Family Matters Beijing - Issue 1

SCHOOL 1

Community life, Community matters

CITY

ISSUE ONE

TOP MARKETS IN BEIJING

DEBATE

IB DIPLOMA VS A-LEVELS

INTERVIEW

LIVING IN BEIJING: RESIDENCE SEARCH

How to get your child into the best university p20 FAMILY MATTERS

2

SCHOOL

SCHOOL 1

February 2010

FAMILY MATTERS

FM How to get your child get into the best university p20

FOOD

14

Keeping healthy and eating well

44

Restaurant reviews

COMMUNITY

ASK THE EXPERTS

4

6

10

26

Adopting and caring for pets in China Roundabout - A place to give 36

SPORTS 40

Sports in Beijing

FASHION 18

Top markets in Beijing

Beijing Hikers

38 Understanding asthma 46

Being an expat spouse 48

Keeping ties with...

Living in Beijing Beijing residence search

SCHOOL MATTERS 2

A-levels or IB Diploma?

12

The importance of play for young children

34 Perfect primary

2

SCHOOL

Further Education

A-levels or IB Diploma?

T

he first and most important thing to state in any comparison of these two programmes aimed at 16- to 17-year-olds seeking to enter university is to emphasise that they are both very good – very different in many regards, but very good.

by Mike Embley, Executive Principal, British School of Beijing

“Both offer rigour, interest and international acceptance in equal measure”

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The second point to emphasise is that both are accepted equally widely. The IB Diploma is a qualification run and managed by the Swiss-based International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO) and the A-level, administered by the University of Cambridge in the UK, is the qualification taken in thousands of British Schools both in the UK and beyond.

It would be unjust to claim that either offers either a better education or a better passport to universities around the world than the other. Indeed, good grades in either can result in up to one year’s credit at universities in the USA, and of course entry to university in the UK is a given. Canada, Australia and many other countries recognise both officially, and both provide an excellent route into the course of choice for the hardworking student.

So why is it correct to say that they are different?

The IB Diploma takes a more generalist approach in many regards, with students having to complete 6 subject areas in addition to a general epistemological course called Theory of Knowledge (TOK). In addition they must complete an extended essay over the two years of the course and at least 3 hours a week of Creativity Action Service (CAS) activities over the course of the two years, adding up to around 150 hours as a minimum.

Academic subjects are chosen at higher level or standard level, and students must choose three of each from varying option blocks.

The requirement to choose from blocks of options as laid down by the IBO means students must study at least two languages, generally their first language and one other.

Students must also continue to study some area of Mathematics, Arts, Humanities and Sciences. Some small amount of flexibility is allowed in that students can opt to study additional sciences or languages by sacrificing the arts option.

SCHOOL 3 So the IB Diploma is a course that encourages and requires students to continue a wide range of courses, and also a great commitment to non-subject specific requirements such as CAS, TOK and the extended essay.

On the other hand, A-levels (which stands for Advanced level) offer a much more focussed approach to university entrance studies.

Most students will choose to take three subjects at A-level and focus their subject choice on areas of interest in which they feel they will succeed. For example, a budding young doctor would study Mathematics, Chemistry and one other subject (often a second science), whereas a linguist would study English, Chinese and French. Some students find the flexibility and freedom a liberating experience. A budding classical scholar may be relieved to no longer have to study Mathematics!

Indeed in some cases A-levels offer a more secure route to university entry, as students are able to focus on subjects they like and are therefore likely to do well in.

Many of us recall the horror of sitting in a class we found dull or frustrating, and the fact that this often led to a poor grade in that area.

Each A-level subject is studied in a great deal more depth than the equivalent on the IB course. Thus success at A-level in 3 (or sometimes 4) subjects is equal in the eyes of universities to the 9 subjects (6 + CAS, TOK and the essay) of the IB. Students and parents need to make this most critical of decisions with all the information at hand and carefully weigh up this most important of choices.

Both curricula offer rigour, interest and international acceptance in equal measure.

A-levels are seen as slightly preferable by some universities, but equally some regard the IB Diploma in the same light.

The most important point is that a student with good grades in either will be accepted everywhere. Nonetheless, each is very different from the other and a thorough investigation is always worthwhile.

For more information about A-Levels visit: www.cie.org.uk/qualifications/academic/ uppersec/alevel/overview

For more information about the IB Diploma visit: w w w. i b o . o rg / d i p l o m a /c u r r i c u l u m / group4/index.cfm

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4

COMMUNITY

Animals in China

Adopting and caring for pets in China I

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

f you are considering adopting a pet in Beijing, please adopt from the many shelters available. There are many wonderful pets available, and the animals in the shelters are usually quite healthy and have good temperaments.

Many were lost or abandoned pets. Breeding is largely unregulated in China, so it’s risky to purchase pets from the animal markets, pet shops and so-called breeders. In the local market, pets for sale are largely bred for profit, meaning the animals are mated to produce many litters quickly. This results in the poor health of the puppies and kittens, as they are weaned too early from their mothers and sold.

In addition, the pets may be inbred, resulting in life-long health or behavioural issues that may not become apparent until the animal is older.

Quarantine the new pet from all other pets in the household for at least three weeks. New pets may appear to be healthy, but could be incubating infectious diseases that take up to three weeks before revealing their symptoms.

Please ensure existing pets are fully vaccinated annually against rabies and distemper at a legally designated animal vaccination hospital.

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Bring your new pet to a licenced vet as soon as possible for a complete examination and to determine the optimal time to begin your pet’s vaccinations, usually at 6-8 weeks old for puppies and kittens. Your pet may be neutered or spayed after completing its vaccinations.

Every pet is unique, so it’s best to work with your vet to determine the healthcare and nutritional needs of your pet. Always have fresh or filtered water available for your pet, and purchase only legally registered pet food from large reputable retailers to ensure food safety. If you choose to add some fresh meat to your pet’s diet, make sure the meat is thoroughly cooked to avoid parasites. Do not give any bones to your pets, as they may pose a choking hazard and cause stomach upset. Always supervise your pets when giving them treats or chews, as large pieces may be accidentally ingested.

To protect the health and safety of your pets, neuter/spay them and keep them current on all vaccinations. Rabies is still the leading fatal infectious animal disease in China, so the law requires that all dogs be vaccinated against rabies annually at a legally designated animal vaccination hospital. All dogs must be licenced,

so please protect your dog and your family by complying with the law. Once you’ve neutered/ spayed your dog at a legally licenced animal hospital in Beijing, you’re eligible for a discount of up to 50 percent on the initial dog licencing fee (upon presentation of an official spay/ neuter certificate) at your local Public Security Bureau. Licenced dogs are also eligible for a free annual rabies vaccination at legally registered animal vaccination hospitals. The International Center for Veterinary Services (ICVS) can issue the official spay/neuter certificates and provide free rabies vaccinations for all licenced dogs in Chaoyang District and low-cost vaccinations for licenced dogs from all other districts.

ICVS is a legally licenced full-service animal hospital and pet care facility offering pet care counselling, vaccinations, neutering/spaying and all other surgeries, blood tests and laboratory diagnostics, X-rays, dental cleanings and animal medical and preventive care services. Canine obedience training, adoption counselling and pet import/export counselling are also available. Please call ICVS or visit their website (www.icvsasia.com) for more information.

COMMUNITY 5 Adopting pets in Beijing: International Center for Veterinary Services (ICVS) Please call for more information about pets available for adoption, and visit the ICVS website to see photos of beautiful adoptable pets.

Kent Center, 29 Liangmaqiao Lu, Anjia Lou, Chaoyang District (Open Monday-Saturday 8am-8pm, Sunday 10am-7pm) Tel: 8456 1939/1940/1941 Fax: 6433 2301 Email: ICVS_CHINA@yahoo.com Website: www.icvsasia.com Charly’s Cats Beautiful former house cats are available for adoption from Charlotte Landwehr’s cat colony, Charly’s Cats. All cats are spayed/ neutered and fully vaccinated. Charly’s Cats provide an official Beijing Animal Health and Immunity Certificate (vaccination red book) for cats adopted from the colony.

For more information, please visit www. charlyscats.org.

Don’t Eat Friends and Auntie Wang’s Shelter More than 100 beautiful abandoned and rescued dogs and cats are available for fostering and adoption through Auntie Wang’s Shelter and Don’t Eat Friends community organisations, which help rescue abandoned animals and raise awareness of animal welfare.

For more information, please contact: Mr Xie Zheng (Shay) Tel: 135 2169 7455 Email: donteatfriends@gmail.com Website: www.biechipengyou.com

“Breeding is largely unregulated in China, so it’s risky to purchase pets from the animal markets”

Beijing Human and Animal Environmental Education Center (BHAEEC) Privately-run shelter in Changping with more than 800 dogs and cats available for adoption.

Visit their website to see photos of adoptable pets and to schedule an adoption appointment.

For more information, please contact: Email: info@animalschina.org Website: www.animalschina.org

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6

ASK THE EXPERTS

Living in Beijing

by Suzanne Griep, Savills Beijing

T

he residential leasing market has exhibited a softening of rentals and increased flexibility of lease terms.

The average monthly rent for the overall market currently remains at RMB175.9 per sqm (on average a 6.6% reduction compared with the same period of 2008), with rental decrease varying on average between 0-20%, depending on the area.

the market is expected to stabilise and in some areas still come under pressure. To assist you with navigating through the dynamic property maze we have asked Suzanne Griep of Savills Beijing to answer some questions.

As multinational companies continue monitoring headcounts and expenses and landlords try to improve flexibility for tenants,

After one turbulent year, we feel that the residential leasing market is stabilising; the rents are increasing and the vacancy rates have

FAMILY MATTERS

It has been a difficult year for real estate. How do you feel about the Beijing residential leasing market?

dropped. In 2009 we saw an increase in local moves because landlords were much more flexible on the rent as well as the rental included items, making the house or villa this year within reach of the tenant’s budget in comparison with the year before.

What are the most popular areas?

Beijing can be divided into 2 areas, the downtown area where the majority of the apartments are located, such as CBD, Sanlitun and the Chaoyang Park area, and the Shunyi area where you can

ASK THE EXPERTS 7 For more information, please contact Savills Residential Leasing at 5925 2021 Disclaimer: The views expressed here reflect Savills experts’ opinions and market knowledge. Even though utmost care has been taken to offer reliable and accurate information, Savills does not assume any liability in case of damages and/or losses incurred by the use of the presented information.

find the majority of the villas. It depends on the type of lifestyle and the family situation where expats prefer to live. Young couples who want to enjoy the hustle and bustle of a big city choose to live in an apartment compound such as Central Park which is located close to their work as well as entertainment, leisure and dining facilities.

For families with school going children on the other hand, it is much more important to live in a villa close to the school to prevent the children from having to commute to school and to have accommodation that offers more space in a quieter, safer and greener environment.

What is the difference between individual landlords and institutionally owned compounds?

How can we choose between them?

In Beijing, most of the compounds are individually owned which explains the difference in quality of interior decoration, electrical appliances and furniture provided. Institutionally owned apartments have standardised decoration, furniture and appliances. Generally speaking the quality of the furnishings is of a higher standard and the management services are more professional and reliable. Even though an

individual landlord can be very accommodating, in terms of service and quality, institutionally owned apartments are more preferred by expats.

However, the rents for this type of housing are higher because the rent includes more items such as a utility budget, house keeping and usage of the clubhouse facilities. Other items such as daily breakfast and shuttle busses to leisure and shopping areas can also be included upon request. However, in terms of negotiating the contract terms, there is less flexibility in terms of the rent and furniture options.

FAMILY MATTERS

8

ASK THE EXPERTS

“Individuals

are sometimes more emotional about renting their house and this sometimes leads to a less efficient leasing process�

However, if you are lucky enough to land a flexible and understanding landlord, your family will be able to navigate smoothly through the whole leasing process. Individual landlords have more flexibility to tailor the house to your requests.

Our lease is expiring and we are not sure how long we will be staying in Beijing for. What should we do in this case?

Due to the economic crisis and increased competition a lot of landlords are more flexible when it comes to meeting the tenant’s requests to have as much flexibility as possible in terms of termination of the contract. There is a difference in apartments and villas though. For apartments, it is easier to negotiate a more flexible termination clause where the lease can be terminated by

FAMILY MATTERS

giving 2 months notice because of the higher vacancy rates due to the fact there are more apartments available than villas. Whereas for villas landlords would normally only agree to a clause with relatively less flexibility, such as a 4+2 or 6+2 clause.

How can we choose a suitable agent?

The first thing to bear in mind is how much of your budget you want to allocate towards your housing. For budgets less than RMB10,000 it is better to choose a local agent who has more options to choose from within that budget range, but who will only assist you in finding a house and not provide value added services. For budgets above RMB20,000 the most important thing to look at is the company background.

An international company has a stable team with lots of experience and is capable of providing comprehensive services, especially strong after sales services to ensure continued support during your stay. If you are keen on a smooth house hunting and settling in process and you feel that after sales services are important to you and your family, it is better to choose an international company.

An agent working for an international company can understand your needs and requirements, has an in-depth knowledge of the market and the market practices and is a good negotiator in order to protect your interests. An experienced agent will successfully guide you through the dynamic property maze and ensure piece of mind for you and your family.

ASK THE EXPERTS 9 When we encounter a problem, do we contact the agent or the landlord?

The communication with landlords (especially individuals) can often be difficult because of the language barrier and some do not live in Beijing.

We always advise our clients to contact their agent first. Different agencies employ different approaches to assist with providing solutions for problems. At Savills we strongly believe that it is in our clients' best interest to have a single point of contact throughout their stay. When a problem arises, assistance will be provided from the agent who has followed the case from day one.

What new compounds and/or residences are coming to the market?

A number of very good high-end projects were launched onto the market in 2009, such as Marriott Sandalwood, a luxury serviced residence located just outside the Fourth East Ring Road as well as Ascott Raffles City Beijing, a high-end serviced accommodation located in Dongzhimen.

Oakwood premier is expected to open in March of this year as an extra addition to the serviced apartments in the Dongzhimen area.

FAMILY MATTERS

10 COMMUNITY

Donations

Roundabout A place to give

O

kay, so Christmas is over, the tree has been taken down, and all those wonderful new presents you received won’t fit into your already bulging cupboards. Time to have a clear-out and then visit an amazing place called Roundabout.

Believed to be the first charity store in mainland China, Roundabout was set up by expat Leslie Simpson, who, already working as a charity volunteer, saw the need for such an organisation in our area. This non-profit store is a place where you can drop off your unwanted goods and have complete peace of mind that the people in charge will use the goods to help people in need.

They are currently supporting 27 charities within the Beijing area and many more throughout the country, including in Shanxi, Gansu, Qinghai, Yunnan, Inner Mongolia and Hebei. Choosing to pass on items only via other reputable organisations that are already working to alleviate poverty and suffering, they make sure that the goods they ship out end up in the right hands.

The operation relies completely on the goodwill of the community and their generosity and kindness in passing on unwanted goods of

FAMILY MATTERS

decent quality. Donations are then sorted by a team of hardworking volunteers who readily give their time to help others; without them the organisation could not run. Items on the wish lists of local charities, as well as items that they know can be of use to those in need, are shipped out as speedily as possible. Other items such as paintings, vases, handbags, home decorations and books are sold in their retail area. The income from the retail area is used to pay for truck hire, rent, electricity and other essential costs. Cash donations are used to purchase items to pass on to needy homes. In the past they have purchased large rice cookers for orphanages and washing machines for foster care homes, and so far this winter they have purchased and distributed an amazing RMB40,000-worth of blankets, duvets and thermal underwear.

They ask that donations to the store be in good, clean and usable condition and can provide a list of what they will accept. However, Leslie jokes that it’s easier to list what they won’t accept, as that list is much smaller! Past donations have included office furniture, trampolines, massage tables and three-wheeled bikes with carts, and homes were found for all of them. In winter the biggest need, of course, is warm blankets and clothing.

Roundabout acts as a bridge between those who wish to give and those in need. Supplying information about charities’ needs to schools, embassies, expat ladies’ groups and local businessmen, among others, is a full-time job in itself but one that gives enormous satisfaction.

As an example, before Christmas the British School of Beijing collected shoeboxes full of goodies to distribute to children living in less fortunate circumstances. The Roundabout team used their contacts to match the school with a community of migrant children, who were absolutely thrilled to receive their surprise gifts.

Oh, and while you’re dropping off your unwanted goods you may just find yourself tempted to stop and do a little bit of shopping.

After all, there are some pretty impressive bargains to be found. Paintings and picture frames, scrapbooking supplies, brand-new designer jeans, pretty wooden candle holders, a whole host of books (a complete bargain at only RMB10 per paperback, and you can always donate them back afterwards), antique boxes, board games and jigsaws, and all at incredible prices. Leslie explains, “We have to keep things moving, so you get a bargain, we get money to pay for a truck – it’s a win-win situation!”

COMMUNITY 11 Apparently the trick is to pop in frequently, as you just never know what tomorrow may bring and you’d kick yourself if you missed out on that beautiful cabinet that’s twice the price in a downtown store.

If you’d like to offer your support, then drop off your donations at their Shunyi store or at one of their drop-off points downtown (Links Moving at Oriental Kenzo and the Istanbul Restaurant).

Pop in and shop for a few bargains, knowing that every RMB you spend is helping someone in need. You could even volunteer to help!

Roundabout, Kaifa Jie, Xi Baixinzhuang, Houshayu, Shunyi District tel: 137 1877 7761 (English), 137 1805 3814 (Chinese)

Above - distributing toys Opposite - A child enjoys toys donated

by Roundabout

Sanlitun Campus No.5 Xiliujie, Sanlitun Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100027, China Tel: +8610-8532-3088 Fax: +8610-8532-3089

Shunyi Campus South Side, No 9, An Hua Street, Tianzhu Development Zone, Shunyi District, Beijing, 101318, China Tel: +8610-8047-3588 Fax: +8610-8532-3089

www.britishschool.org.cn admissions@britishschool.org.cn

Welcome to the new Chatterbox Cafe in our Shunyi Campus Our brand new cafe, ChatterBox, in our Shunyi Campus has now opened. We would like to welcome you to come and relax, have a coffee and enjoy a slice of delicious homemade cake! The cafe will be open from 8:30am – 3:00pm, Monday to Friday and will be run by our British School parent volunteers. ChatterBox is being supported

by Roundabout, who have generously supplied the cafe with books, giving you the opportunity to book swap, expand you book collection at home or simply read whilst sipping a coffee! All donations from the books will go straight back to Roundabout to aid in their work assisting the less fortunate around Beijing.

Chatterbox represents a new great new initiative for BSB in Shunyi and also a pleasant place to stop off and just FAMILY MATTERS unwind...come along and see for yourself. We look forward to seeing you and all your friends there soon!

12

SCHOOL

Early years

The importance of play for young children

by Faye Smart Key Stage Coordinator EYFS, The British School of Beijing

W

hen children enter through our school doors at the tender age of 2+, they are inquisitive little creatures, asking lots of questions and not frightened to take risks. As educators we are privileged in being given this opportunity to work with these children and to impart upon them knowledge and skills which will support them through their early childhood lives. Very young children are like little sponges soaking up everything we say and do and more often than not are willing to give everything a go after time spent observing those around them. Key to the way in which a successful Early Years education is planned is through well-structured play activities which enable these new skills and knowledge to be developed in a secure, inspiring learning environment.

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Many of the children who enter the Foundation Stage at the British School of Beijing arrive with little or no English, but what they all have in common is a desire to experience new opportunities, make friends and learn.

and in different ways. By play we mean well planned learning opportunities where learning is fun, challenging and often spontaneous. It helps children to bring together and build upon all their life experiences in 6 areas of learning.

What are they learning through play?

The EYFS is planned through 6 areas, which are: Communication, Language and Literacy (this encompasses Speaking and Listening, Reading and Writing), Problem Solving, Reasoning and Numeracy (this includes all Mathematics skills), Creative Development (Art, Music and all things creative), Knowledge and Understanding of the World (History, Geography and Science), Physical Development (gross and fine motor skills) and more importantly Personal, Social and Emotional Development. We acknowledge that a happy child who feels safe and secure in their environment is a willing learner who

Many parents, when arriving in China and Beijing for the first time, are faced with the problem of choosing from a wealth of Early Years providers. BSB delivers the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) from the UK, which has play - based learning at its core. It acknowledges that all children are unique, and that they learn and develop at different rates

SCHOOL 13 learns through their play.

Through play the children are learning a range of new skills, knowledge and vocabulary. They grow in confidence and levels of independence by making choices for themselves, develop social skills and begin to understand the consequences of their actions.

Within the first few weeks of their Early Years education the children often come home telling their parents about the lovely fun play things they have been doing in school. When questioned by parents about what they have done that day in school they may say ‘I painted all day’ or ‘I played in the house’. Their learning is planned so that some of their time will be spent with an adult working on specific play - based activities, with lots of questioning and talk, and also time spent working independently making choices for themselves and being encouraged to try lots of new things. But what they do not realise is that they have spent all day learning and that the learning is done through play.

It is just as important to educate our parents in the way in which our children learn and are educated. Very early on in the school term all new parents are invited in to listen to a presentation about the EYFS curriculum and the day to day routines of school life. This is a great opportunity for parents to ask any questions and learn more about the ways in which children are supported in their learning and they can support them at home.

Modern challenges to play (TV, video, etc)

“Children learn

in many ways and play is an important way of encouraging new skills and knowledge to be developed”

initiated play and collaborate on activities. The children are encouraged to take an active role in adding to this area by creating props, signs and labels. For children with limited English it is an area where new vocabulary of a topic is informally developed. It is a wonderful sight to see when the child in your class who arrived with no English is observed serving tea to one of their peers using appropriate vocabulary.

Play is not limited to the indoor classroom environment and there are plentiful opportunities planned to take the learning outside. Some children who feel confined within the limits of the four walls of a classroom will thrive in the outdoors and may use imaginative vocabulary beyond their years. Numeracy lessons can be taken outside and ‘counting on’ can be done by jumping along a number line; letter formation may involve using the paint brushes to paint the playground. Children are given the opportunity to try things in as many ways as humanly imaginable and learn in a much more exciting way than I am sure many of our children’s parents were exposed to.

As the Christmas holidays approach, many parents may panic about how they will keep their children entertained all day, without propping them up in front of the television or computer. After a long term spent playing, practising letters and numbers the children will be sent home to their parents ready for a rest and to recharge their batteries after a lively, eventful term. For those busy parents who work full time there are super ways of keeping children busy and socialised, in a fun and exciting way. Beijing is abundant with parks, historical sites which are just waiting to be seen through the eyes of a child.

We are very fortunate at BSB to have Interactive Whiteboards (IWB) and personal computers in every classroom to support our teaching, but these need to be supported by practical real life experiences. Children learn in many ways and play is an important way of encouraging new skills and knowledge to be developed.

In modern society where technology is everywhere we look, it is sometimes hard to compete with the pull of flashing lights and loud music computer games which keep our children quietly entertained for hours at a time. However, these are often solitary acts, where children are not given the opportunity to develop their language and social skills. As much as is it is important to give children the opportunity to try and develop their ICT skills, we need to develop and nurture well rounded individuals who will have the skills to complete all the challenges facing them in life.

When asked to describe your classroom as an Early Years teacher one of the areas that often inspire us is the ‘role play’ corner. This area changes regularly and may be set up as a house, a garage or even a jungle. This is a wonderful area within any Early Years classroom where children can act out different roles, develop their vocabulary of a new topic through child

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14 COMMUNITY

Keeping healthy and eating well in Beijing

by Soo Ling Low, Orientations

N

ew arrivals to Beijing are often concerned about food safety and ensuring their family stays healthy during their stay in China. Luckily, there are now many options in Beijing that allow expatriates to maintain a similar standard and quality of living to that experienced in their home countries.

Organic certification in China Organic foods are gaining in popularity and importance here in Beijing. The organic market has grown at an astounding pace. Today, you can find plenty of fresh and packaged foods in Beijing that have been certified organic by local and international third-party organisations.

Organic food products are available in big city supermarkets, for example Carrefour, as well as supermarkets dedicated to serving the foreign community such as City Shop and online.

Nevertheless, the organic concept is still new here and little understood by most consumers.

“Food safety is often a concern with expatriates living in China, especially families�

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Food safety is often a concern with expatriates living in China, especially families. As chemical pesticides and fertilisers are widely used in farming, there are residues left behind on fruit and vegetables. Organic products are grown without the use of synthetic fertilisers, chemical pesticides, herbicides, growth hormones or artificial food additives throughout growth and processing. GMO and its by-products are also not used for organic food.

Since 2005 all organically produced food in China must bear the seal of the Chinese National Organic Program Standard (CNOPS), whose standards are derived from the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM). In addition, packages may also bear the Organic Food Development Center (OFDC) label. The OFDC developed the first organic certification program in China in 1994.

COMMUNITY 15

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16 COMMUNITY

Green food logo The Green Food label on food is an indication of adherence to standards set by the China Green Food Development Center, an agency under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Agriculture.

Green Food is well represented, clearly labelled and easily found in food marketplaces in China.

Green food appears to be a well understood and recognised concept among Chinese consumers.

A business selling organic produce or a product proclaiming to be organic could bear the above logos.

Here’s a rundown of where to go and what you can get in Beijing Lohao City 北京乐活城 This is Beijing’s first organic healthfood store,

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selling organic beancurd, bread, vegetables and fruits. The store also has an organic dry food section and a healthy lifestyle section.

Percentage of organic products: 60% Tel: 8459 4332 (Home delivery service available) Hours: 9am-10pm (5 branches around the city) Website: www.lohaocity.com City Shop Most of City Shop’s produce comes from their own OFDC-certified City Garden, a farm with 5,000 acres of land. It has also been granted the HACCP (Hazard Analysis by Critical Control Points) certificate, showing it follows standard procedures to prevent food safety risks. City Shop also has an online store and free delivery above RMB100.

B1, The Grand Summit No.19, Dongfang Lu, Sanyuanqiao 东方东路19号亮马桥外交公寓会所地下一 层, 星巴克旁边.

Tel: 8532 3488 Email: richard@cityshop.com.cn Website: www.cityshop.com.cn Carrefour Carrefour stocks produce with OFDC stickers on their packaging, making it a good and convenient source for groceries under one roof.

They also carry organic Chinese foods such as oatmeal, dried noodles and cooking oils, as well as imported goods.

Carrefour has numerous branches around Beijing, with online shopping and delivery

available.

Website: http://e-shop.carrefour.com.cn/ index.do De Run Wu Grocery Store (Derunwu) 北京德 润屋 Derunwu store sells organic fruits, vegetables and seasonings. Fresh vegetables arrive at the store every Monday and Friday. They also offer affordable home delivery.

Address: Suite 813, Danshui Xiaozhen, A3 Shunhuang Lu, Chaoyang District Hours: 10:30am-6:30pm To place an order, email giyunli@vip.163.com for a list of seasonal vegetables.

Tel: 8459 0809, 139 1006 2022 Certifier: USDA, QAI, OCIA, JAS, BFA, IFOAM Percentage of organic products: 75-80% Jenny Lou’s These small supermarkets are a haven to expats, selling a great assortment of certified domestic or imported organic food at, unsurprisingly, higher prices than local supermarkets. The Lido branch has the best wine selection, while the Sanlitun, Ritan and Chaoyang branches have better cheese and deli counters.

Hours: Daily 7am-10pm Address: 1 Sanlitun Bei Jie, Chaoyang District 婕妮璐食品店 - 三里屯, 朝阳区三 里屯北小街1号 Tel: 6461 6928

COMMUNITY 17 Zhiwan Organic Farm (Beijing Lohao City Supermarket Co., Ltd) Zhiwan Organic Farm covers an area of 1,486 hectares. They provide health education courses, accommodation, catering and activities such as livestock feeding. Advanced booking for tours and organic food ordering can all be made by phone. Zhiwan Farm products are also available in Lohao City Supermarkets and at the Long Island Organic Hotpot Restaurant.

Address: Tianzhuang Village, Gaoling Town, Miyun District Organic Union: Member of IFOAM Product categories: Vegetable and fruit, grain, animal feed, honey, plants Certifier: OFDC, DFJH Opening date: Mid-May – Mid-Oct Tel: 8459 4332 Website: www.lohaocity.com Ofood.cn This online store has a great variety of products available online, and they deliver. Fruit and vegetables are the main produce, but they also stock organic meat, grain, baby milk powder and daily products from the US. Website: www.ofood.cn

Health tips: •Certain produce is more susceptible to pesticide contamination, for example, strawberries, grapes, tomatoes, potatoes, apples and spinach, so best to buy organic.

•Peel fruits and vegetables, or remove the outer leaves (on lettuce and cabbage, for example).

•Avoid buying meat at local wet markets, especially in hot weather.

•Read the ingredients. MSG (Monosodium Glutamate) is added to many packaged foods, such as potato chips, snack foods and instant noodles produced in China. It has an adverse effect on some people, with symptoms including headaches, dizziness, drowsiness and stomach upsets.

•Consider using filtered water in the kitchen when rinsing foods and boiling water.

Ayi (domestic helper) advice: •Don’t assume basic hygiene. Ask your ayi to make sure she always washes her hands, especially before handling food.

•Teach your ayi to use separate cutting boards for meats and veggies, raw and cooked foods.

Make sure she washes them with hot water and soap between each use.

•Train your ayi to refrigerate foods, rather than leaving them out for hours on end, and to cover all food she puts in the refrigerator.

•Send your ayi and driver to a first aid class, available in Chinese at the international medical clinics.

•There are ayi health screening packages available from most hospitals and clinics.

Being aware of what is available and taking necessary precautions will relieve some of the worry of relocating to a new country and allow for an enjoyable stay in Beijing.

This article is provided by Orientations Relocation Network.

Orientations China Suite 705-2, Kerry EAS Building, NO. 21, Xiaoyun Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100027 Email: china@orientations.cn

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18 FASHION

Exploring Beijing

Top markets in Beijing

by Amélie Azeem

Image Credit: Toby Simkin

D

o you know the expression ‘shop till you drop’? Well… that’s what my friends say I do on my weekends! The problem is that I never drop, because I can never get enough of it.

Beijing Zoo Wholesale Market (Dongwuyuan)

Tianyi Wholesale market (Tianyi)

动物园服装批发市场

天意市场

Beijing has become one of my favourite cities, with its huge choice of shopping experiences, but it can be very off-putting with its large, high buildings that look more like business centres than shopping heaven.

My favourite of all! This massive wholesale market group has seven markets in front of Beijing Zoo (above, behind and under the bus station). The market is open from 5am to 4:30pm. Everything is so cheap and so plentiful, it’s mind-boggling. Anywhere from RMB1050 for shirts, tops, jeans, trousers, skirts, everything. Jewelry for about RMB10-15. In some places they can be more expensive, but in about 90 percent of cases expect these prices.

From outside you’ll see four or five nondescript buildings, and when you enter you’ll find floors and floors of clothes simply everywhere. To get there, just take subway line 4 (green) and exit at Beijing Zoo.

This is the place to go to at Christmas to get your decorations and buy really fun and unusual gifts! Five floors of gadgets, undergarments, bags, toys, electrical goods and accessories, with stationery, sports items, shoes, make-up and clothes in another building. This is again a huge market, where you’ll find anything you can think of.

The market is open from 7am to 6pm on Fuchengmen Waidajie. To get there, take subway line 2 (blue circle line) and exit at Fuchengmen. Then take a taxi and ask for Tianyi. You’ll recognise the place, as it has big animals decorating the entrance and a massive crowd of keen Chinese buyers. I advise not bringing your children, at least the first time, as it can get pretty busy.

It took me a while to find my favourite markets, and I remember my friends saying how brave I was to venture into the wild Chinese markets.

Actually, I find you need to be braver to step into Yashow, where you get harassed to buy the slightest item, than into the markets I shop at!

Here are five of my favourite shopping markets, where I can go shopping at my own pace, without being dragged off to buy things I don’t need – and where I learn a little more Chinese each time!

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FASHION 19

Dongjiao Wholesale Market

Hongqiao Market

Hongqiao Market (Pearl Market)

Dongjiao Wholesale Market

Panjiayuan Antiques Market

虹桥市场（珍珠市场）

东郊批发市场

潘家园市场

The name Pearl Market is somewhat misleading. This big market offers everything, from pocket knives, fake watches, sportswear, bags, shoes, toys, stationery and gift wrappers to actual jewelry.

I really like this Chinese market: it’s known for kitchen/hotel/restaurant wholesale items, but they have so much more. You need a few hours to see it all and it’s absolutely not a tourist market; do expect some bargaining.

This market has it all, from home items, office supplies, decorations, fabric, toys, shoes and clothes, paint and building materials, bicycles and scooters to fish, meat, veggies and fruit! It opens from 8am to 5pm and is five minutes by taxi from Guomao subway station. Taxi drivers understand “Dongjiao pifa shichang”. They’ll drop you at a bridge; cross it and march in!

This is a great place to buy antiques, furniture, pearls and Nepalese fabric. It’s noisy and crowded, and cold in the winter. There are a few country folks selling their ethnic handicraft. You have to bargain hard (and assume that most things are fake) but the choice is unparalleled and the atmosphere is great. The market is open Saturday and Sunday from dusk until early afternoon. Panjiayuan Antiques Market is just east of the Temple of Heaven, off Dongsanhuan Nanlu. To get there easily and cheaply, go to Phoenix City bus stop (Sanyuanqiao), take bus number 627 and stop at Panjiayuan Qiao (Panjiayuan Bridge) or go to the Liangmaqiao bus stop and take bus number 300 to the same place.

Here is a rough price guide: - decent (fake) shoes – RMB50/60 - fake bags – RMB40 - men’s T-shirts – RMB30 - women’s shirts – RMB10-30 - pearls – RMB6 for a small necklace, RMB20-30 for a string of pearls - fake watches (Rolex, Breitling)

RMB100 - fake watches (CK, DKNY, Gucci) –

RMB30-50 Don’t forget to visit the two buildings behind the main one: in the first, older one, you’ll find toys, stationery and gift wrapping; and in the more modern building, you can buy souvenirs, ties, silk and scarves. To get there, take subway line 5 (purple) and exit at Tiantanmen, which opens into the silk market.

www.bjbus.com/home/index.php This link will take you to an interactive map of Beijing, where you can plan all your bus journeys without hassle, it’s very handy!

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20

SCHOOL

FEATURE

How to get your child into the best university T

his question, asked by so many parents, is a complex one. We have to break this question down and do some really important background work before moving forward.

Firstly, what exactly do we mean by “best universities”?

by Mike Embley, Executive Principal, British School of Beijing

Let’s be honest here. We have all heard of Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, MIT, Yale. They are quite deservedly famous, have superb facilities, excellent teachers and in some regards do represent a ticket to the high life for their graduates. In addition, there are famous universities in every country that have yet to achieve the high level of international fame of those mentioned above. Seoul in South Korea, Canberra in Australia, McGill in Canada, Leeds in England, Tokyo in Japan, Beijing in China.

The list could go on for quite some time. These universities and many others are essentially of the same standard as internationally famous institutions.

However, a more subtle variation of the question, and one that is not always considered by parents as much as it should be, is:

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“Which is the best university for MY child?”

The choice of university is a very personal one and the one-size-fits-all approach may not produce a happy and successful student.

Factors such as how comfortable a young adult will be living very far from home; the international nature (or lack of) of a far-away city; the support services for international students; the availability of scholarships for international students (this will be a feature article in the next edition of Family Matters) – all of these are important. As are things such as the weather! It’s not a trivial matter for students from warm countries to travel to an extremely well-regarded university somewhere very cold.

Many parents underestimate the affect of the social conditions at a university on the academic progress of students. The drop-out rate for universities runs at around 10%, higher than many think. Social support and friendship groups are hugely important for all students, even the most shy and retiring introvert. A university with a tradition of accepting students from all over the world will be more welcoming to students from a diverse background than one

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without the same experience. Even students attending university in their home country can find such matters important. Students from a particular background might find more friends and a better network in one university than another. This doesn’t only apply to financial background, but also regional background, and even whether the student comes from an arty family or not.

Faculty and reputation are vital considerations for the long term. In certain careers and professions the university which one attended really can have long-term implications for success in later life. However, the choice is not always clear-cut. Certainly the top-tier universities are well known, but the choice is much wider than that. For example, in the UK Leeds and Edinburgh are recognised as superb centres of medical excellence, and a degree from either is an excellent passport around the world.

The key issue for parents and students is getting quality information. Often the best place to get this is through your child’s school. The advice given should be unbiased and wide-ranging.

A careers and university counsellor with little international experience may only be able to give advice about one country and be weak when it comes to the others, which significantly reduces the options for students.

Another way to seek information is not necessarily obvious, but has worked very well for many families in the past. Ask the professionals!

If your child is interested in design, call a design company and ask them their thoughts. The same with engineering, medicine or indeed any other career. Companies are in fact very willing to answer brief enquires and a little flattery can go a long way. Of course, you cannot expect them to provide detailed careers advice, but they will often be very happy to say, “Oh yes, I went to the University of Wisconsin in Madison as it has a superb biotechnology facility,” or “You should definitely study literature and politics at the University of Beijing, as it has a superb reputation.”

Fees The issue of cost is a real one for many parents. Sending a child to university is not simply a matter of paying the tuition fees.

Accommodation, food, travel, books – the costs mount up at a considerable rate. The cost of tuition is not always directly linked to the quality of education on offer, or indeed the reputation of the university in its own country.

Careful research into the other indirect costs is vital when considering a university, even in one’s home country, as costs can vary considerably from city to city. Financial aid, bursaries and scholarships are more and more available, and looking into these can make a considerable difference to the overall cost.

In many cases, it can make the difference

between being able to attend a first-choice university or not.

The key factor here is to enquire early, in most cases three to four years before the intended entry date. This is simply an issue of practicality, as many scholarships have detailed requirements that might involve a number of years of service to a particular institution, or perhaps evidence of belonging to a particular community or service group. Sporting, artistic or even musical scholarships also often have these provisions attached to them. Many parents of talented musicians have made the mistake of thinking that scholarships are handed out purely on the basis of artistic ability. This is sometimes sufficient, but more and more often additional criteria must be met, and knowing what they are in good time will greatly increase the odds of financial aid being available.

Secondly, it is worth approaching a wide range of funding bodies. Even in these credit crunch times, many large businesses and organisations still have financial aid packages available for university students. Many do have strings attached, such as a requirement to work for the company for a period of time, but these strings could also be seen as benefits. One shocking fact is that each year 22% of scholarships remain unclaimed, mostly because of the simple fact that no one has applied for them. A simple Internet search is perhaps the best way to begin looking into the funding that might be available. Simply typing ‘scholarship’ into Google produces over twenty-six million results.

“Many parents

underestimate the effect of the social conditions at a university on the academic progress of students.

The drop-out rate for universities runs at around 10%”

Universities themselves often have discretionary funds available to help undergraduates in times of financial hardship, but these are not available until the student is already enrolled, and university finance managers take a very dim view of ‘planned hardship’, so beware!

Curriculum and secondary school Put simply, there are numerous choices for students. The main choices for students to consider are the A-level programmes, the IB programme and the AP programme. The first and most important thing to state is that all three programmes aimed at 16 to 17 year olds seeking to enter university is that they are all equally good and they are all widely accepted. Neither one is superior to the other, however each one may simply be suited better to different individuals and consequently each is not suitable for everyone. Hence it is vitally important that students and parents consider each option carefully to ensure that the course matches the preferences and learning style of their child. One obvious example is the generalist approach with 9 subject areas in IB

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SCHOOL

“Participation in non-academic activities can often make the difference between being accepted and being rejected”

vs the more specialist approach with 3 or 4 very in depth A-levels.

Except in a very few cases, the high school which a student attends does not have any great implications in terms of university entrance. Of the many thousands of high schools around the world, only around ten have meaningful relationships with universities, and these are all matters of local in-country tradition. The most influential part of a high school career is the quality of the school in terms of its delivery of the curriculum and the care and attention to students’ needs and careers guidance. A good school for your child is the key factor here. The school should nurture their interests and challenge them to do their best without promoting burn-out. You should also consider the pastoral care element. Keeping a student on a good path and promoting good behaviour and manners is important. For universities with limited places, a school character report can make the very real difference between acceptance or not.

More than schooling, or a school that offers more!

Participation in non-academic activities can often make the difference between being accepted and being rejected. This is especially true for universities with more applicants than spaces available. Internships, community service, work experience, participation in high school-level competitions – all can count towards entrance.

Language Many universities around the world, even in non-English-speaking countries, offer courses in English. Frequently, a minimum standard of English proficiency must be met. The most popular qualifications around the world are IGCSE (from the University of Cambridge and available at many good schools in Shanghai), TOEFL and IELTS. Some universities have a selfadministered test that can be taken instead of these qualifications, but this is not always the case. Having a recognised qualification is in many cases the easiest or indeed the only way to open the door to the admissions process.

And finally....

All the tricks, tips and hints in the world won’t be able to bypass the one constant in the process of finding and being admitted to the best universities. Academic grades will play a huge part in the admissions process; there is no way around this. However, should your child’s grades fall for any reason, don’t despair.

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A gap year is no blemish on an application and, if well spent, can be a real asset. Using a gap year well and then retaking examinations that didn’t go so well can be a very good use of time. Of course, not all retakes require a gap year and some can be done later in the same year. Also, don’t forget that there are many very good universities around the world that are not quite as famous as others, and thus have slightly lower requirements for entry. For some students these are not a poor secondplace choice at all. A good school will of course give you sound advice on all possible avenues, whether grades exceed, meet or fall below expectations; you should at no point be left feeling alone.

Remember one thing above all: a little planning and a lot of hard work, combined with a quality high school that really cares for its students, will make all the difference in the world.

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26 ASK THE EXPERTS

Where to live

Beijing residence SEARCH

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ASK THE EXPERTS 27

I

t’s vital for newcomers to Beijing to select a suitable residence as soon as possible. Moving to a new place is a very stressful experience. Covering an area of 6,487 square miles, Beijing is China’s second largest city after Shanghai, with an estimated population of 17 million people. Which area should you live in? What are the housing options in Beijing?

Here at JRE Corporate, a leading relocation company in China, we are honoured to have been asked to put together a short city overview and provide answers to some of the most common questions we hear from newcomers.

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28 ASK THE EXPERTS

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ASK THE EXPERTS 29 What types of houses are available in Beijing?

The main types of houses available in Beijing are: -Courtyard (Siheyuan): The name literally means a courtyard surrounded by four buildings. These are traditional houses, usually located in hutongs. Very popular among foreigners who want to escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life, the courtyards have a lot of charm and are perfect for immersion in Chinese life. However, they also require a great deal of maintenance because of a number of drawbacks such as poor electrical supply or old plumbing. Renovated courtyards are quite pricey, starting at about RMB27,000.

-Small townhouses to large villas: These are up-to-date modern villa compounds with a secure big central garden and usually equipped with club facilities. These high-class properties usually belong to developers and are fully equipped. The management office also provides all kinds of services, such as gardening, maintenance, housekeeping and a shuttle bus to downtown.

-Apartments: There are standard apartments available everywhere in Beijing offering basic expat-style conditions – clubhouse, car parking, satellite TV channels and other facilities.

There are also serviced apartments, built by foreign developers or joint-venture companies which are fully equipped with furniture and conveniences. Rent should include housekeeping, Internet, electricity, water and heating fees.

What are the main areas and which one should I choose?

The city is divided into 16 urban and suburban districts and two rural counties. It currently has six ring roads, and more are under consideration. The first ring road is not officially defined and is around the Forbidden City. The second, third, fourth and fifth are multi-lane motorways. Anywhere outside the fourth ring road is considered to be in the suburbs.

Shunyi Shunyi is the district where most families choose to live, since this is where villa complexes and International schools are found.

There are also several small shopping malls near these complexes, including Europlaza, Pinnacle Plaza and Lakeview, specially designed for the expat community. The centre of Shunyi District is near the northeastern sixth ring road and close to the airport. It takes 20-50 minutes to get downtown by car.

Whether to live downtown or in a villa in Beijing’s Shunyi suburbs is the most common dilemma for newcomers. There is no right answer. It depends on your priorities and lifestyle.

Shunyi advantages: -Secure gated villas with gardens -Quieter than downtown -Fresher air -You can have a big dog (dogs over 35 cm in height must live outside the fourth ring road) -Your kids can ride bikes inside the compounds -Close to the International airport, most International schools, shopping areas -Shuttle bus going downtown Shunyi disadvantages: -Some foreigners do not like the concept, and view Shunyi as an expat bubble with no interaction with Chinese culture -Longer commute to work -Limited social and nightlife facilities Chaoyang Young professionals, couples without children and single people tend to live downtown.

Expats looking for an easy commute to work live in Chaoyang, east of Tiananmen. Chaoyang District is one of the fastest-growing districts in the city. It encompasses the CBD area, where most international firms are located; Sanlitun, with embassies and shopping facilities; Chaoyang Park, Lido and Sanyuanqiao. For couples with very young kids, living downtown is an option as there are lots of kindergartens in the city centre.

“Rents vary widely in Beijing.

Property can be rented from RMB2,000-120,000 per month depending on location, type of property lease terms, quality etc”

The Sanlitun/Dongzhimen area has a wide range of choices in terms of restaurants, bars, nightclubs and shopping, ranging from cheap markets (Yashow) to high-end shopping malls such as Shin Kong Place. With a direct subway line to the airport (at Dongzhimen) and a good mix of locals and expats, it attracts a large number of foreign residents, diplomats as well as students.

Lido is tucked away in the northeast of Beijing, along the airport expressway and the fourth ring road. Older apartments are slowly being replaced with more modern buildings. Greener and quieter than Sanlitun and family friendly, apartments are cheaper and bigger than in areas like Sanlitun or the CBD. Chaoyang Park is between the east third and fourth ring road, east Sanlitun. It’s quieter than Sanlitun and family friendly with easy access to the park, which has flower gardens, a fairground with rides including a roller coaster, landscaped areas and several large swimming pools. There’s easy access to the subway and shopping facilities.

Chaoyang advantages: -Shorter commute to work -Easy access to public transport (bus, subway) -Proximity to some schools -Great for a true urban lifestyle -Better cultural immersion in China

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30 ASK THE EXPERTS Chaoyang disadvantages: -On the downside, Sanlitun/Dongzhimen can be noisy and has a relatively small amount of public green space.

-There’s a high level of pedestrian traffic in Dongzhimen and the areas have higher rent and are heavily developed.

-Lido currently doesn’t have any subway lines.

-The CBD/Guomao is the business area, so there are not a lot of housing options or public green space. With high-end shopping malls taking up much of the area, it can be inconvenient for day-to-day shopping.

-Only a few options for a house/villa -Congested traffic -Can feel too Westernised in some areas What should I know when renting in Beijing?

-Usually, the duration of a rental lease agreement is one year, with the possibility to extend one more year.

-Rents vary widely in Beijing. Property can be rented from RMB2,000 to RMB120,000 per month depending on location, type of property, lease terms, quality, etc.

-Real estate prices inside the second ring road are considerably higher than in other parts of town (with the exception of villas in Shunyi).

Dongzhimen is the area where rents have the widest price range.

-Unless you choose to live in a serviced apartment, rent does not include utilities (electricity, water, heating, Internet). The cost depends on the size of the property and, of course, usage.

-The deposit is the equivalent of one or two month’s rent.

-Before signing a contract with your landlord, carefully read all the clauses with your agent.

The contracts are in Chinese and English, but if there are any issues the Chinese version prevails. All agreements orally made with a landlord should be written down and signed.

Any changes you request in the property have to be agreed before you can sign. It can be helpful to talk to previous tenants. Ask them why they are moving, what they think of the landlord and how fast the landlord responded to their requests.

Should I bring my own furniture?

Most properties provide furniture, but some expats prefer to import their own. However, be aware that Beijing has a dry climate which can damage wooden furniture with a finish or fine lacquer finishes on dining tables, dressers, coffee tables, etc.

Decor and styles vary. There is an aesthetic cultural gap between expat tenants and some owners. Asian decoration is sometimes perceived as kitschy, and Chinese furniture may be considered too dark and heavy for some

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ASK THE EXPERTS 31 foreigners.

Do I need to pay for your services?

Our services are free. Our company provides free airport pick-up, hotel arrangements, free orientation tours (schools tour, introduction to clubs, social organisations, relevant services including banks, supermarkets, bookstores and so on), information about how to use public transport, bargaining tips and more.

Commissions are paid by the landlord.

Will the rent be lower if I bring my own furniture? Can I change some of the furniture the landlord provides?

If the property is unfurnished the rent will indeed be lower, but if the landlord needs to remove his own furniture to make space for yours, the rent might in fact be higher than the original asking price. In China, people are normally flexible, so it’s usually possible to change a few pieces of furniture.

Who is responsible for contacting the utility companies after I move in?

JRE will require your landlord to set up the phone and Internet. All bills will be in the landlord’s name; you just need to pay them for the period you are a resident.

If I have any problems during my tenancy, who do I speak to?

Most properties have an onsite management team responsible for taking care of any problems. If they can’t understand you or they do not prove to be very helpful, you can contact your property consultants and we will manage it for you.

Who should I contact if I have difficulty with my landlord?

Feel free to contact JRE. We will offer advice and solve any problems between you and your landlord.

What penalty will I incur if I break my lease agreement early?

Normally you will lose the deposit, which is usually the penalty stipulated in the contract. Of course this depends on what has been agreed in your contract. This is often negotiable, especially if you bring your landlord a new tenant.

What shall I do at the end of the lease?

When the tenancy is about to expire, our property consultants will inform our tenant to prepare to leave in advance. Make sure that the house and facilities are all in working condition and clean. You should provide your most recent bills to confirm that all of your utility bills have

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32 ASK THE EXPERTS been paid. The landlord will check the contents according to the original contents list confirmed when you checked the property before moving in.

When is my deposit returned to me?

Once the landlord is satisfied that all rent and utility costs have been paid, the deposit will be returned.

Some helpful information about expat life in Beijing TV Most buildings are already connected to the cable system, giving you plenty of Chinese channels. New and foreign compounds have foreign channels like CNN, BBC News, HBO and other channels in English, Japanese, French and German via satellite TV. Individual satellite dishes are not legal, but are routinely sold and installed. You can find these by checking ads in both English and Chinese publications, such as Beijing Yellow Pages.

Lease term The standard lease term is usually a minimum of 12 months. Only serviced apartments will accept a shorter contract. It is not advisable for the tenant or the landlord to terminate the contract during the first two months, since in that case a penalty of two months’ rent is usually levied.

Utility bills Rent includes the building management fee, but does not include utilities such as water, electricity, gas and telephone, nor does it include car parking.

•Water – Billed monthly. Tap water must be boiled before drinking. Also popular are water dispensers that can provide drinkable cold and hot water at all times. The base unit can be purchased at any department store or supermarket, and many houses come with one installed. Water containers can then be delivered as needed (usually through your compound management office).

•Electricity – Billed monthly. The fuse system may not be the same as in your home country, so label each fuse box and make sure you know what to do if a fuse trips.

•Gas – Billed monthly. Most kitchen burners are gas, and each of them have valves that should carefully be turned off when you leave home for an extended period of time. There are three types of gas supplied in China: city gas, natural gas and bottled gas, depending on what type of accommodation you choose.

Pets Before getting a pet in Beijing, think carefully about the ramifications of your decision. Pets and pet care are widely available, though both are relatively new and are developing.

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ASK THE EXPERTS 33 Be informed, be prepared and be realistic in approaching the challenges of finding and maintaining a healthy lifestyle for your pet.

Regulations for pets vary according to district and address and can change frequently. At present all dogs must be registered with the local police. You can then obtain up-to-date details of fees, leash laws and restrictions. The government does not currently regulate cat ownership (although your landlord might).

Police registration Foreigners are required to register their presence at the local police station within 48 hours of arrival. (Note that this is not necessary if you are staying at a hotel, but will apply as soon as you leave.) You need to bring your passport to register at the nearest police station to your residence. The police station will issue you and your family with a Temporary Residence Permit. If you do not register within the time limit a fine is levied, based on the number of days you are late.

Driving licence We suggest that before you consider getting a licence you ride in a car for a few weeks to get your bearings and get a feel for the flow of traffic. The many bicycles, motor scooters and pedestrians make driving considerably different than in most Western countries. To get a driving licence, you will need to prepare the following certificates and copies: •Passport •Beijing Residence Permit •Original Residence Permit in China plus one copy •Foreign driving licence or international licence. This licence must be translated by an official bureau Ayi Many foreigners who live in China hire a local maid – an ayi – to take care of their homes, children and pets. Ayis can work either parttime or full-time. Part-time ayis may work for several families a day, while full-time ayis work five to ten hours a day, depending upon the amount of housework, and may live in your house.

Hourly pay ranges from RMB7-15 or so (the price differs from place to place). You should be able to find a reliable part-time ayi to take care of most of your daily housework and (if you wish) cook good Chinese food for you every day.

For more details on any of the above information, please contact Marjorie Quach at 135 0135 0874 (marjorie.quach@jrecorporate. com).

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34

SCHOOL

Perfect primary

by Jane Smith, Head of Primary, British School of Beijing

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F

irst day of school today, Mum! I’m scared, I don’t want you to leave me, I don’t want to stay in the classroom, will you come in with me, will you hold my hand, can you stay there, can you stay where I can see you…

however, not every school takes this to heart.

The aims of Every Child Matters are simple to enunciate. Give every child the support they need to be healthy and safe, enjoy and achieve, make a positive contribution and achieve economic wellbeing.

Sound familiar?

It is very easy to suggest that endless homework for under 7s will help them to achieve, or that absolutely no structure and constant free play for under 9s will allow them to enjoy school. Conversely, it is easy to suggest that a playground environment should be completely calm and that children should be discouraged from running and jumping, or testing themselves in a safe and supervised fashion on the climbing frame.

Much of the focus of parents on choosing the right school for their child is on the future.

Secondary school, university entrance, career choice and even beyond. These are of course vital. To a young child taking their first steps into the world outside the home, though, these concerns are perhaps somewhat less important than how friendly, welcoming and caring their teacher is. In terms of building a solid foundation for later life, both in terms of academic success and social confidence, the curriculum and practice in primary school is absolutely critical.

The Early Years Foundation stage of the British National Curriculum has at its heart a set of principles enshrined in the statement “Every Child Matters”. To a parent this is self-evident;

The British Curriculum gives balance to the sometimes conflicting needs of a developing mind: freedom and structure, academic progress and free play, risk taking and safety, living in the moment and planning for the future.

While these goals are easy to write in a list, their actual implementation in a school requires a careful focus and a dedicated and

reflective team. The fact that a school has a gentle approach to its children does not mean it is any less academic. In fact, supporting young minds as they reach for new learning is key to their development.

Different curricula place a slightly different emphasis on various areas of a child’s developmental pathway. Some emphasise more free expression and play and place less emphasis on structure. In fact, some go as far as to suggest that any structure is harmful for children. Others, on the other hand, place a high, or indeed one might say heavy, focus on academic subjects. At one extreme of the spectrum this might include a great deal of rote learning. And some schools suggest that they offer a balance of the two approaches.

The fundamental issue is, do they? The British Curriculum guarantees that this balance is built in and is rigorously held to, through an inspection regime and a thorough set of standards and documentation. This inbuilt balance, combined with dedicated, passionate and compassionate teachers, is the foundation of a child’s future. Every child does indeed matter.

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36 COMMUNITY

Roaming the hills with Beijing Hikers How a hobby became a passion and Beijing’s pre-eminent outdoor recreation organisation

by Zachary Chen

Beginning in 2001 as a small group of friends and colleagues with a common passion, Beijing Hikers has evolved into one of the city’s preeminent outdoor recreation organisations. With nods from the international press, the group and their events are becoming well-known not just among avid outdoor enthusiasts in Beijing, but also among the broader expatriate community as well. Beijing Hikers attracts a diverse array of members, from tourists and business travellers to long-time Beijing residents and locals; the social aspect is what keeps many people coming back on the trips. The organisation prides itself on emphasising safe, responsible hiking and the ease with which people are able to sign up for their trips and go out on them.

The professional guides at Beijing Hikers now coordinate a broad variety of different activities that satisfy both casual walkers and more experienced trekkers.

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COMMUNITY 37

“Guides and hikers alike were laughing as they slid down parts of the trail!”

Trips are rated for difficulty on a scale of one to five, with levels one and two family-friendly and level five the most rigorous, recommended for fit and experienced hikers only. Details about reservations, upcoming trips, difficulty, pick-up locations, safety and private tours for school and corporate groups, as well as other information, are all available on the Beijing Hikers website: www.beijinghikers.com.

See you on the trail!

Opposite - unrestored Great Wall Left - on a trek Below - just one of many spectacular views

One of the easiest and most popular trips for young children is the Intelligence Valley hike, in Huairou District. The hike owes its name to a local legend, which holds that those who walk all the way up the valley will become more intelligent. The 5-kilometre trail follows a stream through the valley to a park at the other end. At one point, the stream flows into a pool where people sometimes swim, or paddle in a rented inflatable boat. During the warmer months, there’s a great deal of aquatic life to observe in the flowing stream, and the valley’s topography creates a good amount of shade, making for a comfortable amble even on hotter days.

Also suitable for children, as well as those who prefer a more relaxing walk, is the 8-kilometre Zhuangdaokou to the Walled Village hike in Changping District. Starting with a short stroll along a river and through persimmon orchards, the trail passes a pair of 300-year-old pine trees known as the Phoenix and Dragon before a short ascent to a section of the Great Wall.

More adventurous hikers can climb the wall for extra exercise and great views of the reservoir at Huanghuacheng. From the Great Wall it’s an easy walk through fields and orchards to reach a walled village, a small settlement that has grown up and around a Ming Dynasty army barracks that used to house soldiers tasked with guarding the Great Wall.

A more exciting trip run by Beijing Hikers is a visit to an un-restored section of the Great Wall in Yanqing County, north of the city. Known

as the High Tower hike, the 14-kilometre trail ascends a ridge and eventually leads to the top of one of the highest watchtowers in the Beijing municipality, 1,440 metres above sea level. There can be a great deal of snow in winter, making the already steep trail slippery in some sections; during a hike last November, guides and hikers alike were laughing as they slid down parts of the trail on their rear ends!

On the flatter parts near the end, they enjoyed the silence of the crisp air and the stillness of the snow-blanketed forest through which the trail passed.

In addition to day-trips, Beijing Hikers also organises periodic overnighters. One of the most popular overnight trips is an excursion to Cuandixia, a Ming Dynasty village in Mentougou District, west of the city. After spending an afternoon exploring the adjacent hills, the hikers spend a night in one of the many rural guesthouses in the village and on the second day enjoy a 28-kilometre trek up to a gorgeous plateau and down a fascinating gorge. Another extremely popular overnight trip is the upcoming annual Valentine’s Day outing that, as well as two days of roaming around the hills, also includes a stay at a countryside hotel with its own hot springs.

The trips are extremely well-organised and include transportation from two different locations in Beijing to each hiking destination.

Either a country-style meal at a local restaurant or an assortment of snacks and beverages are always provided at the conclusion of each trip.

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38 COMMUNITY

Understanding asthma

by Dr Jing Zhao, MD New Century International Children’s Hospital

Health Concerns

W

hether or not a child suffers from asthma is related to both their allergic reactivity and the environment. Internal idiosyncratic factors and external stimulation both play decisive roles. Generally speaking, children are more prone to asthma attacks than adults. There are two physical characteristics of children suffering from asthma. Firstly, their airway can become narrowed (this is called stenosis) by even minor stimulation (a particular gas, cool air, etc).

Secondly, the majority of children who suffer from asthma are easily affected by allergens and thus develop allergies.

There are different precipitating factors causing asthma attacks. Respiratory tract infection is one of them. Most flu viruses cause the bronchial vagus nerve to tense up, leading to asthma.

Allergies are the main causes of asthma attacks.

For example, some pollen-allergic children get an asthma attack immediately upon contact with pollen. In addition, there is survey data

FAMILY MATTERS

showing that some asthmatic children not only suffer from asthma but also other allergic diseases, such as eczema, urticaria or drug allergies.

Asthma can be classified according to the following causes: 1) Extrinsic asthma: obviously related to inhaled allergens; appearing and disappearing suddenly 2) Intrinsic asthma: where there are no obvious allergens to be inhaled; related to infections; onset is slow 3) Mixed-characteristic asthma: having both extrinsic and intrinsic factors; including exercise-induced asthma, which comes on after sporting activity 4) Drug-induced asthma: caused by drugs such as aspirin, the attack starts immediately after taking the medication. Some children have food allergies; attacks are caused by foods such as

fish, shrimp, etc.

Asthma attacks affect children, especially infants, most often in the winter, mainly because respiratory tract infections are common at this time of year. Asthmatic children often show allergic reaction symptoms. Some infants may have eczema for a long period, others may have allergic rhinitis, or hay fever, a blocked nose, sneezing or a runny nose, and some are prone to hives or allergic skin rash. Allergic conjunctivitis can also occur.

Asthma attacks tend to hit, or worsen, at night; therefore, parents should know how to use temporary asthma medication to help stop the attack as soon as possible. The procedure is as follows: 1) When you see signs of the onset of an asthma attack (for example, an irritating dry cough, sneezing, etc) you should give the child antiallergic medication to ease the attack, by using a Ventolin inhaler, oral Chorine Theophylline,

COMMUNITY 39 Bricanyl or other equivalents.

preservatives. Maintain a good mood; a positive attitude can enhance the confidence of children in fending off asthma.

2) You can give your child one more type of antiasthma medication in addition to their usual medication.

3) If the asthma attack is severe, and despite initial treatment the child starts to have breathing difficulties, parents should immediately take him or her to hospital.

Parents of children with asthma in their daily lives should note the following points: 1) To prevent influenza, try to avoid public places during flu season and avoid contact with flu-sufferers.

2) Keep the house dry and clean. Try to clear indoor dust as much as possible, keep the air in the room fresh and expose blankets to the sun often.

3) Avoid contact with allergens. If a child is allergic to pollen, it is best not to go to parks during blossom season, and the child should in any case always avoid flowers.

“Most asthma attacks tend to hit, or worsen, at night”

If you discover that your child has any asthma symptoms, take him or her to hospital for a check-up to find out the cause and the severity.

Separate from medical efforts, children should also combat asthma by taking part in physical exercise. In good weather, parents should take children out to play football or badminton, go swimming and so on. In this way the child can become stronger, helping keep the disease under control until there is no longer any danger of future reoccurrence.

Dr Zhao is a renowned pediatrician in the field of children’s allergic diseases, specialising in asthma, allergic rhinitis, eczema, urticaria and food allergies. She has studied and worked in Showa University Hospital and Tokyo National Pediatric Hospital, as well as Karolinska Medical University in Sweden. She speaks English and Chinese.

4) Keep your daily life regular and healthy.

Eat fresh foods that are rich in nutrients and vitamins. Certain cold, salty or sweet foods may cause asthma and should therefore be avoided.

Try not to eat canned food or snacks containing

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40 SPORTS

Sports in Beijing What’s on offer to the sports fan in Beijing

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SPORTS 41 Pictures Opposite - Workers Stadium, Sanlitun Right - Families Skating on Houhai Lake Below - Ready to play at Beijing Guoan

by Matthew Brock

N

ewcomers to Beijing can be overwhelmed by many aspects of living in the city. There is all the documentation to sort out, getting the accommodation organised, making sure the children are settled in the new school, to say nothing of actually going to work and justifying all the company’s expense of sending you here in the first place!

So it may be difficult to consider it at the moment if this is you, but you can be assured that there will come a time when you can pause, take a breath and consider what Beijing has to offer you in your free time. If you are interested in a sport, then you can rest assured that there is almost certainly an outlet for you to participate in it. Football, rugby, cycling, tennis, golf, swimming, ice-skating, martial arts, hiking and even cricket is available as well a host of other, less common sports.

There are plenty of opportunities to partake in football (soccer) in Beijing. There is

a comprehensive midweek five-a-side competition run by China Club Football.

Nine divisions of eight teams battle it out in Chaoyang Park. If you can’t find a team to join, get seven or eight of your work colleagues and form a team yourself.

If 11-a-side is your thing, then there are lots of teams that you can join. The Beijing Barbarians is one such team. Founded in 2003, they are one of the largest teams in the city. They have two 11-a-side teams that play at the weekends, and regular training sessions on a Thursday.

Another team is Athletico Beijing who play in the same league as the Barbarians, in the Premier Division.

Of course, if you want to watch the footie, rather than play it, it has to be said that Beijing is not over-endowed with teams. In fact, there is the Beijing Guoan team. And that’s it! They play at the Workers’ Stadium, and are the current Chinese Super League champions. They also play in the AFC Asian Champions League,

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42 SPORTS

but up until now have not had a lot of success there.

A notable date in the calendar last year was the 8th of August (exactly one year after the Opening Ceremony of the Olympics), when the Italian Super Cup curtain-raiser between Inter Milan and Lazio was played at the Bird’s Nest Olympic Stadium. Real Madrid from Spain have just announced that they will be playing against as yet unnamed opposition on the same date this year.

Rugby – there are several teams in the city, but two for expats are the Devils and the Aardvarks.

They both play all the teams in the city (often more than once a season), and regularly travel much further afield in order to get games. Every year the Devils contest the China Pub Yellow Sea Cup with teams from Macau, Shanghai, Seoul and Guangzhou, and there are tours to places like Hong Kong and Outer Mongolia on a regular basis. The Devils train on a Tuesday and Thursday, and there are several social events

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“There are plenty of opportunities to partake in football in Beijing”

Above - Beijing Guoan Right - rugby Upper Right - ice hockey on Houhai lake

SPORTS 43 during the year.

At this time of year, there are plenty of opportunities to go ice-skating on the lakes. At Houhai Lake a few days ago, some people were also setting out an ice-hockey pitch in order to have a game. There is a Beijing Ice Hockey team who play regularly from September to May, and train on Thursdays and Saturdays.

As with the Devils rugby team, they also have regular tours abroad.

As well as watching the Beijing Guoan Football team, there are lots of other events coming to town in the coming months. The China Tennis Open will be here in October, the China Snooker Open in March and the China Table Tennis Open in June, all of which promise to be events well worth looking out for.

So, get your boots, or skates or pads on, and get involved in the myriad of activities that Beijing has to offer!

Part two will appear in the next edition of the magazine.

China Club Football: www.wanguoqunxing.com/index_e.php Beijing Barbarians Football Club: www.beijingbarbarians.com Beijing Devils Rugby Club: www.beijingdevils.com Beijing Ice Hockey Club: www.beijinghockey.com

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44 FOOD

Restaurant reviews

by The Hungry Bunch

Brazilian

Chinese

Alameda

Sense Joy Hotpot

Alameda is a great idea perfectly executed. A simple menu of delicious food at a good price.

Not too much to ask, is it? I imagine that the majority of Alameda’s customers go back time and time again for the same reasons I do. The environment is simple, but still stylish, and the staff attentive. The 2-course lunch time menu (RMB60), and the 2-course dinner menu (RMB158) often vary. There is a good selection of meat, fish and vegetarian dishes, but there is always a filet mignon on each one, and this is what you should have. It is consistently the best steak I have ever had. There is a nice wine list (from about RMB190), and a selection of deserts to finish, but after that steak, why would you want anything else to eat?

Tucked behind Starbucks in Pinnacle Plaza is the latest entry to the Shunyi restaurant scene.

Sense Joy Hotpot has a modern, comfortable feel to it – dark wood and arty décor, all well done with cosy lighting and a pleasant atmosphere.

The health conscious menu is in English and Chinese and, for those new to hotpot, the staff were happy to explain the deal (from the menu choose a soupy base to go into your personal pot in front of you, then pick from the selection of fresh veggies, meats and fish to cook in your chosen broth – all priced reasonably and very fresh). Kids will love choosing ingredients to cook, and pre-teens up will enjoy being in total charge of their own mini kitchen! The meat balls, noodles, dumplings, shrimp and fruit juice selections were very kid friendly. After cooking your ingredients and mixing your own dip accompaniment, enjoy your meal with some side dishes (the sweet potato with cheese was really tasty on a cold night). Dinner for 2 with drinks for approx. RMB200. Lots of space for strollers and a courtyard for kids to run about while they wait for dinner to cook.

Sanlitun Beijie, Sanlitun Inside Nali Mall, 50m south of 3.3 Mall Tel: 6417 8084

886 Pinnacle Plaza, Tianzhu Town, Shunyi Tel: 8046 1214

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FOOD 45

Schindler’s Haltestelle German eatery

Indian

Schindler’s Haltestelle German restaurant in Shunyi has an array of family-friendly menu options, all great winter warmers. The creamy mushroom soup is a particular favourite and has been proclaimed the best in Beijing by our 10-year-old! The milky hot chocolate warms the coldest tummies, and there’s a good beer selection on tap for the mums and dads. Other popular fare in our clan includes the huge variety of sausages, which are served with sauerkraut and potato salad (although we tend to swap in the delicious mashed potato instead) at around RMB30 per generous plate – perfect kid-sized portions. The liver dish is excellent (flavoursome and tender) and is accompanied by the famous mash and vegetables, as are the knuckles and steaks on the menu – all great for the young and old carnivores in your family.

Weekend dining often has live music, skating on the frozen lake has just started, and in the spring and summer the enclosed deck on the lake has no rival in Shunyi as a great spot for watching the world go by.

Outer W. Tiangezhuang (Far Outer NE 5th Ring Rd), Shunyi Anhua Rd, Lakeview Place Tel: 8042 2291

Taj Pavillion

the whole we give two very hearty thumbs up to the Taj Pavillion.

Located on the third floor of the (relatively) new Euro-Plaza building in the more upmarket section of Shunyi, the Taj Pavillion has an unprepossessing facade lacking perhaps the flair of the nearby South Beauty or the familiarity of the Blue Frog. However to pass by or judge the book by its cover if you forgive stretching the analogy would be a mistake.

The interior decor is standard fare for an Indian restaurant outside of India even down to the TV set with Bollywood movies and soundtracks on in the corner. The music isn’t too loud but it’s definitely present, somehow adding to the overall feel of the place.

The general ambiance is one of mid-market European curry house and this is no bad thing.

The food however is more upscale and clearly an excellent chef must be employed behind the scenes. It’s not fine Indian dining by any stretch but the prices don’t reflect this either. What Taj Pavillion does well is meld Indian dishes that feature traditional Indian cuisine to a slightly more European palate and expectation. Like those who observe that Chinese food in Europe and America bears little relation to Chinese food in China, it’s somehow comforting to find an Indian restaurant in China whose food is just like the Indian restaurant fare back home.

Good portions, reasonably swift and attentive service and most of all, tasty food that’s well cooked without being overcooked. One can choose from very mild to reasonably spicy but nothing we sampled was offensive to the palate of our youngsters who even tried some new and unfamiliar dishes and liked them. The delivery service is also fast and reliable so on

Euro Plaza, L222, Tianzhu, Shunyi.

Tel: 8046 3238

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46 COMMUNITY My Story

by Jasmine Keele from INSPIRED

BEING AN EXPAT SPOUSE One evening in April 2006, my husband suddenly asked me, “Do you feel like moving from Zurich to Beijing? I got offered a job there.”

My immediate response was, “Yes! What a great career opportunity! We should go!” But then I asked myself, “Am I ready to give up my good job, my support network of friends and my rather fulfilling and comfortable life?”

After three years in China, I can now say that living as an expat spouse in Beijing can be one of the most challenging experiences of your life. And also one of the most exciting and enriching.

When we came to Beijing in September 2006, my head was bubbling with exciting project ideas. But the first eight months were hard work. Nobody had actually told me how stressful change would be. On top of settling my kids in their schools and finding and training an ayi, I had to learn the language, get used to a rather foreign culture and figure out how to navigate through Beijing malls and markets.

My dreams of getting involved in something meaningful were becoming more and more distant. Somehow, I could not open the door to China, land of exciting opportunities.

Was there something wrong with me? With China?

Today, after working with hundreds of expatriates and expatriate spouses in China and becoming an expat coach myself, I can see that there was nothing wrong with me, and actually nothing wrong with China either. I was so busy surviving here that I had never set goals and organised my actions around those goals.

I had also never truly researched my options in Beijing. And I had lost touch with the things that brought me joy and energy in life.

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Some great opportunities in Beijing

With this article, my hope is to offer you some great first steps in building an exciting life and / or career chapter for 2010.

The first question to ask yourself

First of all, let me ask you a simple question: What do you want out of your China experience?

Most of us never actually ask ourselves this kind of question. But how can we choose between different options if we don’t know the decision criteria?

Will the China chapter be a time of…

ADVENTURE LEARNING CHANGE FREEDOM HEALTH CONTRIBUTION CREATIVITY

CONNECTION ACCOMPLISHMENT HELPING OTHERS MONEY FAMILY SUCCESS PLAY FUN PHYSICAL CHALLENGE GIVING BACK PERSONAL GROWTH GLOBAL CITIZEN HARMONY/BALANCE REINVENTION When you have picked three things in this list, congratulate yourself.

This is your first step towards gaining more clarity about where you’re going from now!

Now that you have a bit of a direction, let’s have a look at the different journeys you can take from here. The options available to you locally are in fact numerous, whether you want to: • Learn about China (travel, language, culture) • Volunteer (charities and associations • Pursue further education • Get involved in a creative project (writing, art, photography) • Start your own business • Seek employment • Prepare for a new career direction Let me elaborate on a few of those great opportunities.

Volunteering

Volunteering in China can be very rewarding, as it enables us to get involved in some wonderful charities, NGOs or associations, to participate in some activities that have a positive impact on other people’s lives and to get more connected to the reality of this country.

Volunteering should also be an option to consider if you can’t find employment in China.

It is an effective way to maintain a professional identity and even gain some new skills, such as leadership, project management or crosscultural skills.

Some of the following charities are currently looking for volunteers: Bethel, Children’s Art Initiative (CAI), Compassion for Migrant Children and Operation Blessing. Of course there are more out there also.

Pursuing further education

Studying is a great way to feel usefully occupied, particularly if it is in line with long-term personal or professional goals. Also, if you’re going to be relocating every two or three years to the next expat posting, you might want to acquire some additional skills with the idea of designing a portable career.

From Beijing, you can become a certified Montessori teacher, pursue an EMBA with Rutgers University, take interesting classes at The Hutong or the Yin Yang Community Center or even become a chartered management accountant through the British Council. And

COMMUNITY 47 with online learning options, the possibilities are endless!

Starting your own business

I hear your concern here. Setting up a legal structure in Beijing can be a headache. But if others can manage it, why can’t you?

It has been said that women make great entrepreneurs.

Why? Because they are risk-takers. Because they know the meaning of perseverance and determination.

Because they are organised and focused. Because they are adaptable and growth-oriented. Because they seek out a support network. Not convinced yet? Send me an email!

Seeking employment

First of all, let me tell you that non-teaching jobs for foreigners do exist in Beijing. Even part-time ones! If I had to give you 10 tips, they would be: 1. Learn the language, or at least some basic Mandarin.

2. Before you start looking for a job, remember to do your homework. Who are you? What are your skills, your personal strengths, your centres of interest, your values? Consider your criteria for career satisfaction.

3. Network: join Chambers of Commerce events, but also socialise within non-professional organisations.

4. Use at least four different job-hunting methods, and do not rely solely on recruitment agencies and headhunters.

5. Target the companies who need your set of skills by using Chambers of Commerce directories and by attending seminars and networking events.

6. Conduct a comprehensive number of informational interviews in your field of interest.

7. Ask for warm referrals.

8. Explore opportunities to become an entrepreneur.

9. Explore opportunities to volunteer and then get hired.

10. Be flexible and patient!

I wish you great success in finding what is going to bring you fulfilment and satisfaction during your years in Beijing. Let me finish with my favourite motto: “We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.” – Randy Pausch Enjoy!

Jasmine Keel is an expat spouse and founded INSPIRED in 2007, now the most comprehensive life & career transition service in China for expat & expat spouses.

To get the full E-Book, A Guide To Expat Partners’ Opportunities in Beijing, you can email her at jasmine@inspiredbeijing.com or via the website ww.inspiredbeijing.com

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48

SCHOOL

The Pandey Family Name of parents and children: Pradeep Kuma and Archana, Prateek and Arpit Ages of children: Prateek (14) and Arpit(9) School: British School of Beijing

eat ut to o o g to g): ou like y in Beijin e r s e t n a r Wh u my wife sta e y r b e t d i e r cook nally (favou ve food st chef. Occasio es lo ll a be We ang he is the in Lido Place, G S . a n a h c t Ar ran aj Restau we visit T r. oo and Tand

Activities you enjoy doing as a family:

How you support your children’s mother tongue: Archana has a Master’s degree in Hindi, so this is not a challenge.

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Watching comedy movies together, fun at the beach (which we enjoyed a lot in Singapore but are missing here), picnic with friends.

What you do for a taste of home (eg, celebrate Indian holidays, eat Indian food, speak mother tongue):

Frequently get together with Indian friends, celebrate all Indian festivals with friends, regularly touch base with our family members in India to share.

SCHOOL 49

The Garcia Family

Where you like to go out to eat (favourite restaurants in Beijing):

We are very open and we like to try both Western and Asian cuisine.

Our kids love Blue Frog and Haru in Shunyi, and Carmen and Niajo in Bejing.

Name of parents and children: Jose and Gloria, Maria and Lucia Ages of children: Maria (9) and Lucia (5) School: British School of Beijing

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Upcoming Events BSB Dance Studio Every Monday, Tuesday Friday at Shunyi Every Saturday at Sanlitun.

Please see website for details.

Foundation

BSB Baby Group -

Every Wednesday, Shunyi 1.30-2.30

Tumble Tots

Every Thursday, Shunyi 9 - 9.30

BSB Toddler Group Every Tuesday and Thursday 8.30 - 10

Primary

Jumble Sale 27th March, Sanlitun 10 - 3

Secondary Sanlitun Campus No.5 Xiliujie, Sanlitun Road, Chaoyang District,

Beijing, 100027, China Tel: +8610-8532-3088 Fax: +8610-8532-3089

Shunyi Campus

South Side, No 9, An Hua Street, Tianzhu Development Zone, Shunyi District, Beijing 101318, China Tel: +8610-8047-3588 Fax: +8610-8532-3089

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

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

www.britishschool.org.cn admissions@britishschool.org.cn