August, 2008
Articles from prior issues of beijingkids can be found by checking out the archive links below for the month and year you are interested in.
Qianmen
Beijing’s revamped cultural center promises food, culture and family fun Centrally located at the south end of Tiananmen Square, the neighborhood surrounding Qianmen was recently renovated and opened to the public in late July. Filled with history, culture and a host of new attractions, Qianmen now ranks as one of the most fascinating areas in the capital for families to explore. Revel in the ancient architecture, eat roast duck (Beijing’s most exalted delicacy), and discover an underground labyrinth in this quintessential part of lao Beijing (“old Beijing”) that dates back to the 15th century. For more information about the Qianmen area, check out the walking tour offered in Beijing by Foot (RMB 100, published by Immersion Guides). Contact distribution@truerun.com to order a copy, or visit beijingbyfoot.immersionguides.com for more information.
Eating Smart
Nutritionist Nina Lenton answers your questions
A local Chinese saying – “A man is iron, but the food he eats is steel” (人是铁. 饭是钢) – reflects the importance of food in a person’s life. For kids, food is crucial for development and can fundamentally influence health even after childhood. Below, beijingkids nutrition expert Nina Lenton answers parents’ questions about feeding their children the right kinds of foods.
From Lorina Barbalas, mother of Jonathan (15) and David (12):
I’m concerned about the safety of local vegetables. How should I clean them, especially when eating them raw? Is organic really better?
From a research point of view, the jury is still out on the benefits of organic versus non-organic vegetables to our health, with no actual evidence that organic vegetables are more nutritious or that non-organic are more harmful. There’s no good reason to avoid buying produce from your local green grocer. Nevertheless, I would still recommend purchasing organic vegetables if you can afford it because organic farming is more beneficial for the environment. Also, in my experience, organic produce tastes infinitely better, which is likely to encourage the family to eat more vegetables.
With regards to cleaning vegetables, wash all vegetables under cold water before eating and discard any outer layers. Use a nailbrush and cold water to scrub veggies and peel as much as possible. (This is not as important if the vegetables are organic.) It is best to avoid buying anything that has been sitting out on a roadside.
Alien Street Market
Kira Quartly is American, 9-months-old and loves when parents Jules and Jackie take her to Alien Street.
Whenever I go to Alien Street, I go home with something cool. It has loads of stuffed animals – some of them three or four times bigger than me! There are also a lot of dolls, and the boys will like the robot-type toys that make a lot of noise and walk around, buzzing with flashing lights. All the salespeople seem to love babies like me, but that doesn’t mean I get a good discount unless Mom and Dad haggle!
Alien Street Market
Yabao Lu (south of Fulllink Plaza)
Chaoyang District.
老番街市场, 朝阳区雅宝路
Would you or your kids like to rate it? E-mail editor@tbjkids.com
Destination: Vietnam
Mountainscapes and bountiful bays The Travelers: Australians Lachlan and Johanna Jackson and their 2-year-old daughter Siena, along with friends Tamara and Peter Sharp and their 2-year-old son Harry (both children were 18 months old at the time of the trip). The Destination: Vietnam
Tidbits
The Book Report
All things athletic are taking center stage in Beijing this month, just as they do in these two titles. In this month’s Book Report, the drama of sports – from preparation to competition – is portrayed in all its glory. Fiona Lee
The Mouse Island Marathon
(for ages 9-12)
written by Geronimo Stilton
As editor of The Rodent Gazette, mouse Geronimo Stilton is more of a scholar than star athlete. So when a friend signs him up for the 26-mile Mouse Island Marathon, he gets far more than he bargained for. Waking up in the morning is bad enough, but completing the race also means saving children from a burning school, surviving an earthquake and outracing savage beasts – and that’s only the beginning! The Mouse Island Marathon zooms along with zany humor, emphasized by the use of colorful fonts, numerous illustrations and fun-filled sidebars. The book also touts tips on exercise and in-the-know factoids about marathons can motivate every child to be as sporty as Geronimo.
Conclusion: Kids will be ready to run marathons after reading this wacky book RMB 50 at Foreign Languages Bookstore
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.
Playing for Keeps
Playing sports benefits kids on and off the field
It’s Saturday morning and 8-year-old Chandler Cree is changing into his baseball uniform in the back of the car. He has just finished soccer practice at WAB, and now he and his dad, coach David Cree, are on their way to baseball practice at ISB. And let’s not forget about golf lessons. “Saturday is pretty much taken over by his sports,” admits Chandler’s dad. But he wouldn’t have it any other way. For many American families like the Crees, it’s considered perfectly normal to pack your elementary school-aged child’s day full of sports. But this isn’t necessarily the norm in Beijing. In a culture that places such a high priority on academic achievement, where 10-year-olds with after-school tutors are commonplace, we may be asking ourselves: Is it healthy to emphasize sports? Or do we risk overloading our children, causing them to fall behind academically?
Mastering Chess
A game full of suspense, strategy and intrigue
Among the many board games in China, Western chess is one that doesn’t enjoy nearly as much popularity as xiangqi or Go. However, more and more people are now realizing its value in children’s education. The game helps develop intellectual abilities such as observation, concentration, logical thinking and creativity. Through playing, children learn to face challenges calmly, embrace victory rationally, and overcome defeat courageously.
Get On Your High Horse
Saddling up in Chaoyang Nothing best takes advantage of those lingering days of summer like a quiet horseback ride through the wilderness. And though Ascot it is not, Beijing nevertheless has its fair share of equestrian options for kids and adults.
Say Hello to Beijing’s Smallest
Wang Xinping
Chinese. Born to Yihong Xie and Zhiqiang Wang on Jan 29 at Beijing Women’s Hospital.
Athletes of Yore
The history of sports in ancient China
At the time the Greeks were holding the first Olympics in 776 BC, the ancient Chinese were also starting their own sporting competitions. Stone balls excavated in Gaoyang and Shanxi province, dating back 10,000 years, are believed by historians to have been used not only in hunting but also in throwing contests. By the time China was unified under the Qin emperor in 221 BC, sports had developed into a form of competition and amusement. 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.
Fuwa Fever
Nini hair-band. RMB 35. www.2008eshop.cn
I Want To Be an Athlete
Olympic rower Jason Day on crossing the victory line At age 17 Jason Day was the second fastest person on the water in the world. He won the silver medal at the World Junior Rowing Championships in a single scull and, at that moment, fell in love with the sport. In a rowing career that spans 20 years, Day has competed in the Barcelona, Atlanta and Sydney Olympics. Jason now resides in Beijing and works for the Olympic Games. He answered questions from students of the British School of Beijing about the roar of the Olympic opening ceremony, how to deal with the pressure, and what it felt like to compete in front of a home audience in Australia.
Kate Beckinsale: Fashionista on the sand
British-born actress Kate Beckinsale is known for hitting the red carpet in glamorous gowns and capturing the hearts of leading men. When off the set, Beckinsale makes sure to spend precious time with her family. Heading to the beach with daughter Lily to enjoy sun and sand, this celebrity mom still manages to maintain her sense of style. She pairs a linen-and-lace white dress with chunky wooden heels, accessorizing with red-framed shades. This summer, step onto the beach with the star’s fashionable look.
Hitting the Field
Coaching kids soccer in Beijing
After coaching kids’ soccer in Manchester, England for a few years, Jonathan White came to China in January 2007 to work with the young players at ClubFootball. Now he is an English Football Association qualified coach and teaches soccer (also called football) to kids age 4 to 18 at ClubFootball’s Junior Coaching Academies. beijingkids sat down with the 26-year-old and learned about his passion for the sport, how he motivates kids in a different language, and how he still gets his soccer kicks.
Not Your Average Zhou
Congee, the ultimate comfort food
Rice provides more than one-fifth of the calories consumed by human beings across the globe, and China is one of the world’s largest producers. Small wonder, then, that the Chinese phrase chi fan (吃饭), which literally means “eating rice,”used to mean eating in general.
Common white rice is preferred by many people and is actually produced by polishing the grains. The seeds of the rice plant are milled using a rice huller to remove the outer husks of the grain. This allows each grain to keep fresh longer and to retain a soft texture, making it easier to digest.
Though white rice lacks certain essential nutrients (a diet that consists of little more than white rice would lead to beriberi, a thiamine deficiency disease) all rice – no matter its color – is a rich source of protein and essential amino acids when combined with beans, nuts and seeds.
A Paralympian Tackles Parenting
Olympics veteran Paul Gauthier’s toughest wins
Boccia world champion Paul Gauthier, who hails from British Columbia, Canada, is gearing up for his fourth Paralympics this September (see sidebar). The event will be a family affair, with his wife Sarah supporting him on the field as his sport assistant and his foster son Derek cheering as Paul competes in the individual and pairs divisions. Four years ago, Gauthier, who also grew up in foster care, decided to adopt 11-year-old Derek as part of their family. Derek came to Gauthier completely mute as the result of an anxiety disorder. But now, at 15, Derek is able to write and communicate verbally, thanks to hard work and dedication from Gauthier and his wife Sarah.
beijingkids had a chance to talk to Gauthier about how setbacks can lead to determination, perseverance and stronger relationships.
Let the Games Begin!
How to Host Your Own Summer Olympics
Invitations
Type up and print your homemade “Olympic ticket” invitations, glue them to cards and trim. Using cut-out circles of yellow cardboard, attach a ribbon for a gold-medal look. Handwrite party details on each invitation.
Los Estrugos
Klaus Estrugo Eckstein and Monika Pandey Estrugo arrived in Beijing from Germany with daughters Amisha (8) and Elina (5) three years ago, more than enough time for the German/Spanish/Indian family to build up some family favorites! Here are some of their Beijing picks. Would you like to share your Beijing Favorites? E-mail editor@tbjkids.com.
Sleep Wars
Elsa’s time clock gets a little out of sync
This last trip back to China was, according to my calculations, Elsa’s 20th long-distance flight – not bad for someone who has yet to reach the age of three. In fact I’ve become so blasé about travelling with her that I now don’t pack any toys, food or change of clothes – previously considered absolute essentials. Why go to the trouble when I know British Airways will be quick to provide her with yet another vibrating furry airplane, two substantial food trays and unlimited access to their stash of chocolate biscuits? And if an accident should happen, they will even provide a set of large tracksuit bottoms, compliments of business class (or so experience suggests), and the last pair have proven very handy on cold winter nights.
As predicted, my light packing was justified: The flight was uneventful. To add to my mounting “I’m-so-sorted” smugness, we were met off the plane by lovely ayi, who proffered a single red rose to me before – eyes watering – reaching out for her true love, Elsa. Ayi’s nephew then drove us back home, where a full fridge, clean sheets and cooked lunch awaited us. After eating, she whisked Elsa off for the afternoon so I could unpack in peace. That evening as I put Elsa to bed, I allowed myself a metaphorical pat on the back: Life was good.
They say pride goes before a fall. At half past 11, 20 minutes after I had drifted into sleep, Elsa awoke. Not only was she wide awake, but also a marathon TV session was not going to prove the answer. A hasty search revealed that her beloved Peter and the Wolf DVD had fallen victim to my casual packing. The next five hours were interesting, but thankfully she eventually fell asleep in my bed in the early hours of the morning. Love for the Game
I can distinctly remember one magical year, 1991, when the Chicago Bulls beat the LA Lakers four games to one and won their franchise’s first championship. (They went on to win a total of six titles in a single decade, only the second team to do so in NBA history.) That was the year I – along with many an awestruck adolescent – first laid eyes on Michael Jordan. I was 9 years old at the time but recognized, even then, that it was love at first sight.
I watched this man – at least what appeared to be a man on my television screen – fly through the air and seemingly defy gravity, along the way upending my juvenile comprehension of the laws of physics. At that moment, sport became more than just a game to me. It became my reason for waking up early on Saturday and Sunday mornings – to catch Eastern Conference games live even though I was in California. Or why I would beg to stay up late on weeknights, unable to withstand the torture of not knowing the outcome of a contest prolonged in overtime. Or what would cause me, some afternoons alone in my living room, to scream in angst if my team was down or shout in jubilation at the sight of their victory.
Fair Game
When competition is inevitable Whether it means getting into the best college, having the best wardrobe in school, winning an Olympic gold medal or being the favorite child in the household, competition is prevalent in the lives of kids. Grade 10 students from Yew Chung International School took a time out with beijingkids to share their views on competition in family life and academics, where the pressure comes from and how gender factors into the picture.
Urban Sanctuary
Fun-filled Chaoyang Park offers a haven for families Chaoyang Park does not boast the rich history of many of Beijing’s other parks – it was first built in 1984 and only fully completed in 2004 – but what it lacks in age it more than makes up for in sheer size and variety of attractions. Located between the eastern Third and Fourth Ring Roads, Asia’s largest park offers more than 288 acres of tranquil scenery and features a multitude of recreational facilities suitable for all ages. Park-goers can enjoy serene and refreshing lakes, massive green lawns, colorful flower gardens, an amusement park, a petting zoo and the high-tech Sony ExploraScience Museum.
