Family Matters Magazine Issue 6 by the British International School, Shanghai

MAGAZINE

FAMILY MATTERS

ISSUE 6

The allure of a lane house An amazing look at what life in old Shanghai can be like

the british international school

Shanghai, China

ASK THE EXPERTS FINANCE TRAVEL EDUCATION HEALTH

Your family driver Realise your dreams Beautiful Hangzhou Whose idea was that? Asthma

the british international school Shanghai, China

HELPING OTHERS THRIVE.

helping others to be the best they can be Education and learning has always been our focus and our area of expertise. Our people and the people we work with all have a good understanding of what this means to us. We aim to provide students with the opportunity to be the best they can be.

admissions@bisshanghai.com

www.bisshanghai.com

FAMILY MATTERS

ISSUE 6

THE ALLURE OF A LANE HOUSE An amazing look at what life in old Shanghai can be like

the british international school

Shanghai, China

ASK THE EXPERTS FINANCE TRAVEL EDUCATION HEALTH

Your family driver Realise your dreams Beautiful Hangzhou Whose idea was that? Asthma

FAMILY MATTERS

MAGAZINE

FAMILY MATTERS

CONTENTS

From the Editor

Family Matters Issue 6 Contributions welcome from all of the Shanghai community. Please contact editor@bisshanghai.com for more information.

ow time flies. In closing this issue of Family Matters it suddenly dawned on me that it is a milestone of sorts. At the time of distribution, a year will have passed since this project was undertaken by our team. At the outset, we had intended to complete six issues during the year, but we really had no idea if it was going to be possible. We wanted to build a magazine that helped pass on our expertise on educational issues not only to our parents but to the community at large. We also wanted to provide a place for people involved in the expat community to pass on their expertise, with the goal of enriching the entire expat experience for all. However, we realised then that we weren’t professional publishers and heard the naysayers tell us that our ambition far outstripped our abilities.

To be honest, the sceptics had good reason to doubt us. That being said, there is just no substitute for confidence. We jumped in with both feet and though our initial efforts left something to be desired, we improved, and then improved some more to the point that we are now (I dare say) approaching respectability. The feeling of pride in accomplishment that naturally arises from taking on a task that others said you couldn’t do is a special one, and one that’s often difficult to explain to children. As parents and educators, however, it is our duty to encourage children (and others in general) to trust in themselves and tackle challenges head on, because only by doing so can they test their limits and find out for sure what they are capable of.

Being afraid of failure is the greatest hindrance to personal success. We must teach our children that there will always be those who say that something can’t be done. “Put a man on the moon? Impossible!” “Map the human genome? Impossible!” “Start a fire? Impossible!” The human spirit and our success as a global society and species is defined by those who wouldn’t listen and didn’t fear failure and then struck out into the unknown. So when your son or daughter tells you that they are going to cure cancer or stop global warming, take a moment to encourage them and help them make a plan to overcome the obstacles that will surely arise. § The team at Family Matters and The British International School

11 42 50 Cover photograph by Martin Brown

life in china: your family driver

The longest Holiday of your life

Hangzhou: Land of plenty

Pricoa Real Estate gives Family Matters some advice for finding the right driver for your family in China

Wade Dawson helps you understand how you can make your retirement dreams come true

Richard Restell paints a beautiful portrait of a side of Hangzhou not often portrayed by travel writers

CONTENTS

FAMILY MATTERS

The allure of a lane house Kate Lorenz gives Family Matters a look inside lane house living as an alternative to living in a secluded compound

70 80 88 92 Whose Idea was that?

Theory of knowledge

Facts Machine

Play by Play

Executive Principal Terry Creissen explores the impact of the information age on academic honesty

IB student Jia Yong Ong explores how expanding the field of knowledge increases the horizon of ignorance

Principal Mark Angus provides some valuable insight for parents wishing to improve their childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s experience at a new school

Michelle Stevens takes Family Matters on a play-by-play journey through a day in the life of a nursery student

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COMMENT

FAMILY MATTERS

COMMENT Reinventing yourself in Shanghai

Can’t see the forest for the trees

Linda Guishard talks about her personal journey

Family Matters takes a common sense look at the family unit

was an overweight child. Then I was an overweight teen. At university, instead of putting on the ‘freshman 15’ (6.8 kg) I lost 15 pounds and, if I do say so myself, looked pretty good. However, after graduation I worked for a company where taking clients to lunch at swanky restaurants was a perk I enjoyed – obviously a bit too much, since the 15 pounds (actually 20 pounds / 9 kg) returned in what seemed like the blink of an eye. In the intervening years the 20 pounds came, went and always returned, with an additional 5 pounds along with them. When asked if I was an active individual, the answer was a resounding no. When I moved to Shanghai I was at my heaviest, since I had attended several farewell dinners with friends at home and eaten with complete and utter abandon, as if Shanghai wouldn’t have food. Unbelievable as it sounds, I gained even more weight in my first month meeting new friends and, in a quest to know the city, attempting to eat in all the restaurants reviewed in the various Englishlanguage magazines. Yes, Shanghai did indeed have food, and what an array to choose from: Thai, Indian, Italian, German… and let’s not forget Chinese food. Though I’m a picky eater, I managed to find one Chinese dish that I loved – steamed buns with meat, steamed buns with vegetables and, of course, plain steamed buns. Can you see a pattern emerging? While there are very healthy Chinese foods around, I managed to find a cute, white, round, cheap and easily consumed Chinese food that is also a cute, white, round, cheap and carbohydrate-laden Chinese food bomb. At first, the numbers on my scale didn’t worry me.

Why should they? They were in innocuous double-digit kilograms. However, when I converted kilograms to pounds I could no longer live in denial. Like Manny Pacquiao, I was making my way through different weight divisions. In fact, since high school, I have made my way through 12 (yikes!) championship boxing weight divisions – four more than Manny Pacquiao! Then it happened. I met a new person at a group dinner who seemed like someone I’d like to get to know. When he suggested going for a Sunday morning walk in the former French Concession, I said yes. It was the first time in four weeks I hadn’t participated in the weekly Shanghai tradition of eating my way through a gutbusting Sunday hotel brunch. I won’t lie and say I wasn’t thinking about French toast, pasta and desserts at all, but I have to admit I enjoyed the three-hour walk. We agreed to meet up during the week for a bike ride. A bike ride? Me? Yes, me. The bike ride was followed by another walk, then a yoga class… and that was when it happened. I’d become an active person! Imagine that! The moral of my tale is that just because you may never have been active in your home country doesn’t mean you have to stay that way. Remember: you did something new and exciting by moving to Shanghai. Perhaps it’s now time to do something new and exciting for your body. There are numerous activities, gyms and classes to join in Shanghai. Find something that you like – a 30-minute workout, a gruelling 2-hour boot camp, a walk – whatever you choose, moving to Shanghai can give you the opportunity to reinvent yourself as an active person! §

t’s nice when the whole family spends time together. You share a special bond that can’t be recreated with anyone else. Father, mother, sister, brother – you all belong to each other in a special way. Each member of the family needs to rely on each other for love, companionship, advice, support… and sometimes just to listen. Life isn’t always going to be smooth sailing. A family that is strong in love can make it through the worst of times. In order for a family to work well together, each member needs to give of themselves to one another, without thinking about getting anything in return. This is giving from your heart. If each member were to do this, everyone’s needs would be met and there would be no selfishness in your family, only true love for one another. Sometimes in a family, there can be a fight that’s so bad that someone separates themselves from a family member or the entire family for a long period of time. It’s a shame when something like this happens. It can hurt a family really badly. There’s bitterness and pain that winds up leaving a void in the heart, a sense of losing that bond they once had. No matter what happened or how terrible it may have been to cause such a separation, families need to be reunited. Forgiveness can mend more than one heart. Pride is not worth losing family over. There’s nothing like having dinner together as a family. It makes the end of the day more pleasant. If you’ve had a bad day or have a problem you need to discuss, here at the table you have loved ones willing to listen and help you get over your bad day. Nothing like quality time with your family. You have to eat, right? Eat together and

spend that time keeping the bond tight and the love flowing. Family outings are important, whether going to a movie, spending a day in the park or maybe going on a camping trip (here’s a hint: you could even camp out in your backyard). There’s plenty of things a family can do together. Sometimes there’s that one member who doesn’t want to go. If that’s you, forget about yourself and think of your family. Remember that you’re not always going to be living together. The time is going to come when people are moving out. Don’t miss out on the time you could be sharing with one another. Make space for quality time together. Many households have both parents working. The kids come home from school to a empty house. These days, even if everyone’s home you can still be separated. There are so many electronic gadgets to keep everyone busy by themselves. Mobiles, gaming consoles, laptops, iPods, mp3 players, the Internet and more. All the things on the web that will keep you busy like blogging, chat rooms, Facebook and so on. There are so many things people can do to entertain themselves without their family. Most of these things can be addictive; people can become strangers in their own family. It only takes one family member to get the ball rolling. So if your family’s not as tight as it should be, you could be the one to change it. There’s nothing worse than sitting down one day and looking back at the family time missed. You can’t go back and change it. §

FAMILY MATTERS

FAMILY MATTERS PUBLISHER

The British International School admissions@bisshanghai.com

CHieF EDITOR

Travis Murray editor@bisshanghai.com

helping others to be the best they can be

ART DIRECTOR

Travis Murray editor@bisshanghai.com

COPY EDITOR

Aelred Doyle aelred@gmail.com

PHOTOGRAPHY

Richard Restell r-restell@bisspuxi.com

Education and learning has always been our focus and our area of expertise. Our people and the people we work with all have a good understanding of what this means to us. We aim to provide students with the opportunity to be the best they can be.

Martin Brown m-brown@bisspuxi.com

CONTRIBUTORS

Terry Creissen t-creissen@bisspudong.com Mark Angus m-angus@bissnanxiang.com Kevin Foyle k-foyle@bisspuxi.com Mark Wilson m-wilson@bisspudong.com Richard Restell r-restell@bisspuxi.com Stuart White s-white@bisspuxi.com Kate Lorenz kate@ark-relocation.com Thomas Coupat thomas.coupat@sirva.com.cn Vela Ganeva ganeva.vela@savills.com Wade Dawson wade.d@austenmorris.com

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Dee Dee Zhou d-zhou@bisspuxi.com

CONTACT

The British International School 111 Jinguang Rd, Huacao Town Shanghai, China 201107 86 21 5226 3211 www.bisshanghai.com

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Entire contents ÂŠ 2011 by Family Matters Magazine unless otherwise noted on specific articles

MAGAZINE

the british international school Shanghai, China

FEATUREd CONTRIBUTORS

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FEATURED CONTRIBUTORS Dr Terry Creissen OBE

r Terry Creissen worked in various schools in the UK prior to taking up the role of leading our schools in Shanghai. A former Schools Inspector, Terry has been a consultant for the British Executive Principal Government and has served on national educational groups in The British International School the UK. Terry is a qualified Trainer and Consultant Leader for the Shanghai, Pudong Campus National College for Schools and Children’s Services in England. He is a long-standing member of MENSA. In addition to his degree and teaching qualifications from the University of Sussex, he has an MA and MBA in Educational Leadership and Management and was awarded the OBE by the Queen of Great Britain in June 1997 for “services to education”. He is a keen musician and a Fellow of the Royal Society for Arts (FRSA). Terry is passionate about education and strongly believes that the children always come first. Dr Creissen is based at our Pudong Campus in Shanghai where he is the designated Principal. He is the Executive Principal for our Shanghai schools.

Kevin Foyle

evin Foyle has fifteen years experience in school leadership. After a brief period playing professional cricket in the UK, he began his teaching career at Winchester College, one of the UK’s leading Principal independent schools, where he taught history and politics. He was The British International School then appointed to be Headmaster of Norman Court Preparatory Shanghai, Puxi Campus School in 1995. He was a member of the Council of the Incorporated Association of Preparatory Schools from 2004-2007. In 2007, he joined Nord Anglia Education when he was appointed the founding Principal of The British International School Shanghai, Nanxiang. At the beginning of 2009 he moved with his wife and two children to take up the position of Principal at The British International School Shanghai in Puxi. The wonderful fusion of cultures and nationalities inherent in international education and all that this brings to students’ learning experiences inspires him every day. He enjoys all manner of sports and music and, when time permits, can be found out and about exploring the historic districts of Shanghai.

Mark Angus

ark Angus read English and Drama at Flinders University, Adelaide, where he specialised in Elizabethan and Jacobean theatre. He also has an MA in Early Modern Studies from King’s Principal College, University of London, where his main focus of study was The British International School the repertories of 16th- and 17th-century playing companies. Further Shanghai, Nanxiang Campus study includes a Post-Graduate Diploma in Acting from Mountview Theatre School, London, which was followed by six years as a professional actor in theatres throughout the UK. He gained his PGCE in Secondary English from the Open University and was previously the Academic Deputy Head at Westminster Cathedral Choir School in central London. He has been at Nanxiang since the school opened in August 2007, becoming Principal in 2009. Mark Angus has written for the theatre and radio and published articles in a variety of journals on a diverse range of subjects, from Victorian crime to the theatre of Sophocles. His interests include literature, theatre, wine, sport and travel.

Stuart White

tuart White read Engineering at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge and worked as a research engineer for GEC’s central research labs in London, before training to teach Physics. He started Head of Secondary his teaching career at Winchester College, one of the UK’s oldest and The British International School most prestigious independent schools, before taking on a variety of Shanghai, Puxi Campus positions including Head of Physics, Director of Studies and Deputy Head in well-known schools in England. Working as Vice Principal/Interim Principal at Aiglon College in Switzerland gave him a taste for living and working in an international community, and he took up his role as Head of Secondary at The British International School Shanghai’s Puxi campus with enthusiasm: a feeling he still has as he steps into work each day! He is married to Jane, also an experienced teacher, and has three children. When time allows he enjoys playing and watching most forms of sport, as well as playing the clarinet or just soaking up the Shanghai atmosphere.

Mark Wilson

ark Wilson has been teaching since 1995, and has been involved in training teachers with Middlesex University, The Royal Academy of Dance and through various Initial Teacher Training programmes. He joined Pudong as Headteacher for the Secondary School in 2009 after being involved in leading various schools in the UK, and became Deputy Principal at Pudong in 2010. Mark has worked for the Department of Education in the UK through the Innovations Unit and the National College for School Leadership on Leadership projects. He was nominated for Teacher of the Year in 2005. Mark is often asked to speak at educational conferences, which he enjoys doing. He currently trains school leaders and future Headteachers via the Nord Anglia Staff College. His hobbies include playing guitar and singing, running, swimming, playing football and being a long-suffering fan of Nottingham Forest Football Club. Mark is married with two children. Deputy Principal and Secondary Head Teacher The British International School Shanghai, Pudong Campus

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Life in China: your family driver

PRICOA REAL ESTATE AND RELOCATION SERVICES GIVES FAMILY MATTERS SOME ADVICE ON FINDING THE RIGHT DRIVER IN CHINA by Ryan Metz Director of Shanghai Operations Pricoa Real Estate and Relocation Services

nquestionably, one advantage of life as an expatriate in China is the availability of affordable domestic help; for some, this means not having to wash dishes, shop for groceries or mow a lawn. Back home, the idea of hiring a personal car and driver may be an unthinkable luxury. In China, however, many expatriates employ family drivers, and not just for reasons of convenience – expatriates cite safety concerns as a key reason. In fact, many companies mandate and even provide a car and driver benefit for expatriates, as a means of helping to ensure safety and reduce potential liability.

From getting the children to school on time and shuttling the ayi to the local market for fresh vegetables to ferrying parents on errands and business meetings, the driver is expected to manage all tasks with ease. Understandably, the driver quickly becomes an integral part of the expatriate family’s daily routine. Moreover, with such intimate insight into a family’s life, strong relationships often develop between drivers and their employers. But as with any partnership, friction and arguments can arise. In many cases, this may be attributed to a lack of communication and crosscultural misunderstandings.

Fortunately, many of these gaps can be bridged through patience, communication and cultural understanding.

SAFETY

Customs regarding driving in China may seem completely foreign to many expatriates. Road rules are vague or often ignored. Cars, rather than pedestrians, appear to have the right of way. The perception of appropriate driving speed and safety are not always compatible. Expats new to China often

feel uncomfortable with local driving practices. Riding in a car that is racing through heavily congested streets of pedestrians, bicycles and large buses can be unnerving. After sitting in traffic, drivers often speed towards the next stop light, making frequent and erratic lane changes. Some drivers resist seatbelts, offering reasons such as “they’re uncomfortable” and “wearing a seatbelt is an omen of bad luck… it means I’ll get into a car accident.” As a result, it’s very important that you’re clear about safety guidelines with the driver from the onset. Some drivers believe that if they arrive at a

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weekends or occasional late nights if it means they can earn more money. Chinese customs and holidays are important to the driver. Learning and practising a few of these customs will go far in building a positive relationship. Chinese New Year in February and Chinese National Day in October are times when many drivers want to return home to their families. These may also be times you want to take the family on a trip to the countryside and have the driver be your guide. It’s recommended that during these important Chinese family holidays, you let the driver’s wishes take priority. Some drivers will work the holidays, as it means overtime pay; however, if your driver wishes to return home during a long Chinese holiday, it’s best to be understanding and make arrangements for a temporary driver.

destination quickly you’ll be impressed by their driving skills. State your preference for driving at a moderate speed, and explain that arriving on time or even late is not as important as driving safely. Taking the pressure off arriving early to work or school will allow the driver to feel more at ease about slowing down. Also, let the driver know that seatbelts are mandatory when driving your family. Provide an example by buckling up your children and yourself, and explain that he must do the same. As the use of safety belts is not regularly observed in China, reminding the driver – even if he seems to forget repeatedly – is important.

TIDINESS

Drivers in China spend most of their waking hours behind the wheel of the car. As a result, the front seat areas may sometimes seem untidy – meals are eaten

and naps are taken in the driver’s seat, and the latest newspaper, along with a cigarette and a flask of tea, is often enjoyed while at the helm. In most cases, drivers do not own the vehicle they drive. Although the leasing company requires the driver to maintain the vehicle to a certain extent – such as washing the vehicle once a week – it may be vague on other upkeep details. Therefore, many drivers adhere only to the minimum maintenance requirements specified by the employer. As the driver’s employer, it is recommended that you communicate your expectations for vehicle maintenance, and perhaps even keep a regular cleaning schedule on a spreadsheet. Drivers are accustomed to checklists, and are usually happy to sign off on a daily cleaning checklist that shows they are performing required duties. For example, you can ask the driver to wash the car on a weekly basis, clean and vacuum daily and wash

the windows each morning, recording it all on a signed checklist. Being a driver entails a lot of down time, and smoking is often a key enjoyment during the quiet hours of waiting. Bear in mind that if you don’t want the driver smoking in the car, emphasise this point very early, ideally before hiring him. A driver who is routinely criticised or denied his regular smoke will quickly become disgruntled.

PERSONAL TIME

The driver may have family living in a remote city, with only a couple of opportunities to visit them each year. To afford the cost of leasing a car, leasing companies place high demands on drivers. It’s not unusual for them to work very long hours, seven days a week. Drivers will often be very accommodating in working

Holidays also offer an opportunity to follow a few Chinese traditions with the driver. The leasing contract will not require it, and your employer will not reimburse you, but giving the driver a red envelope, or hong bao, at Chinese New Year is a respectful and significant gesture. The cash inside the red envelope is often the equivalent of approximately one month’s salary for the driver, or an amount of RMB500-1,000 will also suffice. A small Christmas gift or a box of mooncakes during Mid-Autumn Festival are also appropriate gestures to show you appreciate their work. In most cases, the benefits and convenience of having a personal driver in China outweigh the challenges. On the whole, drivers in China are honest people trying to support their families while working hard to meet your family’s transportation needs. If you treat the driver with respect and understanding, there is a good chance he will become an integral part of your life as an expatriate in China. §

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Inside information Lessons from living in three different Chinese cities By Thomas Coupat Commercial Director, China Sirva Relocation

’ve lived in China for over 10 years and spent the early years of this experience in Beijing. I’m originally from France and first came here as a student. It was in Beijing that I met my wife, that we married and that our two sons were born. We came to think of Beijing as our home away from home, and enjoyed what life had to offer in that wonderful city. In 2003, I started working in the relocation and moving industry, and I still do today. For the first four-plus years working in that field, I was content to see other people (mainly my clients) move, but having grown up an expat kid I wasn’t in that much of a hurry to move again. In the fall of 2007, however, I was given the opportunity to move to Dalian for a project and I jumped at it. We made the decision to take the assignment, as it would allow us to live in a better environment, but also a more professionally challenging one. In August last year, as the project I was working on had come to an end, I was offered and accepted a position in Shanghai. While we are still settling in, here are the lessons that we’ve learnt over the last few years and our three moves.

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The first–tier versus second–tier story While most people expect that it’s more difficult to live in a second-tier city than in a city like Beijing or Shanghai, this was not generally our experience. Things have changed a lot in the last few years and Dalian now has good shopping and a couple of international schools, and its smaller size means that it’s easier to navigate. We also found that there was none of the big city indifference to foreigners that may be the case elsewhere. The local expat community is also, by virtue of its small size, quite easy to integrate into, and it’s therefore easy to meet people. Overall, we found the immediate settling-in in Dalian easier than in Beijing or Shanghai.

Preparation is key Knowing what you’ll be getting yourself into and what kind of place you’re moving to is really important. Preparing yourself and your family prior to any move is paramount. While children should not be neglected, especially if they’re teenagers, they’re not the key when it comes to getting prepared. The key is in fact the trailing spouse, and it’s very important to make sure that they’re prepared and fully onboard with this important change. As part of the preparation, it’s important to ensure that they have a say in the decision. I also advise that you take a pre-decision or pre-arrival orientation trip to make sure that you and your family make an informed decision. This is a service that you should insist your employer provide, since it Houhai Lake, Beijing

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will help you find out whether or not you are all happy with the move.

Get professional assistance Any relocation is tough. Whatever the motivation and the potential rewards, you are uprooting your life and that of your family when moving, and it’s important to ensure that you make that transition as stress-free as possible. Making sure that your stuff is moved by a quality mover, your visas are handled properly and that you have someone to guide you through the orientation, home finding and school search processes is extremely important and should not be underestimated. There are a number of vendors that provide some or all of these services and I encourage you to do your research (online and by asking friends) and to go with someone who understands your goals and with whom you feel comfortable, since after all they’ll be responsible for the quality of your settling-in experience. If you don’t feel comfortable with a choice imposed by your employers as to whom will assist you, then I advise you to outline your concerns early on to make sure that you’re heard.

Insurance Things break! The best moving companies out there mitigate the risks by training their staff and making sure only the best forwarders and materials are used, but risk can never be eliminated, so protect yourself. I have been pretty lucky in my last two moves as I had Nanjing pedestrian street, Shanghai

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“

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The best moving companies out there mitigate the risks by training their staff and making sure only the best forwarders and materials are used, but risk can never be eliminated

Moving pets and vehicles is complicated for different reasons. If you are considering moving either then make sure you do your research. If you’re moving a car to another city then find out about the restrictions on transferring insurance, traffic restrictions for cars without local number plates and the inspections that all cars have to undergo per the law. You may find out that your insurance policy does not cover you nationwide; or that in some cases you’re still covered, but claims have to be made in the city where you bought the policy and transferring registration between cities is difficult and costly. Also, if you’re moving a car within China make sure that the loading and unloading points are well equipped with loading bays at the right height.

accompanied luggage, meaning you’re on the same flight. This will reduce the risk, but you still need to be prepared for the unexpected. In Beijing and Shanghai, the procedures are pretty set and the airport is used to transporting pets. In a city like Dalian, it’s a lot tougher to pin down the actual regulations and even harder to divine if the quarantine officers will be on duty at the airport on the day of your flight. From 2007 to 2010, one of the services I supervised for my employer in Dalian was pet transport. As such, I advised everyone to prepare a health certificate. While this is technically required, when it came to our own flight it wasn’t even looked at. We arrived at the airport three hours early per airline guidelines and found the right place to check in. The clerk then told us that she had just been informed by ground services that the airline had changed plane models and our cat could not come with us. After contacting the airline and confirming that the plane had not been changed and that they were still willing to honour our booking, it still took my wife over an hour to convince ground services and quarantine officers to let us take him with us. In the end they called back to the check-in desk and waved him through without ever checking the documentation. As I said earlier, prepare for the unexpected!

Pet transport in China also requires research in order to make sure that you know where and when to get health certificates issued, and how to book space. I advise moving your pet within China by having them travel with you as

While living in these three cities has taught us a lot more than this, the five points above are the key lessons we’ll bear in mind when we next move. Hopefully not too soon… and maybe back to Beijing!

almost no problems, but I was in both cases still happy to have been insured against damages. In my move from Beijing to Dalian, the water tank of my espresso maker broke; this was the only damage in a shipment of 56 cubic metres and a car. However, it was still reassuring that even for that small item I was covered, and that most importantly I would have been covered in the event of greater damage.

Vehicles and pets are complicated

Night view of Shanghai

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THE ALLURE OF A LANE HOUSE A look inside what living outside the compound can be like By Kate Lorenz Managing Director Ark International

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oving to any new city is a very exciting experience – and of course a little nerve-wracking at the same time. China is definitely no exception. The country’s rapid economic development, combined with its long and complicated history, makes moving here a real adventure. For new arrivals, thinking about China conjures up many different images. For Beijing it’s the Great Wall and Tiananmen Square; for Xi’an it’s the Terracotta Warriors; and for Chengdu it’s pandas. Shanghai is most often associated with the infamous roaring twenties and thirties. There’s of course a lot more to the city than its colonial past, but the Bund, black-tie parties and the expression ‘to be shanghaied’ are what quickly come to mind when people think of this city. My grandfather used to come to Shanghai as a sailor during those times, and his stories amazed and thrilled me. There’s no doubt that it was his stories, mixed with the feeling that anything is possible here, that fuelled my interest in moving to Shanghai in the first place.

Photograph by Martin Brown

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Photograph by

The streets of Shanghai

Martin Brown

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here are many Westerners like me who have a fascination with Shanghai as the Paris of the Orient. When you arrive in downtown Shanghai you’re immediately immersed in a mixture of old and new. In fact, Shanghai is an uncontested global giant of art deco, with only Miami boasting a larger collection of colonial art deco properties. To give you a little background, in Shanghai properties built between 1840 and 1945 are usually described as colonial, since the French, British and International Concessions came into existence around 1849 and were given up in 1943. During the 1990s, the Shanghai government tore down many colonial properties before switching to a policy of preservation. There are now 12 official areas in downtown Shanghai which have been preserved and thus technically cannot be destroyed. Also, in preparation for the 2010 World Expo, the local government restored many of the colonial buildings in the former French and British Concessions, making downtown Shanghai a true architectural pleasure. According to the architectural guru Spencer Doddington, there’s approximately 20 percent of ‘old Shanghai’ left. Of this, every year more individual properties are restored and come on to the expatriate rental market. However, the numbers are still limited to a few thousand, making them a hot commodity, particularly when you compare them to the plethora of new builds on the market. There are 2,000 apartments in the Lujiazui compound Yanlord Riverside alone. With its unique history and quiet, tree-lined streets it’s not surprising that many people moving to Shanghai instantly fall in love with the idea of living in a colonial property in the French Concession. Before even getting to the city, many of our assignees have decided they want to ‘experience the real Shanghai’ by living in a lane house, having local neighbours and in some ways experiencing Shanghai in its former glory.

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There are a variety of different colonial residential properties: old apartments, lane houses and garden houses. Broadly speaking they’re all called lao fangzi (old properties); however, there are distinct differences between them which I will go into more detail on later. It’s important to point out that living in a colonial property is unfortunately not always what people expect, and to fully understand the good and the not-so-good before deciding to live in one of the city’s colonial gems. Also, I believe many people get confused with different options, quality levels and locations. Many also believe they won’t experience the ‘real China’ if they live in a compound, which is incorrect. I truly believe it’s how you live, not where you live, that determines what you get out of the city.

SO WHY DO SO MANY PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE IN COLONIAL PROPERTIES? One of the biggest pulls is that they’re unique. No two colonial properties are the same. When walking into a well renovated colonial property you can’t help but be impressed with the use of space, high ceilings, wood floors and in general the history that surrounds you. This is particularly the case when you know the provenance of the property. Also, because there are so few of them, there’s definitely a feeling of exclusivity in living in a wonderfully restored colonial home. Colonial properties also have the advantage of far more usable space compared to new builds in Shanghai. Typically new builds in Shanghai have only around 75 percent usable space. This means that if you rent a 100 sqm property it will actually only be 75 sqm. This is because they count your share of public areas (elevators, lobbies and entrance areas) into the area listed in the deed. Whereas with colonial properties, if it says 100 sqm on the deed you pretty much get 100 sqm that you can use.

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Another appeal is the old real estate truth of location, location, location. All colonial properties are in downtown Shanghai. If you want to live downtown, living in a colonial home is often at the top of your list. Most people think of the former French Concession, in particular around Wukang Lu and Hunan Lu, when thinking of old-style living. However, the area in which colonial properties are found is actually bigger than many people think. The former French Concession stretches right from Huashan Lu in the west to the Huangpu River in the east (excluding the old Chinese city, which is divided by Renmin Lu). In real estate terms you can think of Xizang Lu as the eastern cut-off point. Also, the former British Concession is often forgotten. It covers a large portion of what is now Jing’an District, and some of Huangpu District, officially starting on Kaixuan Lu and continuing to Suzhou Creek. Throughout this area there are many wonderful colonial homes, including the famous Embankment building near the Bund. Finally, there are a few in the original American Concession (which merged with the British Concession to make the American/Anglo Concession) in what is now Hongkou District. Regarding location, not only can you live downtown, but you almost always get this fabled real China experience when living in a lane or a colonial apartment building. In Shanghai many renovated colonial gems are in lanes where the rest of the properties (still to be renovated) are still inhabited by local Shanghainese. You may have 3-5 families still living in one lanehouse next to you. Therefore you have your haven, but when you step outside you’ll know you’re living in China (with its advantages and disadvantages). There will often be your neighbour’s washing hanging outside your window, a mass of stray cats in the lane and lots of old ladies sitting out by the entrance of the lane who always know everyone’s business – but that’s part of the charm. In the past five years the quality of the renovation in colonial properties has skyrocketed. Nowadays it’s not unusual for colonial properties to have more perks than new builds: floor heating, built-in radiators, doubleglazed windows, water filter systems, mosquito nets and central air-con. This, along with the good layouts, location and history, makes them extremely enticing for a certain type of expatriate. As mentioned earlier, these ‘one-of-a-kind’ properties come in a number of different forms. Garden houses are certainly the most stunning – but unfortunately are also in the most limited supply. These are stand-alone villas with large gardens. They were typically built to house one family and are 250-1,500 sqm in size. Each one has a unique history, as they were

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usually built on demand for wealthy Chinese or Western families. They are usually 2 storeys high, have servant quarters and traditionally had separate staircases for the staff and the owners. Most of these properties have been restored rather than completely changed internally, as is often the case with lane houses. This means you often have the original floors, staircases and moldings, kept to highlight the history of the property. Lane houses are simply terrace houses or townhouses. They are in lanes which are often called shikumen, literally ‘stone gate’, as lanes typically had a stone gate entrance. There used to be more than 9,000 of these shikumen buildings in Shanghai, but many of them have been destroyed to make way for new apartment blocks. Lane houses are far more prevalent than garden houses and are extremely popular with expatriates. It’s rare to see two the same in terms of design. A lane house typically has three or four floors, with the large rooms facing south and the small rooms which were originally meant for staff or lodgers facing north. They usually have a living room, dining room and kitchen on the ground floor, then two large bedrooms facing south and two small rooms facing north. Many now have open attics used as either family rooms or another bedroom. Almost all lane houses have some outdoor space. This can be in the form of a roof terrace or small courtyard at the front or back. Traditionally they had an internal courtyard; however, in almost all renovated lane houses in Shanghai this space has been incorporated into the kitchen or living room on the ground floor. The other type of property is the colonial apartment. These are often art deco buildings, such as the Gascogne apartments on Huaihai Lu. One of Shanghai’s most famous architects was Laszlo Hudec, a Hungarian who lived in the city from 1918 to 1947. Some of his most notable Art Deco buildings include the Park Hotel and the Grand Theater. Other prominent architects who contributed to the Art Deco style are Parker & Palmer, who designed the Peace Hotel, Metropole Hotel and the Broadway Mansions, and Austrian architect GH Gonda, who designed the Capitol Theatre lane house. The residential apartment blocks at this time had modern facilities including running water, electricity and lovely lobbies with concierges. These properties are still hugely popular and many have been beautifully restored inside and out. Some lane houses have been divided into separate apartments. These can be wonderful smaller units, but there’s no doubt you’ll have a more local experience, since getting to your home will most likely entail walking through your neighbour’s kitchen – and sometimes even their living room.

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There are a couple of important points you need to consider before moving into any colonial home, no matter how wonderful it looks when you first see it.

Layout

Although earlier it was mentioned that the usable space in colonial properties is better than in new builds, it’s important to remember that some of the quirks may be endearing at first but could become very frustrating for you once you move in. Examples are bathrooms right next to or in the kitchen, or having to walk through the master bedroom to get to the bathroom or the great outdoor space where you’d envisioned having lots of parties. Also, if you have young children the steep stairs in a lane house may be more stressful than you first thought. Further, many lane houses have their main entrance straight into the kitchen, which may not be for everyone.

Location Again, location is often one of the plus points. However, it’s also important to realise that being downtown can be noisy. Quiet lanes can actually have a lot going on at times when you would expect everyone to be asleep. The older generation get up early and use the communal

areas of the lane (which could be right outside your house) to meet and catch up on gossip. Also, you don’t know who your neighbours are, and they could start to renovate at any time. This is also possible in a new build, but in our experience the renovation of a colonial property takes longer, causes more dust (they often chose to knock down everything and start from a shell) and doesn’t have anyone policing working hours. Even in new builds keeping working hours under control is tough, but you have more chance of winning than in a lane. Finally, if you have children going to school in Shanghai, lane house living has a few disadvantages that you may not be willing to accept. Most schools are in the suburbs so the daily commute can be long. Also, if you don’t live in a compound your children may miss out on playing with other children, and getting to gatherings and parties will almost always include either a car and driver or taking a taxi. Finally, if you have young children you may not feel comfortable with them playing on the streets, as cars can drive rather fast down some of the back lanes.

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Interiors of a newly renovated house: (clockwise from the top) living room, kitchen, guest room and staircase. Below are the same rooms before renovation.

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Renovation quality For every colonial property that has been wonderfully renovated there are two with serious problems. The main issues are: • Electricity shortages. It’s super frustrating when you turn on your hairdryer and at the same time your partner puts in some toast… and then everything goes off as you also had the air-conditioning on. • Water problems. Your property may have new pipes, but it’s very likely that your lane doesn’t. Therefore, it’s not unusual to have blocked toilets and slow-draining sinks and showers. Another water problem is pressure. However, that’s often an issue in new builds here too. • Damp. Unfortunately Shanghai is a damp city, and with the best intentions in the world many landlords end up with colonial homes that have mould problems. Renovation teams cut corners with waterproofing and then provide short-term fixes later on. This can leave you with serious damp issues.

• Even if your property is well renovated, many lanes only have access to 1 MB Internet. As many satellite TV systems are now also linked to the Internet, this means it’s not unusual to have slow Internet and a poor satellite system. Your landlord will not have done this intentionally, and unfortunately it’s difficult to find a solution. So if you work from home, be sure to check this out before moving in. Living in the colonial districts of Shanghai is without a doubt a fantastic experience, and I’ve lived in one of these small lanes for the last eight years here. I love living here, but you need to realise that it’s really not for everyone, and that it brings its own set of challenges. We often advise newcomers to perhaps spend a year in a new apartment or villa complex before moving into a colonial property. Moving to China is already challenging enough, and you can live in the so-called real China even if you do live in a new build or a compound. Exploring the city and being proactive in your community is what living in Shanghai is all about. §

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Renovation, design and furniture by James Aston and Becky Shan at JB Style. james@jbstyle.biz

By Kate Lorenz Managing Director Ark International www.ark-shanghai.com 0086 21 6248 8464

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Domestic Bliss SAVILLS OFFERS SOME ADVICE ON HOW TO FIND THE BEST AYI By Vela Ganeva Savills Residential Leasing

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Finding a suitable ayi is easier said than done, as letting an absolute stranger become part of your family and routine takes time

elocating to Shanghai can be a daunting process with its ups and downs, but the majority of expatriates, and especially those with children, will agree that the availability and affordability of domestic help is one of the large benefits of living in China. From drivers to maids (known as ayi, which means auntie), expatriates can hire help to assist them with the daily chores and make the transition to China less burdensome. The ayi can become an important part of the family. Every now and then, scary stories of ayis doing all sorts of things in the absence of their employers turn up. However, more often families will be able to find someone who fits well into their family, even if it takes a few attempts before the match is made. Ayis can have a wide range of duties within the family, ranging from shopping, cleaning and cooking to childcare. If your family is open to fully exploring the China move, your ayi could also be a window to discovering Chinese culture and language. Some families build a long-lasting relationship with their ayi, keeping in touch with them even after leaving the country.

locate suitable channels to secure potential ayis.

Finding a suitable ayi is easier said than done, as letting an absolute stranger become part of your family and routine takes time. The first step in the process is to

If you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have any friends in Shanghai yet, an alternative is to check with your property agent or compound management for suitable leads. These will generally be

Friend and colleague referral Referral will be the first option many expatriate families explore. Word of mouth from friends already in Shanghai and work colleagues is often a very good source of information. Ayis coming through this channel will tend to be experienced and already have a few years of work with expatriate families, which will ensure that they are familiar with the expatriate lifestyle and expectations. They will be familiar with using a washing machine and dryer, oven and other appliances, making the transition period easier.

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locals familiar with your area who will be happy to introduce someone.

for agencies to introduce a new candidate without charging an additional fee.

to one month’s salary, is discretionary but generally expected.

City Shop

Once you and your family have decided on an ayi, you’ll sign a contract for permanent employment with the help of the agency. Currently, the going rate for a full-time ayi ranges from RMB2,500 to RMB3,000

Adjusting to life with an ayi

The notice board at City Shop stores is also a great source of ayis. The ayis who advertise through this channel generally have experience working with expatriates. Therefore, you can contact them directly (with the assistance of an interpreter if necessary), set up a meeting and see whether the fit will work. Agencies If all of the above fail, expatriate families can contact professional agencies to find an ayi (one example is Le Yu Services (www. leyu4u.com)). Most reputable agencies have English-speaking staff to ensure clear communication. During your first contact with the agencies, it’s critical to communicate your needs and expectations to help them shrink the pool of possible candidates. Among the information they will certainly need is: your expectation for the ayi’s level of experience, Englishlanguage skills, full-time (live-in or not) or part-time commitment, types of chores assigned. They’ll also need to know your location (Pudong, Puxi, exact compound), type of housing (villa, apartment), number of rooms, family size and so on, all in order to gauge your needs. The next step is for the agency to recommend suitable candidates for you to interview. Generally, after the interview you can hire the ayi for a one-week (paid) trial period to clear up any doubts and ensure it’s a good fit for both parties. For their services, agencies will charge you a fee of 50 percent of the ayi’s monthly compensation. If during the trial period you’re not satisfied, it’s standard practice

”

Try to remember that there’s going to be an adjustment period, and that it will take some time for your ayi to learn exactly how you want things done

per month, depending on experience, qualifications, origin (Shanghainese ayis will usually charge more) and finally negotiation. It’s customary to provide your ayi with holidays for the Chinese New Year and week-long holiday in October, as they will use the time to visit their hometown and family. Also, giving your ayi a Chinese New Year bonus, usually equal

Try to remember that there’s going to be an adjustment period, and that it will take some time for your ayi to learn exactly how you want things done. As long as she’s nice, trustworthy and willing to learn, give her a chance and she will certainly improve and meet your expectations with time. To avoid frustration, try at the very beginning to be as explicit as possible with the duties she has to do and the way she has to do them. Creating daily or weekly lists will certainly help, as well as communicating and even showing her the way you want your laundry done, your dishes washed, your clothes folded and everything else that is important to your family. The whole process of finding an ayi might seem cumbersome at the beginning, but you and your family will benefit in many ways if you have the right person helping you. For more information on suitable properties or compounds, and settlingin assistance for your family, please do not hesitate to contact Savills Residential Leasing, where our consultants will be able to assist. § www.residential.savills-china.com

The details provided are prepared by Savills for information only. Whilst reasonable care has been exercised in the preparation of the article, it is subject to change. Savills cannot be held responsible for any liability whatsoever or for any loss howsoever arising from reliance upon the whole or any part of the contents in this article.

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A day with the Family ENTERTAINMENT IDEAS FOR FAMILIES IN SHANGHAI By Wynn Tanner Marketing & Communications Manager Knight Frank

t’s easy to get caught up in our routines in Shanghai. With kids, even more so. The combination of sports, music practice, play-dates, dentist appointments, business travel and getting between all those places can make finding family time hard. But it’s important to remember that one aspect of living in Shanghai as an expatriate is that we’re away from our extended families; therefore spending time with those we have here is essential to feeling at home in the city. Sometimes just getting out of the house for half a day on a weekend can help get the energy flowing again. Shanghai has a lot to offer in terms of organised activities, but there are also a lot of great places to visit that you might not have heard about and are great for Mom, Dad and the kids. Most of them are easily accessible on the Metro and make a great destination for a day out in Shanghai. If you’ve ever wanted to explore Shanghai’s nooks and crannies, here’s a list of options for you to explore.

GATEWAY TO A NEW LIFE.

River House

No. 933 South Suzhou Rd, Huangpu District

Rancho Santa Fe

Lane 333 Jinhui Road, Minhang District

Located along the edge of Suzhou Creek, the property boasts exquisitely decorated interiors, luxurious furniture and a five-star property management service.

Southern California style gated villa international living community. Adjacent to Shanghai American and British Schools.

The unit sizes range from 55 sqm studios to 300 sqm penthouses. It's only 10 minutes walking distance to Metro Line 1, 2, 8 and 10.

The unit sizes range from 260 sqm three bedroom villas to 480 sqm four bedroom units. In the developmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s newest phase, every unit includes a well-lit 200 sqm basement.

Candy Bai 6445 9968/ 13601923467

Grace Kang/Celine Yu 5226 0387

Tiziano Villas

Lane 1 Xiuyan Road, Pudong District

Stratford

Lane 388 Zhuxin Road, Minhang District

The compound covers an area of more than 220,000 sqm and has a luxurious 4,000 sqm international quality clubhouse. Close to the Shanghai British School. The homes offer classic and elegant courtyards in an American architectural style.

The Stratford compound is located in the Jinfeng International Community, one of Shanghaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s few mature villa communities. It offers a comprehensive range of facilities, including entertainment and public facilities.

The unit sizes range from 302 sqm three bedroom units to 455 sqm four bedroom units.

There are two property types: townhouse and duplex. The property layouts are 3 - 4 bedroom units.

Chris Zhang/Andy Wu 6819 2222

Mabel Hou 6221 9000

6445 9968 sh.residential@cn.knightfrank.com

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Cultural Qibao watertown There are plenty of watertowns to choose from around Shanghai, but if you’re looking for something close and Metro-accessible, Qibao is a good option. With over a thousand years of history, the town is characterised by its mix of Song, Ming and Qing Dynasty architectural influences. Offering boat rides, a plethora of different snacks and shops for all your knick-knack needs, Qibao is a great option for a family day out. Getting there Take Metro Line 9 to Qibao Station. Take Exit 2 and walk straight until you reach an area filled with snack shops and boats.

Longhua Pagoda and Temple If you’re looking for some more Chinese culture for the family, go visit the ancient Longhua Pagoda and Temple. The seven-storey pagoda is believed to be one of 13 constructed in 242 AD to house the cremated remains of the Buddha. Local legend has it that a dragon once appeared on the site. If you are crowd-conscious, keep in mind that on 3 March it will be packed for the Temple Fair. Around that time you can also see the peach trees in full blossom. Getting there Take Metro Line 3 to Longcao Lu Station. Take Exit 1 and walk east for about 15 minutes and you’ll see the Pagoda. Entrance fee is RMB10.

Imperial Examination System Museum For something a little more on the educational side, check out the Chinese Imperial Examination System Museum. Located in Jiading, this is the only museum in China dedicated to the examination system, which was in use for over 1,300 years. If the kids are too young or not interested in the thousand-plus pieces in the museum, you can wander around the museum’s structure, which is an old Confucian temple. Getting there Take Metro Line 11 to Jiading North Station. Once you exit the station, take a taxi to the Jiading Confucius Temple. The address is 183 Nandajie. Entrance is RMB20.

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Educational Shanghai Auto Museum Jiading’s Shanghai Auto Museum showcases a collection of cars ranging across decades and countries. The museum offers an educational introduction to the history of automobile production but is also just a fun ride for the car enthusiast inside of everyone. Getting there: Take Metro Line 11 to Anting Station, then a taxi to 7565 Boyuan Lu. The museum is closed on Mondays, and is closed to everyone but groups from Tuesday to Friday, but is open 9:30 to about 3:30pm on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are RMB60 for adults, RMB40 for students and RMB30 for kids.

Animation and Comics Museum The Shanghai Animation and Comics Museum offers both kids and parents the chance to create their own short animation films. From creating the drawings to putting the characters into motion, you get to be involved in the whole process and then watch your creations in a 3-D movie theatre afterwards. Besides what you create, you can also get a glance at what others have done, with some of your favourite animated characters available on display. Getting there Take Metro Line 2 to Jinke Station and then a taxi to 69 Zhangjiang Lu. Open 10am-5pm, closed on Mondays. Entrance is RMB30, with kids under 1.5 metres free.

Natural Wild Insect Kingdom In the heart of the business district, discover fluttering, flying and crawling insects, reptiles, amphibians and a few monkeys at the Natural Wild Insect Kingdom. Kids will get a kick out of eyeing up creatures – ranging from the creepy to the just plain gross – they don’t get to see roaming around the concrete jungles of Shanghai. Getting there Take Metro Line 2 to Lujiazui Station, then head for 1 Fenghe Lu, near Binjiang Avenue and the Pearl Tower. Entrance is RMB40 for adults, RMB25 for kids. Open 9am5pm.

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Outdoor Fun Shanghai Botanical Gardens While not as easily accessible by Metro, the Botanical Gardens are still one of Shanghai’s few outdoor spaces that you can really walk around in and not feel mobbed by people on all sides. The 240 acres of space could take weeks to finish, so consider making this a multi-part trip for different weekends in the spring and summer. With 5,000 different kinds of plants, including a bonsai garden, there won’t be a shortage of learning for the kids. And with a few scattered playgrounds, there’s some welcome solace for the tired parent. Getting there Take a taxi to 1111 Longwu Lu, near Baise Lu. Open 7:30am-5pm.

Red Town Red Town is a great hidden gem – a one-stop shop for art galleries and outdoor sculptures. The space, the old Shanghai No. 10 Steel Factory, also offers a collection of cafes and gift shops. In warmer weather the whole family can enjoy picnicking among the free-standing sculptures in the grassy central areas. Children can take art classes here or just enjoy looking at modern art, installations and sculpture. Getting there The closest Metro stop is Hongqiao Lu Station on Metro Line 3, but it might be easier to take a taxi to 570 Huaihai Xi Lu, near Hongqiao Lu.

Jiashan Market Tucked back into a corner of the southern French Concession, Jiashan Market, specifically the Melange Oasis Café, is a great new spot for parents who want to relax while letting their kids enjoy the space. The cafe offers a courtyard where kids can play outside in view of comfortable outdoor seating, and when the weather’s bad, there’s a space inside where younger kids can let off some steam. The cafe also sponsors children’s art classes and other kid-friendly activities and serves as a kind of informal community hub for a lot of young families in the French Concession. It’s a great place to have a relaxed brunch without having to worry about a squirming toddler or restless grade schooler – there’s plenty of car-free space outdoors and fun space

indoors to contain the little hellions’ energy. And the food and coffee are great, with good options for kids. Getting there Take Metro Line 1 or 10 to Shaanxi Nan Lu Station and walk south on Shaanxi Nan Lu, past Yongjia Lu, until you see Lane 550 on your right. Walk down Lane 550 to Jiashan Market. You can also take Metro Line 9 to Jiashan Lu and walk north on Jiashan Lu until you see Lane 259 on your right (just north of Jianguo Lu). For inquiries about Knight Frank’s residential leasing services, please feel free to contact us. Knight Frank Residential +86 21 6445 9968, sh.residential@ cn.knightfrank.com

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In the Former French Concession! Curves Xiang Yang Nan Lu 218 Xiang Yang Nan Lu, Room 502 Xuhui District, Shanghai

6472 0288 English Hotline: 137-6171-6400 Chinese Hotline: 182-2192-0884

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MOVING WITH CHILDREN The friendly people at Allied Pickfords help Family Matters navigate through the issues of relocating with children in tow By Claudia Neumayer International Move Consultant Allied Pickfords

any expat families with children will be moving on from China. It’s important to understand what impact this move will have on your children. The needs and concerns of children faced with relocating vary greatly depending on their age and the destination of the move. With older children and teenagers, psychological and emotional needs are the priority, whereas babies and toddlers have more basic requirements such as physical comfort during the transition. Young children will generally feel safe and comforted as long as they’re in the presence of their parents; however, a major worry for them is being left behind. It’s therefore important that, no matter what age your child,

you communicate with them effectively. The move must not come as a surprise and you should introduce the subject as early as possible. As a parent, your role is to encourage communication, providing comfort and emotional support. Your children may experience a whole range of emotions, including anger, sadness, relief and excitement. You will need to help them through this emotional battlefield and allow them to express their fears and concerns openly. It can be beneficial to hold regular family meetings where you all discuss your feelings, questions and worries. Once children feel respected and listened to they become more open to discussing the positive aspects of the move.

General hints for making the transition • Encourage children to learn about the new country in advance (this will help you learn at the same time). • Provide children of all ages with a special address book and stationery for keeping up with old friends. • Email is a cheap way to maintain daily contact with friends. • Take video and photos of the new home and area if your children are unable to see them before the move. • Arrange to visit new schools and meet teachers before the actual first day of school. • Explore your new area with the whole family as soon as possible.

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children may experience a whole range of emotions, including anger, sadness, relief and excitement

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PRE-SCHOOLERS

Children of this age worry about being left behind, especially when they see their favourite toys being packed away and their parents’ attention diverted from them and their normal home routine. Instead of getting them out of the way by sending them off to Nana’s or a baby-sitter, let them stay with you and help you pack up their possessions and toys. Never throw out any of these prior to the move, regardless of their condition, as having familiar things around is of great comfort to young children.

YOUNG CHILDREN A major factor in ensuring a smooth transition for the whole family will be the initial reactions of each child. When

you introduce the subject of moving you should be as informative as possible and explain why you feel the move will be of benefit to the entire family, not just the working parent. With younger children, it’s best to keep things lighthearted and fun, as they will want to know things like how their toys and furniture will be transported from one place to another. Acting out the process with these toys will help them relate to what will be happening. Books and games are another good way to help your children express their feelings and concerns. If your child has special needs, it’s important that they understand any variations in how their needs will be addressed. Hints • Provide the needed reassurance, stability and security. • Show them the destination on a map; this helps them become familiar with where they’re going. • Books and games are a

useful tool for explaining the moving process. • Give them things they can do to feel involved, such as sorting through belongings for outgrown toys and clothes and putting things in boxes. • Help them feel involved on moving day by allowing them to pack their flight bag, selecting the books, toys and snacks they would like to take.

TEENAGERS

Teenagers will face more complex issues when moving. During adolescence, teenagers seek validation and approval, which is often achieved within friendship groups. Leaving these friends, changing schools and giving up coveted sports positions and various hardearned opportunities will seem a daunting prospect. Although they will understand the idea of belonging somewhere other

than where they’re presently living, they may not have the skills to accept the idea of moving easily. They may have concerns about their capability to adjust to a new culture, and fear of the unknown may leave them feeling insecure and anxious, and lacking in confidence. Hints • Be respectful of their emotional needs. • Be clear about the benefits to the whole family. • Anticipate some of the concerns that may arise and have responses prepared. • Encourage open communication and honesty. • Encourage them to keep a diary; this is a nonconfrontational way for them to work through their concerns. • Subscribe to magazines or hometown newspapers that have youth contact. • Suggest exchange visits with friends. §

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The longest holiday of your life Making your retirement dreams come true By Wade Dawson Senior Partner Austen Morris Associates

s Oscar Wilde once said,

“When I was young I used to think that money was the most important thing in life. Now that I am old, I know it is.”

et me ask you: How close are you to becoming a millionaire?

Many of you may have just returned from a nice holiday over Chinese New Year. You planned, you budgeted, you made sure arrangements were just so, thereby ensuring a perfect path to relaxation. Retirement is kind of like a holiday – only a whole lot longer. It’s hard to come up with anything more important than saving for your retirement. And yet for many, retirement seems

too far off to make planning for it a priority. But as the longest holiday of your life, it’s never too early to figure out how to fund it. For all of you out there living paycheck to paycheck on a meagre income, you may think it’s impossible to start saving and investing now. I’ll let you in on a little secret: the amount of money you earn has little bearing on your ability to build wealth. There are plenty of others out there who probably

earn more than you, but who spend unwisely. Therefore, through sound budgeting you can easily save and invest as much or more than the executive on that full expat package that you might have been dreaming about. Let’s face it, we all like the good things in life: travel, dining out, enjoying a good bottle of wine, buying nice things. However, if you want to be able to afford these things not only in your prime earning years, but all the way through retirement, a sound

financial plan for saving and investing is crucial. You need to set a budget and decide how much you can realistically save and invest every month while still allowing yourself to spend on the things that make life enjoyable. So what are your financial goals? You might say that your financial goals are to travel the world, make lots of money and retire young. However, these are just dreams, not realistic financial goals – unless you

â&#x20AC;&#x153;

To reach $1,000,000 USD Current savings amount per month; 8% expected rate of return To reach $1,000,000 USD Current savings amount per month; 2% expected rate of return

10 years

15 years

20 years

5,466

2,889

1,697

10 years

15 years

20 years

7,534

4,768

3,392

ASK THE EXPERTS

FAMILY MATTERS

The total amount of money you need to invest monthly will almost double if you wait another five years to get started

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ASK THE EXPERTS

start acting on a financial strategy today (or unless wealthy Aunt Helga plans to be exceptionally generous to you in her will). You need to figure out what amount of money you need to have every year for the rest of your life to live comfortably. Next, start planning how to earn that money when you’re no longer willing or able to work. Of course, it’s going to have to come from your savings and investments. Maybe you think your retirement is too far away to start contemplating now. Guess what? The total amount of money you need to invest monthly will almost double if you wait another five years to get started. For example, if you want to have one million dollars in 15 years, you’ll need to invest $2,889 per month for 15 years at an 8% net annual growth rate. However, you’ll need to invest $5,466 per month at the same rate if you want one million dollars in 10 years. In this example, a delay of five years means investing an additional $2,577 each month (almost double) to reach your desired goal of a million dollars. As a financial advisor, how can I possibly advise you to do anything other than start an investment now with whatever you have? It becomes even harder to reach your goal of a million dollars if your money is stuck in lower yielding investments, or even worse, in bank deposit growth. For example, if you keep your money in the bank for those 15 years at a 2% annual growth rate, you’ll need to deposit $4,768 per month into your

bank account to reach one million dollars. That means saving a whopping $1,879 more each month over 15 years. Again, if you want to reach the same goal in 10 years with your money in the bank at 2% growth, you’ll need to deposit $7,534 per month in 10 years to reach one million dollars. The amounts may dazzle you, but the concept is clear: as soon as possible, you need to get your excess money working for you in growth-oriented investments. Setting and achieving financial goals is not overly difficult, but it does mean you have to take the time to make a realistic assessment of your current financial situation and begin to implement a financial plan for yourself for the next year, five years and through to retirement. Sit down on your own or with a trusted advisor and list your financial goals, then decide on the best financial vehicles for you to achieve those goals. Many people find that personal finance software, such as Microsoft Money or Quicken, are good tools for budgeting and planning. There are many websites which can help you plan how much income you might need when you retire, how to design an annual budget, how to calculate an emergency fund and how much money you need to invest every month in order to reach your financial goals. If you want your money to work for you, you need to do the work to form a sound financial plan to create the best retirement, and ultimately the longest holiday of your life. §

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If you want your money to work for you, you need to do the work to form a sound financial plan to create the best retirement, and ultimately the longest holiday of your life

AUSTEN MORRIS ASSOCIATES

Asthma

HEALTH

FAMILY MATTERS

A discussion with Dr Thomas By Dr Richard Thomas WorldPath Clinic International

any people in Shanghai experience asthma. Perhaps it’s viral infections, or air pollution, or the moist climate that triggers your family’s breathing problems. Children usually inherit a tendency to asthma from their parents. When Mum or Dad has prolonged sneezing and nasal itching, often the child develops the same symptoms of allergic rhinitis at the same time of year. This condition often precipitates asthma in children. Controlling the allergic rhinitis is key to controlling the asthma. What I see most commonly in Shanghai is asthmatic bronchitis, which is a chronic chest cough or wheezing that persists for weeks after the child has otherwise recovered from a common cold. A simple URI or cold should last 5 to 7 days and gradually improve over those 7 days. When coughing, especially a moist chest cough that disturbs sleep at night, persists beyond 10 days, the child has inflammation in the lungs that should be evaluated. Usually antibiotics aren’t necessary, but treatment with

two types of inhalers is needed. One inhaler, albuterol, relaxes the bronchiolar muscles for 4 to 6 hours, so that the diameter of the airways expands. But this temporary relief often must be coupled with controller medicines, such as inhaled steroids or Singulair chewable tablets that clear out the chronic inflammation causing the relentless cough. I don’t like children to persistently use a bronchodilator like albuterol for more than two days without initiating a controller regime as well. Albuterol is a very, very safe medicine, but by itself cannot eliminate an asthma attack. Wheezing is actually a late occurrence in an asthma attack. Wheezing comes from difficulty expelling air from the lungs, so that, when we’re exhaling, we have to use muscles to force the air out of our lungs. A little child may sound like they’re crying or moaning with each breath. Before they get to that late stage, parents will note a persistent mucousy, wet chest cough. The doctor can hear the prolongation of the expiratory phase, signalling that it’s hard

for the child to push air out of the lungs. Thereafter, the doctor can hear wheezing with a stethoscope, and only later without. At this late stage, one sees chest muscles working hard; breathing rate climbs toward 60 times a minute or even more. At this stage, a nebulizer treatment is appropriate, along with checking the blood oxygen level with a pulse oximeter and even breathing pure oxygen if the blood oxygen has dropped. If your child has had this type of attack, I recommend you have emergency supplies in your home and inhalers in your purse and at school, so that early treatment can avoid a severe crisis like status asthmaticus, when it’s very difficult to break an attack. Pointers: 1. Get a flu shot for your at-risk child. 2. If your child is on daily inhaled steroids and still gets an attack, you must begin oral steroids. 3. Give your child daily omega-3 supplements. §

HEALTH

FAMILY MATTERS

Medication Safety During PRegnancy A discussion with Dr Jane Shen By Dr Jane Shen Obstetrics & Gynecology Shanghai East International Medical Center

uring pregnancy the suppression of the normal immune system makes expectant moms easier targets for germs of every variety. However, the medications that you might be used to reaching for to find relief are usually off-limits when you’re expecting. What can you do? Here’s the lowdown on some of the more common cases you may come across during pregnancy. Q: I’m sneezing, coughing, running a light fever and my head is killing me. Can I use medicine to get relief? A: Colds or the flu are very common when you’re pregnant, and sometimes you need medicine to make yourself more comfortable. Acetaminophen like

Tylenol is usually given the green light, and it can be a welcome relief if you’re down and out with a stuffy nose or a high fever (over 100.4 degrees). Aspirin is not always recommended, especially during the third trimester, since it increases the risk of potential problems for the newborn, as well as complications before or during delivery, such as excessive bleeding. Q: I got tonsillitis after I caught a cold, and my doctor prescribed some antibiotics. Should I take them? A: If your doctor has prescribed antibiotics for you, it means the bacterial infection you have is more dangerous than taking the antibiotics to fight it off. You’ll usually be put on antibiotics

that fall into the penicillin or erythromycin families. Certain antibiotics are not recommended, such as tetracyclines. Make sure your doctor knows that you’re pregnant. Q: I’ve got a stomach bug, I have bad diarrhea and I can’t keep anything down. What should I do? A: First of all, dehydration is a problem for anyone suffering from a stomach bug. You’re strongly advised to take a rehydration fluid like Pedialyte. Antacids such as Talcid or Rolaids are considered safe to take during pregnancy. Antidiarrheal medicines like Kaopectate may be taken only after your first trimester is safely behind you.

Q: I was diagnosed with chronic depression and I’ve been on lowdose antidepressants ever since. Now that I’m pregnant, should I stop taking them? A: Treating depression effectively allows a mother-to-be to nurture her body and her developing baby. Wellbutrin is often a good choice during pregnancy. Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft and other SSRIs carry very little risk to the baby and can therefore also be good choices. Keep in mind: before you choose any medication, pick up the phone and call your doctor to ask which remedies best suit your needs and are considered safe during pregnancy. §

FAMILY MATTERS

School Life

TRAVEL

FAMILY MATTERS

hangzhou

la n d o f p le nty [

t e x t & p h o to g ra p h y by r i c h a r d re s t e l l

]

here are a number of places in the east of China today where you will find the Old grinding against the New, and Hangzhou in Zhejiang Province is surely one of them. With more than 50,000 years of history, from the Jiande people of the Neolithic era to today, Hangzhou is one of Chinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s oldest cities.

Photograph by Martin Brown

FAMILY MATTERS

School Life

morning tranquillity The sun rises over West Lake as residents make their way to work across one of the many bridges that span sections of the lake.

he environs around West Lake still contain echoes of the past, but soak it up while there is still a chance, for that other China, the New China of shining office blocks, plush apartment buildings, the jagged skyline glinting like dragon teeth, is slowly rising above the east shore. To take its full measure, this New China is best viewed from the rocky outcropping of Geling Hill that lies on the northwest shore, the view of the city baying at the water’s edge a startling contrast of what some people regard as progress, while others lament the rapid changes taking place at the halfway stage of China’s development. Swathed in mist, it is possible to imagine West Lake looks much as it did in the 13th century. When Marco Polo visited Kublai Khan’s China he visited the city of Hangzhou and declared it to be “the best that is in this world”, and everything he wrote there proclaimed the city’s wealth and pleasures. During the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period, the city served as the capital of the Wu and Yue Kingdoms. The city gained its importance when the Grand Canal was built in the Sui Dynasty, serving as a transport link between north and south China. In the Tang Dynasty the region witnessed rapid economic and cultural development and West Lake was created on the western edge of the city. Later political and economic prosperity in the Southern Song Dynasty saw the city established as the capital. It was during this period that Marco Polo visited.

TRAVEL Famed throughout history for its opulence, its rich palaces and fine baths, the city was the port from which the legendary baochuan sailed, the treasure ships of the Ming armada. In more recent times, it was opened up to foreigners in 1895 under the treaty of Shimononeski. Opulent villas arose around the lake edge, the holiday residences of wealthy entrepreneurs and businessmen from Shanghai that converged on the lake in the waning summers of the war. It was here that Chiang Kai Shek and Soong Mei Ling had their honeymoon. Hangzhou was always a cosmopolitan city, and with a population of around 200,000 in 1100, approximately 450,000 in 1170 and expanding to over 1 million inhabitants by 1276, it was the most populous city at the time. Little has changed and famed throughout China for its beauty, the city, and the environs surrounding West Lake in particular, attract a large number of tourists from both home and abroad. Despite the business acumen exhibited in the market stalls and high street shops, the residents retain a sense of the importance of a leisurely lifestyle. It takes several days to get beneath the veneer of commercialism, but in the early hours of the morning the magic that remains can be experienced and the size of the lake allows plenty of space to escape to its quieter, hidden reaches later in the day, where weeping willows, peach trees, stone bridges, rockeries and painted pavilions offer hidden corners to explore.

FAMILY MATTERS

When Marco Polo visited Kublai Khan’s China he visited the city of Hangzhou & declared it to be “the best that is in this world”

”

FAMILY MATTERS

TRAVEL

a natural landscape For many people who live in the city, Hangzhou offers a return to nature with West Lake at the centre surrounded by hills dotted with temples and small pagodas.

t 6am Cui Zichong arrives on his bike at the north shore, pulling a trolley with a tape player and speakers. He plugs in the cord at a nearby kiosk, and after selecting the appropriate tape music begins to pour forth. Within several minutes dancers crowd the wide sidewalk, coats and bags placed beneath the stately willows. Among the swinging and swaying bodies Liu He glides; sporting a suit and slicked-down hair, he guides his partner through a waltz. Liu is in the intermediate class. “My wife is in the advanced class”, he says, “but I can’t cha-cha yet. I can just do the waltz.” Further round the lake Liu Bang pushes his bike along the causeway built by the governor Bai Juyi in the middle of the Tang Dynasty, several wooden birdcages balanced carefully on the rear passenger seat. With ritualistic care he hangs the cages in a tree already home to several similar cages and their feathered occupants, alert black mynah birds. As the birds begin their well-rehearsed refrains, early morning strollers stop to laugh at the mimics, Liu Bang looking on with a proprietary air. “Gong Xi Fa Cai”, and the small crowd clap their approval with delight. A small boy tries his luck with “shen jing bing”, only to be scolded by his mother. As the morning winds pick up, skilled kite flyers put together delicate homemade kites, fragile butterflies, birds of prey and colourful expansive creations. Wang Xinhu crouches under a spreading willow tree, deftly tying his kite line to the back of a grey, extremely lifelike

TRAVEL buzzard. Placing the bird on the ground he walks away down the causeway and across a stone bridge, slowly letting out the line as he goes. After a dramatic pause he gently tugs the string and the bird rises on the breeze and is soon sweeping over the waters, Wang’s experienced hand causing the spectators to gasp as the bird touches the water on a swoop. Held in the embrace of hilly peaks on three sides, West Lake comprises five distinct sections. The largest part is bounded by North Inner Lake, Yuehu Lake, West Inner Lake and Lesser South Lake. The lake and the surrounding countryside have all the elements of a traditional Chinese garden but on a grander scale. In springtime the myriad blossoms are enhanced by a treasury of sculptures, small pavilions and, according to Marco Polo, 12,000 bridges “built with such lofty arches so well designed that big ships can pass under them without a mast, and yet over them pass carts and horses.” Along the main Sudi causeway Wang Anshi is busy painting characters in water on the paved tarmac, pail in one hand, an oversize brush in the other. With broad strokes and deft movements the characters Jile Shijie (World of Supreme Bliss) appear on this unusual canvas, lasting for several minutes before fading on the warm stone. Cyclists heading to work swerve around Wang, craning to see the artwork while careening along. “It’s good exercise,” says Wang, taking a short break. “It lets me practise my brushwork and people can appreciate the

FAMILY MATTERS

As the morning winds pick up, skilled kite flyers put together delicate homemade kites

”

FAMILY MATTERS

School Life

Tea plantations Tea is an important part of Hangzhou’s economy and culture. Hangzhou is best known for originating Longjing, a famous variety of green tea. Furthermore, there are many types of Longjing tea, the most famous being Xihu Longjing. Known as the best type of Longjing tea, Xihu Longjing is grown near West Lake, hence its name.

characters.” Taking up brush and slopping pail, Wang continues his strange painterly dance down the causeway. Back atop Geling Hill, Zheng Baoling is busy leading a group in clapping exercises, the clearing mists of the lake the backdrop to this daily ritual and the Bao Chu pagoda, which dates back to 968 AD, rising in the foreground. “Everything that is old in Hangzhou must be used to make money,” he says. “If it’s not used it has no value and will be destroyed.” This pragmatic view seems to sum up the city. What remains of the Grand Canal is little more than a muddy trickle. The famed harbour slowly silted up in the middle of the Ming Dynasty. Fires and riotous events destroyed many of the wooden structures in the city. Nevertheless, tourism and commerce have yet to take their toll and the city retains its grip on the imagination of China and the world. Today tourists are the new

TRAVEL

a popular destination The city stands at the eastern foot of a scenic range of hills, the Tianmu Mountains, and on the shore of the famous Xi (West) Lake in Zhejiang Province.

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TRAVEL

exploring the countryside The hills and countryside around Hangzhou offer great opportunities for hiking and short walks through some beautiful scenery. The woods around Lingyin Temple are perfect for exploring and a great place for a picnic.

commodities, bringing a buzzing life to the streets and the funds to preserve what remains. There is an old Chinese saying: Born in Suzhou, live in Hangzhou, eat in Guangzhou, die in Liuzhou. A comfortable living environment and stunning natural scenery provide the inhabitants with a paradise on earth, a place that has retained its reputation to this day. Within an hour of Shanghai, the city is an ideal getaway for the weekend or even just for the day. And whether you enjoy hiking, shopping or sightseeing, Hangzhou provides an array of choices.

For further information or details regarding this article please contact the author and photographer Richard Restell (r-restell@bisspuxi.com)

TRAVEL

getting there Hangzhou is relatively easy to reach from Shanghai, with both good rail and road connections. It takes just over one hour from Shanghai South Railway Station to Hangzhou, and costs around RMB50. Taking a car is also a good option as this allows visitors more freedom when exploring the hills and other sights around Hangzhou. The ShanghaiHangzhou-Ningbo Expressway is direct and quick.

FAMILY MATTERS

TRAVEL

shanghai green spaces

Looking out from the Jinmao Tower, east across the Huangpu, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hard to imagine there being space to swing a cat, let alone fly a kite. But each weekend enthusiasts gather on the west bank of the river to test and show off their new creations.

[

t e x t & p h o to g ra p h y by r i c h a r d re s t e l l

]

TRAVEL

FAMILY MATTERS

Sunset seen from the 88th floor of the Jinmao Tower can give the impression that Shanghai is a city of steel and concrete, but hidden within the city is a host of green spaces.

FAMILY MATTERS

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FAMILY MATTERS

Mr Gu, the undisputed master kite-maker, displays a selection ready for their maiden flight. With a cool wind blowing, the kites rise effortlessly into the air, the occasional false start avoided the second time with a tweaking and fiddling of strings

” F

ifty years ago Shanghai was home to 5.3 million people; today there are an estimated 14 million, nearly half of whom weren’t born here. The city is a bright infinity of concrete, steel and twinkling glass, speckled with shrinking patches of redbrick terraced homes and dilapidated town houses huddled in the shadows of expensive high-rise apartments. House and land values have soared, roads are being widened and subway lines extended, and whole new suburbs have sprung up to house the growing workforce. Within the dense metropolis of concrete are pockets of green resistance. Inaccessible to most are the villa gardens, hidden behind fortress-like walls, but public parks are growing in number, providing residents with much-needed recreation space. The city has a plan to

guide development and creating green space has become a priority.

and begin to wield wooden swords in choreographed slow motion.

Away from the steady drone of traffic, under a spreading willow tree, Zhu Yang moves her arms in a slow, circular motion. Zhu Ling, her husband, stands in vest and shorts on the path behind, vigorously slapping his chest, abdomen and back, toughening the already taut muscles. At 75 years old he is in good shape.

In fact, it’s a typical weekend morning when the older residents of the district rise before the sun and appear in the park to meet friends, exercise, play cards or just enjoy the convivial atmosphere in the warm sun.

It is early Saturday morning in Fuxing Park, and the majority of Shanghai’s elderly residents appear to have gathered for a significant social event. The uninitiated might feel a major sports event was about to take place, or that a violent street fight was about to erupt, a turf war maybe, as so many carry weapons of sorts. Dressed in slacks and matching tops, a group of women arrange themselves in formation

Across town in Xiangyang Park, chess is the name of the game. A two-player game, each side has a number of wily analysts, voicing assent or disagreement at each much-debated move. Chen Wang has lived in Shanghai for his whole life and retired 10 years ago. “I come here every day to play, if the weather is good,” he says. “It’s quiet and I get to hear news about neighbourhood events.” The park is tranquil compared to the bustling market across Huaihai Lu, a dense array of small shops, stalls and

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TRAVEL

Shanghainese residents have always lived life on the streets - eating, playing, washing or just meeting the neighbours for a friendly chat.

restaurants amidst the throng of tourists in search of a bargain and hawkers offering Rolex watches. In Xujiahui Park an elderly gent sits, legs split, reading a page of the morning news that flutters in the crisp morning breeze. Several years ago the site was a distinctive maze of homes, one of the shikumen that characterise many of the older parts of the city but now exist in ever shrinking islands within the sprawling mass of skyscrapers and apartment blocks. Within several months the buildings were gone, the chimney of a local factory, the renovated Red House and an old tree the sole remains. In its place a readymade park appeared almost overnight. The following day, in the sharp chill morning light, Zhu Lian and her husband are not braving the cold in the local zoo purely for the pleasure of the surroundings or for the animals, but are having their wedding pictures taken. Zhu has just changed from a traditional red qipao into a modern white dress and sits patiently wrapped in a padded jacket while a young female stylist pins down a straying lock

FAMILY MATTERS

of hair, all under the gaze of an admiring group of curious onlookers. Hair in order, the photo shoot continues and the crowd moves on, the residents of the new gorilla enclosure providing greater entertainment value. At 6:30 every morning, Sun Guo waits with a friend for the gates of the Longhua Martyrs Cemetery Park to open. Within a few minutes they are at their usual spot, in a grass clearing surrounded by stately trees, performing the eloquent moves of tai chi. Sun is training his companion and gives advice in a quiet monologue as the two move in unison amidst the long morning shadows cast by the gnarled limbs of the trees. Taking a break, Sun pats a few beads of sweat from his forehead and, swinging his arms to keep limber, chats with his companion. Other groups gather around the park, all engaged in some form of exercise, the trees, bamboo groves and yellow ochre walls of the 10thcentury Longhua Temple providing a calm backdrop. Several kilometres distant, on the banks of the river, Huangpu Park also attracts the

TRAVEL

As the city develops, a greater range of leisure pursuits present themselves

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early morning faithful. Formerly the Public Gardens, the park was created by a Scottish gardener in the 1930s and with its green lawns, rose bushes, herbaceous borders, hedges and iron bandstand it was a home from home for the English. Today, the iron bandstand has long been melted down and in its place a stark monument looms above the Bund History Museum. On the waterfront a small group are engaged in ballroom dancing practice, a small radio playing the accompanying waltz. Chang Li, an eccentric septuagenarian, glides by on a pair of equally ancient-looking roller boots, performing a figure of eight before a bemused Chinese tourist and young child. In the distance the sunlight glints golden on the gilt-edged surface of the Jinmao Tower, while behind, the neoclassical facades lining the Bund loom sombrely. Zhang Long, a former Beijing resident, moved to Shanghai five years ago with his family, and regularly visits the waterfront promenade to escape the pressures of the office. Lured by business opportunities and a more comfortable climate, Zhang does not regret his decision. “The city is definitely cleaner – less traffic,” he says

FAMILY MATTERS

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The parks & open spaces offer a place for residents who cling to a sense of community

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simply. “And the place looks set to improve. Something is happening here. You can see it every day – new department stores, new apartments, new Metro lines and new parks.” Back on the 88th floor of the Jinmao Tower, the patches of greenery to the east have once again been swallowed up by the regiments of high-rise buildings. In the opposite direction the expanse of Century Park stands out, a green island surrounded by swathes of concrete and gleaming white apartment blocks. It is clear that on this side of the river space is less of a luxury and the drained marshlands provide ample room for landscaping. Looking north, the remains of a number of old warehouses, now just a pile of rubble, mark the site of a new park development. An addition to what local governments hope will become a showpiece for other Chinese cities, an urban Eden for rich and poor alike, and the residents who cling to a sense of community provided by the parks. With the World Expo over and new ventures on the horizon, the ‘greening’ of Shanghai is set to continue. For further information or details regarding this article please contact the author and photographer Richard Restell (r-restell@bisspuxi.com)

FAMILY MATTERS

EDUCATION

WHOse idea was that? ACADEMIC HONESTY IN THE MODERN AGE By Dr Terry Creissen OBE Executive Principal The British International School Shanghai

hen I was a student, in an age long ago, if I needed to research a topic or a new area of learning I would go to the local library, which was filled with dusty books on dusty shelves in dimly lit rooms. There was a distinctive smell that I can remember still, and a certain excitement at browsing through ancient documents, being the first to open a new book or hunting through the weighty encyclopedias in the reference section. All this was done with the enthusiasm to broaden my understanding of the world. In our modern society, for many those happy days getting lost in the depths of the library archives have been replaced with a few hours browsing on the Internet. Accessing a wealth of information in a short period of time has become the norm for budding young scholars and professionals hoping to learn from the toil and hard work of others. This must be a good development in the age of technology. So why do we worry so much about it? The problem is academic honesty and giving due recognition to others for the work that they have done.

EDUCATION

FAMILY MATTERS

In our modern society, for many those happy days getting lost in the depths of the library archives have been replaced with a few hours browsing on the Internet

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opying the writings of another person is a type of academic dishonesty called plagiarism. The word has been around since the 1600s and, if we can trust Wikipedia, it comes from the Latin word ‘plagiarius’, meaning ‘kidnapper’. Passing off someone else’s work as your own, copying their ideas without crediting them and then using them in an academic paper is simply another form of cheating. This does not mean that a writer cannot use the ideas of others: far from it. It does mean that recognition must be given to the person who said it first. Changing a few words around is not enough. Even rewriting a passage may not be sufficient. The only way to avoid censure is to give credit to the original author. Have you ever had a really good idea and brought it to fruition, in the firm belief that it was your idea from the very start? You may then have begun to wonder if this so-called unique idea was actually new or if someone else had thought of it before; perhaps you had stored it away in your thoughts only to regurgitate it later, believing it to be your own. How many other people are doing the very same thing? It’s possible that you could have a brilliant idea at exactly the same time as someone else, perhaps on the other side of the world, without even knowing about the other person’s idea. This can happen in music when you write a brilliant melody which has an uncanny resemblance to someone else’s tune. Whether it is a conscious decision or not, you can still be charged with plagiarism. George Harrison (one of the Beatles) had this problem and was made to pay compensation when it was decided that his song ‘My Sweet Lord’ was very similar to ‘He’s So Fine’ by the Chiffons. The same applies to product development and new concepts that fundamentally change the way that we work. Anyone who has watched The

Dr Terry Creissen OBE

Social Network, a film about Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, will know how complicated it is sometimes to identify the inventor of a new idea or concept. There are other examples of this alongside many claims that were not agreed by the courts. ‘Who owns the ideas?’ is becoming a new industry. Have you ever met a Knowledge Manager of a company? Their job is to protect, consolidate and store their employees’ ideas and protect them from intellectual property espionage. If you haven’t met one yet, you probably will soon. In the world of literature and academic research, this is a matter of respect and integrity. Most schools and places of higher education have clear policies to remind students of the need to recognise the work of others. It is evident that we do need systems and strategies to protect the intellectual property of others, to recognise their work and to create a world of progress with integrity at the heart of all that we do. Identifying plagiarism is a constant battle for teachers and examination awarding bodies. At The British International School Shanghai, there is a very clear Academic Honesty policy which points out the areas where students can fail their examination if they plagiarise, use one piece of work for more than one assignment, copy the work of someone else or cheat in any examination. Teachers also have to be on the lookout for assignments that give proper citations to other writers but lack any original ideas, thoughts or interpretations of the writer’s own. Presenting the views of others without showing any insight as an inquisitive, active learner is not within the aims of the International Baccalaureate Organisation. We are very fortunate that we no longer have to rely on the expertise of the teacher

in this respect. While new technology has come to the aid of the researcher and scholar, it has also supported teachers and professors in recognising when essays, papers and dissertations have been plagiarised. In Shanghai, The British International School uses the expertise of its teaching staff alongside software that helps to highlight possible cases of plagiarism. A piece of software called Turnitin has proved to be a popular product – and putting this article through the software resulted in positive feedback! The Originality Report found 0% of ideas and words copied from other sources. However, Turnitin, like other software applications, is only one tool and should be used alongside the professional view of the teacher in tackling concerns over plagiarism. Of course, it does not end there. As many will know, you can get almost anything from the Internet if you’re prepared to take the risk. Why waste your time studying so hard when you can go online and buy a degree? Perhaps the answer lies in the fact that you would be missing out on the most exciting aspect of study – your own development, personal improvement, skills and knowledge. We should study to learn, not for a piece of paper. We should read the ideas of others to inform, not simply to copy. We should work in the sure knowledge that we are not alone and that the views of others have value, even when we disagree with them. There are few really original ideas out there that have not been derived from the ideas of others. What we do and what we say influence the next generation of thinkers, inventors, scholars, professionals and even politicians. It’s a matter of integrity and honesty that should guide us to remember to recognise those who have come before us and whose ideas we have been able to develop and use to create something new. §

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what schools can learn from

maslow By Stuart White Head of Secondary The British International School Shanghai Puxi Campus

merican psychologist Abraham Maslow set out his famous hierarchy of needs in his 1943 paper â&#x20AC;&#x153;A Theory of Human Motivationâ&#x20AC;?. His hierarchy is often illustrated as a pyramid, with the most fundamental needs at the bottom and the more sophisticated and esoteric selfactualisation needs forming the apex.

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maslow’s hierarchy of needs

Self-actualisation personal growth and fulfilment Esteem needs achievement, status, responsibility, reputation social needs family, affection, relationships, work group, etc. security needs protection, safety, order, law, limits, stability, etc. Biological & Physiological needs basic life needs - air, food, drink, shelter, warmth, sex, sleep, etc.

aslow’s world view is centred around a person’s quest to be everything that they are capable of – echoing part of the mission of our parent company, which is about helping others “to be the best that they can be”. It’s a worthy aim in life, and perhaps nowhere more keenly felt than in a school, where we work with young people every day to help them develop and grow.

So what does Maslow have to teach us about how to run a school? His hierarchy turns out to provide an explanation for something that good teachers and school administrators have known to be true for a long time: happy students learn better. It’s a simple truth, but one that schools need to take seriously. Maslow’s hierarchy tells us that the lowerorder needs have to be met before we can focus on the higher levels of the pyramid. At the most basic level, we have to have our physiological needs satisfied. If we’re hungry or tired, our prime focus becomes eating and sleeping, not personal

development. Assuming our simple physical requirements are all in place, we focus next on Maslow’s security needs: personal and financial security; health and wellbeing; and a sense of existing in familiar surroundings where we can expect to be dealt with fairly and predictably. This is a striking lesson for a school manager or teacher. If students don’t feel safe at school, comfortable and confident in the security and integrity of their environment, their prime focus will be on meeting these security needs, not on anything else we might be asking them to do.

We use the phrase “healthy, happy and safe” when thinking about students in our school. Some of a student’s education is aimed directly at this, with a Personal, Social and Health Education programme covering issues like eating healthily, exercise, positive thinking, relationships, online safety and many other topics. There are people in school whose role is all about helping children and young adults to be healthy, happy and safe. Our school nurses provide triage, treatment and a sympathetic ear. Our guards and receptionists ensure that the school environment is secure and our students are looked after. Teachers with training as counsellors act as sympathetic

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Teachers help to ensure that students are “healthy, happy and safe”, but there are also other members of a school, such as the guards and nurse, who help to create a secure environment.

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Class teachers and form tutors get to know the young people in their care and share their successes, hopes, triumphs and concerns through the school year

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listeners outside the classroom. Class teachers and form tutors get to know the young people in their care and share their successes, hopes, triumphs and concerns through the school year, talking with them every day about what’s going well and what they’re worried about.

do talk in various combinations at breaks, lunchtimes and before and after school about pastoral concerns for particular students, and about how we can combine forces to help make them happier. We’ve always known what Maslow tells us: happy and secure students learn better.

teams, music ensembles, drama groups, science clubs or simply classes at school. Extracurricular activities are not just about learning a new skill – they’re about belonging to something and building sustaining relationships with different people.

Behind the scenes, there’s a whole industry devoted to keeping students healthy, happy and safe. We are well aware that children, with a slightly egocentric view of the world, tend to assume that their teachers spend all their time in the staff room talking about them. The irony is that they’re largely right. Class teachers, subject specialists, heads of faculty, senior management, progress coordinators and heads of years

Even when physiological and security needs are met, Maslow identifies two other levels of need that have to be met before someone’s prime focus is on his or her own development. First comes a sense of belonging, and the need to be secure in relationships with others. Close friends and family are important here, but these relationships can also come from being part of larger groups – like sports

Last of the steps along the way to selfactualisation, according to Maslow’s work, is the need for esteem. We all need to be valued, both by other people and by ourselves, and Maslow was specific about both external respect and self-esteem. Schools spend a lot of time on both of these. A complex system of rewards for big and small successes helps children to feel good about themselves and valued by

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Students need to have a sense of belonging and the need to be secure in relationships with others, including teachers and their peers.

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Once we as a school have made sure that all of Maslow’s hierarchy is in place, providing sure foundations, then our students really have a chance “to be the best that they can be”

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their teachers. Public praise in assemblies, certificates, rewards for good quality work and outstanding effort: these all contribute to esteem and self-worth. The old view of school is that teachers spend a lot of time trying to catch students doing things wrong – but the new reality is that we spend our time to trying to catch students doing things well, so that we can praise them and build them up. And so we climb to the top of the pyramid.

Once we know that the students in our care are healthy, safe, happy, integrated, networked and feeling good about themselves, we just need to support our young learners on their journey to be all that they’re capable of. This is the real mission of schools – not to cram learning in, as our Victorian forebears would have felt, but to build our students up, so that they are ready, willing and able to learn. Good teaching resonates with Brendan

Stuart White

Graham’s oft-sung lyrics: “You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains / You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas / I am strong, when I am on your shoulders / You raise me up... to more than I can be.” Once we as a school have made sure that all of Maslow’s hierarchy is in place, providing sure foundations, then our students really have a chance to be the best that they can be. §

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theory of knowledge a student essay by jia yong ong

he Theory of Knowledge component is part of the International Baccalaureate programme. The TOK course develops studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; critical thinking skills and enhances their powers of reasoning and argument. These skills will allow them to carry out more effective research, be more demanding and rigorous in their studies and be intellectually more independent and assertive. In short, TOK aims to help students become active rather than passive learners, starting them on the way to becoming discerning adult thinkers.

The goal of the course is for students to gain an understanding of what it means to know something, for example as a scientist, artist or historian, and so to understand how different forms of knowledge relate to one another. Students are encouraged to compare and contrast their attitudes and perceptions with those of students from different cultural backgrounds. TOK is a course that examines the origins and validity of various forms of knowledge, in which students are asked to justify or validate their knowledge. By understanding why we believe certain things to be true, students begin to understand how we make judgements. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hard to explain fully what TOK is all about in a few sentences, so perhaps the best thing to say at this point is that students frequently cite TOK as the thing they enjoy most in the IB programme.

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A distinguishing feature of the arts is that they are inexhaustible, in the sense that new interpretations of the same work can be found every time the work is revisited.

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t h e o ry o f k n o w l e d g e

“In expanding the field of knowledge we but increase the horizon of ignorance.” (Henry Miller)

Thesis statement: Expanding the field of knowledge does increase the horizon of ignorance for the knower.

The more knowledge a knower obtains in the areas of knowledge using the various ways of knowing, the less ignorant a knower may become. However, in this essay it will be argued that in expanding the field of knowledge, the horizon of ignorance for a knower is increased. The areas of knowledge that we will be focusing on in this essay are the fields of natural sciences, the arts and history. This provides the essay with a broad range of subjects in order to strengthen the argument. Knowledge in the natural sciences is derived from the scientific method, which is based on inductivism. Inductivism is based on inductive reasoning, where if something is observed over and over again, it is assumed to be true. The traditional scientific method has five steps: observation, hypothesis, experiment, law and theory. Expanding knowledge in the field of natural sciences certainly makes people realise that there are many more things that we as knowers do not know. When an IB student finishes their education in the field of physics, they realise that physics can be delved into at

deeper levels, such as quantum physics, which are far beyond the capabilities of the average IB student. Therefore the IB student realises his or her ignorance in the field of physics. However, it’s logical to say that there is only a limited amount of knowledge that can be found out using the scientific method in the field of natural sciences. Therefore, it‘s also logical to say that the more that knowers find out in the field of natural sciences, the more the amount of knowledge remaining in the field decreases, making it only a matter of time before all knowledge about the natural sciences is found out. Also, there is only a certain number of observations that can be made about a subject; if the number of observations is limited, so is the amount of knowledge in the area of the natural sciences. Countering that point, there is so much more that knowers do not know about our own existence, such as the origins of the universe or whether there is life on other planets. Furthermore, the scientific method based on inductivism is flawed,

because the fact that a phenomenon occurs over and over again does not mean that the knowledge is true. This is due to the fact that it would take an infinite number of observations to prove something true, while per Karl Popper all it takes is one contradictory observation to falsify the scientific claim. Lastly, in our ever-expanding field of knowledge in the natural sciences, even though there might be less and less knowledge to be found due to knowledge being limited in the field, there might come a paradigm shift which changes the knower’s perspective in the field, opening up more doors and therefore more knowledge to find. Examples are Darwin’s Theory of Evolution and Einstein’s Theory of Relativity. These paradigm shifts in biology and physics opened up more questions to solve about the universe. Therefore, the more we know, the more ignorant we realise we are. Another area of knowledge that will be used to discuss this topic is the arts, as they are on the other end of the spectrum compared to the natural sciences; they

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Popper coined the term critical rationalism to describe his philosophy, which starts with his rejection of classical empiricism. Popper held that scientific theories are abstract in nature, and conjectural or hypothetical, generated by the creative imagination in order to solve problems that have arisen in specific historio-cultural settings.

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ABOVE - The main source for our knowledge of the Greco-Persian Wars is the Greek historian Herodotus. In his Histories (writen 440-430 BC) Herodotus attempted to trace the origins of the wars. His is the only surviving account of the wars and there are no surviving historical accounts from the Persian side.

represent an area of knowledge with a lot of subjective elements. In order for something to be art, it has to meet three criteria: it was made with the intention of evoking an aesthetic response from the audience; it has intrinsic quality; and it provokes a response from spectators. We can see that all three criteria of art are based on opinions. If a work of art is judged based on the opinion of an ‘expert’, normal people then base their opinions on this expert opinion, so therefore our knowledge of the arts is based on opinions. Since knowledge is based on opinions, it is invalid and cannot be considered knowledge. Thus, if the knowledge derived from the arts is based on opinions, it cannot be considered knowledge and therefore we are still ignorant in the field of the arts. On the other hand, the arts can be described as being the language of the emotions, since the knowledge derived from the arts is based on opinions, and opinions can be based on emotions.

According to Robert Plutchik in 1980, there are eight advanced emotions. Since there is only a limited number of emotions, it is logical to say that there is only a limited amount of knowledge that can be derived from the arts. Thus it is also logical to say that the more knowledge we derive from the arts, the less ignorant we are about them. However, one purpose of the arts is to imitate life, and if knowledge of real life is limited (as argued above), knowledge derived from the arts must also be limited, because they are an imitation of real life. Countering this argument, it can be said that a distinguishing feature of the arts is that they are inexhaustible, in the sense that new interpretations of the same work can be found every time the work is revisited. For example, readers reading Shakespeare’s Hamlet can still find alternative interpretations and therefore gain more knowledge about the text, even though it was written over 400 years ago. Also, there are often new movements in the arts that challenge our understanding

of reality, introduce new ideas and offer a fresh perspective on things, much like a paradigm shift. For example, people reacted to Picasso’s ‘Les Demoiselles d’Avignon’ (1907) with shock and outrage, but now it is considered a great work of art. Moving on, history is not a record of absolutely everything that happened in the past, only a record of the significant events which occurred. Expanding the field of knowledge in history leads to many different problems. Sometimes, when trying to analyse an event, there may be too little evidence to base our knowledge on. For example, our understanding of the Greek and Persian Wars in the fifth century BC is based solely on one source, Greek historian Herodotus. On the other hand, there can be too much information at hand for it to be possible to pick out the relevant parts. These problems present a problem to historians when trying to analyse past events. They have to choose which pieces of evidence to use, neglecting some sources. Therefore, due to the problems

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The fact that historians have to select from a selection of sources shows that it is impossible to determine what truly caused something to happen, and their interpretations are only plausible speculation that historians have with sources, the more we think we know about history, the more ignorant we are.

On the other hand, the problem of there being too little evidence can be solved if historians can recognise the one-sidedness of the limited sources and compensate in their interpretations of the event. Also, when it comes to writing modern history, where there is too much information to sift through, historians choose to use a selection of the available evidence. By doing this, historians can still establish the truth and in the process gain knowledge about a historical event. Moreover, another tool which the historian can use to gain knowledge is hindsight, as a historian already knows how events unfolded. Historians are therefore able to obtain knowledge from the past and be less ignorant about the past. Countering this point, gaining more knowledge of history and the past only leads to more ignorance, because of the infinite number of factors that could have caused an event to happen. The fact that

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historians have to select from a selection of sources shows that it is impossible to determine what truly caused something to happen, and their interpretations are only plausible speculation. Also, there are many problems with sources, making it very difficult for historians to compensate for them. Winston Churchill said that “history is written by the victors”, and according to Samuel Butler “though God cannot alter the past, historians can”. This clearly shows that history is flawed. Furthermore, there are many different schools of history: structuralist, intentionalist, Marxist, etc. It can also be said that Marxism could be considered a paradigm in field history. There are so many ways to interpret historical events that the more we think we know about history, the more ignorant we actually are. In conclusion from the arguments above, the various knowledge issues within the areas of knowledge, coupled with their respective paradigms, show that each door of knowledge we open leads to even more doors for us to open as knowers, and therefore we can never be rid of our

ignorance as knowers. However, we cannot question every piece of knowledge that we encounter; we would simply create too many problems that cannot be solved. Therefore, a little ignorance is needed in our everyday lives, for the sake of convenience. For more information on the IB programme and the TOK essays, please contact the IB Coordinator at The British International School, Andrew Francis Joy (a-joy@bisspuxi.com).

Jia Yong Ong graduated from The British International School Shanghai in May 2009. He is currently at Singapore University studying Media and Communications. Jia Yong particularly excelled in Theory of Knowledge (TOK), a subject which encourages students to think more deeply about the knowledge they obtain in other fields and to develop critical thinking skills. Jia Yong’s essay was awarded a grade A by the IB examiner, the top grade possible.

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Since Shakespeare wrote Hamlet there have been countless interpretations of the play, yet readers can still find alternative interpretations, therefore gaining more knowledge, even though it was written over four hundred years ago.

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Facts Machine GIVE YOUR NEW SCHOOL ALL THE INFORMATION THEY CAN HANDLE by Mark Angus Principal The British International School Shanghai Nanxiang Campus

veryone wants the business of starting in a new school to be as smooth, quick and painless as possible, especially if itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also in a new country. Pupils want to meet their new classmates and teachers and make friends as soon as they can, while parents want to feel reassured that they have made the right decision and that their child will be happy and flourish in their new environment, so they can stop worrying!

Schools also want joining a new learning environment to be a positive experience for all concerned. They want to get to know you and your child, to welcome you into the community and to be able to get on with the business of helping pupils to learn as soon as they can. So while different schools in different countries with different systems might all have their own registration, enrolment and induction procedures, each with their own particular idiosyncrasies, there is nevertheless one constant, one thing that any school wants about their new starters, wherever in the world that school is â&#x20AC;&#x201C; everyone wants information.

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If your child has earned medals, certificates, ribbons or badges for any sort of sporting event then it’s always a good idea to bring them along to an interview or meeting

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herefore, you can really help your new school simply by giving them as much information about your child as you possibly can. You might think that schools are only interested in dry, academic documentation. Of course this is important, but schools are about so much more than this and, as a consequence, they value and appreciate information from as wide a variety of sources as possible. It might seem irrelevant, unimportant or even silly, but you’d be surprised at what schools can make out of seemingly unpromising material.

What do schools want to know? Academic School reports vary markedly around the world, depending on factors such as whether the school is in the independent or maintained sector, the style of curriculum and assessment, the frequency of the reports and a host of other things besides. It may be that the school reports you have are familiar to us, or they may represent a new variation on a theme that we have not encountered before. Don’t worry – whatever the format, a school report will always provide us with useful information and therefore you should provide your new school with all the reports you have, not only the most recent ones. A range of reports over a number of years allows a school to see the ways in which a pupil has developed and gives them some idea as to what might be to come. Your previous schools may also have provided you with other documentation, and it’s useful for us to see that too. These documents might include: standardised test scores; CAT scores (cognitive ability test); educational psychologist reports; speech or occupational therapy reports; reading age scores. These and similar documents will always be useful, as they help us to make sure we are setting the right targets for new pupils and challenging them appropriately right from the beginning. However, other seemingly less significant material is also of use to us. Small academic

prizes might not in themselves demonstrate the direction of a pupil’s future career, but they nevertheless help a new school build up a more complete picture of that pupil as quickly as possible. Therefore, don’t underestimate the value of that Year 3 award for spelling, or that teacher’s commendation for a project, or that prize for memorising times tables – they all help us to understand your child’s overall approach to school, the pride they take in their work and their ability to do well under pressure or under test conditions. Knowing this information can sometimes save us a lot of time in getting to know just where your child’s particular strengths are. Community involvement All schools, and international schools in particular, place a good deal of emphasis on helping pupils to understand the importance of engaging with the community, learning about social responsibility and tackling difficult questions about how the wider world works. Therefore, it is extremely helpful to know the level to which pupils have previously been engaged in addressing these and other related issues. For older students, we value very highly pupils who have taken part in the International Award (called the Duke of Edinburgh Award in the UK), as it means that they are already on the way to having an understanding of the importance of civic responsibility. Likewise, pupils who have previously been involved in Model United Nations will possess a degree of political and social understanding that sets them apart from their peers. Therefore, this is information that your new school will definitely want to know about and will be useful in establishing the right sort of expectations from the outset. In the case of younger pupils, involvement in organisations such as Boy Scouts or Cubs, Girl Guides or Brownies, army, navy or air force cadets, European Youth Forum, Rotary International, Junior Chamber International, Raleigh International or any similar

organisation is also valued highly. If your child has been involved in a group or organisation of this nature, your new school will undoubtedly want to hear about it. It is also useful if your child can speak enthusiastically about their involvement and what they think they learned from the experience. However, it isn’t always necessary to have a certificate or badge to demonstrate the level of engagement. If your child has been involved in any sort of charity or community project, whether at their previous school or through an outside agency, encourage them to talk about it and describe the sort of work they did and what they felt the benefits were – this is the sort of conversation that principals love to have with prospective pupils and families, and that will really help your new school welcome you into its community. Sports A lot of the school sport in Shanghai international schools is of an extremely high standard and very competitive, and so principals are always keen to hear about new pupils’ sporting skills and exploits. Therefore, this is an area where it’s useful to provide as much documentation and physical evidence as you can. If your child has earned medals, certificates, ribbons or badges for any sort of sporting event then it’s always a good idea to bring them along to an interview or meeting. Have they set a school or district record? Been involved in a championship winning team? Won a gold medal? Been selected to represent their county, state or country? Achievements like these are things to be proud of and shared, and you should encourage your child to talk confidently about their favourite sport and discuss their achievements as maturely as possible. However, people don’t have to be an expert or a champion, or even especially skilled, to enjoy sport; it doesn’t matter at which level your child has competed or if they have ever been a gold medallist; the very fact that they enjoy and take

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part in a sport will be important to their new school, and so they should feel comfortable discussing what it is that they like about their sport, and why. Extracurricular activities There are as many extracurricular activities to potentially talk about as there are pupils in the world, so no matter what your child’s into, tell us about it! There are formal activities from which you may have supporting, documentary material (it’s helpful to collate this and be prepared to present it during an interview or meeting), or there are smaller-scale activities organised on a much more casual basis. In either case, it’s really helpful if your child feels secure and confident enough to be able to talk about them with us. They may be a musician who has completed grade examinations (the universal standard for describing competence and confidence on an instrument); they can show us the pieces of music they’re working on now to give us a good understanding of their level so we can match them up with the right teachers and fellow musicians. They may have been in an orchestra or ensemble at their old school, in which case

Mark Angus

it’s really useful if they can talk about the pieces they played and their composers, as well as describe their role in the group. Or perhaps they were in a band – again, it helps if they’re able to talk about the type of music they play, and discuss their influences and the other sorts of music that they like. There are so many other fascinating things out there that people are interested in, and likewise so many fascinating things that we are interested in hearing your child talk about. Maybe they can speak other languages. Are into mountain climbing. Have an unusual pet. Have travelled to exotic locations. Have met someone famous. Collect antique coins. Like going to the theatre. Spent some time in hospital. Are part of a large family. Anything! Whatever it is, we think hearing them talk about it will help us to understand the sort of person and pupil they’re going to be. Therefore, perhaps the most important thing when your child meets people at their new school is that they know how to talk about what interests them. Can they explain when they first became interested in mountain climbing? What is the most valuable coin in their

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collection? Why do they like to travel? What is the play they have most enjoyed? Their aim should be to share with us their knowledge, understanding and passion for their hobbies and interests, so that we get a good idea of what makes them tick.

Next steps In the end, you really can’t be too prepared when your child is applying to a new school: • Get as many documents together as you can, even if they seem unimportant or trivial. • Get your child ready to show off their sporting medals and ribbons. • Think about the way in which your child presents him- or herself, and make sure that they’re confident talking about and answering questions about their hobbies or interests. Doing all of this will help the school to get to know your child as quickly as they can, and then everyone – him or her included – can get straight down to the serious business of really enjoying the new school. §

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Play by Play A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A NURSERY CLASS CHILD AT THE BRITISH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL by Michelle Stevens Early Years and Key Stage One Coordinator The British International School Shanghai Pudong Campus

ylan joined The British International School Shanghai, Pudong Campus just after turning two. He’s now in our Nursery Elm class and enjoys coming to school every day. Dylan has thrived, and his parents are very pleased with the progress he has made. They attribute it to the balance of teacher-directed and self-initiated learning. They’ve commented on how independent Dylan has become since joining our Nursery class.

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Learning and development

udong Campus offers the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum, which focuses on children from 18 months up to the age of five. There are many benefits to following this particular curriculum, as it provides children with a rich and varied experience. Our pupils learn through play and explorative learning. We try to make each child’s learning experience a valuable one, as this is where a lifetime of learning begins. The curriculum is made up of six areas of learning that together make up the skills, knowledge and experiences appropriate for children as they grow, learn and develop. • Personal, Social and Emotional Development: learning appropriate social behaviour and attitudes and learning to be independent

• Communication, Language and Literacy: speaking, listening and early reading and writing skills

• Problem Solving, Reasoning and Numeracy: understanding number, pattern and shape as well as problem solving • Knowledge and Understanding of the World: respect and appreciation for the natural world and understanding the values and differences of other cultures • Physical Development: moving with skill, confidence and creativity • Creative Development: confidently using art, music, movement and play to express ourselves Although these may appear to be separate areas, they are all linked and help to develop and enhance children’s learning. Children are individuals and need to be taught in a way that caters for their individual gifts, talents and needs. That’s what we aim for here.

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Dylan arrives at school with his older brother, Bryce, who is in the Reception class. Dylan accompanies mum Sarah to drop Bryce off first. He then makes his way to his Nursery class. His teacher, Ms Michelle, is always waiting to greet and receive him. Dylan is now very familiar with the morning routine and knows to hang his coat on his own special peg with his name on it. With the weather so cold, Dylan also takes off his scarf and mittens and puts them in his bag. He loves his mum to be involved, so he gets her to unpack his water bottle and plastic folder with his communication book and other school notices.

The classroom is colourful, stimulating and divided into areas such as: sand and water; construction; writing table; creative area; role play; dressing up; Book Corner; carpet for big puzzles and vehicles. Some of the activities laid out change every day according to the teacher’s plan or the changing needs of the children. Varied and interesting equipment is offered every day to develop the children’s abilities and cater to their interests. The class has just started a new topic about the senses, and the teacher has set up a baker’s shop as the role play area. Dylan heads straight for this area with his three close friends in tow. He brings his teacher a ham and cheese sandwich from the baker’s shop and says, “You have to eat it before it gets cold.” His teacher asks him how he made it and he then lists the ingredients. Ms Michelle writes down what Dylan has said on a post-it note to add to the other notes she has made this week. These notes will be used to complete an observation form diarising his learning journey.

8:35 In Nursery Elm class, the children have been taught to recognise their names, so Dylan finds his name tag. Currently it has a snowman on it, tying in with our winter topic. He’s very proud that he’s able to recognise his name, which gives him a sense of achievement. Dylan is one of the popular boys in the class, so his friends Friso, Alex and Annabelle are very excited to see him. After giving Mum a few cuddles, he goes off to choose one of the activities set out, ranging from painting to constructing blocks or working with play dough.

8:50 Dylan now moves around the room to find something else to do. He settles on an activity where he has to paint a winter picture using colours such as blue, black, grey and white. He describes his picture to the teacher assistant, Ms Snow, who writes down on the picture what he has said. After it has been on display, this picture will be filed in his portfolio. The portfolio is a collection of pieces of work, observations and photographs which show the child’s development throughout the year.

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9:00

11:00

The teachers sit with the children on the carpet to do the register and have circle time. Our Literacy Focus story for the week is ‘Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?’ This relates to our topic on senses, and especially sight. Dylan is very excited about guessing which animal will come next and what colour it will be. The teacher then explains what activities are available for the next hour rotation. The children make their choices and go off into their groups. Every 15 minutes, they move to the next activity they have chosen.

His class teacher is back, and it’s time for some action songs. Dylan’s favourite one is ‘Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes’. This fits in perfectly with the topic. He especially loves it when the tempo of the song is increased. The teacher then plays a game of ‘I spy’ by describing objects and having the children guess what they are. Children who attend half days leave soon so we quickly talk about all we’ve done during the morning.

We have continuous provision for outdoor play for children who wish to take their learning outside. Activities across the range of all six learning areas are set out so that children have access to them at any time. Dylan could paint a picture of his body then decorate it with a woollen hat, scarf and gloves; or he could cut out differentsize snowmen and arrange them from the smallest to the largest. He could also work at the writing table with tracing activities, or listen to a story set up on the computer. At one point, his teacher calls him to work with her on number recognition and ordering the numbers from 1 to 9. When Dylan decides to head to the outside classroom, he works with Ms Sophie, our other teacher assistant, on developing his gross motor skills. He has to climb three steps; the teacher assistant observes whether he can use alternate feet when doing this and makes notes on her observation sheet, which will be used to identify his next steps in learning.

10:00 After a busy session, the children wash their hands and have a snack at the table with their teacher – fruit, milk, juice and cookies are on the menu today. Dylan prefers to bring in his own snack and is very pleased that he has cheese sandwiches and a cereal bar. Once they have finished, each child knows to clean up their own area. Dylan reminds his other friend Grace to clean up her own mess!

10:15 The children all change their indoor shoes and put on their coats, scarves, hats and gloves for 15 minutes of outside play. Dylan loves the climbing frame and heads straight for it. The children have free play during this time and can use any of the equipment on the playground. Dylan hides from Friso in the playhouse and wants him to count to 10 before coming to find him.

10:30 Ms Sophie calls the children for their daily Mandarin lesson. She too is following our topic about senses and is teaching the children the Chinese words for the different body parts. I’m amazed by how quickly they’re learning this new language. Dylan is a bit self-conscious and doesn’t want to say the new words when his teacher’s in the room.

11:30 Time for lunch, and the children line up to wash their hands. The teacher assistants collect lunch from the canteen and we eat in our classroom. Dylan generally only wants school lunch if it’s a sandwich. Today the vegetables are broccoli and carrots; Dylan eats the carrots but isn’t too happy with the broccoli. His teacher asks him to try some. He has one piece and says that he’s had enough. Once they’ve eaten their lunch, the children all take turns to brush their teeth and use the bathroom.

12:15 While the teacher assistants put out the beds and blankets, the children listen to a story. Some children have a nap, drifting off to sleep while soothing music is played in the background. The classroom is dark and warm. Dylan drifts off, too. The teacher prepares quiet activities for those children who don’t want to sleep.

EDUCATION

2:15

1:30

Three times a week in Nursery we have an Extracurricular Activity; today, the children are going to the Infant Hall to have a sing-along with Ms Michelle. All the children in Pre Nursery and Nursery get together to enjoy this activity. They’re going to learn a new song called ‘Catch a Falling Star’. We sing through some of the songs that we already know and then start learning our new one.

1:45

2:45

It’s time for some physical development, and today we’re doing some balancing activities. The children have to walk across a balancing beam with their arms stretched out, putting one foot after the other. Some children aren’t too keen. Dylan says very confidently that he can do this. His teacher tells him that she’s making a video recording of this. It can also be used as evidence to support his learning journey and his profile statement for Physical Development, which says that he usually shows appropriate control in large- and small-scale movements.

Story time – the teacher finds one on the CBeebies website. The children are able to listen to and watch ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’. This allows them to use two of their senses. The day is nearly through, so the teacher recaps all the learning that has taken place today. The teacher asks each child what they’re going to tell Mum or Dad when they get home. The children get their name tags and put them in the basket, ready for tomorrow when they’ll need them to register again.

2:00 The children now prepare for afternoon snack. Dylan wants to squirt the soap on all the children’s hands. They form a line so that he can do this. One of the children gets to serve the fruit, and another the little cakes that have been prepared. After snack, they again swap their indoor shoes for their outdoor ones.

3:00

FAMILY MATTERS

MAGAZINE

The children all help to tidy away the beds and blankets. The teacher organises an activity on the interactive whiteboard. The children have to look at the picture to see what the weather is, then dress the bear with the appropriate clothing. There’s a bit of a debate about whether you can wear rain boots in the snow. Dylan thinks only if they’re warm inside.

Michelle Stevens

FAMILY MATTERS

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The children and teachers all sing the good-bye song to end the day. Children who go home on the school bus leave with the teaching assistants. Dylan is collected from school by his mum, so his teacher takes him to the reception area. Mum is already waiting, and Dylan is very excited when he sees her. The teacher quickly tells Mum that he had a good day. Dylan starts telling his mother about some of the experiences of the day and showing off what he has learned.

ichelle has been teaching for 17 years in South Africa, Sweden and China. Early Years and Key Stage One Coordinator She loves the positive vibe The British International School Shanghai that exists here at Pudong. “I Pudong Campus believe that happy children will be confident children, able to achieve anything to which they put their minds. I hope to be able to bring out the best in all children so they develop into confident young adults of the future”. In her spare time, Michelle does decoupage, fabric painting, makes jewellery and caters for children’s parties.

Please contact editor@bisshanghai.com

FAMILY MATTERS

LISTINGS

Listings Accommodation

Ambassy Court 1500 Huaihai Rd. (M) 淮海中路1500号 Ascott Pudong 3 Pudong Avenue (6886 0088) 上海浦东雅诗阁, 浦东大道3号 Bellewood Villas Lane 491 Huanlin Rd. 美林别墅, 环林东路491弄 Belvedere Serviced Apartments 833 Changning Rd. near Dingxi Rd. (6213 2222) 柏华丽豪华公寓, 长宁833号 , 近定西路 Beverly Hills 1118 Mingyue Rd., Jinqiao Town 百富丽山庄, 金桥明月路1118号 Cedar Villa 1705 Hami Rd. 别墅, 哈密路1705号 Celebrity Garden 2 Chexin Highway 家天下别墅, 车新公路2号 Chevalier Place Serviced Apartments 168 Anfu Rd. near Wulumuqi Zhong Rd. (6433 8599) 亦园, 安福路168号近乌鲁木齐中路 Citadines Jinqiao 55 Beijing Rd. (W) (2308 6666) 上海馨乐庭金桥服务公寓, 陕西南路5 - 7号 City Condo 118 Ziyun Rd. 虹桥豪苑, 紫云路118弄 Consul Garden 555 Gubei Rd. 虹桥华庭, 古北路555弄 Contemporary Spirits 1801 Gudai Rd. 当代艺墅, 顾戴路1801号

Crystal Pavilion Lane 318 Maoming Road 茂名公寓, 徐泾西路188弄

Green Villas 700 Biyun Rd. 碧云别墅, 碧云路700号

New Rainbow Asia Garden 1655 Huqingpin Rd. 新虹桥亚洲花园, 沪青平公路1655弄

De Oriental London 1000 Gubei Rd. 伦敦广场(东方伦敦花园) 古北路 1000号

Greenworld 68 Ruilin Rd. 上海金地格林世界, 瑞林路68号

One Park Avenue 500 Changde Rd. 静安枫景苑, 常德路500弄

Dong Jiao Guest Hotel Garden Villa 1800 Jinke Rd. 东郊宾馆, 金科路1800号 Dynasty Villas Lane 851 Hongjing Rd. 皇朝别墅, 虹井路851弄 Elegant Garden 189 Longxi Rd. 西郊明苑别墅, 龙溪路189号 Emerald Court 2888 Hunan Rd. 翡翠园, 湖南路 Forest Manor 588 Jinfeng Rd. 西郊庄园, 金丰路588号 Forest Riviera 689 Gaojing Rd. 西郊美林馆, 高泾路689号 Forty-One Hengshan Road 41 Hengshan Rd. 衡山路41号, 寿宁路98号 Fraser Residence Shanghai 98 Shouning Rd. (2308 0000) 上海辉盛庭国际公寓, 寿宁路98号 Fraser Suites Top Glory 600 Yincheng Rd. (M) (6378 8888) 上海鹏利辉盛阁公寓, 银城中路 600弄1号 GaoAn Apartment 105 - 107 Gao’an Rd. 高安公寓, 高安路105 - 107 Green Hills Lane 418 Jinxiu Rd. 云间绿大地别墅, 锦绣东路418弄 Green Valley Villas 111 Hongguang Rd. 南翔绿谷别墅有限公司, 上海虹光路111号

Hampton Woods 589 Xinzhan Rd., Xinqiao 盛世香樟, 新桥镇新站路589号 Hillicas Villa Lane 2999 Hongmei Rd. 豪嘉府邸, 虹梅路2999弄 Hong Qiao State Guest House 1591 Changning Rd., Hongqiao (6219 8855) 虹桥迎宾馆, 上海市长宁区虹桥路1591号 Hongqiao Golf Villas 555 Hongxu Rd. 虹桥高尔夫别墅, 虹许路555号 Kerry Residences 1515 Nanjing Rd. (W) 上海嘉里中心, 南京西路1515号 Kingsville 198 Anfu Rd. 金苑, 安福路198号 La Doll 758 Beijing Rd. 国际丽都城, 北京路758号 Laidun Town Serviced Apts 839 Chenhua Rd. near Shenzhuan Rd. (5769 0066) 莱顿小城(怡林花园), 辰花路839号近沈砖路 Lakeville 263 Zizhong Rd. 丽都别墅, 高泾路428号 Longbeach Garden Villa 165 West Xujing Rd. 长堤花园别墅, 徐泾西路165弄

Park View Lane 228 Baise Rd. 天然居, 百色路228弄 Perfect Garden 1889 Hongqiao Rd. 西郊华庭, 虹桥路1889号 Pinnacle Century Park 99 Dongxiu Rd. 置茂行服务公寓, 东绣路99号 Pinnacle Huashan 211 Xingfu Rd. (2211 9208) 置茂行华山豪庭, 幸福路211号 Pudong Century Garden 1108 Huamu Rd. 浦东世纪花园(传说99), 花木路1108 号 Rancho Santa Fe 333 Jinhui Rd. 兰乔圣菲, 金辉路333弄 Regency Park 1883 Huamu Rd. 御翠园, 花木路1883号 Rich Garden Gubei 881 Huangjin Avenue 古北瑞仕花园, 黄金大道881号 Ridgewood Cottage 385 Hongzhong Rd. 虹中别墅, 虹中路385号 Sassoon Park Villa 2419 Hongqiao Rd. 龙柏花苑, 虹桥路2419号

Mandarine City 788 Hongxu Rd. 名都城, 虹许路788号号近古羊路

Seasons Villas 983 Huamu Rd. 四季雅苑, 花木路983号

Mandarine de Gubei 1700 Gubei Rd. 名都古北, 古北路1700号

Shanghai Centre 1376 Nanjing Xi Rd. 上海商城, 南京西路1376号

LISTINGS

Up Town 1398 Gubei Rd. 上城, 古北路1398号 Vizcaya Lane 1988 Yunshan Rd. 维诗凯亚, 云山路1988弄

Shanghai Racquet Club and Apartments Lane 555 Jinfeng Rd. 上海西庭网球俱乐部和公寓, 金丰路555弄

Westwood Villas 299 Chengjiaqiao Rd. near Yan’an Xi Rd. (6465 1148) 伯爵山莊, 程家桥路299号近延安西路 Windsor Park 2279 Hongqiao Rd. 温沙花园, 虹桥路2279号

Shimao Riviera garden 1 Weifang Rd. (W) 世茂滨江花园, 潍坊西路1号

Xiang Mei Garden 388 Huamu Rd. 香梅花园, 花木路388号

Skyline Mansion 200 Dongtai Rd. 盛大金磐花园, 东泰路200弄

Yanlord Garden Lane 99 Pucheng Rd. 仁恒滨江园, 浦城路99弄

Somerset Xuhui, Shanghai 888 Shaanxi Rd. (S) (6466 0888) 上海徐汇盛捷服务公寓, 陕西南路888号

Yin Tao Golf Villa 2222 Huqingping Rd. 银涛高尔夫别墅, 沪青平公路2222弄

Stratford/Sylvan Lane 377 Zhuxin Rd. 万科红郡, 诸新路377弄

Community

Taiyuan Villa Apartment 160 Taiyuan Rd. 太原别墅公寓楼, 太原路160号 The Emerald 2888 Hunan Highway 绿宝园, 沪南公路2888号 The Garden Inside Villa 658 Gaojing Rd. 西郊园中园, 高泾路658弄 Tiziano Villa Lane 1 Xiuyan Rd. 提香别墅, 南汇区秀沿路1弄 Tomson Golf Villa 1 Longdong Ave. 汤臣高尔夫别墅第8期, 龙东大道 1号 Trinity Village Branch Lane 2, Lane 1168 Xiuyan Rd. 翠廷别墅, 秀沿路1168弄2支弄

Abundant Grace International 455 Hongfeng Rd. near Mingyue Rd. (5030 3313) 鸿恩堂, 红枫路455号近明月路

Hengshan Community Church (Protestant) 53 Hengshan Rd. near Wulumuqi Rd. (6437 6576) 上海犹太旧址, 衡山路53号近乌鲁木齐路 Historic Ohel Rachel Synagogue 500 Shaanxi Rd. (N) near Beijing Rd. (W) (53060606) 西摩路会堂 (欧黑尔.雪切尔犹太会堂), 陕西北路500号近北京西路 Hong-En Church 455 Hongfeng Rd. near Mingyue Rd. (5030 7556) 鸿恩堂, 红枫路455号近明月路 Jingxing Lu Mosque 302 Jingxing Rd. near Pingliang Rd. (6541 3199) 景星路清真寺, 景星路302弄117号近平凉路

FAMILY MATTERS

Clark Hatch Fitness Center 78 Xingguo Rd. near Jiangsu Rd. (6212 9998 ext. 3300) 克拉克海奇健身中心, 兴国路78号近江苏路 Diva Life Nail & Beauty Lounge 88 Keyuan Rd. near Longdong Ave. (2898 6078) 美甲沙龙, 科苑路88号近龙东大道 Diva Life Nail Lounge 266 Ruijin Er Rd. near Taikang Rd. (5465 7291) 上海天后美甲沙发吧, 瑞金二路266 号近泰康路 Dragonfly Changyi 29-31 Changyi Rd. near Jimo Rd. (5878 4755) 悠庭昌邑, 昌邑路29 - 31号近即墨路

Longhua Temple 2853 Longhua Rd. near Longwu Rd. (6457 0570) 龙华寺, 龙华路2853号近龙吴路

Dragonfly Hongmei 3911 Hongmei Rd. near Hongxu Rd. (6242 4328) 悠庭虹梅, 虹梅路3911弄5号近虹许路

Sacred Heart Of Jesus Catholic Church 151 Hongfeng Rd. near Biyun Rd. 天主教中华殉道圣人堂, 红枫路151 号近名月路

Dragonfly Retreat 206 Xinle Rd. near Donghu Rd. (5403 9982) 悠庭保健会所, 新乐路206号近东湖路

St. Ignatius Cathedral 158 Puxi Rd. near Caoxi Bei Rd. (6438 2595) 徐家汇大教堂, 蒲西路158号近漕溪北路

Dragonfly Shanghai Racquet Club & Apartments 555 Jinfeng Rd. near Baole Rd. (2201 0899, 2201 0866) 悠庭西庭网球俱乐部, 金丰路近宝乐路

Chabad Jewish Center Of Pudong 99 Puming Rd. near Shangcheng Rd. (5878 2008) 浦明路99弄近商城路

Fitness and Beauty

Fuyou Lu Mosque 378 Fuyou Rd. near Houjia Rd. (6328 2135) 福佑路清真寺, 福佑路378号近侯家路

Apsara Spa 457 Shaanxi Rd. (N) near Beijing Rd. (W) (6258 5580) 馨园水疗, 陕西北路457号近北京西路

Frangipani Nail Bar 3305 Hongmei Rd. near Chengjiaqiao Rd. (5422 2984) 花中美语, 虹梅路3305号近程家桥支路

Grace Church 375 Shaanxi Rd. (N) near Beijing Rd. (W) (6253 9394) 基督教堂, 陕西北路375号近北京西路

Chi, The Spa 33 Fucheng Rd. near Dongchang Rd. (6882 8888 ext. 460) 气’水疗中心, 富城路33号近东昌路

Hongqiao Golf Club 555 Hongxu Rd. near Hongsong Rd. (6421 5522) 上海虹桥高尔夫俱乐部, 虹许路555 号近红松路

Eternity Fitness Retreat 2 Yuyao Rd. near Xikang Rd. (6215 1619) 泳泰健身, 余姚路2号近西康路

100 FAMILY MATTERS

LISTINGS

LISTINGS International Tennis Center Club 516 Hengshan Rd. near Wuxing Rd. (6415 5588 ext. 82) 上海国际网球中心俱乐部, 衡山路 516号近吴兴路 Jinqiao Megafit Sports Club 600 Lantian Rd. near Jinqiao Carrefour (5030 8118) 金桥美格菲运动俱乐部, 蓝天路600 号近金桥家乐褔 Lujiazui Golf Club 501 Yincheng Zhong Rd. near Huanyuanshiqiao Rd. 上海陆家嘴高尔夫俱乐部, 银城中路501号近花园石桥路 Megafit Fitness 208 Baise Rd. near Longwu Rd. (5435 6399) 美格菲健身, 百色路208号1楼近龙吴路 Physical Fitness 1111 Zhaojiabang Rd. near Hengshan Rd. (6426 8282) 舒适堡健身, 肇嘉浜路1111号近衡山路 Shanghai Golf Club 3765 Jiahang Highway near Shuangliu Rd. (5995 0111) 上海高尔夫俱乐部, 嘉行公路3765 号近双浏路 Shanghai International Golf Country Club 961 Yingzhu Rd., Zhujiajiao, Qingpu (5972 8111) 国际高尔夫球乡村俱乐部, 朱家角镇盈朱路961号 Shanghai Stadium Rock-Climbing 666 Tianyaoqiao Rd. near Lingling Rd. (6426 5178) 上海体育场攀岩中心, 天钥桥路 666号 Tomson Pudong Golf Club 1 Longdong Highway (5833 8888) 汤臣高尔夫俱乐部, 龙东大道1号

Will’s Gym 5 Yinxiao Rd. near Huamu Rd. (5045 6257) 上海威尔士健身中心, 银霄路5号近花木路

Health

ParkwayHealth Medical & Dental Centers 51 Hongfeng Rd. Jinqiao near Xinqiao Rd. (6445 5999) 瑞新医疗, 金桥红枫路51号近新桥路 ParkwayHealth 788 Hongxu Rd. near Huaguang Rd. (6445 5999) 瑞新国际医疗, 虹许路788号近华光路

American-Sino OB/GYN Service Huashan Hospital, 12 Wulumuqi Rd. (M) near Zhenning Rd. (6249 3246) 美华妇产服务, 乌鲁木齐中路 12号华山医院近镇宁路 Children’s Hospital Of Fudan University 399 Wanyuan Rd. near Gudai Rd. (6493 1990) 复旦大学附属儿科医院, 万源路399 号近顾戴路

PAW Veterinary Surgeons 722 Xinhua Rd. near Kaixuan Rd. (5254 0611) 上海汪汪宠物医院, 新华路722弄15 号近凯旋路 Ruijin Hospital 197 Ruijin Rd. near Shaoxing Rd. (6437 0045 ext. 668101) 瑞金医院, 瑞金二路197号近绍兴路 SinoUnited Health

East International Medical Center 551 Pudong Rd. (S) near Pudong Ave. (5879 9999) 上海东方国际医院, 浦东南路551号近浦东大道 Huashan Hospital 12 Wulumuqi Rd. (M) near Changle Rd. (6248 9999 ext 2500) 华山医院, 乌鲁木齐中路近长乐路 International Peace Maternity & Child Health 910 Hengshan Rd. near Zhaojiabang Rd. (6407 4887 ext 1105) 国际和平妇幼保健医院, 衡山路910 号近肇嘉浜路

300 Hongfeng Rd. near Biyun Rd. (5030 7810) 盛和红枫康复门诊, 红枫路300弄16 号近碧云路 Sun-Tec Medical Center 2281 Hongqiao Rd. near Jianhe Rd (5175 0505) 上海申德医院, 虹桥路2281号近剑河路 United Animal Hospital 3333 Qixin Rd. near Wuzhong Rd. (5485 9099) 上海联谊动物医疗诊所, 七莘路 3333号近吴中路 United Family Clinic 555 Jinfeng Rd. near Beiqing Highway (2201 0995) 上海市和美家诊所, 金丰路555弄近北青公路

Fun/Kids

Toni & Guy Hairdressing 99 Huaihai Zhong Rd. near Longmen Rd. (5351 3606) 汤尼英盖, 淮海中路99号近龙门路 Aquaria 21 Wide Tera Gym International 1018 Changning Rd. near Kaixuan Rd. (5238 2222) 一兆韦德, 长宁路1018号近凯旋路

451 Daduhe Rd. near Jinshajiang Rd. (6223 5280) 上海长风海洋世界, 大渡河路 451 号近金沙江路

FAMILY MATTERS 101

Auto Museum 7565 Anting Boyuan Rd. near Moyu Rd. (S) (6955 0055) 上海汽车博物馆, 安亭博园路7565 号近墨玉南路 Children’s Technology Workshop 199 Fangdian Rd. near Yinchun Rd. (5033 3053) 儿童科技营, 芳甸路199弄46-47B 近迎春路 Circus World 2266 Gonghexin Rd. near Guangzhong Rd. (6652 7750) 上海马戏城, 共和新路2266号近广中路 Dino Beach 78 Xinzhen Rd. near Gudai Rd. (6478 3333) 热带风暴, 新镇路78号近顾戴路 Disc Kart Indoor Karting 809 Zaoyang Rd. near Jinshajiang Rd. Metro (6222 2880) 迪士卡赛车馆, 枣阳路809号近地铁 3号线金沙江路站 Dramatic Arts Center 288 Anfu Rd. near Wukang Rd. (5465 6200) 上海话剧艺术中心, 安福路288号近武康路 Eday Town 5001 Dushi Rd. near Chunshen Rd. (400 820 5066) 星期八小镇, 都市路5001号近春申路 Fuxing Park 2 Gaolan Rd. near Nanchang Rd. (5386 1069) 复兴公园, 皋兰路2号近南昌路 Guyi Garden 218 Huyi Highway (5912 2225) 古漪园, 沪宜公路218号 IMAX 3D Cinemas 2000 Century Ave. near Dingxiang Rd. (6862 2000 ext.30712) 上海科技馆3D电影院, 世纪大道 2000号近丁香路 Jialiang K-9 Kennel and Equestrian Club 1858 Sanlu Highway near Zhahang Highway (6411 0049) 佳良马术俱乐部, 三鲁公路1858号近杜航公路

LISTINGS Jinmao Concert Hall 88 Century Ave. near Lujiazui Rd. (E) (5047 2612) 金茂音乐厅, 世纪大道88号近陆家嘴东路

Science and Technology Museum 2000 Century Ave. near Jinxiu Rd. (6862 2000) 上海科技馆, 世纪大道2000号近锦绣路

Jinjiang Amusement Park 201 Hongmei Rd. near Humin Highway (5420 4956) 锦江乐园, 虹梅路201号近沪闵路

Shanghai Art Museum 325 Nanjing Rd. (W) near Xinchang Rd. (6327 2829) 上海美术馆, 南京西路325号近新昌路

Kids’ Golf 88 Xianxia Xi Rd. near Jianhe Rd. (5217 2075) 上海新中少儿高尔夫培训有限公司, 仙霞西路88号近剑河路 Kidtown Hongmei Rd. near Chengjiaqiao Rd. (6405 5188) 可童探索城, 虹梅路3211号4楼近程家桥支路

Shanghai Arts And Crafts Museum 79 Fenyang Rd. near Taiyuan Rd. (6437 2509) 上海工艺美术博物馆, 汾阳路79号近太原路 Shanghai Discovery Children’s Museum 61 Songyuan Rd. (6278 3127) 上海儿童博物馆, 宋园路61号近虹桥路

Kodak Cinemaworld 1111 Zhaojiabang Rd. near Tianyaoqiao Rd. (6426 8181) 柯达超级电影世界, 肇家浜路1111号近天钥桥路

Shanghai Film Art Center 160 Xinhua Rd. near Xinhua Rd. (6280 4088) 上海影城, 新华路160号近番禺路

MoCA People’s Park, 231 Nanjing Rd. (W) (6327 9900) 上海当代艺术馆, 南京西路231号人民公园7号门

Shanghai Grand Stage 1111 Caoxi Bei Rd. near Tianyaoqiao Rd. (6438 5200) (上海大舞台) 漕溪北路1111号近天钥桥路

Municipal History Museum 1 Century Avenue near Oriental Pearl Tower (5879 1888) 上海城市历史发展陈列馆, 世纪大道1号近东方明珠

Shanghai Grand Theater 201 Renmin Ave. near Huangpi Rd. (N) (6372 3500) 上海博物馆, 人民大道201号近黄陂北路

Natural Wild Insect Kingdom 1 Fenghe Rd. near Binjiang Ave. (5840 5921) 大自然野生昆虫馆, 丰和路1号近滨江大道

Shanghai International Circuit 2000 Yining Rd. (6956 9999) 上海国际赛车场, 伊宁路2000号

Shanghai Zendai Museum of Modern Art 199 Fangdian Rd. near Yanggao Rd. (C) (5033 9801) 证大现代艺术馆, 芳甸路199弄28号近杨高中路 Super Rink 168 Lujiazui Rd. (W) near Fucheng Rd. (5047 1711) 司凯特正大真冰滑冰场, 陆家嘴西路168号近富城路 Think Town 1118 Changshou Rd. near Wanhangdu Rd. (5238 3208)

Paradise Warner Cinema City 1 Hongqiao Rd. near Huashan Rd. (6407 6622) 永华电影城, 虹桥路1号近华山路 Planet Laser Tag Hongkou Stadium, 444 Dongjiangwan Rd. (5560 0658) 上海普兰尼镭射, 东江湾路444号虹口足球场

Shanghai Ocean Aquarium 1388 Lujiazui Ring Rd. near Oriental Pearl Tower (5877 9988) 上海海洋水族馆, 陆家嘴环路1388 号近东方明珠

Ruby’s Party 3333-A Hongmei Rd. near Huaguang Rd. (6401 6323) 乐贝派对，虹梅路3333-A号近华光路

Shanghai Wild Animal Park 178 Nanliu Highway near Xiayan Highway (6118 0000) 上海野生动物园, 南汇南六公路178 号近下盐公路

Blarney Stone 5 Dongping Rd. near Yueyang Rd. (6415 7496) 岩烧, 东平路5号A近岳阳路 Blue Frog 633 Biyun Rd. near Pudong Carrefour (5030 6426) 蓝蛙, 碧云路633号近浦东家乐福 Boxing Cat 453 Jinfeng Rd. near Baole Rd. (6221 9661) 拳击猫啤酒屋, 金丰路453号近保乐路

宝贝科学探索坊, 长寿路1118号近万航渡路 Yinqixing Indoor Skiing Site 1835 Qixin Rd. near Gudai Rd. (6478 8666) 银七星室内滑雪场, 七莘路1835号近顾戴路

Restaurants and Bars 1001 Nights 4 Hengshan Rd. near Wulumuqi Rd. (6473 1178) 一千零一夜, 衡山路4号近乌鲁木齐路 Azul

Shanghai Municipal History Museum 1 Century Ave. near Oriental Pearl Tower (5879 1888 ext 80449) 上海城市历史发展陈列馆, 世纪大道1号近东方明珠

FAMILY MATTERS 103

18 Dongping Rd. near Wulumuqi Rd. (6433 1172) 西班牙餐厅, 东平路18号近乌鲁木齐路 Baby Bamboo 3338 Hongmei Rd. near Yan’an Rd. (W) (6465 9099) 大竹子咖啡吧, 虹梅路3338弄近延安西路 Bergamo Italian Restaurant & Bar 1212 Biyun Rd. near Hongfeng Rd. (3382 1068) 贝加莫意大利餐厅酒吧, 碧云路1212号近红枫路 Big Bamboo 777 Biyun Rd. near Lan’an Rd. (5030 4228) 大竹子, 碧云路777号近蓝桉路

Address: Level 2, No.3, Sinan Mansions, Long 507 Fuxing Zhong Lu, at Chongqing Rd 复兴中路507弄思南公馆3号2楼，近重庆南路 Reservations: (21) 5465-4800 Hours: 11am - 11pm, daily www.cpk.com.cn

Casa Mia 221 Shimen Er Rd. near Xinzha Rd. (6271 9881) 石门二路221号近新闸路 Chiang Mai Thai Cuisine 1019 Kangding Rd. near Yangping Rd. (5228 1588) 清迈泰国餐厅, 康定路1019号近延平路 Cloud 9 88 Century Ave. near Lujiazui Rd. (E) (5049 1234 Ext.8787) 九重天, 世纪大道88号近陆家嘴东路 Cotton’s 132 Anting Rd. near Jianguo Rd. (W) (6433 7995) 棉花, 安亭路132号近建国西路 Di Shui Dong 626 Xianxia Rd. near Shuicheng Rd. (3207 0213) 滴水洞饭店, 仙霞路626号近水城路 Dublin Exchange 101 Yincheng Dong Rd. near Lujiazui Rd. (6841 2052) 都不林, 银城东路101号近陆家嘴路

104 FAMILY MATTERS

LISTINGS

Eastern Seafood Port 33 Fushan Rd. near Dongfang Rd. (6888 2318) 东方海港, 福山路33号近东方路 El Wajh 1800 Jinke Rd. near Longdong Rd. (5027 8261) 摩洛哥餐厅, 金科路1800号近龙东路 Enoteca 58 Taicang Rd. near Ji’nan Rd. (5306 3400) Enoteca, 太仓路58号近济南路 Fuga 2967 Lujiazui Rd. (W) near Oriental Pearl Tower (5877 6187) 枫雅, 陆家嘴西路2967号近东方明珠 Greek Taverna 199 Fangdian Rd. near Dingxiang Rd. (5033 7500) 希腊餐厅, 芳甸路199弄41号近丁香路 Gui Hua Lou 33 Fucheng Rd. near Huayuanshiqiao Rd. (5888 3697) 桂花楼, 富城路33号近花园石桥路 Haiku By Hatsune 28B Taojiang Rd. near Hengshan Rd. (6445 0021) 隐泉の语, 锦严路309号近锦绣路 Hofbraeuhaus Shanghai 309 Jinyan Rd. near Jinxiu Rd. (6163 3699) 豪夫堡, 锦严路309号近锦绣路 Hongmei Entertainment Street 3338 Hongmei Rd. near Yan’an Rd. (W) (6465 6996) 虹梅休闲步行街, 虹梅路3338近延安西路 Hooters 168 Lujiazui Rd. (W) near Fucheng Rd. (5049 0199) 美国猫头鹰餐厅, 陆家嘴西路168号近富城路 House of Flour 635 Bibo Rd. near Chunxiao Rd. (5080 6230) 毂屋, 碧波路635号近春晓路 Indian Kitchen 600 Lantian Rd. near Biyun Rd. (5030 2005) 印度小厨, 蓝天路600号近碧云路

Jade on 36 33 Fucheng Rd. near Lujiazui Rd. (W) (6882 3636) 翡翠36楼, 富城路33号近陆家嘴西路 Jean Georges 3 Zhongshan Rd. 1 (E) near Guangdong Rd. (6321 7733) 陆唯轩, 中山东一路3号近广东路 Jendow 2787 Longhua Rd. near Tianyaoqiao Rd. (6457 2299, 6457 7821) 人道素菜, 龙华路2787号近天钥桥路 Jujube Tree 848 Huangjincheng Rd. near Shuicheng Rd. (S) (6275 1798) 枣子树, 黄金城道848号近水城南路 Kakadu 8 Jianguo Rd. near Chongqing Rd. (5468 0118) 卡卡图, 建国中路8号近重庆路 Kobachi 88 Century Ave. near Yincheng Rd. (W) (5047 1234 ext. 8907) 日珍餐厅, 世纪大道88号金贸君悦 56楼近银城西路 La Verbena 2967 Lujiazui Rd. Binjiang Ave. (N) (5878 9837) 露华娜餐厅, 陆家嘴路2967号滨江大道北端店面E Laris 3 Zhongshan 1 Rd. (E) near Guangdong Rd. (6321 7733) 陆唯轩, 中山东一路3号4楼近广东路 Las Tapas 259 Hongfeng Rd. near Biyun Rd. (3382 1686) 乐泰餐饮, 红枫路259号近碧云路 Le Bouchon 1455 Wuding Rd. (W) near Jiangsu Rd. (6225 7088) 勃逊, 武定西路1455号近江苏路 Little Face 30 Donghu Rd. near Xinle Rd. (6466 4328) 印泰餐饮, 东湖路30号近新乐路 Little Sheep Hot Pot 1033 Yan’an Rd. (W) near Wuyi Rd. (6234 1717) 小肥羊火锅, 延安西路1033号近武夷路

Lost Heaven 38 Gaoyou Rd. near Fuxing Rd. (W) (6433 5126) 花马天堂云南餐厅, 高邮路38号近复兴西路 M on the Bund 5 Zhongshan 1 Rd. (E) near Guangdong Rd. (6350 9988) 米氏西餐厅, 中山东一路外滩5号7 楼近广东路 Malone’s 3 Pudong Ave. near Pudong Rd. (S) (6886 1309) 马龙, 浦东大道3号雅诗阁公寓1楼近浦东南路 Moonsha 5 Zhongshan 1 Rd. (E) near Guangdong Rd. (6323 1117) 月影, 中山东一路外滩5号3楼近广东路 Munich Beer House 1138 Pudong Rd. (S) near Zhangyang Rd. (5878 7979) 莱宝啤酒屋, 浦东南路1138号上海湾广场118商铺近张扬路 New Age Veggie 168 Lujiazui Rd. (W) near Fucheng Rd. (5047 1880) 新素代, 陆家嘴西路168号正大广场 5楼20A/B近富城路 New Heights 3 Zhongshan 1 Rd. (E) near Guangdong Rd. (6321 0909) 新视角, 广东路17号 O’Malley’s 42 Taojiang Rd. near Hengshan Rd. (6474 4533) 欧玛莉餐厅, 桃江路42号近衡山路 Paulaner Brauhaus 2967 Lujiazui Rd. near Pudong Shangri-La Hotel (6888 3935) 宝莱纳, 陆家嘴路2967号近香格里拉大酒店 Quan Ju De 778 Dongfang Rd. near Zhangyang Rd. (6886 8966) 全聚德, 东方路788号3楼紫金山大酒店3楼近张扬路 Rendezvous 435 Jinfeng Rd. (5256 4353) 朗迪姆, 金丰路435

Sasha’s 11 Dongping Rd. near Hengshan Rd. (6474 6628) 萨莎, 东平路11号近衡山路 Shanghai Ren Jia Restaurant 789 Tianshan Rd. near Tianshan Loushanguan Rd. (6249 7978) 上海人家, 南京西路1600号 Simply Thai 600 Lantian Rd. near Biyun Rd. (5030 1690) 天泰餐厅, 蓝天路600号近碧云路 South Beauty 168 Lujiazui Rd. near Fucheng Rd. (5047 1917) 俏江南, 陆家嘴西路168号正大广场 10楼近富城路 South Memory 118 Weifang Rd. near Laoshan Rd. (E) (6876 5502) 望湘园, 潍坊路118号近崂山东路 Southern Barbarian 56 Maoming Rd. (S) near Changle Rd. (5157 5510) 南蛮子, 茂名南路56号近长乐路 Spicy Joint 601 Zhangyang Rd. near Nanquan Rd. (6470 2777) 辛湘汇, 张杨路601号5楼近南泉路 Tairyo Teppanyaki 139 Ruijin Rd. 1 near Changle Rd. (5382 8818) 大渔, 瑞金一路139号近长乐路 The Bulldog Pub 1 Wulumuqi Rd. (S) near Dongping Rd. (6466 7878) 英国斗牛犬, 乌鲁木齐南路1号近东平路 The Bund Brewery 11 Hankou Rd. near Sichuan Rd. (64341318) 外滩啤酒总汇, 汉口路11号近四川路 The Cool Docks Food and Fashion Zhongshan Rd. (S) near Fuxing Rd. (E) 老码头, 中山南路近复兴东路 The Irishman’s Pub Lane 199 Fangdian Rd. at Thumb Plaza (5033 9163) 愉龙餐厅, 芳甸路199弄20号大拇指广场

LISTINGS The Monk 458 Jinfeng Rd. Huacao Town (6221 2844) 闵行区华漕镇金光路458号

Brilliance West Shopping Mall 88 Xianxia Rd. (W) near Hami Rd. (5219 8000) 百联西郊购物中心, 仙霞西路88号近哈密路

Decathlon Huamu 393 Yinxiao Rd. near Lanhua Rd. (5045 3888) 迪卡侬花木店, 银霄路393号近兰花路

Buy Now Electonics mall 588 Zhangyang Rd. near Pudong Rd. (S) (6160 9073) 百脑汇, 张扬路588号近浦东南路

Dongtai Road Antique Market Dongtai Rd. near Ji’an Rd. 东台路古董市场, 东台路近吉安路

The Spot 331 Tongren Rd. near Beijing Xi Rd. (6247 3579) 欧风咖啡馆, 铜仁路331号近北京西路 Xiao Nan Guo Restaurant 1 Weifang Rd. (W) near Pudong Rd. (S) (3208 9777) 小南国大酒店, 潍坊西路1弄18号近浦东南路 Yuyintang 1731 Yan’an Rd. (W) near Kaixuan Rd. (5237 8662) 育音堂, 延安西路1731号入口在凯旋路

Shopping

A.P. Xinyang Fashion & Gifts Market 2000 Century Ave. inside Metro Line 2 Shanghai Science & Technology Museum Station (6854 2230) 中国亚太新阳, 世纪大道2000号地铁2号线上海科技馆站内 Amphora Hongqiao Shop 3219 Hongmei Rd. near Huaguang Rd. (51759156) 爱芬乐, 虹梅路3219号近华光路 Amphora Greek Grocery 429 Shaanxi Rd. (N) near Beijing Rd. (W) (5213 9066) 爱芬乐, 陕西北路429号近北京西路 B&Q Zhabei 3228 Gonghexin Rd. near Wenshui Rd. Metro (3603 0099) 百安居闸北店, 共和新路3228号地铁汶水路站 Best Buy Electronics Mall 1065 Zhaojiabang Rd. near Tianyaoqiao Rd. (400 886 8800) 百思买, 肇嘉浜路1065号近天钥桥路

Carrefour Biyun 555 Biyun Rd. near Yunshan Rd. (5030 4420) 家乐福金桥店, 碧云路555号近云山路 Carrefour Gubei 268 Shuicheng Rd. (N) near Yan’an Rd. (W) (6278 1944) 家乐福古北店, 水城南路268号近延安西路 Carrefour Nanxiang 3168 Fengxiang Rd. near Baoxiang Rd. (3992 5252) 家乐福南翔店, 丰翔路3168号近宝翔路

Fuyou Street Merchandise Mart 225 Fuyou Rd. near Anren Rd. (6374 5632) 福佑路小商品市场, 福佑路225号近安仁路 Hola Home Furnishing Store 189 Zhengtong Rd. near Songhu Rd. (6511 1888) 特力屋, 政通路189号和乐家居广场 1楼近淞沪路 Homemart 55 Yiminhe Rd. near Zhongshan Er Rd. (N) (6552 3300) 好美家, 伊敏河路55号近中山北二路

Carrefour Xujing 1829 Huqingping Highway (6191 3330) 家乐福徐泾店, 沪青平公路1829号

Hong Kong Plaza 283 Huaihai Rd. (M) near Huangpi Rd. (S) 香港广场, 淮海中路283号近黄陂南路

Carrefour Zhongshan Park 1018 Changning Rd. near Kaixuan Rd. (6225 5656) 家乐福中山公园店, 长宁路1018号近凯旋路

Hongqiao Int’l Pearl City 3721 Hongmei Rd. near Yan’an Rd. (W) (6465 0000) 上海虹桥珍珠城, 虹梅路3721号近延安西路

City Shop Hongmei 3211 Hongmei Rd. near Luchun Rd. (6215 0418) 城市超市虹梅店, 虹梅路3211号近陆春路

IKEA Shanghai 126 Caoxi Rd. near Sanhui Rd. (5425 6060) 宜家, 漕溪路126号近三汇路

City Shop Riverside 33 Huayuanshiqiao Rd. near Fucheng Rd. (5047 8028) 城市超市滨江店, 花园石桥路33号近富城路近富城路

Jiuxing Tea Leaf Wholesale Market Bridge 6 Caobao Rd. near Hongxin Rd. (54865988) 九星茶叶市场, 漕宝路6号桥近虹莘路

FAMILY MATTERS 105

M50 Art District 50 Moganshan Rd., Suzhou Creek M50艺术区, 莫干山路50号苏河 Meiyuan Bird and Flower Market Lane 49 Fushan Rd. near Rushan Rd. (6876 6638) 梅园花鸟市场, 福山路49弄近乳山路 Metro Putuo 1425 Zhenbei Rd. near Meichuan Rd. (6265 8888) 麦德龙普陀店, 真北路1425号近梅川路 Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street Nanjing Rd. (E) 南京东路步行街, 南京东路 Oriental Department Store 8 Caoxi Bei Rd. near Zhaojiabang Rd. (6487 0000) 南京东路步行街, 南京东路 Outlets Shopping Center 2888 Huqingping Highway near Jiasong Zhong Rd. 奥特莱斯直销广场, 沪青平公路 2888号近嘉松中路 Pacific Department Store 333 Huaihai Rd. (M) near Huangpi Rd. (S) (5306 8888) 太平洋百货, 淮海中路333号近黄陂南路 Parkson Department Store 918 Huaihai Rd. (M) near Shaanxi Rd. (S) (6415 8818) 百盛, 淮海中路918号近陕西南路 Pines The Market Place 322 Anfu Rd. near Wukang Rd. (6437 6375) 松园坊商场, 安福路322号近武康路 Pines The Market Place 427 Jinfeng Rd. near Baole Rd. (5226 4137) 金松坊, 金丰路427号近宝乐路

City Shop Zhudi 550 Jidi Rd. near Stratford (52261250) 城市超市诸翟店, 纪翟路550号近万科红郡西翼

Life Hub @ Daning 1978 Gonghexin Rd. near Wenshui Rd. (6630 0077) 大宁国际商业广场, 共和新路1868 2008号近汶水路

Pines The Market Place 633 Biyun Rd. near Lan’an Rd. (5030 6971) 松园坊商场, 碧云路633号碧云体育休闲中心近蓝桉路

Cloud Nine Shopping Mall 1018 Changning Rd. near Kaixuan Rd. (6115 5555) 龙之梦购物中心, 长宁路1018号近凯旋路

Lotus Supermarket 3521 Shangnan Rd. near Haiyang Rd. (6832 1188) 易初莲花超市, 上南路3521号近海阳路

Plaza 66 Square 1266 Nanjing Rd. (W) near Shaanxi Rd. (S) (6279 0910) 恒隆广场, 南京西路1266号近陕西北路

106 FAMILY MATTERS

LISTINGS

Raffles City 268 Xizang Rd. (W) near Fuzhou Rd. (6340 3600) 来福士广场, 西藏中路268号近福州路 Shanghai Book City 456 Fuzhou Rd. near Guangdong Rd. (6391 4848) 上海图书城, 福州路465号近广东路 South Bund Fabric Market 399 Lujiabang Rd. near Zhongshan Rd. (S) (6377 7288) 南外滩轻纺面料市场, 陆家浜路399 号近中山南路 Super Brand Mall 168 Lujiazui Rd. (W) near Fucheng Rd. (6887 7888) 正大广场, 陆家嘴西路168号近富城路

Suzhou Creek Art Area Suzhou Creek near Datong Rd. 苏河艺术, 苏河艺术近大统路 Taobao Market 1-3/F, 580 Nanjing Rd. (W) near Chengdu Rd. (N) 凤翔礼品市场, 南京西路580号1-3楼近成都北路 Thumb Plaza 199 Fangdian Rd. near Yanggao Rd. (C) (5033 9899) 大拇指广场, 芳甸路199弄近杨高中路

Wal-Mart 252-262 Linyi Rd. (N) near Longyang Rd. (5094 5881) 沃尔玛, 临沂北路252-262近龙阳路 Watsons 939-947 Huaihai Rd. (C) near Shaanxi Rd. (S) (6437 5250) 屈臣氏超市, 淮海中路939号巴黎春天近陕西南路 Yuyuan Garden Market 218 Anren Rd. inside Yuyuan Garden (6238 3251) 豫园市场, 安仁路218在豫园内

Toys “R” Us 168 Lujiazui Rd. (W) near Fucheng Rd. (5047 1472) 玩具“反”斗城, 陆家嘴西路168 号正大广场四楼36-37,41-43号近富城路

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FAMILY MATTERS 107

108 FAMILY MATTERS

FINAL WORD

FINAL WORD ACADEMIC HONESTY IN THE AGE OF GOOGLE Mike Embley discusses the effects of the information age on modern students

The advent of ubiquitous computing power and the dawn of the age of the Internet are perhaps the defining characteristics of our modern age. The effect that these extremely powerful tools have had on the learning environment, and the requirements of schools to adapt to them, can hardly be overstated. To begin, though, we must look back in time somewhat to the days of the first proto-universities. The term ‘university’ actually means a community of learners and scholars. The idea is itself based on the earlier idea of an academy, which itself derives from the first, at least to our knowledge, true learning community at Akademia in Greece. Plato founded a school of philosophy close to a temple of the ancient Greek goddess of wisdom, Athena. So when we trace back the routes of our learning we see that in fact they are based on philosophy and thought, not on simple collections of facts. This will be critical later on. We should then transfer our attention to one of the key skills of learning through time: reading. It’s not for nothing that books have been lauded through time, and before that the reading of scrolls, papyrus, clay tablets… Reading allows in-depth and thoughtful consideration of the issues at hand. Reading and listening with care and consideration are different modes of appreciating information, but in one sense they are the same. They

force the student to engage with the material, and this is critical. Finally we come to the skills of the modern age: information technology, sorting, summarising and (horror of horrors)… skim reading! I jest about skim reading, but we will address that point later in this piece. To return to the modern age, perhaps the most vital skill that students and adults alike need to learn is the sorting and evaluation of information. So much is instantly available, and a simple search can throw up literally millions of sources of information, making it extremely complex, challenging and time consuming to sort the good from the bad, the accurate from the biased, the relevant from the meaningless, opinion from fact, etc. Students must then address the depth and suitability of information that is found. A simple search for weather will throw up records of weather, weather forecasting services, weather disasters, weatherproof clothing and on and on. Even if they find the site on weather types and causes they’re looking for, the information will vary from the hugely simplistic to the highly technical world of computation fluid dynamics. The student of today is burdened by a barrage of information in its rawest form. Google is therefore an imprecise tool that one must learn, and often be taught, to master. Returning to our point regarding reading and the origin of learning

communities back in Ancient Greece, the scholars of the past valued wisdom, thought and study above the simple accumulation and regurgitation of facts. It is here that a dependence on Google or a school environment that is not carefully managed can do a great disservice to students. The ability to copy and paste information without even reading it fully (we are back to skim reading), and almost certainly without considering and thinking about it, is a terrible temptation. It’s no wonder that so many students fall prey to it. Many teachers find themselves receiving work that has been directly copied, or changed just a little. Worse, the students have either not understood the work, have not taken the time to research it properly or have even simply handed in a web link as if that somehow represented their own endeavours. Academic honesty suffers in the age of Google, of course; but worse, academic achievement also suffers. There are now companies allowing teachers and universities to submit work to detect

Mike Embley Principal The British School of Beijing design and implementation.

fraudulent or copied work being handed in. These are all well and good, but they don’t address the greater deficiency of thought that endless information can create. Students of all ages must be trained to master the tools, to learn to search efficiently. To use Google and other tools for what they are, a means to an end rather than the end itself. Then schools must ensure that students are challenged to read, engage and become original creative thinkers, not mindless regurgitators of unfiltered junk. No one wants an artist who simply prints out someone else’s work… and anyone who has looked up ‘back pain’ on the Internet and immediately been ‘diagnosed’ with something fatal will be pleased that their doctors don’t use Google as their only tool and basis of training! The Internet and computers in general are phenomenal tools. They must be harnessed by us all on an almost daily basis, but they are not yet, and will not be for some time, a match for the human mind. §

Michael Embley is the Executive Principal of The British School of Beijing. He graduated first in his class from the University of Leeds. He has led some of the most prestigious and successful international schools across the globe. He has worked in the UK, Taiwan, Venezuela, Norway and mainland China. In addition he has also worked with governments, assisting them in curriculum

A clear focus on the whole pupil, from academic achievement to sporting and musical success and, vitally, the health and social wellbeing of every student, have been hallmarks of the schools he has led. As a father of four he is always aware that student really means ‘someone’s child’ and it is perhaps this fact, above all, that informs his approach to school leadership. He has a keen interest in music and is a world class swordsman... but rarely finds the need to use this talent with his students!

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