Expat partner Ellen Metzger initially imagined she would transplant her career to Shanghai. But ultimately she decided to take on a voluntary role with the Deutsche Club and pursue a mix of studies.
Remote possibility
“After Lukas and I decided to move to China, my first thought was to check if I could just keep my job and work remotely. My employer (an e-commerce company) was open to the idea but we concluded that it just wasn’t feasible,” says Ellen. “I still relocated hoping that I would find work, believing a job would give my days structure and be a valuable international experience for me. But I soon had a different perspective to consider…”
Local contracts
“After arriving in Shanghai, I prioritised networking and I soon met some other expat partners, many of whom were not working. It’s not that there weren’t any opportunities. But the reality is if you are coming to Shanghai and then finding a job, you will be on a local contract. That means the conditions (compared to many EU countries) would be very different – lower salaries, far less holidays, and an expectation to work up to 60 hours a week (or more). I had to ask myself – is that what I want?”
An alternative way
“For starters, one of the attractions of living in Asia for Lukas and I is travel. If I found a job in Shanghai, I would have perhaps just 5-10 days of holiday a year. My holidays would also not be in sync with Lukas’s,” says Ellen. “So I began to consider if there was another way to be occupied and fulfilled. I’d already started to join events run by the Deutsche Club, which runs various charity events, workshops / classes, cultural talks and walking / cycling tours of Shanghai. I decided to become actively involved and joined the committee. Yes, it’s voluntary work but it gives me a sense of purpose and keeps me busy, week to week…”
Additional studies
“I am also studying Mandarin, which has been very challenging but also fun. On top of that, I’m taking a couple of classes to learn about goldsmithing and wax carving. I have always been interested in these crafts but I never imagined I’d get around to learning them. It’s really great that I now have a chance!”
Photo: Ellen at classes organised by the Deutsche Club, Shanghai
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