When I Grow Up
I Want to Be a Pilot
China Southern’s James Wu Lives the High Life
James Wu knew he wanted to be a pilot from a young age, and now, at 29, he is the youngest captain at China Southern Airlines. Born in Kaifeng, China, and trained in Perth, Australia, James has flown to over ten countries in the past eight years. Between flights, James took time to sit down with Grade 1 students at Western Academy of Beijing to answer questions about life in the sky.
Odin Loehr, 7, USA
How many years have you worked on the airlines?
Up to now, I’ve been a civil aviation pilot for eight years. If you include my training in Perth, Australia, that’s 12 years now.
I Want to Be a Radio DJ
Yang Chen talks the talk
After graduating as a linguistics student from Beijing Foreign Studies University in 1998, Yang Chen decided to pursue a career that utilized the art of speaking. Having hosted numerous radio programs at People’s Central Radio Station, China Radio International and Radio Beijing over the past ten years, Yang is now a well-known music DJ and radio show host at Beijing Communication Radio. Bruce Buntain’s students at Fangcaodi Primary School had a chance to talk to Yang in person and learn about the man behind the microphone.
Bryan Chiew, 11, Singapore
Why did you choose to be a DJ?
I think it’s a romantic job. For example, I often have listeners send birthday wishes to their friends or loved ones through the radio, and it’s always a nice surprise for the person receiving them.
I Want To Be a Photographer
Jacopo Della Ragione may have grown up along the avenues of Florence, Italy, but Beijing has provided the backdrop for his photographs for the past six years. From working with digital equipment to traditional film cameras, to understanding the difference between taking personal and professional photographs, Jacopo explains to students from the Australian International School what being a photographer really means.
Chase Blout, 11, United States
How long have you been a photographer?
If you consider being a photographer as someone who gets paid, not long – more or less three years. But if you mean being interested in photography with the hope of one day selling pictures, that’s longer – 12 years.
I Want to be an Author
By day, Sydney-native Peter Osborne is the Senior Trade Commissioner of the Australian Trade Commission of China. By night, he spends his time consorting with fortune-tellers, mingling with temple dwellers, and chasing dragons in between. Peter is the author of the The Golden Dragon, a children’s fiction book about two kids, Aaron and Elly – based on Peter’s two eldest children in real-life – who must solve a series of riddles in order to save the last golden dragon. Between traveling across China for business and working on the sequel to “The Golden Dragon,” Peter sat down with LeeAnn Hicks’ Grade 3/4 class at Kinstar International Bilingual School to answer questions from students.
Ethan Liang Zheng, 8, New Zealander
Why did you want to write a book?
I wrote the story as a present for my kids as a way of remembering what is was like to live in a Chinese culture as a foreign kid, so when they got older or had kids of their own it would be a great way to remind themselves of living overseas.
I Want To Be an Interpreter
Rex Chen moved from Shanghai to Australia when he was 17 years old and became fluent in English after living there for eight years. Now, at 33, he even considers himself more Western than Chinese. After working in news, advertising and public relations, Rex decided to cut all strings and become a full-time freelance interpreter. He now travels all over China, participating in conferences and business meetings to help people communicate between English and Chinese. Bridie Anderson’s Year 3 class at Dulwich College had him explain a few things about his unique profession.
I Want To Be an Actor
After a life of writing, teaching guitar, programming computers and doing a hodgepodge of various other jobs, 58-year-old Ben Thompson eventually left his home in the UK and made his way to China, where he has lived for the better half of the past eight years. After a brief stint teaching English, Ben now lives day-to-day as an actor: He’s appeared in movies, shows, documentaries and TV plays and hopes to continue acting as long as he can. But first he made an appearance at the International School of Beijing to answer questions from Malcolm McCormick’s middle school drama class.
Audrey (American)
Did you ever think of acting in your childhood?
Not really, no. My theory is that all children act, when they dress up and play. I think some just don’t grow out of it and they turn into actors.
I Want To Be a Doctor
Andy Wang gets an examination from kids at the International Montessori School of Beijing
"I enjoy talking to people, figuring out what’s wrong and trying to help them"
When the Taipei air began to aggravate young Andy Wang’s asthma uncontrollably, his family decided to send him to live in the States, in Columbus, Ohio. Eventually, these difficult childhood experiences led Andy to graduate from medical school at the University of Washington and become a doctor. After returning to Taipei for a few months, Andy now lives in Beijing, where he has been practicing medicine for the past year as a family physician at Beijing United Family Hospital. Andy visited the International Montessori School of Beijing, where Elaine Kinlough’s Grade 1-3 class quizzed him on being a doctor.
I Want To Be a Lawyer
Serwat Perwaiz keeps things legal
"The line between career and social life blurs if you really like to do what you do."
Serwat Perwaiz went to law school in the US before deciding to base herself in China and work with PRC lawyers and multinational companies on market-entry and international property. Her work involves aiding multinational companies wanting to purchase and set up businesses in China. Teacher Emily Williams' year 11 business studies class from Yew Chung International School had an opportunity to ask Serwat some questions about her profession and how the law effects us all.
Shyam Iyer, Indian
You're the sort of lawyer who acts as an intermediary and who does deals. Do you have any experience in court?
Serwat Perwaiz: Before I worked in China, I worked with a number of different organizations that represented individual people in court in the US. But now, I help people who are seeking solutions for their companies, so I don't need to go to court. Instead, my work involves negotiating between two sides. My job is to prevent things from going as far as court.
I Want To Be an Environmentalist
April Nigh puts the earth first
Not many people get to meet their childhood heroes, much less work for them, but animal lover April Nigh is lucky: Until recently, she served as Program Coordinator for the Jane Goodall Institute for Wildlife Research, Education and Conservation, an NGO founded by her hero Jane Goodall, the famous primatologist and environmentalist. Through the NGO’s education program Roots & Shoots, April coordinated activities for Beijing students interested in volunteering to improve the environment. April sat down with a rising Grade 7 class at Beijing City International School to talk about the perks of her job – like making giant popsicles for the polar bears at the Beijing Zoo!
I Want to Be an Industrial Designer
Greg Collins designs equipment for his sports heroes
When Canadian and ice hockey fanatic Greg Collins realized that he wasn’t going to make it as a pro hockey player, he decided to transform his passion for sports into a creative career designing sports equipment. Today, Greg’s products can be found in sporting goods stores all over the world, and he’s designed specialized equipment for sports like snowboarding, off-road skateboarding, and, of course, ice hockey. A talented Grade 8 art class at the Canadian International School faced off with Greg and quizzed him on his profession.
