January, 2008

For thousands of years, Chinese people have believed in the benefits of using food as a medicinal substance, and for thousands of years, they’ve been sipping up medicinal soups. If you have a headache, the Chinese say, drink some soup; if you can’t fall asleep, drink some soup; if you want to enjoy a longer life, just drink some soup. Most of all, if you have recently had a baby and you want to promote lactation, drink some soup!

Lots of different foods are considered helpful for milk production, including fermented glutinous rice, octopus and fish tails. Two foods most widely believed to help with a quick recovery from childbirth, and, most importantly, to increase breast milk, are papaya and pig feet. Below are two popular recipes featuring these ingredients.

Jan 14 Mon
Dress Up Your Pet Day

Kids love to play dress-up, and now your pooch or puss can get in on the act. Some pets like it, some don’t, but whatever the case, this is a fun event for kids and a great way to pamper your pet with a glam new ensemble. Good luck dressing the goldfish!

Jan 23 Wed
Handwriting Day

The purpose of this day is to remind us the importance of penmanship, and the grave danger of its extinction due to the tap-tap-tap of keys under the haunting light of a computer screen. On this day, pooh-pooh the keyboard and spend some time with the pen!

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鼠年
shǔ nián
Year of the Rat

The twelve years of the Chinese horoscope begin with the Year of the Rat.
鼠年是中国十二生肖中的第一年.
shǔ nián shì zhōng guó shí èr shēng xiāo zhōng de dì yī nián

Brooms are forbidden on lunar New Year’s Day in China: No one must sweep or they’ll brush the family’s fortune away. After New Year’s Day, the floors can be swept and any dirt is lifted and carried out of the house via the back door. An old superstition says dirt must not be swept over the front door threshold or a family member will also be swept away!

A new study has concluded that seasonal births can affect the energy levels and sporting prowess in children. “Children of the ‘90s,” conducted by Calum Mattocks of Bristol University in England, was one of the largest studies ever undertaken on childhood and followed the development of 14,000 children. The study found that children born in autumn and winter are more likely to be sporty – nine percent more so, in fact, than those born in spring. Summer babies are 4.5 percent more active than spring tots, who have been deemed most sluggish.

The study concluded that the explanation is unlikely to be biological, and more likely reflects the time a child begins school: Children born in spring start school at a younger age and are therefore smaller and at physical disadvantage to their peers. Larger and more adept children seem more likely to be motivated to play sport and keep active, whereas younger kids feel less confident.

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Grandma’s Kitchen

Zianne (6), Ryan (3) and Zaeila (1) Indanan of the Philippines have fun eating at Grandma’s Kitchen

If there’s one place that could hold us together on a school night or on lazy Sunday afternoons, that would be Grandma’s Kitchen in Jianwai Soho. There are other restaurants near the area as well, but what sets Grandma’s Kitchen apart from all the rest is the cozy ambiance, great food, warm service and kid-friendliness. They have coloring paper that they dole out to kids to keep them busy while waiting for food, and the kids love to eat chicken baskets and mini-sized pizzas. Chocolate shakes are also favorites. Nemo can’t get enough of the hefty servings of fries, and the same goes for Zianne. Our littlest tyke, Ella, watches in amazement and grapples for her own share, too!

Would you or your kids like to rate it? E-mail editor@tbjkids.com

Casa Mia

Luca (7) and Maria (5) Allegrezza are Italian-Chinese and love to eat at Casa Mia

Casa Mia is a nice Italian restaurant that we usually go to on weekends. We like the sociable and pleasant atmosphere created by Stefano, the owner, who likes to mix with the customers. It’s very homey place! Stefano comes from the same place as our father (Modena, Italy), which is also the hometown of the distinguished tenor Luciano Pavarotti. We really like the authentic northern Italian cuisine at Casa Mia, and the restaurant is often used for kids’ birthday parties on Saturdays and Sundays.

Would you or your kids like to rate it? E-mail editor@tbjkids.com.

10 Great Things to Do in January and February

1 A tbjkids Snow Day

If the effort to organize a ski trip for you and your family is putting you off from heading to the slopes this winter, fear not! Join tbjkids for a trip with other Beijing families to Nanshan Village ski resort on January 20. The price includes transport to and from the park, breakfast, lunch and equipment rental. To partake in this exciting day of snow-filled fun, contact Nancy Ding at 5820 7700 ext 853, or marketing@tbjkids.com. Space is limited so please book in advance. RMB 400.

2 Throw a Hot Pot Party

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When I was growing up, hot pot was a weekly event in my household. It was a simple yet extravagant occasion. Simple in that my parents, my brother and I would sit cross-legged on the floor around our living room coffee table, plug in a portable hotplate and eat as we watched TV. Extravagant in that it involved a multitude of elements working together to create a delicious experience: tender slices of beef and pork, my mother’s homemade meatballs, fish-paste balls, oyster and enoki mushrooms, fresh tofu, spinach, cabbage and big leaves of lettuce that would soak up whatever happened to be the evening’s dipping sauce. When I was young, the salty and spicy satay was my favorite, combined with a dash of soy sauce and rice vinegar, and hearty helpings of freshly chopped garlic and cilantro. Nowadays, my favorite is sesame paste – thick and creamy like smooth peanut butter, with a rich, nutty taste that lingers in the mouth.

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Students from Western Academy of Beijing share their artwork to fill January and February's Blank Canvas

Isak Jonsson, Grade 9

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Ways to celebrate the New Year around the world

In most places around the world, the old year ends on December 31, the last day of the Gregorian calendar, and is marked by boisterous parties to bring in the New Year. It is a common practice in the UK and the States for people to go out with friends and wait for the clock to strike midnight. When that happens, people often join together to sing “Auld Lang Syne,” which means “times gone by” and is a song that says goodbye to the previous year.

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Yang Seng Jun
Korean-Chinese. Born to Moon Hye Young and Xiao Luyang on July 20 at American-Sino OB/GYN Service.

Samuel Lewis
Australian-New Zealander. Born to Denise Chong and Matthew Lewis on September 28 at St. John of God in Western Australia.

Qiu Shu
Japanese-Chinese. Born to Saito Junko and Qiu Kaisheng on August 17 at American-Sino OB/GYN Service.

Benjamin Thomas Harrison
American. Born to Kaatje and Tom Harrison on May 1 at Beijing United Family Hospital.

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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.

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Monsters, Firecrackers & Red Envelopes

Almost everyone has heard about Spring Festival, or Chinese New Year (chunjie), the most important holiday in China. Traditionally, festivities begin on layue 24 (the 24th day of the twelfth lunar month), and finish on zhengyue 15 (the 15th day of the first lunar month), and preparations for this celebration begin several days or even weeks in advance. The festival dates back over 4,000 years, and Chinese people still follow traditions passed down through the generations, though most of the present-day customs have been simplified. Here are some examples of a few practices that have survived and are still widely celebrated in China.

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Fuxing Lu extends from Fuxing Bridge on the Second Ring Road in the east to Wukesong by the Fourth Ring in the west. Considered an extension of Chang'an Street and a business center in West Beijing, many head offices of big banks and companies are located in this part of town. But if you happen to look beyond the corporate buildings, you'll notice that the area of Fuxing Lu covers many interesting cultural sites perfectly suited for adventurous parents and kids. 

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Thanks for the memories

Remember the weary day you dragged the kids off that dreaded long-haul flight and tumbled headlong and wide-eyed into the capital of China? Probably all too well. Whether you’ve just arrived or are about to leave Beijing, have fallen in love with the city or are aching for home shores, there is one thing for certain: Living in Beijing is a completely unique experience, one that passes far too quickly, especially for youngsters.

Preserve and celebrate your child’s time in Beijing by using these simple, whimsical memory-keeping ideas. These projects are fast and easy but will be treasured for a lifetime, and all are perfect farewell gifts for friends leaving Beijing.

Visual Journals

This idea is particularly good for older kids. The journal can be used for any subject - travel, a school trip, special experiences and events. If your child is a diary-writer, it could simply be a daily account of Beijing life.

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How to bring this classic Chinese culinary tradition into your own home

Legend has it that when Kublai Khan was leading his troops on a long journey into battle, he suddenly craved mutton stew. So he ordered his troops to set up camp, and the cook began preparing the dish. But as the sheep were being slaughtered, the enemy suddenly advanced upon them. Kublai Khan ordered the mutton to be served immediately so that he would not go into battle on an empty stomach. The cook decided to slice the mutton paper-thin so it could be cooked quickly in boiling broth. He served it to the general and - of course - Kublai won the battle. From then on, the flash-blanched mutton became a celebrated dish. Though the verity of this tale may be doubtful, the popularity of mutton hot pot, or shuanyangrou, is a certainty, especially in Northern China.

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Rounding Out The Year With Tangyuan

Spring Festival marks that point in the cycle of the lunar calendar where one year ends and another one begins. In the past, it was customary in China for everybody to mark their birthday at the New Year, and for this reason, a special dumpling known as yuanxiao - which can be translated as ‘first night’ - are traditionally eaten during this time. Yuanxiao are spheres of glutinous rice dough filled with sweet or savory mixtures of preserved fruits, beans, nuts and spices.

Here in Beijing, yuanxiao are made from rice dough that is usually quite thick and tough, while the filling is dry. In most other places in China, yuanxiao are known as tangyuan, which literally means ‘soup ball’ and refers to the cooking method of boiling the balls in plenty of water. Coincidentally, the name tangyuan sounds similar to tuanyuan, which means ‘a family reunion.’ The spherical shape of the sweet snack also symbolizes completeness, adding to the auspiciousness of the food.

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An interview with Gobulo Runqi, friend, brother-in-law and confidante of the Last Emperor

For 30 years, Gobulo Runqi had led a simple but purposeful life as a respected Chinese doctor in Beijing, living in an ordinary apartment with his family until his death late last year. The only thing that betrayed the image of this simple existence was his imperial accent, which hinted at the extraordinary nature of his former life.

In fact, Gobulo Runqi once led a life far from ordinary: He was a key member of the royal family and experienced firsthand the last days of the Qing dynasty. He was raised in a rich and distinguished family closely connected to the Aisingioro clan - the Manchu imperial family - and for four generations, the Gobulos shared ties to the royal family: Runqi’s great-grandfather was a general who was put in charge of Inner Mongolia and won many battles for the Qing emperors; Runqi was married to the sister of the last Qing emperor, Puyi; and Puyi’s wife, Wan Rong, was Runqi’s elder sister.

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Surmounting Mountains and Plateaus

The Trekkers: Swedish couple Thomas and Sanna Jönsson and their children Wilhelm (10), Carl (7) and Amanda (4), were joined by Carl and Elin Christensson, and their sons Hugo (8 ) and Wilhelm (10) on the overland adventure.

The Destination: Yunnan province, China

The Plan: Yearning to explore the great outdoors, the Jönsson family decided upon Yunnan after a friend assured them the trip was possible with young children. The journey took them first to the World Heritage city of Lijiang, then 60km by bus to Tiger Leaping Gorge on the Yangtze River, where they trekked a 22km trail on horseback for two days. They took another two days to drive to Zhongdian, the real life version of the fabled Shangri-La (described in the 1933 novel Lost Horizon by James Hilton), stopping at Haba village and other minority townships along the way. From Zhongdian, they flew back to Beijing via Kunming.

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Altitude & Adrenaline

The Travelers: Alex and Noëlle Smulders and their children Ivar (14), Etoile (13) and Asia (12). The French/Dutch family has been in Beijing for three and a half years, having spent the previous ten years in Hong Kong. Alex runs a pet food distribution company, and sales/marketing veteran Noelle is taking a short sabbatical to enjoy Beijing.

The Destination: Xinjiang province, China

The Plan: Alex and Ivar were looking for a mountain to conquer after scaling Mt. Bogda near Urumqi the year before. Mt. Mustag Ata near Kashgar (Kashi to the Chinese) was calling to them, and as the family like to see a really different part of China every year, this Silk Route destination sounded perfect.

The Reality: The whole family went to Kashgar for three days but only Alex, Ivar and Etoile took the nine-day trek to Mustag Ata.

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The Barbalas family may have a Greek surname and be American nationals, but they are China veterans, having lived in Suzhou, Shanghai and Hong Kong (where sons Jonathan, 15, and David, 12, were born) for more than 15 years combined. Mike is the president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Beijing, Lorina has a background in chemistry, and their boys attend ISB. The family has been in Beijing since January of 2006 and has already sourced some solid family favorites.

Would you like to share your Beijing Favorites? E-mail editor@tbjkids.com.

Place for Weekend Fun
The boys love Startrooper Laser Tag at Wangjing.

Splurge
We love to travel to Swtizerland to go skiing at Christmas time. We go to Saas Grund or Saas Fee in the south, and meet up with friends from Hong Kong.

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The Art Of Chinese Paper Cutting

Chinese paper-cutting is a tradition that can be traced back to the Tang dynasty (618-907 AD), when people would cut silk cloth into intricate shapes and hang them on trees or doors to celebrate the coming of the spring, as well as to help exorcise demons. Today, people still embrace this tradition by hanging paper-cuts on windows or walls during the Spring Festival, expressing hope for a prosperous year.

There are two major kinds of Chinese paper-cut: one type is created using scissors and the other with knives. The former doesn’t require many specific tools or materials and allows improvisation during the cutting process; the latter, however, involves special tools and paper, as well as a pre-designed template that can be extremely complicated and detailed. This is the kind that paper-cut artist Ren Zhenshan specializes in.

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