From Overwhelmed to Confident: Helping an Exchange Student Start Her Life in Shanghai
A few weeks ago, a young student from Brazil arrived in Shanghai for her exchange program.
Like many first-time visitors to China, she quickly realized how overwhelming it can feel. Excited about the travel but also not sure where to start and how to verify information she found online.
Digital payments, local apps, transportation, renting an apartment, even simple things like ordering drinking water — suddenly everything feels unfamiliar.
She reached out because she felt a bit lost and anxious, worrying that things can't work out and a lot of what-ifs.
So before her arrival, we made plans based on her expectations and schedules, built an itinerary for each day, and spent three days together navigating Shanghai step by step.
With a clear Shanghai initiation plan — and a professional driver in a comfortable ride to make things efficient — we tackled the essentials:
Opening a local bank account
Setting up a SIM card and mobile payment
Completing university registration
Viewing apartment options
We accomplished all of the above within 1 day, on a Sunday!
And then we have a crash course on
Learning how to commute across the city
Ordering everyday essentials delivery online, apps to be installed
Understanding how daily life works in Shanghai
Knowing what to do in case of a medical emergency
After nailing down all the above, I had the pleasure of showing her and her mum around Shanghai, taking in the iconic touristy attractions, sharing cultural differences, sharing fun trivia, and taking some great photos for the memories.
By the end of the three days, she chose an apartment in the heart of the Former French Concession and started navigating the city on her own with confidence!
It's such a rewarding experience to observe how newcomers grow within a short time and fall in love with the new city step by step.
A few days later, she sent me this message (shared with permission):
“Hi Genie,
I just wanted to reach out because I realised I didn’t properly thank you for all your help. More than simply offering a service, it’s clear that you are truly passionate and incredibly talented at what you do.
It’s also very noticeable how much you truly engage with your clients and how quickly you understand each person’s profile and needs. That kind of empathy is a rare ability in the modern world, and it really makes a difference.
It’s not easy to be a foreigner in China and adapt to the payment systems, communication apps, and everything else. I think you probably noticed that in the first few days I felt a bit overwhelmed, but you stayed calm and helped me feel confident about how to navigate life here, with all your notes, observations, and even challenging me at times to figure things out on my own.
More than that, you did it with a smile on your face and such positive energy. I truly believe I found the best person I could possibly have found in China to help me through this process. I feel very lucky to have met you.
I hope you never stop doing what you do, because you genuinely change people’s experiences.
Thank you so much for everything.”
— Mariela
Moments like this remind me that what I do goes far beyond just tours or itineraries.
Sometimes it’s simply about helping someone feel at home in a completely unfamiliar world.
Shanghai can feel overwhelming at first — but with the right guidance, it quickly becomes an incredible place to live, study, and explore.
Here, I’d like to thank Mariela for placing her trust in me, allowing me to share our story here and I wish her a wonderful journey ahead during her time in Shanghai. I’ve promised to support her as best as I can throughout her stay.
And a special thank you to Amy from CiaoSpoace for helping us find the perfect apartment in the neighbourhood where she’ll be living for the next few months.