Megan Mouw
From the Deep Blue to the Great Wall
How Charles Dujat ended up teaching P.E. in Beijing
Charles Dujat left the French seaside and came to Beijing more than ten years ago looking for something a “bit more spicy,” and now he teaches physical education to kids aged 3-10 at the International Montessori School of Beijing . While taking a break from chasing his students, Charles explains to beijingkids how sports keep children happy, how his classroom can sometimes become a circus, and why he left the ocean for Beijing.
What brought you to Beijing?
I came to Beijing from France because I was looking for something a bit more spicy. At that time, I was working in a nautical center where I taught surfing, sailing and diving. It could have been perfect, but it just didn’t really fit me. I had never been to China before, so when an opportunity came up, I took it.
The Best of Both Worlds
Life lessons of growing up in two cultures
Every year, without fail, I pack my bags and embark on a tediously long journey to the state of Minnesota. It is here that my father’s side of the family happily greets me and generously takes my family into their homes for three weeks. Despite my American citizenship and semi-American blood, to this side of my family I am considered the epitome of Chinese culture and a perfect personification of a wholly Chinese individual.
