Expat Parent April 2020

FREE EVERY MONTH

FAMILY | EDUCATION | EASTER | RAINY DAYS

the really useful magazine expat-parent.com

April 2020

Egg-cellent Easter treats Best brunches and egg hunts in town

Giving back in difficult times Hong Kong charities that need your help

April showers Fantastic rainy day activities

2 expat-parent.com

CONTENTs 2

Editor’s letter

Hello from the hot desk. Plus three things we love

8

4 Contributors

Meet this month’s team

7

What’s on

Dates for your diary this April. Plus our Mum About Town

Your monthly local news roundup

14

Things to know

Hong Kong’s LGBT rights milestones

16

Must haves

Desk accessories to bring your home office to life

19

Me & my big idea

Party planning in style

20

Cover story

Fun things to do on a rainy day

Life & style Do good with these volunteer opportunities for kids

40

Big day out

48

Take the kids out to the Tai Tam Waterworks Heritage Trail

Book club Interview with author Dr Anisha Abraham. Plus April reads and podcasts

Rugrat ramblings Diary of an expat baby

13 28

36

24 Dining

36

44

12 News

ISSUE 071

Easter brunches for the whole family.

Plus dining news

28 Education

Easter camps that are still on

30 School

Charmaine Ng visits Hong Kong Institute of Languages. Plus principal’s office

34

Home & living

Easter baking classes and cake pop recipe

44

25

23

34

17 Scan and visit our website expat-parent.com

40

expat-parent.com 1

editor’s Letter

T

wenty-twenty. Just a few months ago we were all planning on making this year the best year yet. Now, we’re dealing with some pretty serious stuff.

Some of us have returned to Hong Kong and have to do a home quarantine. This virus it seems has a hold on us all even if not actually infecting us. So I propose this to you right now. Take a moment, wherever you are.

Close your eyes, take a deep breath in, hold it for a moment, and then breathe out. Open your eyes and read on to escape with our April issue.

Easter is here, and we’ve got some delicious Easter baking ideas on page 34.

Teach the kids the importance of giving back with our list of volunteer ideas on page 36 or beat the rainy day blues with activities for the little tykes on page 20.

I feel very privileged to be here with you again, creating content that will hopefully brighten your day and make you smile. Stay strong, stay connected as best you can and be well.

who’s in charge?

Editorial editorial@hongkongliving.com Managing Editor Gemma Shaw

Contributing Editor Nicole Slater

Editorial Assistant Charmaine Ng

Digital Editor Apple Lee

Design vicky@hongkongliving.com Graphic Designer Vicky Lam

Graphic Designer Yankee Tsang

Sales & Marketing talk@hongkongliving.com

3 things we love this month...

Director of Content Hilda Chan

Head of Digital Content Isamonia Chui

Partnership Manager Joey Ho

Partnership Manager Elaine Li

The M word

Let’s talk about menstruation. We are all for having more natural and eco-friendly options when it comes to period care products. The LUÜNA period cup is reusable, comfortable to wear and collects up to four times as much blood as a standard tampon. luuna-naturals.com

Publisher Tom Hilditch tom@hongkongliving.com

Love is blind

Emmer Pizzeria & Café

Recently-opened Emmer Pizzeria & Café at Pacific Place serves up a range of freshly made, and very affordable hand stretched pizzas, paninis, salads and cakes. From the moment you order, cooking and serving time is around 6 minutes - perfect for hungry little bellies! Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner with a happy hour running from 5-8pm. emmerpizza.com

about the cover Our cover stars Elena Rouillon and Adele Stepourenko will brush away any rainy day blues with their bright smiles and sparkling eyes. The cover is shot by the talented Sophie Rouillon who is passionate about portraits and street photography.

2 expat-parent.com

Contact us Admin: 3568 3722 | Editorial: 2776 2773 | Advertising: 2776 2772 Published by Hong Kong Living Ltd, L1 Kai Wong Commercial Building, 222 Queen’s Road Central, Hong Kong Printer Apex Print Limited, 11-13 Dai Kwai Street, Tai Po Industrial Estate, Tai Po, Hong Kong

HONG KONG hongkongliving.com Expat Parent is published by Hong Kong Living Ltd. This magazine is published on the understanding that the publishers, advertisers, contributors and their employees are not responsible for the results of any actions, errors and omissions taken on the basis of information contained in this publication. The publisher, advertisers, contributors and their employees expressly disclaim all and any liability to any person, whether a reader of this publication or not, in respect of any action or omission by this publication. Expat Parent cannot be held responsible for any errors or inaccuracies provided by advertisers or contributors. The views herein are not necessarily shared by the staff or publishers. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher.

Credit: Sophie Rouillon

At least according to the Netflix hit show that shares the same name. Singles meet and potentially get engaged within just a few days on this Bachelor-like speed dating reality TV show. But there’s a rub, participants only meet each other face-to-face for the first time after their engagement proposal. netflix.com

expat-parent.com 3

contributors

Sophie Rouillon

Marina Watt

Faye Bradley

Sophie Rouillon shot our fabulous cover this month. Sophie trained in Europe and has worked as a freelance photographer at the prestigious Studios Harcourt and as well contributing to Getty Images. She relocated to Paris last December after 15 years living and working in Hong Kong. We wish her the best of luck with her new venture! sophierouillon.com

This month’s Mum About Town is Marina Watt. She has more than a decade of experience in communications and is currently studying for a doctorate in education. Marina enjoys writing about parenting and education for various publications in Hong Kong as well as planning adventures for her family. See what she’s up to this month on page 9.

Faye Bradley was born in Hong Kong and studied in the UK for her Bachelors degree in Art and Design. She moved back to the city in 2018 to start her own illustration brand Cha Siu Papers and online magazine Cha Siu Papers Times. Faye details samesex married couples recently winning the right to apply for public housing on page 14. chasiupapers.com

Want to write for Expat Parent Magazine? Contact editorial@hongkongliving.com

4 expat-parent.com

expat-parent.com 5

6 expat-parent.com

what’s on

Diary dates

APR 6-10 & APR 13-17

Spring Adventure Camps

A week-long camp for adventurers in the city.

Campers must be capable and confident swimmers with good fitness and stamina. $4,480. Treasure Island, Lantau. treasureislandhk.com

expat-parent.com 7

what’s on watersports and HKSF levels 1-3. Members and non-members welcome. Prices vary.

Pak Sha Wan, Sai Kung. hhyc.org.hk

APR 8

Brush and Barrel An evening of painting, sipping and socialising at ABOVE. 7pm. $450. ABOVE at Ovolo Southside, 64 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Wong Chuk Hang. ticketflap.com/ brushnbarrelxabove

APR 10

Good Friday Let the four day weekend commence!

APR 10 Easter egg hunt at Taipa Village

Easter Trail Race

APR 1

APR 4

A 14km race starting and ending at Aberdeen Barbecue Site. $200. xterace.com

Pinch punch first of the month. Don’t get fooled!

Also referred to as Tomb Sweeping Day, the traditional Chinese festival celebrates ancestors.

APR 10 & 11

April Fool’s Day

APR 3

Women’s Wild Swim Connect with the earth in one of Hong Kong’s secluded rock pools with Kembali. 9.30am12.35pm. $150. Tai Po Market Station, Tai Po. kembali.org

Ching Ming Festival

FROM APR 5

The Great Carnival Fair A family-friendly event featuring yoga, games and healthy cooking workshops.

Every Sunday throughout April. 10am-8pm.

Free. Central Harbourfront Event Space.

Facebook: The Great Carnival Fair

Easter Egg Hunt & Buffet Lunch Kids can enjoy an Easter egg hunt on the beach followed by lunch at Bathers. 11am2pm and 5-8pm. Adults, $395, kids, $290.

Lower Cheung Sha Beach, South Lantau. bathers.com.hk

APR 11-12

APR 6-10 & 13-17

Galo x Taipa Village Easter Festive Fun

Hebe Haven Yacht Club courses include race training for beginners, adventure

Celebrate Easter at our sister SAR with face painting, egg hunting, painting, orienteering and more. Price varies. taipavillagemacau.com

Easter watersports and sailing camps

APR 4

Ching Ming Festival Also referred to as Tomb Sweeping Day, the traditional Chinese festival celebrates ancestors.

APR 4

Women’s Five Women have the option of running either a 5km or 10km race. womensfive.com

Ovolo Southside

8 expat-parent.com

tell me more APR 13

Easter Monday Enjoy the egg-tra long weekend!

APR 18

mum about town

Kayak & Run Deep Water Bay Kayak through Middle Island and run over the hilltops in this multi sport race. 7.30am. Deep Water Bay. actionasiaevents.com

APR 24-25

24-Hour Theater Challenge Budding actors, writers, and directors will have 24 hours to write and rehearse a play before performing to a live audience at Momentai. Kiosk 1, Sai Kung Waterfront, Wai Man Road. Facebook: Momentaila

APR 25

16th Year Anniversary Party

Has it really been that long? Celebrate 16 years of The Underground with seven hours of live music. 7pm-1am. $200. Rula Live, G/F, 58-62 D’Aguilar Street, Lan Kwai Fong. undergroundhk.com

APR 25

3 Islands GreenRace Race across Lamma, Hong Kong Island and Lantau. Those wanting more can incorporate Tung Lung Chau island. 7.30am-6pm. $1,700. Pier 4 Central Ferry. tgr.run

APR 26

Earth Day Cleanup Hike A clean up with a view at Kam Shan Country Park. 11am-3pm. Free. Shek Lei Pui Reservoir Bus Stop. Facebook: GreenHourHK

APR 27

Welcome to the agrihood Want to teach your kids how to grow their own veggies without travelling to a remote farm? K11 Musea’s Nature Discovery Park is the answer. Check out their new urban farmland where you can learn about plant morphology from agri guru Alfred Tse, founder of Mindfield and UrbaNature, and experience urban farming, weeding and fertilising plants from the roof of the mall with your little ones.

Urban Agriculture with Coffee Ground Composting: April 11. $460. 8/F, K11 Musea, Tsim Sha Tsui. k11musea.com

Tin Hau Festival A celebration of the birthday of The Chinese Goddess of the Sea.

Open mic night Show off your musical talents at room68, a snazzy art space at the top of Tung Nam Lou Hotel. Fun and dynamic, the evening promises to surprise you with good vibes, great company and fantastic music. Come and join the tribe!

TY Productions presents Open Mic Pop Free Jam: April 4, 9pm-12 midnight. $120 for entrance. 23/F, Tung Nam Lou Hotel, 68 Portland Street, Yau Ma Tei. facebook.com/typroductionslimited

expat-parent.com 9

10 expat-parent.com

BOOK NOW MAY 9

HHYC Open Day Enjoy free sailing and watersports trials, activities and food stalls at Hebe Haven Yacht Club. Free. 10am-5pm. hhyc.org.hk

MAY 17

The Lamma International Dragon Boat Festival The Lamma Dragons and Thirsty Horse host viewers for the races, followed by a beachside afterparty. Tai Wan To Beach, Lamma Island. lamma500.com

MAY 24

Avril Lavigne - Head Above Water World Tour She was a Sk8er girl…. and she’s in Hong Kong for one night only. 8pm. $488.

AsiaWorld-Expo, Lantau. hkticketing.com

APR 6-10 & APR 13-17 Spring Adventure Camp

A week-long day and overnight camp for adventurers in the city. Campers must be capable and confident swimmers with good fitness and stamina. $4,480. Treasure Island, Lantau. treasureislandhk.com

JUN 19

Big Band Night Enjoy a night of life music, performed by Hong Kong’s very own jazz band, Basic

Notes. 8.30pm-10.30pm. Hong Kong Fringe Club, 2 Lower Albert Road, Central.

Facebook: Basic Notes

AUG 30

Billie Eilish Where Do We Go? World Tour in Hong Kong The first artist born this millennium to achieve a No. 1 album and single. 8pm. $998. AsiaWorld-Expo, Airport Expo Boulevard, Chek Lap Kok. livenation.hk

expat-parent.com 11

news

Recycle your leggings

Dad’s chat With the recent goings on in Hong Kong and the around the world, local dads have come together to organise a community support group for men of all ages. The event will take place at Momentai in Sai Kung every fourth Thursday of the month at 6.30pm. Pop along to enjoy happy hour drinks and chat to other local dads.

Activewear producer Sweaty Betty has introduced its leggings take-back recycling scheme as part of its ongoing commitment to sustainability. The company has partnered with global textile recycler SOEX, allowing customers to return their unwanted leggings of any brand to Sweaty Betty’s IFC store in exchange for a reward voucher which can be redeemed against their next Sweaty Betty purchase. Leggings in good condition will be rehomed, but if they are unwearable, the leggings will be recycled or broken down to raw materials for use in new products. Sweaty Betty hopes that this recycling scheme will make it easier to give garments a second life. Shop 1028, Podium Level One, IFC Mall, Central. sweatybetty.com

Poisoned porpoises

Borders closing At the end of the month, Hong Kong saw an alarming surge in coronavirus infections, both imported and spread locally. In response, as of March 24, the city has closed its borders to all international arrivals, following Singapore and Taiwan’s examples.

Non-residents would not be allowed into

the city, transit passengers included, for a two-week period. Arrivals from mainland China, Macau or Taiwan will be allowed in, according to Carrie Lam in a press conference, provided they had not travelled anywhere else in the past 14 days and are subject to quarantine orders.

A recent study has found concentrations of the organic tin compound triphenyltin (TPT), a dangerous toxin banned in 2008, at record-high levels in local Chinese white dolphins and finless porpoises. One finless porpoise reportedly harboured ten times the level of TPT compared to a sample of the species tested in 2003. The data has raised concerns that local seafood prepared for human consumption may be contaminated as well. HKU professor Kenneth Leung warns that high concentrations of TPT will have a negative health impact in humans and urges people to avoid bottom-dwelling fish, which may have more exposure to the chemical.

Electronically printed traffic penalty tickets were introduced in mid-March on a three-month trial scheme to eliminate human error. According to the police, up to 9,000 tickets are ruled invalid every year due to human factors. Officers testing out the scheme are equipped with a mobile 12 expat-parent.com

phone and a portable printer to be used when issuing a ticket at the scene. The scheme costs an anticipated $8 million, which includes the costs of mobile phones, portable printers, data transfer and a back-end system.

Credit: Kuribo via Flickr

Traffic tickets go electronic

news

Art attack Start saving up, because the new date for the Affordable Art Fair has been announced. The eighth edition of the annual fair is now set to take place from August 20 to 23 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Along with most events originally scheduled for February and March, the fair was postponed due to the current coronavirus outbreak. For the latest updates, visit affordableartfair.com

The Peak Tram is back Suns out, buns out The Cheung Chau Bun Festival falls on the fifth to the ninth days of the fourth lunar month, this year taking place from April 27-May 1. The festival usually incorporates Taoist ceremonies and music, parades, lion dances and a much-famed bun scrambling competition. This year, however, due to current health precautions, officials have decided to cancel parts of the festival. We may not get to see the bun scrambling competition, but we can still enjoy the bun tower displays and lion dances.

The refurbishment of the Peak Tram has been completed and our favourite mode of transport is back. To start this new chapter off with a bang, the Peak Tram has two special offers exclusively for Hong Kong citizens until April 19. The packages include buy-one-get-one tickets for adults, children and senior citizens, with additional privileges at designated shops, restaurants and entertainment venues at The Peak Tower. All the more reason to take a ride on the city’s iconic red train! For more information, visit ticketing.thepeak.com.hk

expat-parent.com 13

THINGS TO KNOW

1

In July 1991, after an 11-year debate, the Legislative Council announced the legislation of decriminalising homosexual acts between consenting same-sex individuals aged 21 years and above.

4

In 2003, Kenneth Cheung stood as Hong Kong’s first openly-gay candidate for the District Council.

2 3

5

The Sex Discrimination Ordinance was enacted in July 1995, making it unlawful to discriminate against a person based on their sex or marital status.

Several online publications were founded in 2002 to support the LGBTQ community. These included the Dim Sum magazine and HKqUeer Campus (renamed in 2009 to Queer Straight Alliance).

In 2005, the first IDAHO (International Day Against Homophobia) procession was held through the street to show gay pride and solidarity with the LGBT community.

Things you need to know Hong Kong’s LGBTQ milestones With same-sex married couples recently winning the right to apply for public housing, Faye Bradley highlights Hong Kong LGBTQ achievements to date

6

Hong Kong’s first formal Pride Parade was held on 13 December 2008. The route was taken from Great George Street in Causeway Bay to Southorn Playground in Wan Chai.

7

8

On March 4 2020, the High Court ruled that it is deemed unconstitutional to deny legally same-sex married couples right to apply for public housing.

The first Hong Kong Pink Season, a premier LGBT festival celebrating acceptance, inclusion and awareness, was announced in 2011.

Images courtesy of Hong Kong Pride Parade via Facebook 14 expat-parent.com

expat-parent.com 15

MUST HAVES

Essenza Plus $1,788 from Nespresso nespresso.com

Metal retractable ballpoint pen 3 pack poppy red $115 from Kikki.K kikki-k.com

A6 stitch notebook 5 pack $115 from Kikki.K kikki-k.com

Mio mug roma $50 from Francfranc hk.francfranc.net

WORK FROM

‘Fuzzette’ crisscross slides $990 from Lane Crawford lanecrawford.com.hk

Wild figfragrance sticks $440 from Rituals rituals.com

HOME Be your most productive self with these desk accessories, snacks and more.

By Nicole Slater Pistachio and clotted cream biscuits $198 from Fortnum & Mason fortnumandmason. com

Aair Lite air purifier quartz pink $4,800 from Lane Crawford lanecrawford.com.hk 16 expat-parent.com

MUST HAVES

Royal blend tea $198 from Fortnum & Mason fortnumandmason.com

Rare beauty silk top and short set $1,048 from Intimissimi hk.intimissimi.com

Sidus desk bureau $3,290 from Indigo Living Indigo-living.com

Big Boss SOHO $19,980 from Tequila Kola tequilakola.com

HK skyline elastic band notebook $128 from MoMA design school momastore.hk

Image desk with two drawers $8,990 from Indigo Living indigo-living.com

expat-parent.com 17

18 expat-parent.com

me & my big idea

All that glitters Samantha Fong of Nestology Studio puts her party pants on.

By Apple Lee So what’s the big idea?

I’ve always wanted to do something that relates to family, design and events. And I thought, “Why not all three?” I founded creative lifestyle studio Nestology to create memorable moments for families in Hong Kong through organising bespoke events and photography experiences. We offer event styling, photography and graphic design for families.

How did the idea come about?

I’ve actually had this idea of running an events company for years. What really pushed me to finally take action was, surprisingly, my postpartum depression (PPD). PPD is tough.

And real. Through counseling and reflection, I realized I also needed to do something for myself to start my healing process. Quick breaks weren’t quite enough, and I felt like I wanted to do something where I can immerse myself more. So I took a big leap and started Nestology. It was meant to be more of a hobby, but I have been so blessed to be part of so many families’ important milestones.

How do you host a party that both kids and parents can enjoy?

I always make sure to throw warm, intimate parties. This means choosing a space that’s not too big, well-utilised and conducive to small and big group interactions. Styling is obviously important to me, so I prepare for this meticulously. The littlest details matter. If you look at our parties, I always decorate a space

Samantha Fong, founder of Nestology Studio

with an overall sophisticated feel, but with elements that would still appeal to the littles.

What is the best party you have ever been to?

Recently, my daughter turned three and we decided to host a birthday party in the Philippines for family and close friends. The theme was Frida Kahlo because my daughter loves this book about her. I worked with Smitten Events for the party and we chose a restaurant called La Picara which was beautifully designed.

I looked for a picture of each guest to make custom place cards, and trust me, that wasn’t

easy. I sent the photos to a local artist to be hand-drawn and painted with watercolour..

This was such a hit because no one expected to see their beautiful portraits in their place!

Favourite party playlist and dance moves?

I love having a mix of pop songs from the past 10 to 20 years and a few Kidz Bop songs so everyone can enjoy the music. Unfortunately, I am such a bad dancer so I will spare everyone and not dance.

For more information visit nestologystudio.com expat-parent.com 19

C ST OV O ER RY

Let it rain

Rik Glauert suggests fun rainy day activities for kids

20 expat-parent.com

R VE Y O R C TO S

1. Art classes

Anastassia’s Art H ous e

Classes and drop-in sessions covering all sorts of arts and crafts take place all across the region. Some of our favorites are Art Jamming, Messy Jam and Anastassia’s Art House.

2. Ride the tram This rainy day idea isn’t guaranteed to keep you dry as you’ll need to brave the outdoors to board. But, nabbing the front seats of an iconic Hong Kong ding ding and rattling through Hong Kong’s sodden, yet ever-intriguing, neighborhoods is a very cost-effective way to while away a rainy afternoon.

4. Indoor play areas se Ro

6. Perfect your baking The Ca kery fou nd er Sh

ith her daug h ing w t e rs M bak ay a

an d

a Av

A rainy day is the perfect opportunity to put that oven to work. Enlist your kids to help perfect your recipes for scones, cakes, muffins, croissants, buns and breads. Grab a stool so your little one can reach the kitchen counter and be prepared for flour to go everywhere.

ok Kw ey irl

This rainy day activity should be right up your alley! A lot of the city’s bowling options include discounts during the day time, making it an ideal family activity. If, however, you fancy a sip on something strong while you bowl, head to Sai Kung’s tropical-themed Tikitiki Bowling Bar where throwing balls down the lane is partnered with delectable cocktails and nibbles. tikitiki.hk

&

5. Go bowling

eninsula eP Th

If you can get your little ones to behave, while away a few hours with a spread of luxurious sandwiches, cakes, scones and other delights. Our recommendations are to go classic at The Peninsula or go ultra-luxe at The Upper House’s Cafe Gray Deluxe.

M ag

e gi

3. Go for afternoon tea

Usher your little ones to an indoor playground and let them release their pent-up energy outside of the house without getting wet. Funzone is a popular choice with three locations across the city, as are SuperPark and D Park. If you fancy some socialising with your adult friends too, head to family members’ club Maggie & Rose.

expat-parent.com 21

C ST OV O ER RY

7. Escape room This popular grown-up activity that sees problem-solving and teamwork put to the test can now also be enjoyed as a family. LOST Junior in Lai Chi Kok is suitable for kids six and up. See if you and your kids can escape before the time runs out (and without a major family argument). lostjunior.com

8. DIY science experiments Get your kids interested in STEM subjects with some fun science experiments and spectacles.

Popular options include making slime, exploring static electricity and growing crystals. Be a dream parent by researching some good activities, preparing the equipment now and saving it for a, ahem, rainy day.

9. Visit a museum The Maritime Museum at Central Pier is maintaining its normal opening hours.

Your nautical little one will love a visit to this waterfront museum. Head to the covered rooftop at the end of your trip for some weather watching from Cafe 8. hkmaritimemuseum.org

10. Get creative From sand art to weaving friendship bracelets, there’s no end to fun, creative arts and craft activities. All it takes is to give up some coveted storage space for that arts and crafts box and research some creations online. Check out 5-Minute Crafts and Art Bar Blog on Instagram for some inspiration.

11. Watch a movie

12. Ice skating

A classic rainy day option. Splash out on a big box of popcorn and some fizzy drinks and catch that blockbuster you know everyone will be talking about in the office.

13. Home obstacle course

Dust off your winter wardrobe and glide around one of the city’s ice rinks.

This winter sport is a great way to develop balance, concentration and tone up core muscles in both you and your child. Check out the rinks at Cityplaza, Elements and Megabox.

Create mini obstacle courses in your largest room with objects to jump over or things to duck under or step in and around. Be liberal with cushions, pillows and yoga mats. Pad corners with foam or cardboard and remember to stay away from the kitchen to lessen the chances of tears.

15. Splash about 14. Hoverboarding The 2018 hover boarding fad may have passed you by, but there’s still a chance to try the sport. Azzita Hoverland boasts 5,000 square feet of indoor tracks as well as air hockey and table football. azzita.co

22 expat-parent.com

Don your raincoats and wellington boots, grab an umbrella and head out to “enjoy” the weather. Your little will love splashing about in puddles or watching the drip from leaves on the trees. Added Instagram bonus points if you can dress your kid in matching yellow mackintosh and hat or animal-shaped boots.

R VE Y O R C TO S expat-parent.com 23

dining

Easter brunches

Hop on down to these fantastic brunch spots. By Apple Lee Pirata The lively Italian restaurant is hosting a pasta masterclass for little ones this Easter. Taking place over brunch, children ages four and above will learn how to knead, shape and create pasta dough with executive chef Stefano Rossi.

After brunch, head up with the whole crew to the restaurant’s rooftop for an exciting Easter egg hunt. 29 & 30/F, 239 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai. pirata.hk

The Grill, Grand Hyatt Hong Kong Make your way to The Grill for a fabulous outdoor brunch by the pool. Sustainable seafood and chargrilled steak are the name of the game here. Available every weekend, the menu features an impressive array of cooked seafood on ice including Atalantic lobster, snow crab leg, line-caught tuna tataki and more. Plus DJ Surge will be spinning the decks to set the vibe right. 1 Harbour Road, Wan Chai. hongkong.grand.hyattrestaurants.com

Limewood

The Pizza Project

Southside’s easy breezy beachside favourite is serving two special dishes available exclusively over the Easter weekend. Don’t miss the smoked salmon waffle, a brunch classic updated with cured New Zealand salmon and perfectly ripe avocados. For dessert, the Easter sundae, topped with cutesy bunny ears and M&M’s, is set to be a hit among the little ones.

Shop 103/104, The Pulse, 28 Beach Road, Repulse Bay. limewood.hk

Pirata Group’s newest darling has all things great for a vibey, no-frills Easter brunch without breaking the bank. The three-course brunch set includes an antipasti, metre-long pizza and a dessert and will set you back just $158.

Available throughout the Easter long weekend, try the Pizza Pasqualina with creamy spinach and runny quail eggs. G/F, 26 Peel Street, Central. thepizzaproject.hk

24 expat-parent.com

dining

Sip Song

Bathers

Next doors to Limewood, Thai hot spot Sip Song is a fun and colourful family hangout.

From April 10 to 13, the restaurant is offering two limited time dishes including the crispy fried chicken.

Double down on desserts with the Easter sundae and banana roti pancake. As a bonus, the little ones will love the kids’ menu and play area. Shop 114/115, The Pulse, 28 Beach Road, Repulse Bay. sip-song.com

The balmy beach restaurant is bringing back its annual Easter buffet brunch and egg hunt.

Grab a bucket and get ready to scavenge for hidden eggs on the sand. There will also be fun family games and special souvenirs for the kids. Egg hunting spots are limited, so make sure to RSVP in advance. 32 Lower Cheung Sha Village, South Lantau. bathers.com.hk

La Rambla La Rambla’s iconic Sunday Market Brunch is taking on a new format this month, just in time for Easter. All dishes that were previously available as a buffet, including

tapas and charcuterie, will be served directly to the table. Kids under 10 eat free while adults can idle the afternoon away on the harbour-facing terrace. 3071-73, Level 3, IFC Mall, Central. larambla.hk expat-parent.com 25

dining NEWS

Dining news Kids eat free on Children’s Day

Eat pizza, support Italy

Dining Concepts is celebrating Children’s Day with a special family lunch. On April 4, head to any of the restaurant group’s selected venues, including Alto, Bizou and Spiga, where your kids can dine free of charge. The offer is valid for a maximum of two kids under the age of 12, when accompanied by two paying adults. diningconcepts.com

The DiVino Group, known for their authentic Italian fare, is donating 10% of all proceeds from their pizza sales to Crema Hospital in Milan to support the fight against the coronavirus. Visit their restaurants DiVino, DiVino Patio or Spasso for some mouthwatering pizzas and to support the good cause. divinogroup.com

Credit: Limewood

Dine and ride Enjoy dinner at The Pulse, plus a free Uber ride home! Guests who spend over $300 at any of The Pulse’s beachside restaurants and bars will receive a free Uber ride home (up to a limit depending on how much you spend). Simply take your receipt to the concierge to redeem your ride. For more information visit thepulse.com.hk/ promotion

Spring lunch at The Verandah dessert selection. Priced from $478 with free-flow beverage options available.

The Verandah, 109 Repulse Bay Road. therepulsebay.com Credit: Duddell’s

Tuck into fresh flavours this spring at The Verandah. Their new set lunch every Wednesday to Saturday Includes a healthy salad platter with wild herbs and seasonal ingredients, a main course and delicate

United we dine To encourage Hongkongers to dine out again, restaurants across the city including Zuma, Duddell’s and Beef & Liberty will be offering exclusive menus, and a chance to win fabulous prizes until April 30. For the full list of restaurants and menus visit unitedwedine.hk 26 expat-parent.com

expat-parent.com 27

Credit: Ark Eden

EDUCATION

Easter camps

These camps for kids and teens are still going ahead this spring break.

By Charmaine Ng

Minisport A great way to get the children active this spring, Minisport’s coaching style at camps encourages children to engage in dynamic activities that develop skills and build confidence across basketball, football, tennis, rugby and team-building games.

Open to ages one-and-a-half to seven years old, groups are capped at 10 students per coach to ensure that each child receives close attention. Camps are held at West Island School, Tseung Kwan O, Victoria Park and KGV Memorial Park. minisport.hk

Mini Mandarins Every Easter, Mini Mandarins provides educational camps designed for children to participate in fun activities and discover their interest in the Mandarin language in the process. Children are exposed to Mandarin immersed role-play at the centre’s Causeway Bay and Central campuses.

Through cooking, arts and crafts, storytelling and science, Mini Mandarins ensures that children will enjoy learning and improving their language skills! minimandarins.com

28 expat-parent.com

Hong Kong Institute of Languages This Easter, catch up on your child or teen’s schoolwork or learn a new language with the Hong Kong Institute of Languages’ flexible learning modes: private lessons, semi-private lessons, home tutoring classes and online lessons. The Institute has been teaching languages to families for 35 years

EDUCATION and aims to improve children’s’ language skills in a safe, fun, engaging and effective way through stimulating learning activities. hklanguages.com

Ark Eden Awaken the adventurous and curious side of your child with Ark Eden’s Easter camp.

This camp is set in the beautiful Mui Wo valley of Lantau Island where children get to learn in the natural playground and outdoor classroom. Expect nature exploration, problem-solving, bush crafts, imaginative games, overnight camping and more.

Children aged five to 11 are welcome to join the adventure. arkedenonlantau.org

ActiveKids Welcoming children aged three to 17, ActiveKids has a variety of scientific camps to choose from and is a great choice for children who love to solve puzzles. The school has been suspended until April 20 in light of recent health events, so ActiveKids has decided to do run camps online and for science and chess only. activekidshk.com

Treasure Island

Credit: YWCA

Challenge the mind, brain and body in one of the 100 Easter camps available from the YWCA International Kids Club. Opportunities range from learning tennis to playing junior scientist. With hundreds of options to choose from, YWCA has one of the most comprehensive lists around. This year, the centre has cancelled their camps but will hold a series of activities online on their

Facebook Page and Instagram. Look out for a variety of fun games for children to beat the boredom and keep learning at home! clle.ywca.org.hk

At Treasure Island children can embark on an epic adventure around Pui O Beach this Easter. Kids will develop outdoor leadership skills such as trip preparation, equipment and material checks and group organisation.

Kayaking, gorging, raft building and hiking

are just some of the exciting activities on offer. treasureislandhk.com

FloatPlus This Easter, FloatPlus is encouraging children to get out of the house and into the pool for a swim session. Weekly swim camps are available for ages three to 15 at the heated Repulse Bay Club pool. They offer small class sizes run by friendly coaches and guests are welcome to join in the afternoons on weekdays and Saturday mornings. floatplus.hk

Baumhaus

Credit: ActiveKids

YWCA Centre of Learning and Life Enhancement

Baumhaus offers an indoor, age-specific Easter camp designed to encourage a productive and enjoyable learning experience for kids, from newborns to six year olds. It’s a flexible programme, starting at $800 for 30-day playroom access plus four Kindermusik classes. The camps are available at Baumhaus’ Wan Chai location. baumhaus.com.hk expat-parent.com 29

school

Hong Kong Institute of Languages Charmaine Ng visits Hong Kong’s premier language school as they celebrate their 35th anniversary

P

arents and children who are looking to tackle a new language may have heard of Hong Kong Institute of Languages, a well-known language school established in 1985 by Dominique and Christian Chasset. Since its founding, the school has provided children, teens and adults with countless opportunities for broadening and opening new doors with the lifelong asset of languages. Today, it is the largest private 30 expat-parent.com

language school operating in Hong Kong and teaches seven languages – English, French, German, Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese and Japanese.

Philosophy The Hong Kong Institute of Languages is rooted in the belief that language should not be treated as a subject but as a means of communication between people. Dominique

and Christian Chasset place great emphasis on active class participation and interaction between teacher and students. The Institute adopts a highly successful teaching approach, incorporating multimedia learning and oral communication skills to make learning as engaging and interesting as possible. “Our goal is to provide the most innovative language course with the native speaking teachers,” Dominique explained. Indeed, from the outset,

SCHOOL

mother-tongue support and helps both children and teens prepare for exams. For example, it has worked with ESF primary schools throughout the territory to put together an after school French language programme for its students. The diversity of both ESF and Hong Kong Institute of Languages’ services evolved over time with demand for additional languages and eventually came to include Mandarin, Spanish and German after school classes.

Lessons the Chassets have maintained that teachers are the most valuable asset of a language school.

Courses are taught by qualified native speakers and have been tweaked to address students from beginner to advanced level.

Teaching Pioneers in Hong Kong in the field of teaching foreign languages to children, Dominique and Christian believe that a new language should be learned sooner rather than later. Before classroom textbooks were developed to effectively teach languages to young children, the Chassets developed their own materials.

The Institute’s teaching method ensures that youngsters are given positive reinforcement to boost their confidence as they strengthen their ability to communicate in a different language.

The range of courses available to children at Hong Kong Institute of Languages starts from three years old. The Institute also provides

Hong Kong Institute of Languages has a proven track record of delivering successful language learning through face-to-face teaching in small groups or private lessons with only qualified native speakers. The Institute has two teaching locations in Central and Wong Chuk Hang.

Children’s classes are available weekdays after school or the whole day on Saturday.

Group classes are organised by age and level to ensure a homogenous class dynamic that provides optimal linguistic progress. Something unique the school also offers are tailor-made courses for the whole family, who can learn a new language together, enriching their lives in Hong Kong.

In situations like SARS and the Coronavirus, the Institute has adopted home tuition and learning online so children stay connected even when they are asked to remain at home. Home tutoring classes are private or semi-private and online lessons are always one-on-one with a teacher. Tailor-made courses are available

for your child’s specific needs, including preparation work for GCSE, IGCSE, IB and other examinations.

Holiday camps Hong Kong Institute of Languages provides dedicated language camps during Easter and Summer and intensive language courses during Christmas for children. This spring, the Institute is providing back to school intensive programmes provided through flexible learning models including private lessons, online instruction and home tuition. The camps are culturally enriching, activity-based and a lot of fun.

The best part of these experiences is that children also learn about key aspects of the country’s culture through language-based fun and educational learning activities at the camps.

Christian Chasset points out, “the experience is far more than just learning another language, children also enjoy the cultural immersion.” To support this statement, during Chinese New Year, the Institute always provides reduced tuition fees for Mandarin lessons to children to motivate learning Mandarin during a culturally significant time.

For more information about the different courses on offer at Hong Kong Institute of Languages, contact 2877 6160 or visit hklanguages.com

expat-parent.com 31

school PRINCIPAL’S OFFICE Meet Dominique and Christian Chasset, Principals of Hong Kong Institute of Languages Can you tell us about your career?

D+C: “We are language teaching specialists with over 35 and 40 years of experience teaching. We have lived in Hong Kong for over 30 years, serving both the local and expatriate community.” (Dominique and Christian both received an official award from the French Government: Dominique as a Knight of the Order of the National Merit, and Christian as a Knight of the Order of the Academic Palms.)

What inspired you to start the Hong Kong Institute of Languages?

D: “I studied English for many years and passed all my exams successfully. However, when I first visited England, I found myself on a bus unable to find the right words or phrases to ask the driver to stop where I wanted. I sat on the bus and eventually missed my stop. After that, I realised that language learning had to be for immediate use rather than simply for academic reasons. That’s how practical language and small classes became part of Hong Kong Institute of Languages’ philosophy.”

What sets Hong Kong Institute of Languages apart from other language schools in Hong Kong?

D+C: “We have been pioneers in language instruction since 1985 with a

distinctive teaching philosophy. The Institute has developed a highly successful teaching approach, incorporating multimedia learning and oral communication skills, designing its courses to make learning as engaging and interesting as possible. Our goal is to provide the most innovative language courses with qualified native-speaking teachers. We have students that have become parents and now send their children here to study, which is really nice!”

How does Hong Kong Institute of Languages make learning a new language fun for children?

D+C: “We developed our own teaching

method, which is fun and engaging and youngsters are given positive reinforcement to boost their confidence while strengthening their ability to communicate in a different language.”

How has Hong Kong Institute of Languages adapted its classes in light of the recent health outbreak?

D+C: “We have been through SARS so we have experience in handling these difficult situations. Students’ health and wellbeing is our first priority. We have introduced flexible learning modes and also offer up to $5,000 tuition subsidy to help our students maintain their study progress.”

What’s your favourite part about what you do?

D+C: “What we do today has an impact and makes a real difference on the lives of our students tomorrow. Many of our former students have gone on to great things and we are thrilled that somehow, somewhere, we contributed to that. Even the daughter of Chris Pattern, the former Governor of Hong Kong, joined French language lessons and Allan Zeman learned Mandarin with the school!”

32 expat-parent.com

expat-parent.com 33

HOME & LIVING

Maya and Ava Tam

Whisk me away

Nikita Agrawal checks out the best Easter baking classes in Hong Kong Lazy Baking Studio

BiteUnite

Known for their insanely beautiful bespoke cakes, Lazy Baking also offers small-group workshops for those who are interested in learning the craft. This Easter you will be able to create beautiful Easter bunny chocolate cakes with buttercream frosting. There will also be homemade madeleines and tea served in class, so a good time is guaranteed. 14 Hing Yip Street, Kwun Tong. lazybakingstudio.com

BiteUnite is a coworking kitchen that offers unique cooking classes and culinary experiences for food lovers in Hong Kong.

This April they will be hosting Easterthemed cupcakes and cookies workshops.

Take home some colourful treats after a day of fun-filled baking and leave the session feeling like a true chef! G/F, 15 Lung On Street, Wan Chai. biteunite.com

34 expat-parent.com

HOME & LIVING The Mixing Bowl

Complete Deelite

Learn how to make your favourite sweet and savoury treats in under three hours.

The Mixing Bowl is hosting Easter-themed workshops, where you can learn to create your own chocolate Easter eggs, hot cross buns and macaroon Easter egg nests!

Classes are open to both kids and adults.

The Pemberton, 22-26 Bonham Strand, Sheung Wan. themixingbowlhk.com

Go all out with Complete Deelite’s creative baking classes this Easter. Their holiday camp for kids (ages six and above) is an indulgent course with delicious Easter cookies, bunny cakes and Easter cake pops at the end of it. If you’re looking for something to blow others away, try your hand at making the Easter Surprise Cake packed with hidden treats and mini pastel chocolate eggs in its center. 11-15 On Lan Street, Central. completedeelite.com

Bakebe Bakebe is a shared baking studio in Wan Chai that is fully stocked and equipped with everything you need for making a professional looking cake. With over 15 recipes to choose from, try your hand at baking a unicorn pound cake or an ombré sponge cake by following video tutorials on the Bakebe app. All recipes are designed by former Cova pastry chefs so you know that they will taste as good as they look. 3/F, 19 Hennessy Road, Kam Chung Commercial Building, Wan Chai. bakebe.com

Make your own Easter cake pop Shirley Kwok of The Cakery shares her recipe for the yummy Easter treat Organic chocolate cake ingredients 2 cups organic cane sugar 1-3/4 cups organic all purpose flour ¾ cup Hershey’s Cocoa 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 2 organic eggs 1 cup milk ½ cup vegetable oil 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1 cup boiling water Organic chocolate frosting ingredients ½ cup butter 2/3 cup Hershey’s Cocoa 3 cups powdered sugar 1/3 cup milk 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Decorations Bright white candy melt White fondant Black fondant Orange fondant

Little Miss Macaron Get ready for a holiday baking party at Little Miss Macaron! This bakery is the place to go for anyone needing specialty macarons for any occasion. Share your passion for baking and improve your skills with Anita, founder of Little Miss Macaron and the one who started it all. The workshop will allow you to get creative and bring home your own customised set of decorated macarons. Unit 819, Block A, Hoi Luen Industrial Centre, 55 Hoi Yuen Road, Kwun Tong. littlemissmacarons.com

ABC Cooking Studio ABC Cooking Studio offers five cooking courses including cake and bread workshops. Inspired by Japanese culinary culture, the studio offers tutorials on how to make a range of Japanese baked goods with the likes of matcha daifuku, milk tea chiffon cake and white peach and mango roll. H110112, 1/F, Block B, PMQ, 35 Aberdeen Street, Central. abc-cooking.com.hk

Instructions 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

Preheat the oven to 350F. Grease and flour two 9-inch round baking pans.

For the cake. In a large bowl, mix all the dry ingredients then add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla; beat on medium speed of mixer for 2 minutes. Stir in boiling water. Pour batter into prepared pans.

Bake 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes then remove cake from pan to cooling grid to cool completely. Divide cake in half and freeze one half for future use.

For the frosting. In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients, beat on high speed in a mixer for 2 minutes.

Forming the cake balls. Using hands, crumble cake until no large chunks remain. Add chocolate frosting mixing with fingers until well combined. Form the mixture into cake balls and chill until set for about 2 hours.

Coating cake pops. While the cake balls are setting, melt the white candy according to package instructions. Dip the tip of the lollipop stick into melted candy, then into the cake ball. Let it set for about 10 minutes and repeat with all cake balls.

Dip cake balls, one at a time, into melted bright white candy. Tap lightly to remove excess.

Decorating the cake pops. Roll out white fondant to 1/8 inch thick and cut out a 7cm circle. Using a sharp knife, cut triangle-shaped pieces out around the cut out circle.

With a brush of water, stick to the bottom of the cake pop. Repeat this step, but this time stick to the top of the cake pop. Roll out two tiny black balls. Wish a brush of water, stick the two balls on the cake pop as the chick’s eyes. Lastly, roll out some orange fondant to 1/8 inch thick and cut out a diamond shape for the beak. Lightly stamp a line across the diamond shape as shown in picture. Again, with a brush of water, stick the diamond shape below the eyes.

expat-parent.com 35

Life & style

HELPING HAND

Volunteer opportunities for kids. By Charmaine Ng LAP LAP’s Buddy Programme is a new educational reading programme shared between children and animals. Young volunteers are trained to read to cats and dogs to socialise with them and ready them for their forever homes, to instil a sense of empathy in the youngsters and improve their literacy skills at the same time. Children are encouraged to look at 36 expat-parent.com

things from an animal’s perspective, helping them grow into more caring, critical-thinking individuals. Adoption centres in Hong Kong have traditionally been a place to pick out the animals you want to bring home, but not much emphasis has been placed on helping the existing animals. This programme aims to address the gap in the animal rescue sector. lap.org.hk

Life & style

Hong Kong Cancer Fund Hong Kong Cancer Fund offers opportunities for people of all ages to help during events like their annual walkathon Stride for a Cure, their Dress Pink Day or DIY fundraising. Every December, thousands of people from the community gather together in Tai Tam Country Park for a great cause, to fundraise for a cure for cancer. Everyone can participate in Cancer Fund’s Dress Pink Day or host a fun pink party to raise awareness for breast cancer support. cancer-fund.org

Animals Asia Foundation Children are able to help Animals Asia in many ways. As part of different school projects, they can raise awareness and plan

and participate in fundraising activities such as sponsored runs, swims, hikes, dog walks and other physical activities. Some ideas that children can organise include bake sales, environmental movie nights, dress casual days, animal care talks and more.

These kinds of activities engage children in all parts of planning an idea and seeing it through, giving them ownership of their idea and helps raise awareness and funds at the same time. animalsasia.org

and teens can take part in, such as the Buddy Reading Programme. Volunteers are first required to attend a training workshop to familiarise themselves with the programme objectives and the beneficiaries. kids4kids.org.hk

Kids4Kids Kids4Kids, a Hong Kong-based non-profit organisation, aims to help all young people find their voice, take action and make an impact on community issues. The charity offers a slew of programmes that tweens expat-parent.com 37

Life & style

Social Career

Read-Cycling

Food Angel

Founded in 2009, Read-Cycling is dedicated to books and book lovers. For more than 10 years, the charity has worked with schools and corporations to bring a second life to used books. It has received over 140,000 quality used books from donors all over Hong Kong, helping more than 110,000 of them find new homes.

Students are welcome to help sort out donated books and maybe even discover their love for reading in the process. read-cycling.org

Food Angel rescues edible surplus food from different sectors of the food industry that would otherwise be disposed of as waste and reuses them as ingredients for meals for underprivileged communities in Hong Kong. The charity offers opportunities for teens aged 16 and above to help with preparing, packing and serving hot meals at its central kitchen in Chai Wan or Sham Shui Po. Volunteering is currently suspended due to the coronavirus outbreak, but keep checking back on Food Angel’s website to

see when it will resume its services. foodangel.org.hk

HK Cleanup Founded by Canadian environmentalist Lisa Christensen in 2000, HK Cleanup started out as a simple grass root initiative – a one-day beach cleanup event. Now, it is a year-long education platform that works with schools, businesses and communities to provide solutions to help us all live more sustainably every day of the year. Sign up with HK Cleanup and bring the whole family along to hunt for treasure (well, trash) and learn about recycling on the way. hkcleanup.org

Social Career If you’re struggling to decide on where to volunteer, hop on to Social Career’s website, which provides an online platform for the public to search for the latest volunteering opportunities in Hong Kong.

It’s great for children and teenagers as the website allows users to choose according to locations, roles, service date and recipients. Example charities where young people can help include Kids4Kids, Student Services Corps and Summerbridge Hong Kong. socialcareer.org

38 expat-parent.com

Life & style

expat-parent.com 39

big day out

INTO THE WILDS OF TAI TAM

Nicole Slater explores the Tai Tam Waterworks Heritage Trail

40 expat-parent.com

Credit: Graham Uden

big day out

expat-parent.com 41

big day out

C

pumping stations, valve houses, staff quarters, aqueducts and bridges.

Fun fact Dam, water gravitated through a

The reservoirs were constructed in the 19th and early 20th century to meet the needs of Hong Kong’s growing population. The history of water supply is signposted along the trails on “barren rock”.

The trail is traffic free, making it perfect for children and dogs to roam freely, exploring all that this area has to offer. At the end of the trail, head downhill from Wong Nai Chung Gap near Hong Kong Parkview.

Along the way you’ll find a playground, rain shelters, barbecue and picnic area - bring along some food and make a day out of your surroundings, or for something simpler, jump on a minibus to Stanley and grab a bite to eat.

Established in 2009, the Tai Tam Waterworks Heritage Trail is a paved 5km hike among the reservoirs with glorious water views. Taking roughly two hours to complete it’s doable for slightly older children. Be prepared to be transported back in time with 41 historic monuments dotted along the trail, these include dams,

How to get there From Sai Wan Ho MTR station take Exit A and then bus number 14. Alight at Tai Tam Country Park and cross the road where you’ll find the start of the trial. For those driving, there are parking spaces available at Parkview and non-member parking at the nearby Hong Kong Cricket Club.

With amazing scenery, wildlife and plenty of space for dogs to run around, Tai Tam Country Park is a firm favourite day out amongst Southside locals. The park covers 20 percent of Hong Kong Island and has four reservoirs and an abundance of flora and fauna just waiting to be discovered.

42 expat-parent.com

From Tai Tam Upper Reservoir 7,300 ft tunnel which ran through the mountain and down a 16,500 ft aqueduct into Central.

Picnic essentials Sun cream Bug spray Water/juice Antibacterial wipes Cutlery Paper plates/tupperware FOOD!

expat-parent.com 43

book club

Raising Global Teens: Dr Anisha Abraham explores the effects of globalisation on children.

By Charmaine Ng their parents.

How are expat teens different?

Being cross-cultural can exaggerate the normal adolescent challenge of finding a clear sense of identity. Global teens may face stricter expectations to conform to the community around them. As a result, cross-cultural teens may rebel later in life, sometimes as a young or middle-aged adult.

What are the benefits of bringing a family up abroad?

Cross-cultural kids are more geographically and socially aware. They are more likely to demonstrate qualities such as tolerance, cultural sensitivity, empathy, adaptability, openness to change and ability to speak different languages.

On the contrary, difficulties with identity and belonging, loss and grief, missing friends and family, are all part of the challenges of being a global teen.

How has living abroad affected the way you understand cross-cultural teens?

Tell us a bit about yourself?

I am a paediatrician and teen health specialist based in Amsterdam, Netherlands. I grew up in the US as a daughter of South Asian immigrants and have lived with my German husband and two boys in Asia, Europe and the US.

What is your connection with Hong Kong?

Hong Kong has a very special place in my heart.

Prior to moving to Amsterdam, we lived here for five years where I worked at Chinese University.

I continue to return to Hong Kong every year to work with schools and organisations.

So, what’s the book about?

Globalisation has given many of us unparalleled opportunities to raise kids all over the world.

44 expat-parent.com

At the same time, it’s made being a teen more complicated than ever. Imagine having to discover your identity and place in the world when you keep having to move communities and you’re exposed to multiple cultures daily.

This book explores how we can help crosscultural teens stay healthy, happy and balanced, especially in a time of stress, uncertainty and a global coronavirus epidemic.

How does the book help expat parents?

Raising Global Teens looks at the hot topics that adolescents experience today such as identity, social media, body image, puberty, drugs, stress and sex, all in the context of our mobile world. In this handbook, I provide answers to the common questions from global teens and

Growing up as one of the few Indian Americans in my small town in the US gave me tremendous insight into the experience of being part of an immigrant community as an adolescent. Marrying a partner who has a very different ethnic culture than my own and raising cross-cultural kids together have also given me a new perspective on the messiness and richness of having young global citizens.

Most importantly, where can we buy your book?

Raising Global Teens will be released this autumn in local bookstores and on Amazon. Also, I will be doing a launch (date to be announced) at Bookazine.

book club

Books & podcasts BOOKS

The Day The Crayons Quit

Dragons and Boxers

A wildly creative take on colours, The Day The Crayons Quit, will leave you and your kids giggling on every turn of the page while relating to the emotions of the whiney crayons.

A refreshing children’s story which centres around crayons writing letters of complaint to a boy, Duncan. Red is tired from the exhausting workload, Black is done with being typecast in ‘outline only’ roles, while White feels a sense of emptiness. Oliver Jeffers fascinating story introduces the concept of empathy so beautifully to young kids.

Available at Bookazine or order online at Book Depository for $90.

Kyle Fiske captures a perfect east-meets-west moment as he brings us back to Northern China in the 1900s. An American is caught amidst the turbulent state of the nation and has to fend for himself. The story illustrates his journey during the boxer rebellion movement and how he skills himself in martial arts. Fiske is one of the few authors that has genuine fighting experience making the reader experience all the more impactful. Available from earnshawbooks.com for $200.

For creatives

For history buffs

Lulu the Hong Kong Cat - The Hong Kong Time Machine The third in a series of children’s picture books which are inspired by author Ellen Leou’s cat and her adventures through the amazing city of Hong Kong.

Each beautiful story details the characters Lulu meets while teaching children about the history of the city.

The stories are hand-illustrated with watercolour and ink drawings showcasing Hong Kong buildings and streets. In this story, Lulu travels back in time to old Hong Kong with the help of a time machine, discovers Hong Kong’s past and makes some great friends.

Available from Swindon Books for $186.

For animal lovers

PODCASTS Brooklyn’s Own

Inside China

Agender Cafe

Brooklyn’s Own Easter edition (episode 22), starring Joe Causi and Intern Anthony, discusses Easter traditions and food a la New York style. Listen to their witty replies and stories about their holiday celebrations. You might even learn about a dish or recipe that will pique your interest to make at your own Easter lunch.

Listen now on Apple Podcasts.

SCMP’s China Desk reporters take a deep dive into the many facets of the country to bring you in-depth reports of their current affairs. As Hong Kong and the rest of the world battles the coronavirus, this podcast offers insight into how this ongoing crisis is affecting millions. They have conducted detailed interviews with doctors and analysed news reports to present fresh perspectives to avid listeners. Find the podcast on Spotify. scmp.com

Tackling a series of uncomfortable and taboo topics every Friday, Noreen Mir and Karen Koh dissect relevant social issues by having open conversations with their guests. From dealing with infidelity to having a love addiction, this RTHK podcast will keep you engaged in the constant dialogue between the guests and the hosts providing a range of perspectives. Listen on Apple Podcasts or RTHK. rthk.hk

Nikita recommends

Nikita recommends

Nabdeep recommends expat-parent.com 45

46 expat-parent.com

marketplace

To advertise, email talk@hongkongliving.com or call 2776 2772.

marketplace

expat-parent.com 47

Rugrat Ramblings

Lullaby and goodnight.

Seriously, goodnight Our youngest team member shares his night time routine

“

It’s bedtime”.

possibly ruin..... SO COLD! I’m out of the bath and up in the air, ready to let out a high pitched scream until I’m swiftly swaddled up in a soft towel in daddy’s arms. “Nice save,” mum says with much relief.

Say it upbeat. Say it how you like.

No matter how you say it, those two words are just the beginning of an emotional roller coaster for all involved.

Every night of the week it’s different, but ninety percent of the time it is said with a slight quiver and look of fear and uncertainty. On one particular night not too long ago, this is how it all went down.

But it’s not over yet.

If it’s night time and my clothes are off, I generally want them to stay off. So if someone tries to put me in a onesie during this time. Well. Let’s just say they’re in for a fight they will not win.

It all began at 6pm. Mum tells dad, “Stop with the tickle monster it winds him up, he needs to relax now”.

Dad attempts to put an arm in, but I’m too quick for him. Shortly after, attempt number two - too slow! I wiggle out and roll over.

Take that!

Dad agrees, “It’s time for bed mister!”

Nope! Quite the opposite in fact. It is actually time for my first episode of the evening. I know why we are stopping all the fun. I know why daddy has been instructed to send the tickle monster home. And I simply won’t have it.

I do a little half scream - like a warning shot. Nothing, and I mean nothing will stop me from screami... Mum grabs me by the underarms and holds me up high in the air.

I look down at her with a cheeky half smile.

“Crisis averted” she tells Dad. For now, dear mummy.

We make our way into the bedroom where I hear the sound of running water not too far off. A familiar sound. I know what happens next and it’s worth flapping my arms about.

Mum struggles to take my onesie off but I just can’t contain myself - it’s bath time! My arm gets stuck in the armhole for a moment and my flapping halts briefly... nope the flapping returns!

I am whisked from the bedroom to the bathroom and I smile from ear to ear as my body is lowered into the warmth of the 48 expat-parent.com

Mum turns me back over, “I have an idea,” she whispers to dad. Nothing, and I mean nothing could possibly... Wait. That voice.

That song. The song mummy and daddy sing to me that makes me smile! I love this song! So much so, I don’t even notice that I’ve been moved into my cot.

Thoughts and perceptions from the mind of an expat baby water. Ahhhh. Mum and dad smile at each other for a moment. I love those two. But wait... where on earth did that yellow duck come from and why is it coming this way?

I splish splash in the water and mum and dad duck to avoid a gush of bath water in their mouths. Haha, ‘duck’.

“Let’s be quick”, mum instructs as I am promptly wiped over with a big white flannel. My absolute favourite time of the day. Nothing, and I mean nothing could

“Shh shh baby, it’s time for bed, You’re very tired so rest your head.

Go on - cross the finish line, so mum and dad can go have a glass of wine.

Please, please please just go to sleep, We haven’t been intimate in over a week.

Our clothes are dirty and our hair is a mess, I think that’s pumpkin on my dress.

This song is working from our bag or tricks, We’re going to sneak out and watch Netflix.”

A moment later, I hear two pairs of feet tiptoe out of the room, the sound of a creaking door close and then two clinking wine glasses and a couple of relaxed sighs.

My eyes are starting to feel heavy but let me tell you this - Nothing, and I mean nothing will make me fall aslee......

expat-parent.com 49

50 expat-parent.com