The expat or international lifestyle gives most families unbelievable experiences: bilingualism, travel opportunities, cultural openness, diversity appreciation, and sometimes better economic footing. But there are some issues that can’t be avoided, like grandparents missing the grandkids, friends getting married, cousins being born, and in worst case scenarios, illnesses, or even deaths, shocking all. The team at beijingkids investigated how families use technology to alleviate those heartstrings pulled taught and best practices for keeping long distance relationships healthy in our feature Split View Worlds by Andy Killeen (pg 46).
Living
A family picture is worth a thousand words and miles; Dave Hanssen of Dave’s Studio understands family comes first in Talking Shop. Catherine de France master stylist proves expecting moms can dye their hair during pregnancy in Indulge. Intern Penelope Zhang takes over this month’s Birthday Bash with a teen perspective, but if you want something extra zany for a birthday or miss the comforts from home, we’ve found great websites with international shipping. Lastly, Meredith Chen comes back to MSB twenty years later, making a neat full circle.
Dining
Hfoussa Taco offers fresh Mexican food at Indigo Mall, which turns out to be kid-approved by our charming critic, Blake, in Dining Out. The Freudlich family and friends show us how to celebrate Rosh Hashanah when far from home in Food for Thought.
Health
Dr. Melissa Rodriguez gives us tips on where to buy reputable supplements hard to find in China, while HK INC explains vaccines for parents planning to stay in Beijing for the long haul.
Playing
Take a day trip to a virtual reality boutique, or share a bit of home culture with a spooky Halloween wreath.
Learning
Technology connects relatives spread across the globe, but it can also connect students and classrooms for better educational pools of knowledge. We asked Beijing World Youth Academy (BWYA) and the International School of Beijing (ISB) for how they use tech in the classroom for global vision. Educators from 3e and BSB, Shunyi select several books for helping to deal with tough topics in Off the Shelf. CISB students defend the use of gadgets in the school, while Stephen Lampkin of Etonkids explains Khan Academy. BSB, Sanlitun Year 3 students piece together freaky Picasso self-portraits. BCAIS preschool teacher Catherine O’Regan shares her love of her homeland, Ireland, and Japanese Year 12 Student Natsuki H. explains how he has developed into a hard working student through his experiences at No. 55 International Section.
Parenting
Columnist Jennifer Ambrose explains how to defend your mothering choices, regardless of your culture, while Ember Swift bemoans the struggles of protecting bilingualism, even with technology. Lastly, West Meets East asks parents to explain their tech choices and rules.
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