Essentials
Beijing Mamas at Solana
Cecil Song
Where are you from?
South Korea
How long have you lived here?
One year.
Do you have kids?
I have a 1-year-old boy.
What do you do in Beijing?
I don’t work here. I used to be a fashion designer in South Korea.
Where do you like to shop?
In Solana, Pacific Century Place and shopping malls in Wangjing.
Where is your husband from?
He’s Chinese. We met in France. I don’t speak Chinese; we speak French to each other.
Why were you in France?
Learning French and studying fashion at Esmod.
The Xu’s
Originally from Shanghai, Bing Xu, Lisa Li and kids Vivian (10) and Matthew (9) returned to China in 2005 after ten years in Detroit, Michigan. Bing works for Chrysler and Lisa is a relocation consultant for Pricoa. This Chaoyang-based family loves Beijing’s rich culture and blend of the traditional with the ultra modern.
Would you like to share your Beijing Favorites? E-mail editor@beijing-kids.com.
Beijing Snack Food
We really like jiaozi, jianbing and lüdagun, a red bean sauce rolled up in sticky rice dough. It’s cold and sweet.
Place for Weekend Fun
The kids love Chaoyang Park because it has everything they want – outdoor and indoor play, swimming in summer, ice skating in winter and great restaurants nearby for lunch. The park also holds international festivals that are great fun.
Top Ten Things to Do in November
1 See Bond. James Bond.
Quantum of Solace, the sequel to Casino Royale, hits theaters later this month. In this latest installment, which opens Nov 5 and is as action-packed as ever, Bond (the sleek Daniel Craig) battles a terrorist who intends to take over Bolivia’s water supply. Watch as Bond journeys through Haiti, Austria and South America decked out in high-tech gadgets and with a Russian-Bolivian agent (Olga Kurylenko) by his side. In interviews, Craig says he’s brushed up on his speed boating and stunt driving skills. And what has Bond girl Kurylenko been working on? Indoor skydiving, also known as body flying. Head to theaters around town such as the Megabox Cinema in the basement of the Sanlitun Village or the Wanda International Cinema in Guomao.
2 Fun Run for a Cause
Strange New Land
We were in unfamiliar territory, and yet we were home. When I was a child, my family moved to the US from Taiwan; we arrived with suitcases and a few phone numbers, and settled down as best as we could. We moved from the East to the West, but I bet new expats in Beijing won’t have much trouble identifying with our experience.
The move was a planned one, so we had expected certain things to be quite different. Like the language. For months before the move, my parents, sister, brother and I had attended classes as a family, shouting out sentences in unison, trying to master the melodic tones of this foreign tongue. As for food, my parents were positive that what passed for cuisine in this new place couldn’t possibly match the tastes of home. Fruits and vegetables wouldn’t be as fresh; fish and meat would come in unrecognizable packages.
But so much else was also different, and the list of changes we never anticipated ballooned.
Top Ten Things to Do in October
1. beijingkids Little Pirate Hunt
Avast, me mateys! beijingkids is calling all little pirates and treasure seekers on Saturday, Oct 25 from 11.30am to 2.30pm for lunch and a hunt for precious booty at Ritan Park. If it’s a swashbuckling pirate’s life for you, then come eat, swig some kid-friendly grog, enjoy the sunshine (before winter sets in!), and play games to win gifts and other exciting prizes. Forgot your eye patch or pet parrot? Don’t worry, me hearties, we’ll paint you up like Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean – but we won’t make you walk the plank! For families with kids ages 3 to 10. Space is limited to the first 100 pirates that sign up by Oct 22; RMB 80 per person. For more information, contact Serena Li at 5820 7700 ext. 853 or email marketing@beijing-kids.com .
The Expat Gap
Sometimes, it all seems too foreign. But with a little effort, you can bridge the gap
After months, perhaps years, of planning, you made it to China at last. Now what? This place, with its tangle of roads and signs in Chinese, can seem so intimidating that you’d be forgiven if you’re tempted to stay indoors and watch your new ayi mop the floor. Or maybe you’ll be so relieved to learn one of your neighbors is from your home country that you’ll break down in tears when she invites you over for coffee.
It isn’t always easy for expats to break through the cultural and linguistic barriers that prevent them from fully experiencing China. Some people give up entirely, settling into a routine that includes playdates and entertainment just like what they had back home. But, with a little bit of effort, you’ll find it possible to escape your expat circles and learn to maneuver outside of your comfort zone. Heck, you might even make a Chinese friend or two. So let’s get started.
Broadening Horizons
The old saying goes: All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Perhaps that's where the idea of summer vacation came about.
It's good to stop every once in a while to let yourself unwind. And after nine months of sitting in a stiff chair and listening to an adult talk at the front of a classroom while the sun teasingly shines outside, kids deserve a long break - preferably out of doors.
But that doesn't mean that the act of learning stops. In fact, gaining knowledge about the world - and life in general - frequently happens outside the classroom. It's one thing to read about or see a photograph of the Sistine Chapel in a book; to be in the presence of a centuries-old edifice and have your breath taken away by the awe-inspiring work of a celebrated master painter - that is another thing entirely.
Vitamin C
Everyone knows that vitamin C is essential for a tip-top immune system, but it has many other essential jobs within the body – protecting cells from pollution and sun damage, helping to heal grazed knees and other injuries, and encouraging iron absorption for healthy blood.
Parents often reach for the supplements when they fear that their child is falling short of requirements, but getting a sufficient amount of vitamin C from food couldn’t be easier – a kiwi fruit a day will more than cover it! Furthermore, side effects like diarrhea and kidney stones can occur in those taking supplements in excessive amounts.
Foods high in vitamin C include citrus fruits, berries, green vegetables and even potatoes. Vitamin C is water-soluble and breaks down easily when cooked or exposed to the air so for maximum benefit choose freshly prepared raw or lightly cooked fruits and vegetables. If cooking, stir-fry, steam, roast or bake instead of boiling.
Covering All the Bases
Keys to surviving the plane ride home
Maybe your kids are really good travelers: They don’t whine, don’t get sick or kick the seat in front of them. If so, go ahead and skip this article.
For the rest of us, however, the time is here. That’s right – the dreaded summer travel season. And though you’ve been dreaming of family reunions, poolside barbeques and trips to your favorite restaurants back home, there’s still one major obstacle between you and your dreams: the plane ride home.
We all have horror stories about unsympathetic fellow travelers. Deborah Vaughan of Seattle recalls a recent flight with her 3-year-old, when she slept fitfully through the flight, vaguely aware that a child nearby was crying, only to be suddenly shaken awake by another passenger demanding to know why she wasn’t giving her daughter a pacifier. Apparently, the other passenger thought Vaughan’s daughter was the source of the noise, even though she wasn’t.
10 Great Things to Do in June/July
1. Explore China
This summer, instead of venturing overseas, why not take advantage of the vast country around you and try traveling in China for a change? If you can’t make up your mind on where to go, tbjkids has chosen 25 places that have family appeal. Take in breathtaking scenery, meet giant pandas, visit ancient temples and experience culinary delicacies, as well as a broader understanding of Chinese life outside the capital. So start making those plans and booking those tickets – the travel season is approaching!
