90 CultureShock! China
them mounted to apartment balconies. There are two
problems with having a rogue satellite dish, the first is that
the card has to be changed frequently as the service changes
its coding to keep from being pirated. The second is that
occasionally the police decide to crack down and do a sweep
of a compound, confiscating all of the satellite dishes.Villas and Suburbia
Many people electing a quieter lifestyle will chose to live in
villa compounds outside of the hustle and bustle of downtown.
Villa compounds are usually built near international schools
or around recreational areas like golf or tennis clubs. They
provide a safe and secure area for children to play outdoors.
They are the closest things to a freestanding house that you
can find in China if you are yearning for a backyard and slow,
unhindered sunset strolls around the neighbourhood.
The suburbs are also pet friendly, many cities in China have
regulations that are far stricter for pets kept downtown than
those living in the suburbs. In Shanghai, it is actually illegal
to walk your dog on the street during the day inside the ringSuburbs usually have more lenient laws regarding pets. Here, a pet-owner
gives her dog a blow-dry after its bath.