Famliy Matters Issue 2

FAMILY MATTERS

FM

CITY

Community life, Community matters

ISSUE TWO

HIDDEN HONG KONG

DEBATE

BRITISH VS AMERICAN CURRICULUM

COMMUNITY

KEEPING YOUR CHILDREN SAFE ONLINE

10 things you need to know about your child’s education p18 FAMILY MATTERS

discover the best in the country 2

SCHOOL

FAMILY MATTERS

FM 10 things you need to know about your child’s education p18

FOOD & HEALTH

52

Keeping your children safe online

53

14

SPORTS

ABRSM - your child’s musical future

16

54

10 things you need to know about your child’s education

ASK THE EXPERTS

Learning life at school

Sailing in Beijing 36

Finding your sport in Beijing

Telephone No.: 5925 2021 Service Hotline No.: 138 1026 2021 Email: residential@savills-bj.com

Property Search Engine: http://residential.savills-china.com www.savills-china.com

SCHOOL MATTERS 2

Restaurant reviews Spa reviews

Savills Beijing Residential Services

COMMUNITY 12

TRAVEL 42

Hidden Hong Kong

How to protect your baby’s skin in summer 34

New tools to think across cultures

8

Departing from China with pets

22

Family friendly compounds in Beijing

30

What’s in a juice?

British vs American curriculum

6 Homework - Bring out the best in your child 18

28 40

Twitter Poetry - the art of brevity?

44

Top 10 books for boys and girls 58

Third Culture Kids

2

SCHOOL 3

SCHOOL ‘average’ school. These targets are sometimes referred to as Golden Targets and are often used as criteria for parents to judge the ‘value added’ by their school. ‘Value added’ refers to the progress that students in each school make over and above the average progress that a child would be expected to make, and is an important element in school evaluation in the UK.

Further Education

© JavieraVoss on deviantart

© psovart on deviantart

British vs American curriculum

A

by Mike Embley, Executive Principal, The British School of Beijing

“The key difference will always be one of approach”

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ny comparison of the two systems must start with the statement that one is not comparing like with like. The US doesn’t have a single educational system in the sense that England does. American schools do, however, have a number of accreditation bodies, who ensure that they have certain standards and fundamentals in common. US schools are also much more free to respond to the requirements, or indeed demands, of the local population. This means that special interest groups can have at times a significant effect on teaching requirements and the curriculum in those schools. This might lead to certain subjects, such as Biology, having additional strictures on what can and cannot be taught in schools. Schools in England, on the other hand, follow a single standard National Curriculum.

Teachers in both systems have some degree of personal freedom to develop their own teaching style within the structure of the particular curriculum that they follow.

The English National Curriculum specifies in some considerable detail the educational milestones that children should reach on a year-by-year basis as they progress through their school life. Children are regularly assessed in detail by teachers, who use a standardised

set of criteria to assign levels to their progress.

Nationally, standardised tests are also employed, which give a very strong indication of how well a child is doing compared to national standards.

In the US the relatively recent introduction of the No Child Left Behind act has also introduced compulsory standardised testing in the majority of schools. The act was brought in to address America’s relatively poor performance compared to other developed countries in terms of the academic standards of its students.

International schools which follow the English National Curriculum use the same standardised testing regime and criteria as schools in England.

This allows, for example, a British international school to compare and benchmark itself with the very best schools in the UK and to ensure that its standards are set at that level. Each child is assessed and set targets that are achievable for them. It’s important to note that schools are tasked with not only ensuring the progress of the very able, but also of those whose abilities are not at the top of the range. A student may not excel in national terms in all areas of the curriculum but it is important that the schools ensures that each student does as well as they can and is challenged to progress at a rate over and above that they might achieve at an

In the US, students are compared using a variety of different standards throughout elementary school and high school. These vary from essentially IQ-based tests to tests which track progress through the curriculum based on tests of recall or understanding. The political landscape of the US is of course more varied than that of the UK, and this has inarguably had an effect on the way in which testing is viewed.

International schools following a broadly USbased curriculum will generally choose one of the larger schools accreditation bodies. These are based in different regions of the US and have also broadened their responsibilities to include some overseas US schools. These bodies include WASC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges), NEASC (New England Association of Schools and Colleges) and SACS (Southern Association of Schools and Colleges), but there are others. They try to ensure that schools meet the AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress) targets specified in the NCLB act.

Schooling in the US generally begins at the age of around 5 or 6 years old. The initial focus in kindergarten is on play-based activities, with a transition to more formal structured learning occurring gradually as the child progresses through school. In many ways this is mirrored in the British system. Unlike in many areas of the US, however, a full system is in place for early years education. The Early Years/ Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum is centred on developing all aspects of a very young child, both social and academic. It monitors and assesses key developmental milestones.

Parental communication is heavily emphasised in the EYFS. Play is of course emphasised in the play-based learning sections of the curriculum, as are areas of continuous provision such as outdoor play, water play, sand play, arts activities and books. Even before children can read it’s important to have books around so that they begin to develop habits which will lead to a lifelong love of learning.

Moving into primary school, the key difference might be seen to be one of approach. The core areas of teaching in fact vary little. It is arguably the case that the British system is slightly more advanced in terms of maths and literacy, but in truth the variation between students is higher than that between the two systems. There is also a somewhat wider focus in the British system, contrasted with a more ‘national’ focus in the US. However, again the variation between teachers is wider than that laid down in the curriculum, with some US

teachers considering it their duty to promote a wider world view where they are allowed to do so. One key area, though, is that of ‘tradition’.

Many British schools still have uniforms and an explicit emphasis on teaching good manners and social skills. Both systems, of course, aim to combat bullying and other obvious social ills, but in general it would be fair to say that many US schools from primary upwards are a little more free or informal than their British counterparts. Of course this is neither good nor bad. Many parents may consider the teaching of good manners rather old-fashioned, or school uniforms a restriction of children’s freedom of expression. The British headmaster would reply that uniforms make for a family atmosphere and feeling of community, and reduce fashion pressure on both children and parents. There is no right answer to this issue, of course, and

FAMILY MATTERS

4

SCHOOL

neither system can be said to be superior.

“The UK primary and early years system has proven to be highly successful in nurturing young minds”

In secondary school (high school) the differences become more pronounced. Here by most standards the average British child is indeed one year more advanced in mathematics and language than their US counterpart (based on national average statistics). The differences in approach become even more pronounced, as schools across the US have a very different and more liberal approach than that of schools in the UK.

feature a strong emphasis on ICT skills, but the UK system is perhaps a little more outward looking. The key difference will always be one of approach. A modern forward-looking system aiming to maintain some traditional values, or a highly varied state-by-state system looking to satisfy the needs of a very varied community while maintaining a liberal tradition; in the end, it’s up to parents and students to choose the one best suited to them.

NEW LOOK. SAME VALUES.

General standards in any good school in either the US or the UK will not vary hugely. The UK primary and early years system has proven to be highly successful in nurturing young minds, but aspects of the US middle school system are also being developed strongly. Both systems

New look. Same values. It’s more than a collection of words and something more than just a makeover. It captures who we are now as well as who we want to be in the future.

We help others thrive, to grow, to flourish, to learn and this is at the core of our ethos at The British School of Beijing.

The school is founded on one simple bedrock. Traditional family values of respect, good manners, good behaviour and high expectations. Students of all ages are guided to become part of a community based on mutually supportive pillars. The British School of Beijing will provide your child with the highest quality education preparing pupils for GCSE and A Levels. The school is based on the National Curriculum of England, in an international setting and as a result, students develop and mature into young adults equipped with the qualifications and skills to enter universities worldwide.

FAMILY MATTERS

admissions@britishschool.org.cn

Sanlitun Campus

Shunyi Campus

www.britishschool.org.cn

6

SCHOOL 7

SCHOOL response to stress. Your child’s muscles tighten and anger may be vented, underpinned by negative thoughts: Why did I bother asking?

I know I’m hopeless at this! He doesn’t understand how difficult this is!

Help your child

When you use effective communication methods you help to activate the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) for you and your child. The PNS is activated voluntarily.

This means you can role-model and teach your child how to do this.

H

omework can be stressful, for parents and for children! Sometimes it brings out the very thing we don’t want – arguments and pressure.

So wouldn’t you like to learn some effective strategies that bring out the best in your child and the best in you as a parent?

For many parents the most difficult challenges are: • • •

How to avoid interfering with children’s independent completion of assignments How to provide guidance without giving answers How to get children to do their homework without force and threats

If you’re like many parents you may feel you lack the knowledge, time and guidance to support your child’s homework. So here are some important first steps.

•

Provide a quiet, well-lit study space with all required materials (books, paper, pencils). Be flexible; some children do like to do homework close to the kitchen

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•

•

•

where they can readily get help from a parent.

Help with time management. Discuss what other extracurricular activities your child has for the week and problem-solve with them how they might manage their time. Remember that children need free time too.

Discuss workload management. This refers to the actual homework task and assisting the child to prioritise the most difficult tasks.

Model attitudes and behaviours of selfdiscipline and completion of tasks. Share with children what you are doing. Children like to know if you are completing a home budget, a report for work, reading a book.

Show your love of books and learning by reading with your child daily.

You may feel pulled in many directions – feeling time pressure, expectations of school, disappointment in your child’s lack of enthusiasm or willingness. This can often lead to you putting pressure on your child to get the homework done, and done NOW! So before I share some other positive strategies, let’s take a look at why using threats, yelling or

force does not bring out the best in your child intellectually.

How do you usually respond to these emotionally charged words from your child?

• • • • •

I don’t know how to do this.

I don’t know the answer to this.

I don’t know which topic to choose.

I don’t know how to draw an elephant.

Do I have to do homework now?

Sometimes you might respond by doing the work for them, other times you might tersely snap back in anger. Doing the work for them undermines confidence and creates dependency, while responding in anger can create a stress response in your child which usually leads to defensiveness, smart-aleck comments, tantrums, withdrawal or feelings of inadequacy. The fight or flight response! It affects their brain chemistry adversely at the very time you want their brain to be working optimally.

‘Fight or flight’ is the involuntary result of the sympathetic nervous system which releases hormones that dull memory and feelings in

To disperse those heavy dark clouds of feelings, you could say, “It’s really difficult making a choice”; “It’s hard to figure out how to draw an elephant”; “You don’t seem very enthusiastic about doing homework right now.

Tell me about that.” You never know what they might share and it opens up the pathways of communication and positive responsiveness.

Maybe the homework is too difficult or too much and you need to find out more from the teacher. You will free your child to feel more positive and willing to try.

your lives so that homework isn’t the only time you are together. Encourage your children to problem-solve a list of fun ideas for things to do together. Children are more willing to listen to you and be influenced by your values when they feel connected and loved.

Future employers are looking for lateral thinkers who show initiative. If you want children who are self-disciplined and have high self-esteem, then how you communicate is vital. If you want your children to change, in the words of Gandhi, “Be the change you want to see in the world.”

“Children feel good about themselves when they solve problems – it’s empowering and avoids power struggles”

Active listening shows your child you are interested in understanding them. They will be more willing to listen to you after this. You can follow your active listening by problem-solving with them, encouraging them to come up with solutions for their challenge. “Can you think of some ideas that would help you draw an elephant? Can you think of some ways you’ve had to make a choice before? What might be another way?”

Of course, sometimes children do need direct help. Very often, however, parents take on solving children’s challenges before listening to truly identify their needs, and before the child has the opportunity to think of solutions first. Children feel good about themselves when they solve problems – it’s empowering and avoids power struggles. (You can learn more about problem-solving skills and how to effectively confront your child’s unacceptable behaviour in Parent Effectiveness Training by Dr Thomas Gordon.)

Above all, build fun positive family time into

This article is based on talks given by Kathryn Tonges at The British International School, Beijing, Shunyi and Sanlitun campuses, earlier this year.

Kathryn Tonges has conducted parenting courses in Australia for 30 years. She has also taught from early childhood to tertiary level, lecturing in Child Development and Effective Communication Skills. Her passion is helping people build more peaceful, loving relationships through improving their communication skills. She currently resides in Beijing. She can be contacted at kathryn. tonges@gmail.com.

© AK photos on sxc.hu

by Kathryn Tonges, Parenting Consultant

© IGNACIOLEO on sxc.hu

Homework – Bring out the best in your child

So how do you trigger the PNS, not the fight or flight response, to best handle those emotionally charged words from your child?

Your best response is to tune in and to actively listen to your child’s feelings. When children are really heard and understood, their clouded feelings begin to disperse, revealing clarity of thought – the clear blue sky after the storm!

Your child can plan and use their memory more effectively now.

© samlevan on sxc.hu

A whole different group of chemicals in the brain is activated when you decide to change your thoughts and actions. The frontal lobe of the brain concerned with planning skills and memory is activated. These are the very processes you want your child to access for doing homework.

FAMILY MATTERS

8

ASK THE EXPERTS 9

ASK THE EXPERTS

Departing from China with pets

by Mary Peng, International Center for Veterinary Services (ICVS)

3 simple steps

W

hether you have brought your beloved pets with you to China or adopted them locally, it’s never too early to learn about exit requirements to ensure a smooth departure when preparing to take your pets with you when you leave China.

Keep in mind that you will need to prepare for two sets of processes when moving to another country with your pets. The first is clearing the exit process for the PRC, which is easy and straightforward (see below). The second process

FAMILY MATTERS

is fulfilling the entry requirements for the country to which your pets are relocating. This may be more involved, depending on the country, and is best managed by preparing well in advance of your departure date, usually 6 months or more if heading to countries within the European Union and strict quarantine control countries such as Australia and New Zealand.

for accurate guidelines on vaccination and other requirements.

Entry requirements for each country vary, so it’s recommended that pet owners check with the embassy, Department of Agriculture or quarantine bureau of the country in question

Complete rabies vaccination and obtain official Vaccination Immunity Certificate at least 30 days but not more than 12 months prior to departure.

Here are the three simple steps for clearing exit requirements for pet owners based in Beijing: •

Step 1: Rabies vaccinations and the Vaccination Immunity Certificate

Animals departing China must be rabiesvaccinated at an official animal vaccination hospital in the PRC and must have the official Beijing Animal Health and Immunity Certificate (vaccination red book). The rabies vaccination must have been administered at least 30 days but not more than 12 months before the departure date.

It’s a good idea to keep good records of your pet’s local vaccinations upon adoption or arrival in Beijing. By law, all dogs must be rabies-vaccinated annually in the PRC. ICVS is an officially designated

animal vaccination hospital in the PRC and can issue the official vaccination certificate required for exporting pets.

•

Step 2: Health examination and Health Certificate

Undergo health examination not more than 7 days before departure date at the governmentrun Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau’s animal hospital.

After your pets have completed their vaccinations

and have obtained the official vaccination red book, pet owners may schedule an appointment for an exit health examination for their pets at the designated government quarantine bureau animal hospital, Guanshang, 7 days prior to departure date from China. Your pets will undergo a brief examination that may include blood tests and stool checks. Once completed, you will be issued a Beijing International Companion Animal Health Inspection Certificate (Health Certificate), which is required to obtain the official Animal Health Certificate for Exit (Exit Permit) from the Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau.

FAMILY MATTERS

ASK THE EXPERTS 11

10 ASK THE EXPERTS

Pet registration requirements for exit from China

the Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, since government agencies may revise policies at any time without prior notice. With the Exit Permit, pet owners have 14 days to take their pets overseas.

There is no registration requirement for pets departing from Beijing. The dog registration requirement for Beijing Municipality is specifically required for dogs residing in Beijing.

A dog registration licence is not required to apply for an Exit Permit.

Entry regulations for pets Entry requirements for the importation of pets vary from country to country. A brief summary of entry requirements for popular destination countries is provided below, for reference only.

Regulations are subject to change without notice.

Please research entry requirements as early as possible and contact the embassy, Department of Agriculture or quarantine bureau of your destination country for the latest regulations.

For additional questions about departing China with your pets, please contact the International Center for Veterinary Services. ICVS provides free pet export counselling services for the community to ensure that all members of the family can depart China together!

International Center for Veterinary Services

Continental USA and Canada • Rabies vaccination required (at least 30 days to 12 months before entry) • No microchipping, no rabies antibody titre testing, no quarantine if requirements met

© ven- on sxc.hu

Australia/New Zealand • No direct importing of animals from PRC • Animals must reside in another approved country for at least 6 months before entering Australia/New Zealand (approved countries include USA, Canada, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan and some EU countries) • Mandatory 30 days quarantine upon arrival • Microchipping, rabies and other vaccinations and rabies antibody titre testing required

Microchipping for exporting pets Fees will be charged for the examination and the tests. Owners should bring the pet, the vaccination red book, passport (one passport per pet) and cash (RMB600+ per pet) at the time of the visit.

It’s best to go for the health examination early in the morning; the hospital opens at 8:30am. If you’re not proficient in Mandarin, it’s recommended you bring a Chinese-speaking friend to help with communication.

The Health Certificate is usually issued within 2 business days of the examination and is valid for 7 days from issue date. If the Health Certificate is not exchanged for the Exit Permit before the expiration date, the health examination must be repeated.

FAMILY MATTERS

•

Step 3: Animal Health Certificate for Exit (Exit Permit)

Pick up the Exit Permit from the Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau after receiving the Health Certificate.

Owners may exchange the Health Certificate for the official Animal Health Certificate for Exit (Exit Permit). The Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau operates a processing office inside the quarantine bureau’s animal hospital, where owners may apply for the Exit Permit. Bring your vaccination red book, the Health Certificate and your passport. It’s not necessary to bring your pet. The Exit Permit is usually processed within 2 business days and is good for 14 days once issued. Please confirm the latest regulations with

At the moment, microchipping of animals is not required by the authorities in Beijing for either pets being imported into Beijing or pets exiting from Beijing.

Please check the pet import requirements of your destination country with the embassy, Department of Agriculture or quarantine bureau.

Microchipping is required by Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, Australia/New Zealand and the European Union, among others.

Canada and the United States (excluding Hawaii) do not require pets to be microchipped for entry.

To import pets into Hawaii, please check the USDA or CDC websites for import requirements and contact ICVS as soon as possible, as regulations are very different to those of the continental USA.

©AlinePotter_stock on deviantart

EU countries and Japan • Rabies vaccination and rabies antibody titre testing at least 3-6 months before animal arrives • Microchipping and/or tattoo (varies by country) • Japan requires 2 rabies vaccines within 6 months of arrival • UK has mandatory 6 months quarantine for animals from the PRC • Quarantine if requirements not met in all other EU countries

29 Liangmaqiao Lu, Anjialou, Chaoyang District Tel: 8456 1939/1940/1941 Fax: 6433 2301 Email: ICVS_CHINA@yahoo.com Website: www.ICVSASIA.com Entry-Exit Inspection & Quarantine Bureau’s Guanshang Animal Hospital 北京观赏动物医院, 北 三环中路7 号 （安华 桥往西三百米路北） 7 North Third Ring Middle Road (300m west of Anhuaqiao, on the north side of the street) 8:30-10:30am, 6204 9631 or 6237 1359 ICVS can help insert microchips for all pets.

Please contact ICVS for more information about microchipping.

Rabies antibody titre testing All European Union countries require rabies antibody titre testing for pets entering the EU. The continental United States and Canada currently do not.

Countries requiring the rabies antibody titre test usually stipulate that the pet be vaccinated for rabies at least 4 to 7 months prior to departure.

One month after the rabies vaccination, the pet’s blood needs to be sampled and the separated serum taken to an official EU-authorised laboratory that can perform the rabies antibody titre test.

Please contact ICVS for more information about preparing for the rabies antibody titre test for your pet.

Quarantine before exit from China There is no quarantine requirement for pets exiting China. There may be quarantine requirements in your destination country.

Please check with the embassy or government quarantine bureau of your destination country.

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COMMUNITY 13

12 COMMUNITY

• If your child has their own website, have you checked to make sure it doesn’t contain personal information that will identify them?

• Have you talked to your children about responsible online behaviour? Do they understand that stealing from websites, downloading pirated software, making online threats and hacking are illegal activities?

A ’s Parent Guide

Is your child’s webpage safe?

If your child has a home page or website, you should make sure that he/she takes the following precautions when posting information online: If your child has a blog or a website, you should read the section where people can add comments to make sure he/she is not giving out information or receiving inappropriate messages.

© sqback on deviantart

If the website has links to other websites, pictures or videos you should check those as well.

Make sure you visit your child´s website regularly with him/her, and that the Internet safety rules you have established are respected.

A predator will spend hours examining every single piece of information to track a child down. A secure webpage should not contain:

by Janet Brock, Headteacher, Sanlitun Campus

A

ccording to recent estimates, almost two thirds of teenagers aged 13 to 17 have home pages on networking sites, where they post photographs or chat with friends. A survey for the Anti-Bullying Alliance — involving pupils from 14 London schools — found that a fifth had been victims of bullying by text, email or phone at least once or twice in the past two months. 57% had been bullied at some point in the previous 12 months. There are over 55 million children between the ages of 10 and 17 using the Internet on a daily basis – it is for this very reason that the Internet has become the preferred place for sex offenders to find their next victim.

• • • •

64% of teenagers have instant-messaged a stranger online.

50% have emailed a stranger.

45% have chatted online with a stranger in a chat room.

25% of children online are unwillingly exposed to sexual material.

Are You Web aware?

Are you involved in your child’s online activities?

Do you know what they are doing and who they

FAMILY MATTERS

are talking to when they are on the Internet?

Does your family have a set of rules or an agreement for appropriate Internet use? Do your children know to ask permission before submitting any personal information online?

This includes using email, chat rooms or instant messaging, filling out registration forms and personal profiles and entering online contests.

Do you try not to be too critical of your child’s activities online and use their Internet experiences as an opportunity to discuss inappropriate content, trust and responsibility?

Do you make Internet use a family activity by guiding your children to good sites and teaching them how to do safe effective searches?

Have you taught your children not to believe everything they read online, and to check online information with an adult or with another source?

Do you look at the privacy policies on the commercial websites your children visit to check what kind of personal information is gathered, and if it may be sold to another party?

To make your monitoring job easier, have you

•

• • • • • • • • •

Your child´s real name — a nickname should be used instead The names of friends or family members Your address Your home phone number or child´s mobile number Photos The name of your child´s school The name of any sports teams your child plays on Links to another site that may contain information about your child Any other piece of information that could identify your child

Remind your child that using the Internet is not a right; it is a privilege and a responsibility.

What is chatting?

•

•

Chatting or instant messaging is simply two or more people communicating together in real-time over the Internet using instant messaging software.

In addition to written messages, instant messaging software allows the users to see and hear each other. Users can post pictures of themselves on the screen so that the other party can see who they are chatting with.

This technology also allows for the use of live cameras, commonly referred to as webcams.

It is also possible to chat using microphones so that users can speak to and hear each other, much like a telephone conversation.

Sexual predators also use instant messaging on the Internet. Never before have they been offered such a powerful tool with which to reach potential victims.

They will lurk in public chatrooms using an assumed persona and look for a child who might be vulnerable. They may spend months luring children from the initial chatroom contact into a real-life meeting.

Cyberbullying With cyberbullying, what may begin as a case of bullying in school can become round-the-clock harassment over the Internet from people the victim doesn’t even know. If your child is being bullied, either in person or through the Internet, make sure they know they shouldn’t be afraid to come forward and tell an adult they trust.

And if you are the person doing the bullying, you should know that bullying someone else is a crime. Under new legislation, it is a crime to communicate repeatedly with someone if your communication causes them to fear for their own safety or the safety of others or is in any way defamatory.

Some teens think that, because they’re using the Internet or cell phones to spread rumours

and verbally harass someone, they won’t be found out. Youths have committed suicide or attacked fellow students because of bullying by their peers.

•

Keeping your child safe Encourage your children to talk to you about what they do online, and take time to surf the net with them. Remember that the Internet is not a babysitter! If you have concerns about what your children are doing on the Internet, or think they might be in trouble, sit down with them and talk about it.

Here are some basic precautions you should tell them to take while online: •

•

•

•

Never give out any personal information, such as your address, phone number, password or photograph. It is surprisingly easy for predators to track their victims with even the smallest amount of information.

Don’t believe everything you’re told.

Sexual predators will often pass themselves off as other teenagers, even using photos of real teenagers to back up their lies. Always remember that you have no way of knowing who is telling the truth on the Internet.

Never make an appointment to meet in person with someone you have met on the Internet without the permission of your parents or another adult. Make sure the meeting place is a public location and other people are with you.

If you use a webcam, be sure that you

actually unplug the webcam when you’re not using it. Even if you just turn it off, it could still be manipulated remotely and used to film you without your knowledge.

Talk to your parents about what you do online, and invite them to surf the net with you. If you have concerns about things you see on the Internet, or think someone else might be in trouble, tell them or another adult you trust.

Getting to know your computer It is good for your child to know that you are interested in what they do online and that all their online activity is monitored by you. Check the following folders on a regular basis: o My chat log o Cookies o Favorites o My Documents o My Recent Documents o My Received Files o History o Temporary Internet Files Consider installing software to monitor your child’s Internet usage. You can also use this software to block websites, completely block Internet usage or to only allow access to the Internet at certain times.

“There are over 55 million children between the ages of 10 and 17 using the Internet on a daily basis” © L-G-K on deviantart

Keeping your children safe online

placed your connected computer in a well-used public area of your house, such as a family room or kitchen?

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14 COMMUNITY

COMMUNITY

Say no to sunburn The sun helps the skin produce Vitamin D and heightens its absorption. For these reasons, the bones benefit. But on the other hand, a baby’s soft skin may get sunburned after exposure to strong direct sunlight. The baby’s skin will become pink or red, and warm or hot to the touch. In addition to these symptoms, the baby will feel pain in severe cases.

How to protect your baby’s skin in summer

Tips for dealing with sunburn: 1.

by Dr Liu Xiaoyan Beijing New Century Harmony Pediatric Clinic

2.

3.

© little-stocks on deviantart

4.

W

A baby’s skin is very sensitive and fragile, and is very easily hurt. During the summer, strong sunlight and heavy sweating constitute great threats to a baby’s skin. Parents should pay careful attention in taking care of their baby’s skin. What are the most common skin problems for your baby in summer? How to deal with those problems with home care? Let me give you some advice.

Say bye-bye to heat rash Heat rash is a skin irritation caused by excessive sweating during hot, humid weather. It looks

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like a red cluster of pimples or small blisters.

It’s more likely to occur on the face, neck and backside. Your baby will feel itches and irritation caused by heat rash.

3.

4.

Tips for dealing with heat rash: 1.

2.

Keep the room at a comfortable temperature. Make sure the air inside the room circulates well. If the room temperature is above 30 degrees, use a fan or air conditioner to cool it down.

Keep the baby’s skin dry and hygienic.

Constantly wipe all the sweat away and change the baby’s clothes often so as to make sure the baby wears fresh and cool

5.

6.

clothing.

Give your baby daily baths to keep her fresh, dry and rash-free during the summer months.

Dress your baby in loose clothes to prevent irritation caused by clothing rubbing against the skin.

During hot summer weather, don’t carry your baby in your arms for a long time; this will increase body temperature and induce heat rash. Put the baby on the mat and let him play by himself.

Let your baby drink as much water as possible. Cool water, green bean soup and other cool drinks are good choices for your baby. Give light food to your baby, avoiding fatty, oily or spicy food.

Always obey the shadow rule. The shadow rule is a way to estimate exposure to UV light on a sunny day. A shadow that is longer than your baby means UV exposure is low; a shadow that is shorter than your baby means UV exposure is high. During times when a baby’s shadow is short, it’s best to stay indoors or in the shade.

Stay inside or in the shade between 10am and 4pm. The sunshine between these hours is at its most brilliant, and it’s also the time when the UV rays are at their strongest.

You can try using stroller hoods for your baby, or use wide-brimmed hats, UV protection glasses or an umbrella to keep an older child covered. Cotton T-shirts can also prevent sunburn, but not if the T-shirt is white.

Use sun block and children’s sunscreens.

Don’t be afraid to use children’s sunscreen on babies – in small doses. If you’re going for a walk, and the baby’s feet are exposed, it’s appropriate to put sunscreen on them so they don’t get burned. It’s better than not protecting them at all.

2.

“It’s essential

to protect your baby from the potentially dangerous effects of nasty insect bites - which can result in rashes”

3.

4.

5.

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that may require medical treatment.

Therefore, parents should always keep baby’s nails short, in order to prevent them from scratching the bitten areas.

Use some calamine lotion to help stop the itching.

Keep the room neat and clean. Make sure that door and window screens fit tightly and have no holes that may allow mosquitoes to get in.

For young babies, mosquito netting is very effective in areas where exposure to mosquitoes is likely. Netting may be used over infant carriers or other areas where small children are placed. Mosquitorepellent incense is another good choice, as long as it is not located too close to the baby.

The gaps in a summer sleeping mat give easy access to parasitic mites and other insects. Therefore, in addition to getting a regular scrub with warm water, the mat should always be placed under the sun to dry.

Stay out of shady areas near bushes and shrubs. Remove standing water from your yard. When going outdoors use insect repellents that contain DEET or other approved ingredients.

Light-coloured clothing is best because mosquitoes tend to be more attracted to dark colours.

We hope that all babies will have healthy skin this summer!

Close the door on mosquitoes and bugs Insect bites are very common in summer.

It’s essential to protect your baby from the potentially dangerous effects of nasty insect bites. Insect bites can result in skin rashes, painful joints, hives and swollen glands. A small percentage of babies may develop severe reactions or fever, depending on how sensitive the baby’s skin is. Bites from mosquitoes, fleas, mites, bees or yellow jackets are usually the most problematic.

Tips for dealing with insect bites: 1.

Mosquito bites cause an uncomfortable and itchy allergic reaction in most people.

It is always best to avoid scratching them, as spreading the enzyme fluids across the surface of the skin may cause a hive outbreak or a full-blown allergic attack

© jeven7293 on sxc.hu

Advice

15

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SPORT 17

16 SPORT

Sailing in Beijing

Sailing is a sport with something for everyone.

Whether you’re looking for a new and exciting way to get back in touch with the great outdoors, a summer camp to keep the kids occupied during the holidays or something for the whole family, the experienced team at Beijing Sailing Center are ready to show you the ropes.

There are many benefits to learning to sail.

Besides acquiring a new skill, you’ll have an unrivalled opportunity to make new friends from many different walks of life – people who are, quite literally, in the same boat. Teamwork and communication are essential: every member of the crew must pull their weight, and this is really put to the test in our fun regattas, where effective teamwork can make the difference between victory and defeat.

by Libby Boyd Beijing Sailing Center

The benefits don’t stop there. Sailing is also a very green sport, teaching you how to use wind energy to get around. In learning to sail you gain a deeper understanding of natural forces such as weather, wind and tide, leading you to a greater appreciation of the power of nature and how it can be harnessed without negative environmental impact.

Y

ou’re flying along, cool spray hitting your face, sunlight glinting off the surface of the sea. The beautiful Beidaihe coastline unfurls in the background, its beaches tempting you ashore, but you’re holding out, keeping your eyes peeled for that perfect picnic spot, and the grins on the kids’ faces tell you they don’t mind waiting.

The wind fills the sails and the boat gathers speed, cutting steadily through the water. You lean back, keeping it perfectly balanced, and a smile spreads across your face. Nothing can stop you now. It’s just you and the elements.

You’re riding the waves…

It’s not just something for the kids, either: as any good sailor will tell you, the learning process never stops, and it’s also never too late to begin. Physical fitness isn’t an issue: sailing rewards brains more than brawn, and can be as relaxed – or as intense – as you want it to be.

Many of the world’s top yacht sailors started their careers in smaller boats much like the ones we use, and if yachting is your aim, we can help you make the step up: we enter teams in major regattas all over Asia, and are always looking for crew.

The second day builds on the first, with an emphasis on getting you sailing independently in all directions and feeling more in control of your boat. By the end of the day you will be able to sail around a triangle, stop and start your boat and know what to do if you should happen to capsize. The course ends with a presentation of certificates, and you’ll also be given a logbook as a record of what you’ve achieved.

Beijing Sailing Center Located in Beidaihe, just 2 hours by train from central Beijing, the Beijing Sailing Center is ideally situated for training sailors of all levels.

We provide all the equipment you’ll require during your course, so there’s no need to shell out for lots of expensive gear. We also provide safety cover at all times, making sure you have a safe as well as an enjoyable experience. All our instructors are RYA-certified, and we can deliver teaching in English and Chinese.

Once you’ve booked a course, our staff can make all arrangements on your behalf, from organising transport to and from Beijing and booking hotel rooms to ensuring that you reach us on time for the day’s activities and are well looked after once you get here.

Courses are open to anyone from age 8 upwards, and families are more than welcome to come along and share the learning experience together. Throughout the season we run special family-oriented weekends – check our website for dates and details.

We also organise regular day cruises along the coast, either to the start of the Great Wall at

Laolongtou or down to Beidaihe, where we stop for a picnic before heading home. All are welcome, though we do recommend that you have a basic level of sailing ability to get the most out of the trip.

Effective teams also require good leaders.

Taking the helm means taking responsibility for your boat and everyone in it, and this can provide a huge boost to your confidence as your ability level improves. The leadership and teamwork skills that sailing fosters also make it an excellent corporate team building tool, and we have extensive experience offering team building events, with previous clients including Microsoft, Nokia and Vodafone.

For those who just want to relax and socialise while having fun afloat, we organise party weekends, involving sail training, racing and an evening barbecue with music, drinks and dancing, followed by a day of free time: choose either to do more sailing, take in some of the local sights or just chill out on the beach.

Sailing is an up-and-coming sport with a lot to offer both in China and beyond. It has gained in popularity in recent years, and is accessible to all, providing opportunities for growth and development that can last a lifetime.

But don’t just take our word for it: come along and see for yourself.

Beijing Sailing Center 22 Wenti Lu, Harbor District, Qinhuangdao, Hebei Province (5900 0276 (Beijing office, 5005 Chaowai, Soho); (0)335 856 0916 (Sailing Center))

Beijing Sailing Center Director Rick Pointon says: “Whether you are competitive and wanting to race, a thrill-seeker looking for an adrenaline rush or a cruiser wanting to enjoy the oceans, people of all ages, genders and abilities can participate on equal terms.”

© blacktom1 at sxc.hu

© Toby Simkin

So what can you expect from a course at Beijing Sailing Center?

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The first day begins with introductions and a safety briefing, followed by an overview of the basics on our sailing simulator. Then it’s onto the water to put what you’ve learnt into practice, with our friendly instructors on hand to give you tips and answer your questions.

By the end of the morning, most people have mastered the basics, so after eating lunch at our onsite restaurant the afternoon is spent honing your skills and increasing your confidence.

Once you’re safely back ashore, showered and changed, we spend an hour or two covering the theory components, using interactive teaching methods that draw on your experiences during the day. Then it’s time for dinner, and back to your hotel for a well-earned night’s sleep.

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18

SCHOOL

FEATURE

10 things you need to know about your child’s education Much of what affects education at your child’s school happens outside the classroom.

by Mike Embley, Executive Principal, The British School of Beijing

So many parents base their choice of school on the feeling they have 5 minutes or less after entering a school. They are quite correct! Those initial instincts speak volumes about the school. The way the students walk about between classes. How they play in the playground. How they address adults and other students. These things are hugely important, even beyond the obvious desire of any parent for a well-rounded, well-behaved and pleasant child (both at home and at school). They speak to the ethos of the school and its approach to the whole package of education. Education is not simply about textbooks.

Looks can be deceptive.

Picture this: You walk into a classroom and all the work on the walls Is perfect. Well-written, beautiful, coloured within the lines, x and y axis labelled in perfect script. Sound like an ideal school? Not quite. A school should reflect the reality of what happens in the classroom,

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SCHOOL 19

not what the teacher can produce and put on the wall to create an impression of perfection.

A good principal who pays attention to what happens in school will of course spot this immediately. Nonetheless, some families might actively prefer this false image of perfection.

I would suggest that in this they are in error.

Students take pride in the world around them and in their own achievements. A pretty poster made by the teacher fades into the background.

No child, younger or older, will take pride in drawing the attention of their parents to the work of a teacher placed on the wall. If it is their own work, even if it’s not perfectly executed, they will be proud and inspired to achieve greater things.

Exam results, real and imagined.

Some schools manipulate data at length. This is indefensible. Speaking simply, it can be seen as better for the school’s results to discourage a student who is not able in all subjects from taking an exam in which they might not do too well. Let me illustrate with an example.

A student scoring A, A, A in three IGCSE examinations would give the school a pass rate on their website of 100% A grades – how lovely! How perfect to quote in texts. But let us look closer. Would it have been better for the student to have been allowed to take a full set

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20

SCHOOL 21

SCHOOL of examinations and score A, A, A, B, C, D? Of course it would. However, that school must now quote 50% A grades. The question here that parents must look into in some detail is: Who is the school serving? The school’s website, or the students? Any school that states that all students pass all exams with great results should be treated with huge suspicion.

Parents who are interested in their children’s education and progress need to know what they are doing.

Excuse me, who are you?

Who is in the school? When you walk into the school, are other parents present? Is the school lively, welcoming and active? Can you pop in to see the principal? Does the school have regular input from parents that it actually listens to? Many schools get this part right, in fact.

Sometimes the parents need encouragement to join in with the life of the school. Dry events – another lecture on homework for the under 4’s – are not always the most inviting! Sometimes it is best to simply get into the school and have a chat with other parents, the principal or deputies and get a feel for what’s happening.

This also gives parents a better sense of the intangible, but absolutely essential, ‘feel’ of the school.

When visiting the school, did you meet the principal? Did he or she really care about your children? Did he or she know who they are, how old they are? Did the principal talk to the children? Did he or she in fact care about them? This matters because it again speaks about the school in depth. It’s all too easy to add polish to a website. It’s more important that the principal not be hidden away staring at a spreadsheet all day long.

Teachers are your friends.

Teaching staff are the heart and soul of a school.

Their knowledge, enthusiasm, drive and sense of humour will have a genuinely transformative effect on the children in their care. This might seem obvious at first but is not always at the forefront of a parent’s mind. Sometimes the best advice given to a parent is to make friends with their child’s teachers. This might seem almost radical at first! Of course teachers should be professional, that is expected. Like any human being, though, teachers respond well, and will work that little harder, for parents who talk to them regularly, and who are supportive.

This is not to suggest for one moment that teachers should not be accountable. Of course they must be, but human nature dictates that in any walk of life we will most enjoy working with, and for, positive people. A parent who berates a teacher if a child who has had a great day running, learning, talking, listening and studying comes home having lost a pen or pencil will make that teacher just that little more defensive, just that little bit less likely to try an exciting lesson.

What are they actually doing?

Communication is not something every school is good at. But it’s vital. For a parent to be involved in all stages of a student’s learning and journey through school from Pre-Nursery to Sixth Form, the school has to keep them informed. Pre-Nursery children cannot always tell their parents what they have been doing without prompts. Sometimes surly teenagers are not the most willing communicators!

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Is there anybody there?

Learning from peers.

This is a big one. In secondary school, take an honest look around. Is your child’s (and they are still children) school more of a zoo? Are the students still well-behaved, still keen to learn, still bright-eyed and active? Or are they out until late at night, drinking or worse? Does the school promote more positive activities?

Does the school allow poor behaviour and poor choices to spread? Does the school in fact passively encourage students to meet and follow poor role models? This is a huge issue for all parents, not just those of older children.

Much of a child’s education takes place outside the classroom, from those around them, their classmates. The atmosphere of a school influences the behaviour of the group. The behaviour of the group affects the atmosphere and effectiveness of the school. It’s a loop that the school must get right. One simple acid test: When leaving school at the end of the day, do the older children make way for the little ones, or carelessly knock them over? Very easy, very important.

What does it offer?

Not another curriculum article. An education is more than just the curriculum, more than the basic co-curricular or after-school activities, more even than the ethos of the school. It is a thirst to learn whoever you are. The average student doesn’t exist. There is no such thing as an average person. Everybody is a mind waiting to find inspiration, that one spark in the day that will light the fuse and let them fly.

It could be a 30-second game of football with the PE teacher at break time when they are told “well done”, it could be the maths teacher who makes jokes while explaining triangles so

“Much of a child’s education takes place from those around them, their classmates” the atmosphere lightens for a few seconds, it could be the principal who plays an instrument and helps the students overcome stage fright; it doesn’t matter. It could be any of these things or others. This is perhaps the single most important attribute of a school principal, oddly enough. We can all run a school. The best schools have a principal that really fires a school, and drives it through personal example.

International, or little England.

Nobody in tomorrow’s world will be complacent and able to sit in one place their whole life. Perhaps this statement is a little dramatic. However, it does highlight an important matter. The values of a school should be apparent. They should reflect the name and nature of the school, in reality of course, not simply through glib advertising. However, schools, even The British School of Beijing, have come to realise that creating little England, or trying to somehow pretend they are creating old England, is counterproductive. The world is smaller, changing quickly and increasingly international. Parents know this; they work for companies or services that span the globe.

Equipping our students with the tools to move forward, as strong, positive, creative, wellqualified individuals in the real world, that is the most important thing. You need to know that your child’s education is providing them with these tools.

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22 ASK THE EXPERTS

FAMILY - FRIENDLY COMPOUNDS R IN BEIJING

by Cherry Qu Leasing Manager, Ace Realty China

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elocating to a new country is exciting and full of challenges, and finding appropriate housing is one of the most important stages in relocation. Beijing is growing fast, and has become a cultural and economic hub. Its housing has been developing at a rapid rate and there are now lots of international-standard residences all over the city; they all aim to meet varied expat needs.

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ASK THE EXPERTS 25

24 ASK THE EXPERTS Children are always the main priority for families when looking for a home, meaning properties near international schools are always popular. A half-hour drive from the downtown area, the Shunyi villa district has rapidly grown to become a typical, friendly, neighbourhood choice. When trying to find the best compound for your family you should consider a range of factors. The most common are the trip to work and school, the community environment, management service, house decoration and layout and how close you are to shops and local amenities.

Shunyi

The Shunyi villa district can be divided into three areas (Beigao, Jingshun and the airport area), with most families clustering around the well-known international schools.

Beigao This area is nearest to downtown. It is a 15-minute drive from both the Third Ring Road and Beijing Capital International Airport.

In this area, Grand Hill is a peaceful green highclass compound completed in 2004. There are 153 detached houses with a nice lake and good club facilities. Beijing Riviera is a very big, well-established compound. It consists of detached houses, townhouses and serviced apartments, in total 447 units. It is known for its highly qualified management team and great community atmosphere. It was completed in 1996, so is well developed. However this does not mean that it is dated; renovation work is often done, usually by individual owners. The compound is still active and popular in the real estate market. Lane Bridge was completed in 2004 and the house designs are based on North American houses, with the majority of houses having a private garden. This compound is made up of semi-detached houses, townhouses and detached houses.

Beijing. River Garden was completed in 1994 and has been nicely renovated, with a large green area. It is a mature community and has tasteful American-style detached houses. The houses on the whole tend to be a little smaller than those in the surrounding compounds, but it is still a very nice compound for families. Le Leman Lake Villa is a mature compound with excellent management services. It has a great mix of nationalities and good quality housing, with many of the houses having a large basement. The indoor and outdoor facilities are good, and they create a great community feeling, which is fantastic for children. Dragon Bay Villa is very new and has very nice houses.

It is at the upper end of most people’s budget, but the price is reflected in the quality of the housing. For families it is worth mentioning that the villas in Dragon Bay have under-floor heating, something to consider given the long winter in Beijing!

“You will struggle to find ground-floor flats with gardens; however, there is an abundance of parks scattered around the city”

Other options in this area are Capital Paradise and Euro Village.

Airport area The airport area has easy access to the airport expressway from Yanglin Exit. It is a 20-minute drive from downtown. The compounds in this area are not quite as big as some of the

Other options available in this area are Chinese courtyard-style houses; Cathay View Villa and the newly developed Orchid Garden. A more cost-effective option for this style of house is Quanfa Garden.

Jingshun This area is a 30-minute drive from downtown and only 5 minutes’ drive from several international schools. It has a mature living environment with supermarkets, shops, restaurants, children’s galleries and United Family Hospital and dental clinic nearby.

Within this area the Yosemite compound offers a fantastic living environment. There are great community activities, and as a long-standing compound the clubhouse is great. The living spaces themselves range from townhouses to huge luxury detached villas, thus meeting different budgetary needs. This compound is also within walking distance of two big international schools, The British International School Beijing and the International School of

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ASK THE EXPERTS 27

26 ASK THE EXPERTS other compounds, and there is not a lot of competition between them. This creates a very laidback and welcoming atmosphere.

Rits Garden is a new compound and consists of 138 detached houses. The majority of the houses have a spacious layout fitted with traditional European architecture. It has beautiful landscaped gardens, which make the compound feel very fresh. Legend Garden is an early villa property, built in 1992. The houses are all very large and have nice developed gardens. The houses have large open-plan dining areas, always a plus for families. The compound also attracts many Swedish families.

Chateau Regalia villas all have a Mediterranean/ European feel. Some of their villas boast their own swimming pools and rooftop gardens; however, this does come at a price.

Other properties in this area are Dynasty Garden and Shadow Creek.

Downtown

Downtown, expats focus on four areas: CBD, Chaoyang Park, Sanlitun and Lido. In the downtown area you will find you have more options, as there is huge price variance. You will struggle to find ground-floor flats with gardens; however, there is an abundance of parks scattered around the city. Below is a simple breakdown of the most popular family compounds.

CBD Central Park is a firm family favourite. The compound has a simple modern design and is in the heart of the city. It has a nice clubhouse and good landscaping. There are lots of different apartment layouts, allowing the compound to be flexible and meet families’ different needs.

Other good family properties in the CBD area are Global Trade Mansion, Gemdale Apartment and China Center Place.

Chaoyang Park Chaoyang Park is a great option for families, as the park is a huge green space filled with lots of child-friendly activities. It is located between the Third and Fourth Ring Road. If you like simple apartments, Park Avenue, Park Apartment and King Stone serviced apartments are good choices. For luxury design, Palm Spring, Beijing Gulf International and Ocean Wide International apartments must be viewed.

For a slightly cheaper option, Boya Gardens and Parkview Tower are also good choices.

Sanlitun In the Sanlitun area apartment options are limited, as this area is also the embassy district and houses a number of embassies and embassy compounds. This location is very quiet, and is very close to Sanlitun Village, where there are lots of child-friendly restaurants. East Lake and Embassy House apartments are nice serviced apartments and well worth a look. Season’s Park, Guangcai International and Beijing SOHO Residential are good quality compounds, but in

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these apartments you must deal with individual landlords. This means the prices may vary from apartment to apartment so bargaining is necessary.

Lido Lido is just outside the Fourth Ring Road, so the prices are better than in the central area. Upper East Side, Richmond Park and Chateau Regency are typical friendly properties for expats.

Upper East Side is a favourite among families downtown as it is quieter than central areas and has more green space. Shops are nearby, and there is also a gym conveniently nestled at the top of the main entrance.

At ACE Realty China we provide a full free housing service. Our fully qualified staff give an overview of all the residential areas and the corresponding price levels. We fully understand the client’s needs and wishes, and provide a unique service package tailored to each expat family. For more information, please visit our website: www.acerealtychina.com.

Contact Cherry Qu by phone (+86 139 1081 8285) or email (cherry@acerealtychina.com).

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SCHOOL

Learning life at school

by Charlotte Yearn, Head of Pastoral Care, The British School of Beijing

I

think we all know that school echoes life, as an environment where we learn facts and figures and pass exams to get on in this world. Do we always, however, consider the wider education that school gives us?

Probably not. As I waved my sons off to school I was not only concerned about how they would do academically; I was also worried that they might fail to make friends or fit in, or deal with situations badly. Suddenly they were growing up and going into the big bad world where I could not protect them. They would have to deal with someone other than Mum; and all I could do was hope that I had taught them some social graces!

The worries only increase as our children grow.

They become young adults with opinions who won’t listen to the wisdom of their parents; parents apparently (according to teenagers) know nothing of youth! The teen years are a difficult time, with your child neither a child nor an adult. Teenagers have ideas and opinions and are generally capable of looking after themselves, yet they do not have the freedoms we adults have. Parents are still in charge and responsible for their care. This is a complex and frustrating issue for young adults, and even more frightening for parents, and how we deal with this situation is crucial to the

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personal development of our children. That is where the wider school environment protects our children and teaches them the ways of the world, along with responsibility, friendship and empathy.

“The worries only increase as our children grow”

School is not just about learning facts to pass exams anymore; we foster creativity, social awareness, understanding and most importantly self-awareness – a vital skill for our children when they enter the wider world.

Taking part in events, expressing opinions and being part of a community should be encouraged.

Form Tutors and home room teachers see their students each morning, meaning they can discuss events, and Tutors can become personally involved in their students’ daily lives. Naturally the Form Tutors progress with their form through the years and become very familiar with personalities.

Making friends is always a concern when moving school, but an international focus means that the prospect of a new student means a new friend, always to be welcomed.

In fact, there is always excitement when a new student is arriving! Newbies often suffer from culture shock and confusion. At The British

School of Beijing, we feel the buddy system works well for a new starter, providing a friend to familiarise new pupils with the school until they have established themselves within their new environment and have a solid friendship basis.

The SVP (Student Voices Parliament) gives a voice to student concerns and needs, and we have a charity committee that enables our kids to contribute to society and make a real difference to the lives of those who are less fortunate. We all, staff and students, belong to a House and can compete and join in fun school events with an identity and purpose.

Music events, sports teams and year groups all contribute positively to school life and student experience and learning.

Life skills are taught through citizenship lessons, covering money, health, political and social responsibility and current affairs. Teachers can share their knowledge and experience; and encourage students to identify, analyse and find solutions to a range of problems. All this is aimed at equipping students with the critical thinking and practical skills needed for life after school.

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30 COMMUNITY

ASK THE EXPERTS 31

What’s in a juice?

“95% of the juices you buy don’t really give you nature’s full bounty”

by Hans Au, iF Juice

As a health fanatic, I’ve been asking myself this question. Juice usually comes from processed fruit. The better juices shouldn’t be diluted with water, chemicals or, even worse, contain added sugar. This is pretty much common knowledge. But even so-called “100% juice” is not always what you imagine it to be. Most is made from fruit concentrates mixed with water. The beverage producers call this mixing “reconstituting”. The water content is boiled out to produce concentrate, which is lighter to transport and easier to store. The downside is that concentrates lack the nutrients of freshly squeezed juice. Reconstituting means adding water to the concentrate so that the ratio of concentrate to water resembles fresh juice.

It’s a bit like the dehydrated beef and carrot in Chinese instant noodles. When you add boiling water they inflate like a balloon, but you wouldn’t consider them 100% beef or carrot, would you?

So juices made of concentrates, actually around 95% of the juices you buy, don’t really give you nature’s full bounty. What they do offer is a price about 4-6 times lower than freshly squeezed juice. Good for the wallet, not ideal for the health.

So isn’t there anything better available in Beijing supermarkets than concentrated juice?

Actually there is, if you don’t mind shopping around a bit. If price is not a huge concern to you, you can sometimes find juice pressed directly from real fruit (it’s called NFC, which stands for ”not from concentrate”). These juices are typically treated at lower heat to ensure that taste and nutrients do not succumb to the searing temperatures of full pasteurisation (heating juice to over 100 degrees Celsius).

However, be prepared to spend over three times as much. For example, a litre of Huiyuan orange juice, which is made of concentrates, costs RMB12-13. An NFC juice from a Chinese maker, for example Sichuan-based Paisenbai, is RMB38 per litre. (Note that Paisenbai currently does not sell to supermarkets. They only do direct home delivery.)

What about the whole juice bar and juicing thing? Is it as simple as FAMILY MATTERS

local fruit and vegetables (to get maximum nutrients it is always a good idea to juice fruit that’s in season and grown near you). Juicing also cuts down on packaging and rubbish.

However, there are a couple of things that juicing can’t do for you. If you’re on a strict low sugar or even sugar-free diet (for example, if you’re diabetic), then juicing has its limitations because fructose, a natural form of sugar, is naturally contained in fruit. You should therefore consider vegetable-only juices or mixed vegetable and fruit juices. Carrot juice is delicious; celery, spinach and beets are good with a moderate mix of sour apples, for example.

putting a nice red or green apple through a juicer?

Health experts around the globe agree that eating fresh healthy fruit or juicing it for immediate consumption can improve the cardiovascular system and the function of most of your internal organs. Maybe you’ve heard of the 5-a-day rule, the idea that 5 portions of fruit or veg cover your daily nutrient needs.

If you just drink fresh juice once in a while the effect will be limited. But if you are patient and consume, for example, fresh celery juice regularly over a longer time, then the compound 3-n-butyl phthalides in celery will act to reduce your blood pressure.

But why exactly does that work with fresh celery juice, but not with celery juice sold in cartons?

The reason lies in the raw food value of fruit or fresh juice that has not been treated with heat. Juice producers selling to supermarkets, whether it’s a 100% juice or an NFC juice, heat up the juice or use chemicals before bottling it, to kill microbes and bacteria and increase shelf life. Bottled juice does not have the defence mechanisms of healthy fruit. The only way to get around this problem is to consume juice very quickly after it’s been made, or to heat up the juice (pasteurising) to keep bacteria in check. The heat does kill bacteria, but it also destroys nutrients and other valuable nutrition in the fruit. Such heat treatment is

not necessary with fresh healthy fruit or juice, which means that the original nutrition is pretty much preserved in the fresh juice (there are of course some bacteria in fresh fruit, but as with salad the levels are low enough for a healthy body to handle).

Regularly drinking freshly squeezed juice means a constant rain of vitamins, minerals and other precious nutrients into your body. Over time drinking fresh juice helps clean out and flush your system. Valuable nutrients are deposited into your body’s cells. The long-term effects can be to revitalise your body and unlock its full potential. I know from my own experience that this can be very powerful. In 1994, when I was in graduate school, I was a fervent meat eater.

I had ulcers and acidic stomach every now and then. I went to see a doctor and he suggested cutting down on meat. I eventually became a “99% vegetarian”. And what a good move this was. After becoming a vegetarian I needed less sleep and generally felt much more healthy, less tired and less prone to viral infections.

I have been drinking freshly-squeezed juice pretty much daily since 2007, often blending different fruits in one juice or drinking veggie fruit combos. The effect has been amazing.

Regular doses of freshly squeezed juice have boosted my vitality level significantly. The old me never would have been easily able to deal with six hours sleep, three young kids, running two businesses and living the ups and downs of a Chinese-Western family life.

You still won’t get maximum nutrients if the fruit is not fresh or not yet ripe. If you buy imported mangoes during winter in Beijing, the nutrition value is simply not comparable to local Chinese mangoes in May and June. This is because mangoes don’t like long and hard transportation. On the other hand, berries like raspberries, blackberries and blackcurrants don’t lose too much flavour or nutrients, even at sub-zero temperatures. So remember, your juice is only as good as your fruit.

Furthermore, juicing won’t liberate you from cleaning and cutting the fruit or vegetables and cleaning up your juice machine every day.

So unless you’re lucky enough to have an ayi, there’s a certain commitment. It’s like working out every day, but much more delicious!

Although juicing will rarely be quite as healthy as simply eating the original fruit, unless you’re blessed with a fruit orchard in front of your porch drinking freshly squeezed juice is certainly the quickest and most convenient way to get healthy, natural nutrition in the midst of a busy modern lifestyle.

Hans Au lives in Beijing and runs a fresh food company.

Juicing can also be a great way to reduce your carbon footprint, especially if you consume

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Make your own!

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BANARAMA Put 3-4 cups of supermarket orange or apple juice into a jar.

Peel a banana and put half or all into the jar.

Blend at lower speed until smooth; don’t blend too long.

If you like, serve with ice.

MELLOW YELLOW:

Put 3-4 cups of supermarket orange (or 300g natural yoghurt with 1-2 cups of ice) into a jar.

Add half a peeled fresh pineapple*, cut into pieces.

Toss in 2 or 3 leaves of fresh mint (get it in an expat supermarket).

Blend at high speed until smooth.

If you like, serve with ice.

* Instead of pineapple you can use mango: cut two mangoes in half (don’t peel them!), generously cut out and discard the stones, take a large spoon and remove the flesh from the mango skin and put it into the jar with the other ingredients. Pineapples and mangoes are great deals if you want tropical fruit in Beijing from mid-April to mid-July.

Here are some recipes for juicing at home in Beijing with a simple blender (jiaoban ji; you can get one for less than RMB100).

Yummy & fresh!

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Put around 300g of natural sugar-free yoghurt (Greek yoghurt) into a jar Add 1-2 cups of normal supermarket apple juice or ice.

Add 1-2 tea spoons of natural honey.

Add some table fruits (avoid very hard ones).

Blend at high speed until smooth.

Top off with oatmeal or raisins, if you like.

www.ifjuice.com FAMILY MATTERS

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34 COMMUNITY of well-deserved certificates, but to give people something definite to work for; to counteract the tendency to sipping and sampling which so often defeats the aspirations of gifted beings, and also to give people opportunities to be intimately acquainted with the finest kinds of musical art, and to maintain standards of interpretation and an attitude of thoroughness in connection with music which will enable it to be most fruitful of good.”

Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music Your child’s musical future.

Opening doors through music, and more importantly developing a deep, lifelong love of music, are the most important reasons for any student (young or not so young) to study.

Examinations are not the goal but are part of the journey, encouraging and structuring the development of the musician throughout each stage from beginner to virtuoso or proficient amateur.

The ABRSM has just received authority to begin examinations on the Chinese mainland. This is a turning point in Chinese musical education.

With the opening up of China’s musical borders comes the opportunity for the international community to benefit from this new policy. For many years serious students of music, and even those just wanting to keep up with peers back home, have needed to travel to Hong Kong.

Music is a gift, a treasure for life and a real joy.

Having an expert guide to lead one to even greater heights and treasures is invaluable.

ABRSM has been that guide for millions of students for over 120 years.

The British School of Beijing is an ABRSMaccredited school, and currently is the only school in Beijing with this status. If you would like more information about ABRSM or ABRSM music examinations, please visit the school’s website: www.britishschool.org.cn

A

by Mike Embley, Executive Principal, The British School of Beijing

s a kid, everyone does it: “I have Grade 1 piano” or “I’m doing Grade 4 clarinet”. It’s part of growing up in Europe, America, Hong Kong, Singapore and now increasingly all over the world. A few will go on further still, to the heady heights of Grade 8 or even to Diploma, and to professional musician status, or scholarships to universities or conservatoires around the globe.

Even those not wanting to be professional musicians know that showing accomplishment at a high level in an ABRSM (Associated Boards of the Royal Schools of Music) examination counts towards entry when university admissions councillors are reviewing places for highly competitive courses.

The 700+ ABRSM examiners around the globe are UK-based musicians with a strong educational background who undergo significant training and yearly review. It is this extremely high level of attention to detail that is important and most valued throughout the music world. Becoming an ABRSM examiner is

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an accomplishment of some merit and not an easy task by any measure.

The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music was founded in 1889 by Sir Alexander MacKenzie, principal of the Royal Academy of Music, and Sir George Grove, director of the Royal College of Music. It is the most famous and respected musical examinations authority in the world. Working with the four Royal schools of music (Royal Academy of Music, London; Royal College of Music, London; Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester; and the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, Glasgow), they work in 90 countries and examine over 600,000 students annually.

They also work to provide music scholarships, charitable donations and advocacy across the globe.

“to give people opportunities to be intimately acquainted with the finest kinds of musical art”

Famous composer Sir Hubert Parry outlined the founding principles and aims of ABRSM: “For the most part the objects which approve themselves to us are not so much the award

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36 SPORTS Opposite - having fun in Ritan Park Right - student playing with a Diablo Below - watching a board game on the street

by Matthew Brock

Finding your sport in Beijing Golf, gyms, sailing and more...

T

he last time I wrote about the sports scene in Beijing I mentioned football, rugby and ice hockey; but if none of these sports are your thing, don’t fret – there’s bound to be something up your street.

The parks could be a good place to start your fitness campaign. Apart from walking or jogging through the lovely scenery, there are usually table tennis tables that you can use for free (bring your own net, bats and balls), outdoor gymnasiums that you can fight the elderly to use (!), again for free, and tennis courts for hire. There are also plenty of opportunities for dancing in the parks. Chinese people love to dance, and if the weather is not too inclement there is almost always someone who has set up a hi-fi and started to do the foxtrot or the tango. If you have a partner and want to join in, you’ll be welcomed with open arms.

For the less athletic, there are always chess and card games going on in the parks, and they always have plenty of spectators, so you shouldn’t worry about looking over someone’s

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38 SPORTS shoulder and having a good gander at what’s going on. If you stay for more than a few minutes, you might be asked to join in!

If the great outdoors is your cup of tea, there are numerous opportunities to enjoy it. The Beijing Hikers, The TREK Peloton Road Bike Cycling Club and the Hash House Harriers are three organisations encouraging people to get out there, and there are opportunities for beginners up to advanced practitioners. Trips to the Great Wall, to the mountains to the north and to the countryside to the east and west of the city are some of the highlights available.

There are many golf courses within 50 km of the city, but bring your wallet! Membership fees can reach hundreds of thousands of RMB a year, and then there are the playing fees on top. Beijing Golf Club is one such. Situated in Shunyi, to the north-east of the city, it’s a par 72, 18-hole course with forests, ponds and a driving range. Membership is RMB300,000, and then members pay RMB350-500 for a round.

There is a Ladies Golf Society in Beijing. They meet on a Thursday for a round of 18 holes at various courses around the city and welcome

avid female golfers from all over the world.

“If you stay for more than a few minutes, you might be asked to join in!”

There are plenty of gyms in the city, and in terms of quality and price they go from the sublime to the ridiculous. You can pay from RMB1,000 to over RMB5,000 for a year’s membership of a gym, and basically you get what you pay for. I’m going to stick my neck out and say that the California Fitness Center in The Place is probably the best gym in the city. It has hundreds of cardio machines, a complete range of free weights and machines, a boxing ring and a spinning room. They can also provide personal trainers if you need the extra motivation. The only thing it doesn’t have is a pool.

The last thing to mention is sailing. Beijing Sailing Center have offices in the city, and their sailing base is a three-hour drive away on the coast between Beidaihe and Qinhuangdao. Their two-day courses cost RMB1,900, and they can organise accommodation for you as well. This fee includes tuition, temporary membership, the boat and the necessary kit. The Level 1 course is for complete beginners, and the Level 2 course builds on that experience.

As you can see, there are plenty of opportunities for you to enjoy your favourite sport in Beijing.

The only problem you’ll have is finding the time to fit them all in!

Beijing Hikers www.beijinghikers.com info@beijinghikers.com Hash House Harriers www.hash.cn beijinghhh@yahoogroups.com TREK Peloton tom@thebeijingpeloton.com Beijing Sailing Center www.beijingsailing.com sailing@beijingsailing.com California Fitness Gym www.californiafitness.com Beijing Golf Club www.beijinggolfclub.com Beijing Ladies Golf Society www.beijingladiesgolf.org beijingladiesgolf@yahoo.com

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40

Poetry – the art of brev ity?

by Julia nN The Briti elmes, Head of sh Scho ol of Be English ijing

As an English teacher I obviously appreciate poetry; however, my first reaction when considering writing an article on Twitter poetry was one of fear. Like most people, 400 million worldwide to be precise, I am a fully-fledged member of the Facebook community, addicted to discovering the minutiae of people’s lives, taking endless meaningless quizzes and updating my status every five minutes. This is why I was wary of getting involved with Twitter, worried that it would have the same effect on my life.

Twitter is growing phenomenally, and is currently second only to Facebook in popularity.

Stephen Fry, Barack Obama and even the UK government are all at it, so it was only a matter of time before I plucked up the courage to have a look myself. Having some direction in my quest (I said to myself) would also make things easier. So that’s what I did, and what I found was a burgeoning genre of poetry that I could never have guessed existed.

It didn’t take long to understand Twitter’s

basic principle of micro-blogging – condensed communication, rather like texting, where posts are limited to a maximum of 140 characters.

But what can you say in 140 characters? Quite a lot, actually.

But this is not a new discovery – more than 300 years ago the Japanese became masters of profound brevity with the haiku, a tiny poem that traditionally consists of three lines: the first contains five syllables, the second seven and the last five. However, now we

have the twihaiku, a short poem that unifies genuine virtues of traditional haiku (brevity; indicating an actual, lived experience; evoking deep feelings in the reader) with the simple, straightforward purpose of Twitter. All poems start from the simple Twitter question: “What are you doing today?”

.

OW..

N K been U e O v Y a h DID There

1 ago.

0 2 , 7 ,54 years

5 7 gan 3 e 2 , b r 8 ce Twitte

ts’ sin ‘ Twee

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Perhaps more surprisingly, Twitter is also responsible for the longest poem in the world, currently over a million words long and growing at a rate of 4,000 words a day. Actually, it is poetry that writes itself, composed by amassing Twitter updates and selecting those that rhyme.

It’s a poem that is constantly changing, but one that you would never dare to reread.

As we all know, however, although a poem need not rhyme, it is sometimes useful if it has actually been written as a poem in the first place. Thankfully, there are Twitter poetry sites that encourage people to share their artistic

musings with the masses. The rules for writing Twitter poems are simple. Each tweet is limited to a maximum of 140 characters (that includes the spaces as well as the letters); however, these appear as one continuous line of text.

As line length is important in poetry, a forward slash is used to indicate the start of a new line and a double slash for the beginning of a new stanza. A poem may be one tweet long, or may be made up of multiple posts.

Recommended websites: www.longestpoemintheworld.com www.twittermagnets.com www.makeliterature.com/twihaiku/twitterpoetry

It’s not only wannabe poets who are feverishly tweeting their verses online; established poets are doing it too. Booker Prize-winning Nigerian author Ben Okri has recently released a line each day to promote his new book, Tales of Freedom.

So now I’m hooked on Twitter, and if I appear bleary-eyed at school in the mornings we know why.

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42 TRAVEL

TRAVEL

43

Here.

Behind here.

Here.

There.

Hidden Hong Kong A visit to some of the lesser known spots in Hong Kong opens Max (9) and Laura Finley’s (15) eyes to the plethora of experiences on offer

“M

uuuum, do we have to go to another mall?’’ cried my brother Max as we dragged our feet along the streets of Hong Kong.

Max and myself were certainly looking forward to our trip to Hong Kong, but the thought of even going to one shopping mall to stock up on ‘essentials’ for Mum drove us to madness.

Little did we know that our parents had a treat in store for us! We had been to Hong Kong once before, and had seen all the sights from Victoria Peak to taking a boat across the harbour to going to Disneyland. That was a fun trip, but it was interspersed with a lot of shopping which Max and I do not really like. But this time was different...

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Whilst the majority of adults would happily meander in and out of the bars of Lan Kwai Fong and Central’s trendy bistros and organic cafes, we would beg to differ. However, just around the corner from the modern day metropolis are (almost) glistening white beaches, coves and refreshing seas within easy reach of the city. Hop on one of the many public buses or trams and make your way round the island and discover the other side of Hong Kong.

Stanley Bay A 20-minute bus ride from Central will take you to Stanley Bay. This small bay consists of original colonial buildings overlooking the sea, and now hosts restaurants where you can spend the

afternoon playing on the rocks, dipping your toes in the sea and looking around at the local market.

Repulse Bay/Deepwater Bay On our first day, our parents took us 30 to 40 minutes from Central on a very hair-raising journey (Max loved it) on a double decker bus, tearing around tight bends with little room on either side. It soon went around one bend and we were looking over a really bustling and cool beach, much more ‘beachy’ than that of Stanley Bay. Max and I played in the sand and in the sea, while our dad cooked a BBQ on one of the many public BBQ cookers just off the beach. It was delicious and a lot better than

being in another mall!

Maxim’s Dim Sum

Lamma Island

On our final day, we decided that Mum could go shopping while Dad took us for a treat for lunch! Hidden within City Hall, this is a well kept secret amongst those who know Hong Kong well, according to our dad. Overlooking the harbour and Kowloon, this lavishly decorated palace of glitz (and a bit cheesy! - Max) serves the best dim sum in the city. It’s best to arrive well before 11:30 like us (it starts serving food then too) to get a seat, as by 11:40 the place is packed and there is a long queue of hungry people snaking around City Hall. The food is bought out on trolleys where you get to pick the small sized portions that take your fancy before waiting for a different trolley to come round. I liked the fishy ones the best, and Max was a big fan of the fried dishes. Thanks Dad!

The biggest treat for us was on the fourth day.

Our parents did not tell us where were going and we were excited when we stepped on the boat! For many people, Lamma Island is under the tourist radar. This island, which is completely car free, reflects the laid back side of Hong Kong. Boats here leave approximately every 20 minutes with the journey there lasting the same amount of time. When you arrive there is a small range of fish restuarants and shops to meander around. A 20-minute walk from the ferry terminal took us to the most beautiful beach! The paths take you over a hill where you descend slowly into a small fishing village overlooking a bay. The fish are completely fresh here and Max and myself were given the opportunity to cast our rods and find lunch! We only caught a couple of little fish, luckily the man had a ‘backup’ fish for us to eat! For us this was the best day so far, and was completely not what we were expecting from Hong Kong!

popular with tourists. Here we bought some silly T-shirts (well, Dad and Max did) and ate at one of the street restaurants. It was smelly, noisy and busy, but it was the perfect ending to a trip where we had been discovering the other side of Hong Kong. I would definitely recommend it to anyone, especially Lamma Island!

For the final afternoon, we were reunited with Mum, with her bags full, and we all headed to Hong Kong Park where there is a big aviary and plenty of space for us to run around! There is an observation tower and even a waterfall there. We couldn’t spend too much time at the park though and we were soon whisked off to the Temple Street Night Market, which is very

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jeeves by lili-paletskaya on DA

pig by withindreasm on DA

44

Top Ten Classic Books for Teenage Boys

triumphs at the end. A boy can ask for no more.

Our Man in Havana (1958)

John Buchan

Graham Greene

The archetypal Greene work, the novel is set in Cuba prior to Castro coming to power. James Wormold, a vacuum cleaner salesman, is enlisted by the British secret service and agrees to ‘spy’ for them in order to cover his teenage daughter’s very expensive tastes. However, Wormold’s spying is at first entirely imaginary, but his life begins to unravel when his fantasy world and the real world begin to coincide.

A classic work for boys in terms of its subject matter, but more importantly Greene’s direct yet poetic prose style has turned many a sceptic into an enthusiastic reader.

Rogue Male (1939) Geoffrey Household

A British sportsman attempts to assassinate Hitler in his rural retreat. However, he is captured and tortured, although he finally manages to escape. He then finds himself on the run from a mysterious figure and the two engage in a riveting and deadly game of hide and seek (the scenes in the London Underground are a particular highlight).

Part military survival manual, part thriller, part old fashioned heroic tale, the pace is gripping, the descriptions of the protagonists’ plans and tactics for survival are compelling and right

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The 39 Steps (1915) Prior to the outbreak of World War I, Richard Hannay has returned to London from Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) when a mysterious man calls upon him and desperately seeks his help to stop a group of German spies known as the Black Stone. However, when the man is murdered in Hannay’s flat he is the prime suspect, but he decides to try and solve the mystery and is forced to go on the run.

A complicated and twisting plot, treachery, betrayal and some good old fashioned murder and mayhem make this the father of all ‘man on the run’ novels and films. This, combined with the glimpse back in time to a world that no longer exists, makes it a vital and necessary part of every young man’s education.

Right Ho, Jeeves (1934) PG Wodehouse

Bertie Wooster finds himself in one of his usual scrapes: trying to reunite his friend Tuppy Glossop with his estranged fiancée Angela, avoiding getting married to the soppy Madeline Basset, and trying to stay on his Aunt Dahlia’s good side so that she doesn’t ban him from eating any more of her peerless chef Anatole’s (“God’s gift to the gastric juices”) sumptuous dinners. Thankfully, at Bertie’s side throughout is the inimitable Jeeves, his gentleman’s personal gentleman, who

is always there to ensure that he avoids the ultimate peril. A classic set piece is the laughout-loud scene in which Bertie’s friend Gussie Fink-Nottle drunkenly presents the prizes at Market Snodsbury Grammar School, which once read will be never be forgotten.

Quite simply, this is the funniest, most wellwritten, warmly generous book in twentiethcentury English literature. Life would be unbearable without it.

Lucky Jim (1954) Kingsley Amis

The eponymous hero Jim Dixon is a Medieval History lecturer at a provincial university in the north of England. Despite the ironic title, nothing quite seems to work out for Jim and he struggles to find a place in the world, a world from which he feels increasingly isolated.

In this great ‘outsider’ novel, Amis captures the anger and frustration of a young man who sees his way thwarted by those with better connections but far less talent. A must-read novel both for its delicious humour and its fascinating evocation of a grim, grey post-war England.

The Red Badge of Courage (1895) Stephen Crane

The novel is set during the American Civil War and has as its hero Henry Fleming, a private in the Union Army. Much of the book revolves around Henry’s questioning of his

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own (untested) courage: how will he react in the face of the enemy? In several graphic yet honest depictions of conflict, Henry discovers more about himself than he cared to know.

A truly great war novel in which Crane is interested in exploring concepts of valour, duty and loyalty, but from a surprisingly modern standpoint given the time in which the book was written. It is also extremely interesting to read in the light of what society was to learn about the nature of warfare only twenty years later.

All Quiet on the Western Front (1928) Erich-Maria Remarque

Paul Bäumer joins the German army at the beginning of the First World War. He arrives at the Western Front with a diverse group of friends whose fates intertwine. The book focuses not so much on warfare and fighting, but rather the horrendous conditions in which Paul and his comrades find themselves living year after year.

The book is always a favourite amongst boys for its toilet humour, scenes of mayhem and schoolboy pranks that all take place against a backdrop of terrible doom and danger. The last chapter of the book, a single paragraph from which the title is taken, is painfully moving and only serves to highlight the senselessness of conflict.

The Great Depression (Of Mice and Men)

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Of Mice and Men (1937) John Steinbeck

One of the first credit crunch novels. George and Lennie, two itinerant workers in California during the Great Depression, land casual jobs on a ranch, hoping to “work up a stake” and buy a place of their own. However Lennie, who despite his immense physical presence has the mind of a child, accidentally brings tragedy and misfortune down upon the two friends’ heads.

A road novel, an astute piece of social analysis, a brilliant study in character and dialogue – all of this and more can be said about this masterpiece. Popular with boys, initially at least, because it’s short (I am sorry parents, but it’s true – this matters a lot!), the story soon engulfs all but the most unwilling reader. You’d have to be made of stone not to be moved to tears by the book’s concluding moments.

Animal Farm (1945) George Orwell The animals on Manor Farm rebel and overthrow the farmer. They then assume control of the farm themselves. The novel (invitingly short!) details the trials and tribulations of the animals as they fight to control their own destiny amid attempts to destroy their solidarity both from without and within.

Orwell’s classic parable of the rise and fall of the Soviet Union is flawless. The writing has a directness that is unparalleled and this, combined with his restless and ruthless search

for truth behind ideology, makes this the greatest political novel ever written. However, it is far from a polemic and there are moments of real human (animal?) tragedy that would move even the most dialectically detached Marxist!

The Diary of a Nobody (188889) George Grossmith (illustrated by Weedon Grossmith)

This hilarious pseudo-diary first appeared in Punch magazine in 1888-89. Mr Charles Pooter is a social climbing, irredeemably snobby clerk in the City and his diary details his everyday life as well as significant social and family occasions. Mr Pooter’s pretensions and lack of self-awareness provide the richest veins of humour, but nevertheless he is a lovable figure and is perhaps one of the finest examples of the inconsequential suburban hero.

This book, helped in no small measure by its charming illustrations, cannot but help to delight. It serves in one sense as a fascinating social document in the way that it lays bare lower-middle-class life in the Victorian age, but is also startlingly modern at times, especially in the depiction of the strained relationship between Mr Pooter and his son Lupin, which is stunningly contemporary in the way it dissects the generation gap and the despair a father feels at seeing his son’s potential go to waste.

This is undoubtedly one of the most enjoyable books you will ever read.

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BOOKS for TEENAGE GIRLS FAMILY MATTERS

Top Ten Classic Books for Teenage Girls

Victorian world. Suitable for older teens.

Jane Eyre

Noughts and Crosses

Charlotte Bronte (13+)

Malorie Blackman (13+)

A truly gripping novel that all teenage girls should read! It is the story of an orphaned girl who is unloved by her aunt and sent to boarding school. After school, she becomes a strong willed governess and takes a job at the house of Mr Rochester, where she hopes she might have finally found love and companionship.

However, Mr Rochester has a dark secret from his past which continues to haunt him in his present. This is one that you really can’t put down once you get started!

This is a really thought-provoking and clever novel which discusses issues of racism and prejudice. Callum (a Nought) and Sephy (a Cross) find their life-long friendship being torn apart by a segregating society in which the Crosses dominate and the Noughts become increasingly oppressed. Blackman skilfully turns the world as we know it upside down and forces us to see the world from new perspectives and in different ways.

Tess of the d’Urbervilles

Jane Austen (13+)

Thomas Hardy (16+)

As with many of Hardy’s novels, I found this one took a little time and perseverance to get into when I first read it as a teenager.

However, it is truly worth the wait! It is an incredibly powerful novel which will rouse your emotions and leave you shocked and, at times, in disbelief. It is a heavy read and deals with many tragic and shocking issues, but it is also a fascinating one, revealing the strength and honour of Tess in a weak and dishonourable

Pride and Prejudice An absolute must read for all teenage girls! It is a novel in which you can fall completely in love with Austen’s characters and lose yourself in their world. It is a brilliantly witty story which offers great insight into the world and the way we make assumptions about the people we meet. It is considered one of the greatest love stories of all time and I honestly believe it lives up to that reputation.

Northern Lights

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Northern Lights Philip Pullman

This is another really gripping fantasy novel about a teenage girl, Lyra, living in a strange yet familiar world. Pullman’s writing and creation of this world is wholly convincing and forces the reader to consider new possibilities, questioning the world around them as they know it. It is jam packed with adventure and action which doesn’t stop, from beginning to end!

Little Women

Louisa May Alcott (13+) Another must-read for all teenage girls. The story of the March sisters and their determined sense of fun, happiness and laughter, both in good times and hard times, is one that all teenage girls can relate to. The way that comedy and tragedy are seamlessly blended together makes Alcott’s novel one which will be forever remembered as one of the greats of American literature. The fact that it continues to break its readers’ hearts today is testament to its brilliance!

Twilight

Stephenie Meyer (16+)

Tess of the d’Urbervilles

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This is a novel and series that readers seem to love or hate! If you don’t take it too seriously and allow yourself to become absorbed in the fantasy, this is a fantastic read, as are the other novels in the series. The stories are filled with

action, drama and suspense as well as a love story which seems doomed by an endless array of obstacles. It’s a good read, suitable for older teens who love a bit of horror, fantasy and adventure as well as a good old fashioned romance!

A Series of Unfortunate Events Lemony Snicket (11+)

This is another brilliant series about the misfortunes and bad luck of three orphaned children following their parents’ death. The books warn readers that they are unpleasant and unhappy, and certainly live up to this warning! These stories offer a unique change from some of the more cheerful, traditional examples of children’s literature and make a point of not treating children like delicate creatures who need a happy ending every time! If you like horror, drama and something a bit different, you’ll love these!

The Other Side of Truth Beverley Naidoo (14+)

This is a novel which will make you think.

The narrative is powerful and emotive from start to finish and raises issues of injustice, political asylum and bullying. The tragedy of the children’s lives in the novel makes you consider hard the life you have and the horrific experiences people living alongside you may have had, as well as the suffering taking place around the world.

Vicky Angel

Jacqueline Wilson (12+) This is a tragic yet beautiful and uplifting story of two best friends, Jade and Vicky. When Vicky is killed at the beginning, the reader is truly shocked. However, once the shock has passed you become captivated by the ongoing friendship between the two girls and Jade’s journey to come to terms with the loss of her friend and move on with her own life. This is a really inspiring and beautifully written novel for teenage girls to read.

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52 FOOD

Restaurant reviews

by The Hungry Bunch

Italian

Spa reviews One of the clear benefits of living in Beijing is the availability of a good massage at a great price. One doesn’t need to look very hard to find a place to go, but newcomers are often timid about trying ‘Eastern’ spas. Here we compare the ultimate foot massage at two popular but very different spas in Beijing.

Spanish

You enter an elegant lobby, and are greeted by a doorman who escorts you upstairs to view the menu. Choose the foot massage (RMB98 for 90 mins) along with the head massage (RMB100 for 45 mins). You are shown to your private room, for 2-8 people. Your room comes equipped with a flat-screen TV and DVD player, so bring the latest flick. Don’t expect dark lighting, candles and quiet music; the halls are bright and ornately decorated and the rooms are much the same. Ask to have the curtains drawn to calm your senses.

© salsachic on sxc.hu

© wmstadler on sxc.hu

East: Liangzi Massage

Michael’s Place

Niajo

Michael’s recent move into the Euro Plaza Mall has ensured an increase in customers, but the quality Italian food served there remains great value for families. The new restaurant is stylish (so parents enjoy their eating experience) but they have maintained their child-friendly approach to dining. High chairs and a play area are available and staff are friendly and helpful with youngsters. Best of all is their flexibility with menus: all pasta dishes are also available in child-sized portions, great for families who despair at the repetitive, deep-fried foods normally found on kids’ menus in Beijing restaurants. At last, our children can have their taste buds and food preferences challenged with great Italian fare.

While one of the great benefits of living in China is experiencing all the variety of Chinese regional cooking delivered in many excellent restaurants in and around Beijing, one needs a place to escape without having to leave town. I am sure we all have these – maybe your native food, maybe something that evokes a memory of a great vacation, maybe even somewhere that assumes you need a knife and a fork regardless of what you order. For whatever reason, my oasis is Spanish cooking. Quite possibly it is because our favourite restaurant back home in the US is the famous Amada, and Spanish food doesn’t transport us to Barcelona or Madrid, but back to Center City, Philadelphia.

L112, Euro Plaza (Opposite the Exhibition Hall), Central Villa District, Shunyi District 顺义区顺义区天竺镇裕翔路99号欧陆时尚购 物中心一层112号（国展对面）

So since our arrival here in Beijing, we have sought out our Spanish oasis. We found one in Mare, but sadly it disappeared. Then we fell in love with Agua, and now that’s gone too.

We were searching for the next place, and we found Niajo.

Upon entering Niajo, you are confronted with a beautiful wrought iron door. Once through that, you enter a bright and beautiful Spanishstyle restaurant. It’s quaint and small (maybe 12 tables) and the walls are adorned with strikingly bright photographs, with blue skies you’ll never find in Beijing. Upon sitting down we already felt like this was going to be a great meal. The atmosphere is relaxed, and not as loud as you might think for such a small place.

We immediately ordered some sangria, and they provided bread and real Spanish olive

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oil. Devouring the menu, we decided on some tapas and a paella. We would drink sangria with the tapas and have a nice Spanish white wine with the paella.

For the tapas we chose some manchego cheese, garlic shrimp in oil, calamari and croquettes.

We choose the Valencia paella (they have four kinds).

The sangria took a bit long to make (as it was Friday, we were thirsty), but they were making it fresh, so that felt like a worthwhile trade-off.

The pitcher was delivered by the Spanish chef/ owner, Alex Sanchez. The tapas came out quickly and everything was good. The manchego was the weakest and most expensive dish, so we won’t order that again.

You will be asked to choose from a selection of teas and Chinese snacks, included in the fee.

Change into the provided long shorts while you wait for your therapists.

A parade of young men will enter with wooden buckets filled with very hot water. Don’t be afraid to ask for a little leng shui to cool it off.

Next in are the therapists for your feet, followed shortly by the head experts.

This massage is vigorous, and the objective is to work out your knots and use acupressure to stimulate your body. Besides the feet and head,

as promised on the menu, your therapists will also work your arms, legs, shoulders and back.

The chairs recline flat and have a handy little hole for your head to rest while they work your back. Voila! Your head and foot massage becomes a full body experience.

23 Baijiazhuang Dongli, Chaoyang District (beside Beijing Youth Daily) 朝阳区白家庄东 里23号(北京青年报社旁边) (6515-6666, www.liangzi.com.cn) 10:30am-1:30am 9 other locations in Beijing

West: Dragonfly

A comfortable yet small lobby with quiet music and the trickle of water from a fountain greet you at the door. It’s best to make an appointment to ensure no wait. Choose the Top to Toe (RMB290 for 60 mins). You are escorted into a large room, step over a quiet stream and nestle into a luxurious chair draped by sheer curtains.

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The room is very dark and mostly lit by candles.

You can request hot water or tea as you soak your feet in a bath or hot water. Here you are also treated to two therapists at the same time.

The therapy is soothing and not at all intense.

Expect your lower legs, arms and upper back and shoulders to receive attention, in addition to your feet and head.

At Dragonfly, the focus is on calming the body by soothing your senses as well as gently massaging your body.

1/F, Grand Summit Plaza, 19 Dongfang Donglu (100m north of Lufthansa Center), Chaoyang District 朝阳区朝阳区燕莎桥东方东路19号外交会所 1层（燕莎中心路北100米） (6593-6066, www.dragonfly.net.cn) 10am-1am 2 other locations in Beijing

Scorecard Liangzi Dragonfly Reservations Not necessary Suggested Décor Bright and opulent Dark and soothing Facilities Lockers w/showers Small restroom Price $$ $$$ Massage Vigorous Calming Groups Welcome Must plan ahead The bottom line: Both spas are a decadent experience and worth the trip. Each has its benefits and your choice will depend on your personal preference. Try them both and judge for yourself!

The wine arrived just before the paella. They have quite a good selection of reasonable wines (under RMB300). There was something grand about the large paella pan presented at the table, and after a quick taste of the wine we dug in, making sure to scrape the delicious crusty rice off the bottom of the pan. We ate the whole thing. And we’ll order it again, because we’ll be back.

With all that food and drink it was RMB800 for two. We’d order everything again except the manchego, and next time we’ll try some other tapas dishes.

Oasis found.

Reservation recommended. Credit cards accepted.

C305a, 3/F, Nali Patio, 81 Sanlitun Beilu 三里屯北路81号那里花园三层C305a

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New tools to think across cultures

Liang Hwang Chiu, American children prefer to group based on the taxonomic category (the cow with the chicken), whereas Chinese children prefer to group based on relationship (the cow with the grass).

by Jasmine Keel

Recognising the reality of cultural differences

Let’s recognise and illustrate the reality of cultural differences with two short experiments.

First, look at the pictures to the right and decide: A or B. Should the cow be associated with the chicken or the grass? You can also try this experiment with your child, your colleague or your ayi.

In the findings of development psychologist

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Group 2

Now look at this next picture and decide: 1 or 2. Should the target object be associated with Group 1 or with Group 2?

Does the fact that we can eat the same KFC chicken nuggets by Tiananmen Square in Beijing as on Times Square in New York mean we should seriously start downplaying the importance of cultural differences in our globalised world?

Well, the fact that we all eat KFC chicken nuggets tells us there are novel products that can be sold on a universal message; but it does NOT tell us what eating chicken nuggets actually means in different cultures. Dining at KFC is a demonstration of status in China, whereas it’s a fast meal for a fast buck in New York (as shown in Riding the Waves of Culture

by Fons Trompenaars).

Group 1

A

B

In a study conducted by Richard Nisbitt described in his book The Geography of Thought, the participants were Koreans, European Americans and Asian Americans.

Most Koreans chose Group 1, based on a more obvious family resemblance, whereas most European Americans chose Group 2, based on a discovered rule (i.e. straight rather than curved stem). Asian Americans were in between but more similar to Koreans.

Those short studies suggest that when dealing with cross-cultural differences it is simply wrong to ignore them or to minimise their importance.

Target Object

The developing field of intercultural studies encourages us today not only to recognise and understand cultural differences, but also to proactively look for gems in different cultures.

Let’s look a bit closer at Chinese cultural differences.

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Understanding Chinese cultural rules I often hear the following comment in Beijing: “The more I know China, the less I understand China.” One of my friends usually starts her cross-cultural training workshops by saying, rightly: “If you want to understand China today, you need to understand that this rule applies: In China, nothing is as it seems.” She then explains that China is both THIS and THAT. For example, China is both very wealthy and modern, AND poor and under-developed.

“In China, nothing is as it seems”

What is done?

What is good or best?

What is true?

But let’s step back a second and look briefly at the definition of culture. The essence of culture is not so much what is visible on the surface – how we dress, what we eat, what music we listen to, what games we play. It is rather the shared ways groups of people understand and interpret the world. The diagram to the left by Lloyd Kwast illustrates this definition of culture.

With this definition in mind, describing China with clear-cut adjectives or establishing a list of appropriate and inappropriate behaviours in China like the one below is helpful but insufficient.

In China, do not:

What is real?

WORLDVIEW

• • • •

In China, do:

BELIEFS

• •

VALUES

• •

BEHAVIOUR

Lose your temper Ever forget you are on show all the time Eat even a morsel of food which has dropped onto the tablecloth Give white flowers

Learn to handle a name card Have your name card printed in Chinese on one side and English on the other Take your guests to the door or further Place the teapot so the spout faces out from the table

Think about how long the list would have to be to avoid a cultural faux-pas; and about how many exceptions to those rules would exist.

What about looking at Chinese culture from a values-beliefs point of view?

If you only had to remember the key core elements of Chinese culture, those would be: • • • •

Holistic thinking: looking at the big picture, going with the flow and listening to how something is said rather than what is being said Chinese connectedness: thinking “We” rather than “I”, having a lesser identity on your own but rather being a part of a network or a strand of a web Staying midstream: finding balance and harmony, not appearing too ambitious, not sticking out Mianzi (face): maintaining your own reputation and social status and giving social capital to others

And remember, we have as much to learn from the Chinese as the Chinese have to learn from us!

Jasmine Keel is a Global Executive Coach and Trainer based in China.

As the founder and managing director of INSPIRED, a comprehensive training and coaching consultancy in China, she provides tailored programmes in CrossCultural Training, Intercultural TeamBuilding, Executive Coaching and Spouse Career Support.

Her clients include multinationals, embassies, relocation companies, international schools and individuals.

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his worry can be extremely stressful for parents and children, causing the whole move to become very difficult. As a part of the relocation industry it is of vital importance that this worry is understood and addressed throughout the move to ensure a successful transfer of the assignee to their new environment.

When a child is moved from one culture to the next they instantly begin forming their own “third” culture to incorporate all the new and the old that they come in contact with, making them “third culture kids” (TCKs). A third culture child is someone who has grown up in a culture not their own. They feel that they can no longer completely assimilate with their home culture, and as they are a foreigner, cannot completely assimilate with their host culture; therefore forming their own third culture. How each child handles this cultural jumble does of course depend on each child’s personality, duration of stay, age, parental attitude, etc.

The business of relocation is all about handling people who find themselves in a foreign country and a different culture.

Many assignees are families and with that comes a lot of worry on how the children will adjust to the move and the new surroundings.

I am personally a TCK, after moving to Shanghai in 1998 at the age of 15. I have lived in Shanghai for 12 years. Now that I am the mother of a 3-year-old girl and facing questions on how to best raise my daughter in Shanghai, I have had many thoughts on what the importance/ disadvantage/advantage is of being a third culture child. As my daughter is growing up raised by an American parent, living in China she is very much growing up in the third culture that I myself have created, with all the benefits and challenges that come along with it.

Cultural acceptance and diversity

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Learning and hearing foreign languages is also an important factor in the cultural growth of TCKs. The hopes of many parents is that the children will be able to learn at least one or even more languages while being abroad.

This does, however, not come for free. After several years in China I did not speak more than basic Chinese as most of my world was based in English – at home and in school. My understanding was, however, more than basic as Chinglish (Chinese and English mixed) was a common “language” at school and I achieved some comprehension of the language this way. It was not until I began studying Chinese seriously at university that I could combine all

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Growing up abroad has given me a greater understanding of other cultures as I have had the chance to come in contact with children from different cultures in school and now in an international work environment. My friends and colleagues are from various countries around the world, opening my eyes to different cultures. I have become more aware of the fact that there are different ways of celebrating, smells, tastes, etc. This has given me a flexibility and a sensitivity that can be more difficult to obtain when living “at home”.

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the conscious and subconscious knowledge I had to actually advance to fluent Chinese.

Given this experience, and similar experiences of friends, I do believe it is very important for parents to ensure that there is some aspect of the TCK’s life that is submerged in the language they should learn – be that extra language lessons, a special activity or even just spending time with a maid/nanny that does not speak their own language.

Cultural roots The flip-side to being culturally aware and flexible is a sense of lacking cultural roots.

Growing up I was asked if I felt rootless every time I returned home for the summer but could not quite understand the implications until much later. I always felt that I had stability of where I came from and what I stood for. This may not have come from my culture but rather from my family. Wherever my family was – this was home and I know what social/cultural rules applied. To me this has emphasised the importance of having consistency in the home environment – not only in terms of rituals but also in terms of rules and values.

It was only upon my return to the US after graduating from high school in Shanghai and starting US university that I discovered what the effects were of my overseas experience. My lack of understanding of common conversation topics such as TV shows and politics was

embarrassing. My gap of knowledge in modern culture with regard to TV shows, commercials, programmes/activities growing up, and the fact that my peers did not understand my experiences, was a constant reminder of my time away from the “norm”. Reverse culture shock does exist and in my case resulted in my decision to embrace my overseas experiences, return to my life as a nomad and move back to China. Every child deals with reverse culture shock differently of course. Some will see their return “home” as yet another adventure.

I will always be different; I will always have a different way of perceiving the world and a unique understanding of the challenges that face our clients, not only the adults but also the children.

Social skills

www.tckid.com

Going to school in a foreign country puts great emphasis on your social skills but also builds empathy. At any international school around the world, each student will have been the new kid at one time or another. Generally I have found that TCKs have a sense of openness and confidence in handling new situations simply because they have to! During school they will inevitably say many goodbyes to good friends; they will have to make new friends continuously. This can of course lead to many good friendships all over the world that will last for a long time, but can also create a situation where a protective mechanism is built up, where out of sight is out of mind, leaving the TCK with few friends from a specific period in their life.

Looking back I do feel that the advantages of being a TCK far outweigh the disadvantages.

There are plenty of resources either from the web or books where you can better understand your third culture kid: Here are two websites that might provide you with more insight: www.tckworld.com

Whatever you do as a parent, the most valuable suggestion I can give you is: Tell your child that their life will be different; that the lessons they learn along the way as a TCK will be valuable tools in their adult life; and most importantly that they are not alone.

Santa Fe is a leading Relocation Services Company, specialising in a full range of relocation and moving services. Megan Little, is a relocation manager based in Sante Fe’s Shanghai office. She has contributed this article to our Beijing Family Matters. For more information about Sante Fe, please feel free to visit their website (www.santaferelo.com) or C alternatively please contact Sanny L Sutyadi, M Division Manager - Relocation & Real Estate Services (Beijing) at slinawati@santafe.com.cn Y CM

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helping others thrive.

Choosing the right school for your child is one of the most important decisions that you will ever make. The British School of Beijing will provide your child with the highest quality education, based on the National Curriculum of England, in an international setting.

As the longest established school in Beijing offering a full British curriculum, The British School of Beijing provides a traditional high value education and prepares pupils for GCSE and A-levels. As a result, students develop and mature into young adults equipped with the qualifications and skills to enter universities worldwide.

admissions@britishschool.org.cn

Sanlitun Campus

Shunyi Campus

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