Imogen Kandel

The ice is thawing, the trees are sprouting tiny flower buds, and spring is on it's way. As we come out of hibernation, it’s time to reconnect with the roots of this fair city. That’s why the March issue is all about what makes Beijing a great place to live.

See what goes on in a week in the life of a local Chinese family. Find a new Chinese restaurant, museum, or hidden market. Read what parents have to say about sending their kids to local Chinese schools. While Kara Chin tracks down the best Mandarin teachers and discovers their top tips for perfecting Putonghua. If it’s time to say goodbye to Beijing, Kaatje Schreurs Harrison’s got you covered with advice from families who’ve done it before.

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beijingkids is sad to announce that long-term columnist and beijingkids contributor, Sarah Cooper, will be leaving to seek out new adventures in the UK.

We are currently looking for talented mom who thinks they have what it takes to write a bi-monthly column. Applicants should be able to meet the following criteria:

- be a talented writer (a writing/journalism background is a bonus)
- consistently meet deadlines
- able to write fresh new content every column
- be actively involved in the international community
- love Beijing

If this sounds like you, e-mail 2 writing samples (max. 600 words each) and a cover letter explaining why you think you'd be perfect for the job to: imogenkandel@beijing-kids.com

The Internet is such a big part of our lives, but how big is too big? Check out this article from the China Daily:

"Many Chinese teens feel most happy when they are surfing the Internet rather than spending time with family or friends, latest research on the country's post-90s generation has found.

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We stumbled across this disturbing article in the Shanghai Daily:

"THERE has been a 10-fold increase in the number of children in the city hospitalized for cancer in the past decade, local medical experts said yesterday ..."

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With Spring Festival on our doorstep, it's time to get into the spirit of things. Check out any one of these great temple fairs for a full day of fun -- lao Beijing-style.

1) Ditan Temple Fair 地坛春节庙会 (地坛公园内)
Tel: 64214657
Feb. 13th – Feb. 20th

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When altruism, fashion and fun collide, you've got a guaranteed crowd pleaser. ISB students and teachers have teamed up with major sponsors (including Crumpler, Vera Moda, Grand Hyatt Beijing, C de. France, and Only) to host a charity fashion show.

Alongside various items for auction will be clothing collections designed by ISB students. People will get the chance to bid, buy, and donate money; with funds raised going towards Zhong Xin Elementary School in Sichuan whose students are the beneficiaries of the One-Child-One-Egg program.

“Last year the ISB community, our PTA, and Caterpillar corporation partnered to rebuild Zhong Xin elementary school in Mianyang City and in the process made a relationship with the egg-a-day program to provide protein to needy rural students. This year, a student led charity is picking up the torch for support of this program. At ISB we are proud of our students and their efforts to make a difference in the lives of others,” said Mr. Hillman, communications director at ISB and the project’s supervisor.

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Whether or not China produces truly organic produce is a hot topic among Beijing expats. Is it worth paying extra for tomatoes at Lohao City (Beijing's self-proclaimed organic supermarket)? And is Beijing's standards for organic and GM foods the same as that in our home countries?

A recent article in the Global Times claims that there is a double standard when it comes to the GM produce sold in China. Wang Weikang, director of Greenpeace's food and agriculture program, was quoted in the article as saying that Wal-Mart has made no moves to make their Chinese outlets GM free, though they have publicly stated that they will refuse GM products in their British stores.

If you're craving the organic section of your supermarket back home, it's worth questioning whether it was organic at all.

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As someone who abides by the 5 second rule (or 10 seconds if it's chocolate), I got a kick out of this flow chart. Humor aside, I recommend browsing through the Fooducate website where we found this gem, for great health info.

Check out this article from the Global Times Online:

"Beijing's kids now have a new, massive place to play and study: Kids' Growth Square has opened in the Jinyuan Shopping Mall on Yuanda Road, Haidian district.

"With 77 shops in a 26,000-square-meter area, the Square is one of the largest malls directed towards children in China, and the first such mall in Beijing.

"The vast area is divided into five sections: District A: Education, District B: Dining and Entertainment, District C: Toys, District D: Clothing and District E: Compound. The area includes a sand beach, merry-go-round and mini-skiing field. DIY shops where children can do handicrafts are also available.

"District A is a particular delight for children who like to think about what they will be when they grow up. Baby Boss will dominate the area when it opens in May, as a place where children can pretend to have grown-up jobs."

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I regularly read a fantastic blog by Australian mother of three, Mia Freedman, called Mama Mia. Aside from being a great time waster, it's full of thoughtful posts about body image, fashion, and motherhood.

While cruising Mia's blog I came across this interesting post about trailing spouses.

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