issue if you make it one.

 

Food

 

Aussies worry about getting a good pie, good meat or beers from back home. With a few Aussie bars around the city you will be able to get your creature comforts. Get in touch with the Australian Chamber in your local area and they will point you in the right direction. Rest assured, all worldly tastes are catered to and you will discover that Chinese food has a lot more to offer than you first thought from hot pots to dumplings – you have a lot to look forward to.

 

Standard of living

 

Buying property in China is expensive in the big cities but the good news is that renting is cheap in comparison. Living on the outskirts of the city will allow you to get a bigger property but you will of course be further from the main areas for entertainment. For families you should consider properties near to schools because they tend to be located in the greener more family friendly locations. For singles and couples I would always suggest that you rent close to the city centres as this will allow you to have a much more varied and interesting social life.

 

Finances

 

So if you have done your homework correctly you will have got your company to pay for your children’s schooling, the rent on your property here and negotiated a reasonable allowance for relocating.

 

If you have done that then arriving in Shanghai after a few months you will find your bank balance growing. I would always advise people to have the salary split, with some coming to China to cover your costs here and some going towards commitments at home or just growing in a bank account.

 

Of course this is the area we can help you with. If you are living here and thinking about buying a property back in Australia we can help with that too. Alternatively you may want to save money for the short-term to save up for a deposit on a property or maybe you want to save for the long-term for pension provision/superannuation. ■

 

*Kevin Hennessy is based in Shanghai working for Platinum Financial Services limited.

Contact the author at: kevinhennessy@fsplatinum.com