[East_Coaster]

Hello everyone,

I could really use some help. I have never been to China and I'm unfamiliar with many things about the processes there. I am hoping that those of you that have gone to school or lived there can help me out.

Recently, my sister went to Shanghai to stay with a friend that has lived there for a few years. Her friend, also an American, attends university in Shanghai and works under student employment for the university. Here is the problem. Before my sister left, she had a pretty serious argument with our parents.

She has now been there nearly a month and she and her friend have found an apartment.

My parents have tried emailing her but they receive no reply. She has called me and replies to my emails. However, when I ask for her address, she says that she doesn't know what it is because it is in Chinese and also, that she has no idea where her mail for the apartment complex would arrive.

I believed this but now, I am worried. I am finding it difficult to believe that she doesn't know her address but I can't be sure. I want to believe her! She and her friend secured their apartment a couple weeks before the semester began. Wouldn't her friend have to supply her Chinese address to the university for classes as well as for her employment there? Also, her friend speaks fluent Chinese.

I don't want to assume anything, but knowing a little more information would help me out in trying to calm my parents and also in figuring out the best way to approach my sister. I don't want to say "I know you have to know your address!" That would only make it worse for her. She may try to go to university there (maybe!) and I really would hate to see a lot of time go by and what has happened in our family go on. Plus, I don't want her to withhold her address for fear I'll give it to our parents.

Sorry for the Agony Aunt sound of this, but I'm really concerned. I hope that someone can help and I would appreciate any information.

[Oz Girl]

When I lived in China, I never had mail sent to my home address because I only had it written down in Chinese for a taxi to get me home! So it is possible. On saying that though, I had the address in English of the school where I worked and had no problem receiving mail there. She would be able to get her address translated in such a city as Shanghai.
Sorry, hope that helps a little!

[East_Coaster]

That makes me feel a bit better! I was concerned that if she is applying for school herself, that she would have to know her address. Also that her friend would have to know it for university and work.

Thanks much for your reply!

[Bobbybo]

Think of all the companies abroad sending docs and mails to companies in China. They just don't write Chinese characters, but the address in English. I also receive mail in Shanghai from HK with the address written in English.
If your sister lives in Shanghai it's impossible she cannot give you the address in English of where she lives. Even street names signs are translated in Shanghai.

[Hokuto]

Addresses in English in Shanghai generally go as follows:

NAME
124 Shenme Lu (rd), Bldg 1, Apt 101
Shenme District, Shanghai 200XXX PRC

So, for example, Fudan University:

Fudan University
220 Handan Lu
Yangpu District, Shanghai 200433 PRC

Apartment complexes usually have a little section of mailboxes at or near the entrance to the building. Your sister and her friend should have received a mail key from the landlord when they moved in.

[East_Coaster]

She says that she did not receive a key and that they have not seen any mailboxes. So they assumed that mail would come to their door.

I feel that perhaps I have been a bit hard in expecting the address so soon. IF for some reason it would need to be translated for her, then that is reasonable and something that should be easily done, but I can't understand that there are other things to be taken care of right now so soon after settling in.

The replies in this thread have given me some perspective on the situation at least. Thanks everyone.