May, 2008
Articles from prior issues of beijingkids can be found by checking out the archive links below for the month and year you are interested in.
Baby Origami
Hand-free ways to carry your baby
Babywearing, or the act of using a long swath of fabric to secure a baby to a caretaker’s body, has roots in dozens of countries and every continent. This ultra-convenient mode of baby transportation has seemingly endless benefits: the elevated position of the baby provides him or her a better place to observe and engage with the world, babies who are attached to adults cry 46 percent less, and the person-to-person contact promotes overall well-being. So put away the stroller and roam with your baby, arms swinging freely!
Asian Mei Tai This square fabric has four straps that tie around the body so the child rests in the front or back. In southwest China, Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam, mei tais are worn with either a double or single strap. The mei tai originates from China, where women used them to carry their children while they worked in the fields.
The Inuit Amauti
In the subpolar regions of the Canadian Arctic, Greenland, Alaska and Eastern Siberia, Inuit women wear a parka called an amauti to carry babies and toddlers. The amauti is a coat with a pouch on the back where the baby can rest against the mother’s back. The large hood can keep both mother and child warm in chilly environments.
The Charming Chans
Australians Arthur and Lucille Chan were born in Hong Kong, but they have come to call Beijing home after living here for two years. Residents of Dongcheng District with their daughter Heidi (5) and son Christopher (5 months), the family moved from Hong Kong in 2006. Here are some of their family favorites.
Would you like to share your Beijing Favorites? E-mail editor@tbjkids.com.
Place for Weekend Fun
Ritan Park. Heidi loves to ride on the mechanical horses – very good exercise and lots of fun.
Way to Burn Off Steam
Swimming at the Grand Hyatt Health Club or skating at China World.
Weekend Ritual
Mandarin tutorials for Heidi and Dad. They learn from the same teacher. Heidi does her lesson first … with Dad’s help.
Birthday Celebration
Strawberry cheesecake or black forest gateau from the Grand Hyatt cake shop.
Camping Chic
Elsa takes a walk on the wild side
With the onset of summer I’ve become increasingly conscious that I should expand Elsa’s experience of the “great outdoors” beyond trips to the local park. I don’t want her to grow up thinking that stretches of grass come automatically adorned with little “don’t walk on me” signs, or that duck-shaped paddle boats are legitimate – if oversized – types of wildfowl.
So when a friend recently suggested a weekend camping trip, I readily agreed. I must confess, however, that although I love the idea of camping – mountain views, sausages cooked on an open fire, cold beers under a starry sky – I fall somewhat short of being a natural camper in practice. In actuality, the whole subject brings back long-buried memories of miserable school trips sheltering under mildewed tents of a particularly nasty shade of orange.
Home, Sick
Finding my way to the hospital
The night I drove Kyra to the emergency room, it was raining. Not only that, but the roads all over Shunyi were being repaved. Everything was torn up, with traffic cones haphazardly scattered to mark the places where the manhole covers were missing.
I’d only been distracted for a moment (that’s what everyone says in the ER, I imagine), but that moment was all it took for Kyra to grab a bottle of medicine, open it up, and chug the entirety of its contents. I had to get her to the hospital, and quickly.
Blank Canvas June / July 2008
Seven-year-old Tiantian Wang shares her drawings of the four seasons to fill June/July’s Blank Canvas
Spring
June & July 2008 Around the World
June 8 Sunday
Dragon Boat Festival
This traditional Chinese festival commemorates the poet Qu Yuan, who lived in the ancient state of Chu in the Warring States Period. On this day, eat zongzi (sticky rice wrapped in bamboo leaf) and head to the water to race long, narrow dragon boats.
June 14 Saturday
World Blood Donor Day
Created to honor and thank the unsung heroes who save lives by donating their blood, this day also serves as a reminder to make responsible choices, maintain a healthy lifestyle and give blood regularly.
June 15 Sunday
Father’s Day (US)
Father’s Day is celebrated on a variety of dates over the world to pay tribute to fathers. But this day is as good as any to honor grandfathers, sons, brothers, uncles, close friends and additional male role models that play positive roles in your life.
Local Lingo
In China, the saying goes:
乐不思蜀
(lè bù sī Shǔ)
“Too joyful to think of Shu”
Used to describe people who enjoy their time away so much that thoughts of home are pushed out of their minds, this idiom originates from the tale of the last King of Shu during the Three Kingdoms Period.
Shu was a prosperous kingdom established by Liu Bei with the assistance of militarist Zhuge Liang and generals Guan Yu and Zhang Fei. After Liu Bei passed away, his son Liu Chan took over, but Shu slowly lost strength under its new ruler; eventually, it was defeated by the kingdom of Wei. Consequently, Liu Chan was forced to move to Luoyang, the capital of Wei. He was greeted with a big banquet thrown by Sima Zhao, the ruler of Wei.
The Book Report
A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step. In this month’s Book Report, children can step into the rich world of two Chinese folktales and embark on their own journeys of the imagination.
The Weaving of a Dream
(for ages 4-8)
written and illustrated by Marilee Heyer
For three years, an elderly woman literally puts blood, sweat and tears into weaving a beautiful brocade, and it is so beautiful and complex that when she finally completes it, fairies steal it away. On her deathbed, she sends her three sons in turn to fetch it back, but only her youngest, most honest son is up to the arduous task. With gorgeous illustrations as beautiful as the brocade itself, kids will hold their breath to find out what happens in this tale.
Conclusion: Stunning illustrations and a compelling story will fascinate young readers
RMB 58 at the Lufthansa Center Foreign Languages Bookstore
Beijing's Smallest June / July 2008
Cao Muchen
Chinese. Born to Hu Ying and Cao Liang on December 28 at Sino-Japanese Friendship Hospital.
Julian Prohl
German. Born to Liu Xinhua and Peter Prohl on November 1 at Beijing United Family Hospital.
Zhou Yunqiao
Chinese/Hong Kong. Born to Pak Chau and Lilian Chow on April 15 at Amcare Women’s and Children’s Hospital.
Cooking with Ku
Secrets to making bitter vegetables taste great
Who in their right mind would actively seek bitterness? But actually, kǔ (苦), or bitterness, is very much a taste embraced in Asia, where a large variety of traditional recipes have developed for various bitter plants.
One of the staples on a menu in a typical restaurant in Beijing is the liángbàn kǔguā (凉拌苦瓜), bitter gourd salad – usually a cold, hostile plate of insipid, bitter slices. Looking at a bitter gourd, you’d wonder whether it is actually meant for human consumption. Its lumpy green surface, more reptilian than culinary, may not be the most inviting, but its nutritional benefits have made it one of the most popular vegetables in Asia from China to Vietnam to India.
Bitter gourd contains high amounts of vitamins A, B1, B2 and C, and minerals like calcium, phosphorous, iron, copper and potassium. It enhances digestion, detoxifies, and stimulates the liver. In traditional Chinese medicine, it is known as a powerful cooling vegetable, beneficial to those with too much heat and moisture in their bodies.
For the Love of Music
It is a fact that music positively affects a child’s development. Learning to play an instrument has been shown to enhance growth in areas of the brain involved in language, reasoning and spatial intelligence, and research has shown that those who play instruments do better on standardized tests and achieve higher grades in school.
Playing a musical instrument teaches children the value of self-discipline, showing them that perfection can indeed be achieved through practice. It is also a way for children to learn how to overcome anxiety and be comfortable with taking risks – whether through playing in front of an audience or simply in experimenting with the different ways a particular note can be played. Moreover, participating in a band or ensemble (either in school or as an extracurricular activity) builds a child’s ability to cooperate with others and work as a team.
Watercress
Vegetable from the West
To the Chinese, watercress is known as xiyang cai (西洋菜), which literally means “Western vegetable.” And yet, even though its moniker clearly associates it with overseas roots, the vegetable has become such a common ingredient in the kitchens of China and grows in such abundance in southern provinces that many Chinese themselves mistake it for a native plant.
The many fables of the debut of watercress in China are all variations of one story: A Chinese man’s quest to seek fortune in the West goes awry, and he is saved from starvation by watercress. He ultimately brings the plant back to China with him where it becomes a household staple.
A closer-to-reality version of history is that European missionaries introduced the plant in the 19th century, when it was one of the most commonly consumed vegetables in the West. It is claimed that sailors ate it to combat scurvy, while laborers bought bunches of it by the side of the road for breakfast.
Thunder and Lightning
Shake up a storm with your very own rain stick!
Materials:
• Awl or sharp knife
• Cardboard cylinder from toilet paper or paper towel roll
• Two small pieces of cardboard
• Toothpicks
• Scissors or nail clippers
• Colored paper or fabric
• Masking tape
• Rice, millet, buckwheat or other small grains
Difficulty Level:
Intermediate
Time:
30 minutes
The Book Report May 2008
The Book Report
Not only does music have charms that soothe and relax, but it can also unlock new worlds for kids! Here are two books that do just that.
Origins of Chinese Music
(for ages 10 and up)
written by Lim S K, illustrated by Fu Chunjiang
Can you tell the difference between the guqin (ancient zither), the guse (ancient plucked zither) and the guzheng (ancient plucked string zither)? Did you know that some Chinese instruments were once made from bone? Or the story of how two phoenixes helped a legendary figure bring music to China? Kids who love music will enjoy this title from Singapore’s Asiapac series on Chinese culture. Origins of Chinese Music includes facts about classical masterpieces and how Chinese instruments evolved over time – all presented with manga-style illustrations! Engagingly written, this book will open young readers’ eyes to the rich world of Chinese music.
Nutrition Facts
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is known as the sunshine vitamin because most people get their fill directly from the sun – its UV rays trigger Vitamin D synthesis in the skin. Inside the body, Vitamin D helps build healthy bones by absorbing calcium and phosphorous; conversely, a deficiency can lead to soft, malformed bones (a condition known as rickets).
It is true that protecting the skin with sunscreen to prevent burning is essential, but short bursts of sun exposure to the hands, face and arms at least twice a week to boost Vitamin D is a good idea. Ten to 15 minutes before applying SPF 15 (or higher) will suffice and is not enough to burn. Meanwhile, this small span of time should ensure that the daily requirements of both children and adults are met (though those with darker skin tones may require longer sun exposure).
Take Note
It must have been when I was 5 or 6 that I was first introduced to the piano. My fingers were not yet strong enough to grasp the subtleties of forte or piano, nor were my hands able to span intervals beyond five keys. Nonetheless, those wedges of black and white ivory that bowed at my fingertips entranced me, and thus began my lifelong love affair with the piano – and with music.
I continued studying piano until I graduated from high school. It was perhaps the one thing that remained steady for me during a period of consistent change – moving from southern to northern California and back again; changing schools, friends, cities and addresses every couple of years. Yet, week in and week out, in spite of tests or homework (or the frequent spout of rebellion), there I would find myself, at the Yermakovs, sitting by the side of Marina, my devoted teacher, and warming up my fingers with scales.
Balancing Act
Name: Ma Xiangsheng
Nationality:
Age: 36
Chinese
Instrument: Voice
Genre: Peking Opera
How old were you when you started performing?
We all learn Peking Opera as children. I started learning Peking Opera when I was 12 years old.
How did you come to study Peking opera?
I was in middle school in Ya’an, Sichuan province, when a group of strangers came to our classroom and walked around to check each student carefully. The strangers checked my bones – then asked me to kick, stretch my arms and bend my waist. They also tested my singing as well. They were selecting students for the Peking Opera Troupe of Panzhihua City, and I was the one selected in my city to go to Tianjin Opera School.
Classically Refined
Name: Henry Wang
Age: 31
Nationality: Chinese
Instrument: Clarinet
Genre: Classical
How did you come to play the clarinet?
That’s a funny story. My parents knew I wanted to learn a wind instrument, so they decided to take me to visit a flute teacher they happened to know. The flute teacher wasn’t home but the clarinet teacher was, so I was accepted by the clarinet teacher. And that’s how my clarinet career started.
What’s the hardest part about playing the clarinet?
I think it’s the same as with most musical instruments: to truly transfer your feelings and thoughts to the audience. As for the techniques, everyone can achieve a high level through practice. But it’s really difficult to understand the music and express it properly through your performance.
Rhythm Stick
Name: Jon Campbell
Age: 32
Nationality: Canadian
Instrument: Drums
Genre: Rock/Blues
How old were you when you started playing drums?
I started drumming at 13, much to my parents’ dismay. This was after almost five years of piano and six months of guitar. I started playing hand drums a few years ago.
What’s the hardest part about playing drums?
Transport is the number one problem. Transport and noise are two things that make it difficult for many urban dwellers to take up the drums. Technically speaking, the hardest part is getting your four limbs to do four different things simultaneously, like patting your head and rubbing your stomach.
What do you love most about drums?
I think that more than any other instrument, it’s the one thing that people react to most deeply and immediately. Rhythm is ingrained deep in our bones, and drums bring that out – whether you’re playing or listening to them.
Off the Cuff
Name: The Insomniacs
Age: 15-17
Nationality: Various
Instrument: Various
Genre: Improvisational jazz
How did you each begin playing your instrument?
Megan: I started saxophone in 4th grade.
Laurie: I always liked singing. I started off in choir.
Grace: Before trombone I played flute. I got sick of the keys, so I just chose something without them! Now I love the trombone.
Janet: I’ve been playing piano since I was 5.
David: I started off playing piano but was terrible at sight-reading notes, so I picked up the drums and just kind of stuck with it.
Christian: I started off playing trumpet and piano, but a good friend of mine had a bass guitar. I thought it was really cool, so I got one and taught myself how to play.
In the Spotlight
Name: Declan Galbraith
Age: 16
Nationality: Irish/Scottish
Instrument: Voice
Genre: Pop
How old were you when you started singing on stage?
I was singing from a very early age. I can remember singing at family parties when I was 5 or 6 years old. I used to watch and listen to my grandfather, Poppy Ben, who played and sang in a band. I suppose it was that influence that gave me the interest in music and singing.
How did you start singing?
One day when I was 6 or 7 years old, my mother took me to see a Dickens Festival in a town called Rochester, near where I live. The festival is very famous; a lot of singers, musicians and actors perform to the public in the streets. I loved seeing them all and asked my mother if I could sing a song. She laughed, but then realized I was serious. I started singing in the street, and very quickly hundreds of people gathered around. It was a fantastic experience. It was from that moment that I knew I wanted to sing.
Perfect Harmony
Name: May MacLeod
Age: 11
Nationality: British-Chinese
Instrument: Voice
Genre: Choir/Theater
How did you become interested in singing and performing?
I’m not sure where it came from, but I have lots of pictures of myself dancing and in costumes since I was in nursery, maybe 5 or 6 years old. When I was in Year 4 in England, around 7 or 8 years old, I started going to drama school, doing one hour of singing, one hour of dancing and one hour of drama. They thought I was very good at singing and asked if I was interested in joining the choir. Then I starred in a school performance as Alice in Alice in Wonderland. That was 2005.
How do you think being in a choir has shaped or molded your personality?
I used to be kind of shy, but now I’m not! It’s made me a lot more confident, and I’ve gotten to know more friends.
What’s the best part of being the lead singer/soloist?
Lots of little children look up to you.
Music Electronica
The latest gadgets for kids to blast their tunes on
Kids these days grow up surrounded by technology, whether it’s computers, cell phones or video games. And when it comes to MP3 players, chances are your kid has at least one. If they don’t, however, maybe it’s about time to get them digitalized with these kid-friendly MP3 and other electronic music gadgets.
1. Aigo F029
It’s not just a watch – this Aigo F029 also functions as a music player. The Aigo has a full-color OLED screen with a maximum resolution of 160x128 pixels. It supports both MP3 and WMA audio formats, and can also play MPEG videos. RMB 799 for 2GB; RMB 999 for 4GB. Available at various electronic stores and markets.
