What's it like living abroad? ❄️ Snowy weekend finding yummy vegan food & cute cafes | expat diaries

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  • Опубліковано 14 жов 2024

КОМЕНТАРІ • 141

  • @maru8217
    @maru8217 Рік тому +103

    I’m watching your vlog from Tokyo, and thanks for your updates with neutral/positive information about China. We are flooded with propagandas about China in the mainstream media here, nothing is positive. Appreciate your great work and demo to everyone the real China is. Pls keep up your great work and look forward to more of your updates.

    • @melissa_renee
      @melissa_renee  Рік тому +20

      Thank you so much for your comment. I really appreciate it. It helps me know I'm doing the right thing.

    • @maru8217
      @maru8217 Рік тому +8

      @@melissa_renee I’m referring your updates to some of my friends and we feel grateful of your updates, like the spring breeze in the middle of freezing winter. 😊

    • @melissa_renee
      @melissa_renee  Рік тому +5

      @@maru8217 Your words are so incredibly kind. Thank you!

    • @maru8217
      @maru8217 Рік тому +4

      @@melissa_renee really looking forward to some special edition of the Chinese new year updates, if possible ;-)

    • @maru8217
      @maru8217 Рік тому +4

      @@melissa_renee really miss the honeymoon dessert(满级甜品 )in Shanghai, it is more than yummy 😋would like to recommend to you for a try.

  • @billkauo-hwasun2383
    @billkauo-hwasun2383 Рік тому +15

    I am living in Taipei, Taiwan. Love to watch your life in Shanghai and your positive view about China. There are just too many unfair Propaganda about China in the US press.

    • @melissa_renee
      @melissa_renee  Рік тому +2

      Thank you for your kind comment. I hope I can be a positive light with my experience.❤️

  • @ExpatNatt
    @ExpatNatt Рік тому +28

    So nice to finally hang out! I look forward to doing it again soon ❤❤

  • @worldcooking
    @worldcooking Рік тому +15

    Good video, beautiful images from this great Chinese city and excellent presentation!

    • @melissa_renee
      @melissa_renee  Рік тому

      wow, thank you so much for your kind comment.

  • @ignizhh2054
    @ignizhh2054 Рік тому +9

    I'm from Shanghai. Enjoy your time in this city.

  • @bluestar2253
    @bluestar2253 Рік тому +3

    Greetings from sunny Florida. It is so refreshing to watch your amazing videos on your daily life in China. I could only dream about visiting Shanghai, maybe one day, soon hopefully! Thank you!

    • @melissa_renee
      @melissa_renee  Рік тому

      Hello Florida! I hope you get to come. It’s an amazing city and country.

  • @boothbuilder
    @boothbuilder Рік тому +9

    It's dope you've recorded the scenes of snow in Shanghai, it rarely snows in Shanghai. 兔年快乐,幸福,健康,如意,安康,大发。

    • @melissa_renee
      @melissa_renee  Рік тому +2

      Right? It was so cool to be out in it as well. Happy new year to you too!! 🐰

  • @asiahaltheaa
    @asiahaltheaa Рік тому +11

    Hi Melissa! Thanks for sharing this with us. Exploring China has always been in my best interest. It's been so much fun watching your vlog. I am now so excited to visit Shanghai in winter as the city looks so charming in this season. Looking forward to the borders opening up to tourists. Sending love from the Philippines! ❤

    • @melissa_renee
      @melissa_renee  Рік тому +1

      hello! I'm so glad you enjoyed the video. I hope your trip to Shanghai is amazing!!

    • @austinwei393
      @austinwei393 Рік тому

      哈哈哈哈 Come to Shanghai in Spring. It’s fabulous and beautiful!!!! The best season in Shanghai definitely ❤

  • @wuxiaotu2237
    @wuxiaotu2237 Рік тому +6

    Love shanghai so much👍

  • @BrianKoelschHo
    @BrianKoelschHo 9 місяців тому

    Greetings from Singapore! LOVE LOVE LOVE your video style and music choices. Lovely to see how you share your family journey.
    Heading to Shanghai in a week and I have been taking notes on where to check out simply based on your vlog. Thank you! Take care!

  • @5canwalk
    @5canwalk Рік тому +10

    Living it up in Shanghai, I see! A really fun vlog to watch! Thank you to u and Natt!🎉

    • @melissa_renee
      @melissa_renee  Рік тому +1

      Our pleasure! It was so fun doing it together. ❤️

  • @never4ever386
    @never4ever386 Рік тому +6

    Oh I love your videos. They’re so authentic and wholesome.
    Learning any new language is difficult but knowing the basics of the local language helps and makes things easier.
    And I love your playlists.

    • @melissa_renee
      @melissa_renee  Рік тому +1

      Thank you so much! 😃 I really appreciate your kind comment. It means a lot to me to know that.

  • @etow8034
    @etow8034 Рік тому +3

    Monks in China are vegetarians. There is a whole class of vegan foods called 仿荤菜 or imitation meat dishes. There are restaurants that specializes in that sort of foods which gives a new experience to the palate other than leafy greens.

    • @melissa_renee
      @melissa_renee  Рік тому

      Thank you for the tip! We have plans to visit a temple restaurant soon. I’m excited to try the cuisine. 😁

  • @benma4421
    @benma4421 Рік тому

    5:05 Shanghainese here, please by all means stay in Shanghai, I love your VLOGS and you are literally a better Shanghainese than me, no kidding! Love!

  • @charleneji6759
    @charleneji6759 Рік тому +4

    hahahaha Restaurants and stores are always open in China.
    I remember when I was in Houston maaaany years ago, on one Christmas day, my hubby and I drove around and found every store closed except Walgreen!
    Now that there is no more restricition on travelling, you can explore many other parts of China. 😄

    • @melissa_renee
      @melissa_renee  Рік тому

      Oh yeah, America we close everything on Christmas Day. But that is changing a lot the last 5-10 years. And yes! We plan to do lots of traveling now!!

    • @charleneji6759
      @charleneji6759 Рік тому

      @@melissa_renee I see. Maybe I should be visiting the States again. 😀

    • @melissa_renee
      @melissa_renee  Рік тому

      You should! It’s got a lot of cool places to see. 😊

  • @weizhang2834
    @weizhang2834 Рік тому +13

    There are 43 cities have subways in China as far , in every city has at least two languages from the public announcement : mandarin and English. in Guangzhou /Shenzhen /HK, there are 3: mandarin/Cantonese/English, in Urumqi ,xinjiang province there are 3: mandarin/Uighur languages/ English; in Xiamen there are 3: mandarin/south fujian dialects (hokkien)/English, in dalian city of Liao Ning province, there are mandarin/English/japanese etc , so basically you can hear 55 minority languages/mandarin/English in different provinces, mandarin and English is necessary

    • @melissa_renee
      @melissa_renee  Рік тому +2

      Thank you for that information! =)

    • @weizhang2834
      @weizhang2834 Рік тому +1

      @@melissa_renee i posted a lot of links of vegetarian restaurants in Shanghai , but all of them been deleted by UA-cam , make a search “上海素食餐厅”from “baidu “ then

  • @jukio02
    @jukio02 Рік тому +9

    Well, if you guys are going to be there for a couple of more years, you might as well get some Disneyland passes. Zootopia land is going to open up soon. 😂
    So cool that you hanged out with Expat Nat. I like her, too.

    • @melissa_renee
      @melissa_renee  Рік тому +2

      Ooo that sounds fun! We have looked into them. Maybe we will have to do that for the summer. 😊 and yes it was so cool to get to hang out! I’m glad you watch her too.

  • @windsong3wong828
    @windsong3wong828 Рік тому +6

    Love the music as usual…..and the fun things you do.

    • @melissa_renee
      @melissa_renee  Рік тому

      Thank you so much. ❤️ glad to know I’m not boring. Haha!

  • @jtang8768
    @jtang8768 Рік тому

    Oh Wu Kang Road, where my home is. really like the vibes of your video. So Shanghai!

  • @MattinChina
    @MattinChina Рік тому +8

    The food looks really good ! really nice to see you two colab on a video

    • @melissa_renee
      @melissa_renee  Рік тому

      Thanks Matt!! it was so fun to actually meet in person and chat youtube lol

  • @guestonearth1274
    @guestonearth1274 Рік тому +2

    China ,beautiful and peaceful land

  • @tamaya7577
    @tamaya7577 Рік тому

    great vlog, waiting for the next ones..

  • @kevinzee9704
    @kevinzee9704 Рік тому +2

    Thanks for sharing! I used to work in Shanghai for 7 years and moved back 2019! I had a great time while staying there! It’s an exciting place indeed! Hope to visit Shanghai soon!

    • @melissa_renee
      @melissa_renee  Рік тому

      That's awesome! And now you CAN visit! yay!

  • @georwoogle
    @georwoogle 11 місяців тому +1

    👍👍👍

  • @alvinnnliu
    @alvinnnliu Рік тому +1

    OMG Melissa & Natt! 双厨狂喜!

  • @sunshinechaser6678
    @sunshinechaser6678 Рік тому +9

    Your videos are so calming! Great editing style. I was wondering how did you get the Voiceover gif? So interesting and keep making these great contents!

    • @melissa_renee
      @melissa_renee  Рік тому

      Made my day! Thank you! That is my goal so knowing you think that is a big deal to me. =)
      And the jobs I get through my agent, and getting an agent was literally just knowing someone who knows someone who knows someone. I didn't know this coming here, but it's all about networking and meeting people. I got super lucky.

  • @hodgenhe
    @hodgenhe Рік тому +5

    That veg restaurant is very close to my office, and have eaten once. Nice restaurant.

    • @melissa_renee
      @melissa_renee  Рік тому +2

      That's so cool, and yeah it was so good! =)

    • @hodgenhe
      @hodgenhe Рік тому

      @@melissa_renee btw, I think most of Chinese restaurants can cook veg dishes for you since we use lots of vegetables and tofu in our daily meals. You can just save this text "我是素食者,请帮我做全素的" - "I‘m vegetarian and please prepare full veg for me"to your phone and show to the waiter.

  • @billinsf88
    @billinsf88 Рік тому +4

    Thank you for taking all of us along with your walks and coffee outings. Can’t wait till I get back for my visit!

    • @melissa_renee
      @melissa_renee  Рік тому

      My pleasure! So glad you’re enjoying it. And happy for you that you can get back now.

    • @billinsf88
      @billinsf88 Рік тому

      @@melissa_renee wishing you and your family a joyful and healthy CNY!

  • @sookielu4667
    @sookielu4667 Рік тому +3

    You and your family are the cutest! Your videos have put a smile on my face all night! Thanks for showing me my lovely country is doing better and better, really miss it (haven't been back for 5 years..T-T). Wish y'all all the best!!! Cheers from Austin. 🥰

    • @melissa_renee
      @melissa_renee  Рік тому +1

      Oh good ol' Austin...we are from Oklahoma City so we have been there a bunch! =) And thank you soooo much. Your comment made my day, hopefully you can come visit soon!!

  • @clorisxia
    @clorisxia Рік тому +1

    I watched all your videos and absolutely loving them! I’m also amazed by your chopsticks skills now haha

    • @melissa_renee
      @melissa_renee  Рік тому

      Thank you so much!! I’m so glad you like them!! ❤️ haha thanks for the compliment. I need to practice more though I think. 😬😁

  • @bangchu3579
    @bangchu3579 Рік тому +2

    it snowed on the day I left for my subtropical home for holiday! I have been waiting for it for 2 and a half years since I moved to Shanghai! At least I saw some of the snows from the windows in the airport! As a subtropical kid I am always really excited when I see snow!

    • @melissa_renee
      @melissa_renee  Рік тому

      Oh no! I’m so sorry you missed it. But hey, I’ll switch you places! Haha. I’d love to go to a subtropical place right now. 😁

    • @weizhang2834
      @weizhang2834 Рік тому

      @@melissa_renee hainan or yunnan or guangxi provinces are all warm

    • @bangchu3579
      @bangchu3579 Рік тому

      @@weizhang2834 Guangdong and Fujian: ????

  • @User-kjxklyntrw
    @User-kjxklyntrw Рік тому

    Shanghai really cool place🎉

  • @haslintravels
    @haslintravels Рік тому +2

    Happy cow is very useful! Howeever it's a shame you haven't been able to add restaurants there now.. And some should definitely get deleted from there.. But this was such a lovely vlog! ❤

    • @melissa_renee
      @melissa_renee  Рік тому

      I actually haven't tried adding new ones, so far I'm just using what I've seen on there =) I agree, some are not what we expect when we show up. Some are even closed. And thank you so much!!! I'm glad you found me. It seems my demographic has been mostly male viewers and it's so nice to see a girl!! haha!

  • @ljl3373
    @ljl3373 Рік тому

    Really enjoy video, very warm and nice!

    • @melissa_renee
      @melissa_renee  Рік тому

      Thank you very much! That is the goal I have when editing so that makes me happy to know.

  • @sam-6579
    @sam-6579 Рік тому

    absolutely enjoyed watching your videos, and the background music is great!

  • @TheMennomilist
    @TheMennomilist Рік тому +2

    Happy snow day. Enjoy your time in China for as long as you do spend time there. I am glad you enjoy the smiles and the kindness there.
    All that delicious looking food. ahhh. How tall are you? I am 5'9" but feel you and are are near in height, no? Interesting that the one bookstore you went to is called 1984. I guess in reference to the book?
    A chocolate company job? What did you do for them!? That is really nice.

    • @melissa_renee
      @melissa_renee  Рік тому +3

      I'm close! 5'6 but i has tall boot on that day and it made me about 5'9 i bet. You're taller than i imagined!
      Yes, the bookstore had copies of 1984 everywhere, it was really cool. and a little ironic. lol
      And I'm doing voice over work here now! It was a chocolate commercial for tv. I do the english voice dub. Its so fun!

    • @TheMennomilist
      @TheMennomilist Рік тому +1

      @@melissa_renee That is a bit ironic haha. Oh man, congratulations on the chocolate commercial. That is really cool.

    • @wannago905
      @wannago905 Рік тому

      Ironic in the sense that you feel you are being watched in your daily life in Shanghai? Or in the sense that it is supposed by many that it's the life in China?

    • @jzvr5842
      @jzvr5842 Рік тому

      @@wannago905 You're definitely not being watched in your daily life in China so it'd be the latter, western media wants people to think that's what happens in China but the reality is totally different.

  • @katkrist6409
    @katkrist6409 Рік тому +1

    Happy Chinese New year there! enjoy your life in Shanghai!

  • @rtgtx
    @rtgtx Рік тому +1

    Beautiful video!

  • @melissa_renee
    @melissa_renee  Рік тому

    🎶Love my music? You can access a music playlist of all the songs I use on Spotify:
    open.spotify.com/playlist/5lCcJmzSBfTiIJhDbyZFJj?si=fb39928e70d64012
    Wanna use it too? I use Epidemic Sound, sign up for a 30-day free trial here:
    share.epidemicsound.com/s046cw

  • @aileenhan5054
    @aileenhan5054 Рік тому

    Really like your video and video's music ~

  • @joejoewoo1
    @joejoewoo1 Рік тому

    Welcome to my hometown! Guess we switched places =)

    • @melissa_renee
      @melissa_renee  Рік тому

      Haha! Did you move to the US??

    • @joejoewoo1
      @joejoewoo1 Рік тому

      @@melissa_renee I did. Greetings from Iowa! Man I miss all the local delicacies in Shanghai小笼包 生煎包 粉丝汤yumyumyumyumyum. Enjoy plenty of them for me, will ya =)

  • @zzdfranky1616
    @zzdfranky1616 Рік тому +2

    It seems that being a vegetarian in China is not so hard to bear, after all, they are very good at cooking.

    • @melissa_renee
      @melissa_renee  Рік тому

      We have been getting by pretty well!

    • @jzvr5842
      @jzvr5842 Рік тому

      Monks are vegetarian in China, vegetarian food is actually super popular in China, super tasty too, if language wasn't a problem it should be easy.

  • @reneeday5348
    @reneeday5348 Рік тому +1

    Being the first one to comment❤ Btw Is the weather bad in Shanghai? The weather in Beijing is quite nice.

    • @melissa_renee
      @melissa_renee  Рік тому +1

      yay for being the first! And it's pretty cold this week but overall yes, the weather is good. Are you in Beijing?

    • @weizhang2834
      @weizhang2834 Рік тому +1

      @@melissa_renee there are central heater systems in all northern China including Beijing. Shanghai doesn’t have that system unfortunately.

  • @katiecanada4773
    @katiecanada4773 Рік тому

    Love your video😊

    • @melissa_renee
      @melissa_renee  Рік тому

      You are so kind, thank you for watching!!

    • @katiecanada4773
      @katiecanada4773 Рік тому

      @@melissa_renee really admire your courage! Wish you can find some true friendship and comfort just like home while living in China. I am going to live in Europe with my husband for a few years, I 've learned lot from you, your attitude being open mind , so thank you!!😊

  • @billlee2983
    @billlee2983 Рік тому +2

    Mandarin is indeed quite a difficult language to learn especially to read and write. But it would be extremely helpful if you know at least to communicate. Have some local Chinese friends and get the hang of it. You'll enjoy China even more then.

    • @melissa_renee
      @melissa_renee  Рік тому +1

      I agree. I have plans to learn some basics in an in person class very soon. 👍😁

  • @morninghope1
    @morninghope1 Рік тому +1

    You are missing out on so many amazing and delicious food going vegan especially in China. China is a food paradise! I like to think of myself as half vegan hahaha. At home, my diet is plant-based and is more strict than vegan as I also avoid oil as well. But outside I have no restrictions at all. I can eat anything. So probably more than half time on plant-based and lesser half on world diet though I've gone many months only on plant-based diet in the past.

    • @melissa_renee
      @melissa_renee  Рік тому +1

      Thank you for your comment. However I don’t see it missing out when it’s something I don’t want to eat in the first place. 😊 I feel like I can still enjoy foods here and stay aligned to my values. It’s a win win!

    • @morninghope1
      @morninghope1 Рік тому +1

      @@melissa_renee Hahaha, yes from your perspective totally understandable. Plus we don't miss what we haven't experienced. Enjoying your vlogs BTW.

  • @fiyoung3561
    @fiyoung3561 Рік тому

    (ExpressVPN has done now, confirmed by their representative) Hi guys, what kind of VPN do you use now in China? I am about to go there for 7 weeks, really need one!!!

    • @melissa_renee
      @melissa_renee  Рік тому +1

      Astrill! It's like the only one that works now. =) Good luck!

    • @fiyoung3561
      @fiyoung3561 Рік тому

      @@melissa_renee thanks!!!!

  • @shineluvslambiel
    @shineluvslambiel Рік тому

    Shanghai❤

  • @ludeo9718
    @ludeo9718 Рік тому

    Very nice videos! 🎉
    I’m wondering how you upload these videos? Isn’t UA-cam kind of illegal in China?

    • @melissa_renee
      @melissa_renee  Рік тому +1

      Thank you. And it is blocked however I use a VPN to upload and access the internet sites I can’t in China.

    • @w.8473
      @w.8473 Рік тому

      不违法 很简单的😊

    • @jzvr5842
      @jzvr5842 Рік тому +1

      VPNs are easy to get and are perfectly legal in China.

  • @GL-iv4rw
    @GL-iv4rw Рік тому +1

    Can you make videos on life as a foreign student?

    • @melissa_renee
      @melissa_renee  Рік тому

      Unfortunately I'm not a student anymore and haven't been for some time. =)

  • @KDC_1899
    @KDC_1899 Рік тому

    Hi, what phone do you use for video? Thx!

  • @xuronggu5013
    @xuronggu5013 Рік тому

    Will you upload your videos on Bilibili for chinese ?😊

    • @melissa_renee
      @melissa_renee  Рік тому

      Hello, I've been asked this before and I don't think I will be doing that. I am not able to translate the content into Chinese so I don't think it would work well. =)

    • @melissa_renee
      @melissa_renee  Рік тому

      Hello, I've been asked this before and I don't think I will be doing that. I am not able to translate the content into Chinese so I don't think it would work well. =)

    • @xuronggu5013
      @xuronggu5013 Рік тому

      @@melissa_renee Chinese subtitle is not required , English works fine on bilibili 😊

    • @melissa_renee
      @melissa_renee  Рік тому

      @@xuronggu5013 Whaaa? for real? ok...thank you. I will look into this then.😃

  • @helenc-be1zt
    @helenc-be1zt Рік тому

    A lot of dishes in China have meat or animal fat in it, even the soup without visible meat may be broth. you'd better explain to the waiter that you are a vegan. It is difficult for a vegan who can't speak Chinese to eat in a Chinese restaurant. Maybe you could learn a few sentences in Chinese which can express your need as a vegan. The best way is to cook at home or go to a vegetarian restaurant.

    • @melissa_renee
      @melissa_renee  Рік тому

      Yes we avoid a lot of local food for that reason unfortunately. Even if we did explain to them it doesn’t always make sense.

    • @helenc-be1zt
      @helenc-be1zt Рік тому

      @@melissa_renee In a normal Chinese restaurant other than a vegetarian restaurant, a vegetarian(meat) dish does not always mean that it contains only vegetables(meat), but that vegetables(meat) are its main material. Vegetarian dishes may contain small amounts of meat, and meat dishes may contain small amounts of vegetables. If you tell the waiter you want some vegetables, then you may be offered a vegetarian dish with a small amount of meat. For example, some restaurants may add a small amount of minced meat to mapo tofu, but it is still called a vegetarian dish. So, telling the waiter you want some vegetables or a vegetarian dish is different from saying that you don't want to eat anything with meat in it. My English is poor, so I don't know if I have conveyed my meaning correctly.

  • @guangxidavidliu
    @guangxidavidliu Рік тому

    0.35" it must be a drunk architect designed that building.

  • @leonjohn3162
    @leonjohn3162 Рік тому

    There is almost no vegetarian community in China, and none of my friends around me have ever heard of anyone who is vegetarian. If you are vegan, then it does make it a little difficult in terms of eating in China.

    • @melissa_renee
      @melissa_renee  Рік тому

      We have had some good luck here in Shanghai. But I know I’m in a too tier city and it is very difficult in smaller places.

    • @jzvr5842
      @jzvr5842 Рік тому

      Monks are vegetarian in China, vegetarian food is actually super popular in China, super tasty too, if language wasn't a problem it should be easy. There are lots of 素食主义者 in China.

  • @chautiendung
    @chautiendung Рік тому +1

    R u cia or nsa?

    • @melissa_renee
      @melissa_renee  Рік тому +1

      Hufflepuff.

    • @avil8686
      @avil8686 Рік тому

      I think ox sixty one IS a CIA stooge trying to divide and conquer

  • @BrianKoelschHo
    @BrianKoelschHo 9 місяців тому

    Greetings from Singapore! LOVE LOVE LOVE your video style and music choices. Lovely to see how you share your family journey.
    Heading to Shanghai in a week and I have been taking notes on where to check out simply based on your vlog. Thank you! Take care!

    • @melissa_renee
      @melissa_renee  9 місяців тому +1

      Oh wow thank you SO much!! I hope you are enjoying your trip!! Or enjoyed it if you’re back already 😊 I really appreciate your kind comment. ❤️