Life in China

Your First Message Sets the Tone, Lah It is 10.30 pm in Singapore. You have just been added to a WhatsApp group called “Singaporeans Going Shanghai 2027”, “Tsinghua International Students”, or perhaps “Guangzhou New Joiners”. The chat is flying: people are asking about SIM cards, university accommodation, rent, payment apps, winter jackets, and where to find decent kopi-style coffee. Then someone types: “Welcome! Please introduce yourself.” Aiyo. Suddenly, even a simple “hello” feels like an interview. ...

Starting Life as a Muslim in China: Less Guesswork, More Groundwork For a Singaporean Muslim preparing for China, the question is usually not some grand debate about religion. It is much more everyday than that: “Can I find suitable meals near campus?”, “Where do I ask about prayer arrangements?”, “How do I explain my needs without making things awkward?”, and, of course, “Will I be alright on my own?” Fair questions, lah. China is huge, and a city can feel completely different from the next one. A student in Beijing may have a different daily routine from someone in Guangzhou, Ningbo, Chengdu or a smaller university town. The same goes for Muslim life: what is easy to access in one neighbourhood may take a bit more planning in another. ...