Posted by Annabelle Chen of 17th SHEN.

It’s a little surreal to realize that it’s been past a month that we’ve been in Shanghai and away from home. My batch, NCSH17, embarked on our NOC journey a week after Chinese New Year in end January with our bags of pineapple tarts and bak kut teh/chicken rice mixes, excited to start our one year experience in China and yet not completely sure of what was ahead of us.

We spent our first two weeks here in a sort of excited frenzy – in between looking for a suitably priced new home to moving and settling in, we still managed to be tourists as we explored some parts of this new city that we will call home for a year. As we settled into the first week of work, school and orientation also began at Fudan University where we met many other peers, both Chinese as well as foreign students like ourselves.

The first month didn’t feel nearly as long, to be honest; it’s been quite a whirlwind after all, what with us arriving to sub-zero temperatures and seeing snow for the first time, starting work and school, meeting new people, and even travelling to Suzhou for a weekend. Also, a special mention to our wonderful seniors who not only housed us temporarily while we were homeless but also guided our clueless selves patiently: thank you! 

I think the past month has been that of ‘firsts’ for many of us – from the seemingly trivial affair of cooking a meal or going around in a new city by oneself, to the more serious deeds of apartment-hunting, paying bills, running household errands, working overseas, making business trips…

Above all, I believe this is the first time most of us are living away from home for a prolonged period of time. Now as we settle into our second month here, I’m hoping that we wouldn’t fall into the trap of being too comfortable even as the pace starts to sink in. After all: one month down, only ten to go.