Age: 29
Nationality: French
Languages: French, English, Chinese
Educational Background: Business school, major in International Development and Cross Cultural Exchange
Hobbies: Mountain trail running around Shanghai, traveling in Asia, enjoying Shanghai’s nightlife.
I have been working with Culture Shock since: September 2017
1.What's your favorite part of being a Tour Leader?
I like meeting people of many nationalities around the globe. Everyone has different expectations from Shanghai. The most enjoyable part of my job is sharing my knowledge about the city, that will make their trip unique.
2.The most shocking/unexpected/surprising thing that happened to you during the tour?
Unexpected events are waiting for us at every corner and every single tour has its surprises. Sometimes it comes from the people we meet, sometimes it comes from our guests themselves. I can't point out one special shocking thing. The last couple of months with Culture Shock have brought a series of surprises. From meeting an 80 year - old man dressed as a singer from the 60's who invited us to dance to electro tunes, to a young countryside boy freshly arrived in Shanghai that invited us to visit his 5 (yes - 5!) square meters apartment in the Old Town ... the list is long.
3.If you haven't seen/tried these 3 things, you don't know what Shanghai is...
If you want to experience what real Shanghai is, you should:
- get up early in the morning and see public life in parks.
- experience local food in traditional restaurant.
- hang around old lane houses and meet local people to listen to their stories.
... and guess what, we are doing that every weekend!
4.What are, in your opinion, the top 3 non - touristy spots in the city that cannot be missed?
Hopefully there are still a lot of places that remain away from the most touristic attractions:
- the Old Town, in the heart of Shanghai, surrounded by brand new and expensive compounds, still offers a genuine Old Shanghai experience.
- some parts of the French Concession are still less known to tourists and give a real picture of the city.
- some parts of the Hongkou district, north of the Suzhou Creek, are still unharmed by the global urbanization and offer a chance to experience what the life was like at the beginning of the last century
5.Your latest eye-opening discovery during city exploration?
The discovery of new neighborhoods is always quite an experience because we have to build trust with local residents. We get to know them, and they get to know us. We approach them with a humble attitude and explain that we are just interested in knowing them.Then people become more talkative and start to share really interesting stories about their life and their vision of the blooming Shanghai.
6.What is the one thing that you would like all Tour Participants to take away from the experience?
Shanghai is an old and complex city,and it has many different faces. I would appreciate very much, and it is usually the case, that every guest ends the tour with a deeper idea of what Shanghai is. Everyone arrives in town with some ideas or stereotypes in mind. I’m trying my best to show them something different in order to build a more complete image of what the city and its people are.
7.What advice would you give to someone who also wants to become a Tour Leader?
Keep your mind open and remember that sharing (with your guests, with local people) is the key. Also remain dynamic because you have a lot to show and to explain!
