January, 2009
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.
A Different Song and Dance
For some kids, the stage has more appeal than a soccer field. The movement of the body is far more interesting than the trajectory of a ball.
“Some kids are more artistically inclined. When you put them on a basketball court or soccer field, they may not perform as well as other kids but they still want to move,” says Derrick Cheong, a hip-hop dance instructor at Pussycat Dance. “Dancing allows a channel for these kids to express themselves and release extra energy.”
In Cheong’s class, with kids aged 10 and up, he warms them up with basic movements like the running man and chest pops, and then teaches them routines that incorporate moves they learn. Although each class builds on the previous one, the routines change each class and allow for spontaneity.
Meeting Ayi’s Family
A few weeks ago I received an unexpected phone call. I was running a workshop in Shunyi and we had just stopped for lunch when I saw “Ayi” flash on my mobile screen. Ayi never calls. So I immediately worried that something was amiss with Elsa.
But no. Ayi was issuing an invitation to eat jiaozi that evening at her sister-in-law Baoying’s place. Although I consider Ayi and I to be quite close after almost three years of her taking care of Elsa, I’m ashamed to say that this is the first such invitation I have received. (Unlike me, my daughter was welcomed into the fold long ago, and is a regular visitor at the sister-in-law’s, as she was on this day.) Aware of the honor of this request, I accepted instantly – although with a bit of regret, as I’d eagerly anticipated a vegetative night in with a gin and tonic and trashy DVDs.
Call of the Wild
Yang Weiwei, the medical supervisor at the International Center for Veterinary Services, has nursed countless barnyard creatures and domestic pets back to health over the past three decades. Though she didn’t plan to be a veterinarian, Yang’s love for animals has kept her devoting time and effort to their welfare. beijingkids recently talked to Yang and learned how she stumbled into her line of work, her secret method for befriending animals, and her daughter’s good relationship with their pets.
Where did you go to school for veterinary care?
It’s a funny story about how I started veterinary studies. In 1974, I was assigned to attend Humeng Agriculture Institute in Inner Mongolia. I went to register at school, but they couldn’t find my file so they didn’t know what major I was assigned to. There were three majors available at the time: veterinary studies, agriculture and accounting. I wasn’t interested in accounting and had no idea what veterinary studies was, so I chose agriculture. A month after classes started, my file finally arrived and it turned out that I was assigned to veterinary studies. So I was transferred.
School of Rock
My adventure into record production in China all started in July with a trip to Wal-Mart. My brother Josh felt he needed some extra digestion time after eating his lürou
shaobing (donkey sandwich) before heading back to his internship. Before we knew it, we were walking out of the basement of Wanda Plaza holding 16 disposable raincoats and one electronic keyboard. All for less than RMB 200. The “equipment” was for a show that our band, Hot & Cold, would perform the next week at Sugar Jar, a tiny CD store and occasional performance space in Dashanzi.
Hot & Cold started in 2005 when I was 14 and living in New Delhi. Despite having previously never sung before, my bass-playing brother and I decided to start making sounds after I picked up a faulty megaphone. The only souvenirs of this phase are a few extremely fuzzy recordings and memories of our only performance, when we set up on our balcony and attempted to freak out kids during Halloween.
San Antonio, Texas
Lone Star adventures
Travelers: Steve and Sally McDonald, and kids Jenna (7) and Zack (5).
The Plan: This American family loves living in Beijing, but their hearts belong back home in San Antonio, Texas. Here’s a summer vacation trip to the McDonalds’ favorite spots in cowboy country.
Fuzzy Chic
Beat the winter blahs with stylish outerwear
Juicy Couture hooded down jacket – RMB 2,780; 2/F, Shin Kong Place, 87 Jianguo Lu, Chaoyang District
The Warring States
When should a country take military action?
The debate about when – if ever – it’s permissible to engage in war has always been heated. Should a country maintain pacifism at all times? Should a country intervene in a war if it’s not directly involved? beijingkids sat down with four students from Sino Bright School to discuss the hard questions of national security, military intervention and required military service, such as the junxun (军训) program in China.
What do you know about the month-long mandatory military training in China (junxun 军训)?
Bo: I heard it’s really hard and strict.
Yue: We will go to a place and live with the military – train all day and eat with them and sleep there and have to follow all of the rules.
Mariah: I don’t know enough about this because I am from Korea.
Joy: If you go to university here, you have to do that.
Au Naturel
From water birth to drug-free, your other delivery options in the capital
Determined to stay out of Australia’s hospital system, my mother decided early during her first pregnancy to have a home birth. It went off without a hitch. A doctor and midwife stood by for emergencies, but it was my father who delivered me. Just over a year later my mother had her second child at home, and to this day she calls my brother’s and my birth the best experiences of her life.
Today, many women are evaluating their choices for childbirth, as my mother did decades ago. For instance, former talk show host Ricki Lake’s documentary about the benefits of home birthing, The Business of Being Born, has gained popularity among moms around the globe, from New York to certain pockets of Beijing.
At the end of the day, only you and your doctor can decide the best course of action. But that doesn’t mean you should go into your first consultation empty-handed. Here’s some helpful information to get you thinking about your options.
Back to Basics
Methods of giving birth vary all over the world. The UK has a long history of midwifery and home birthing, while in the US it is increasingly common for women to have a Caesarean section or even plan to induce labor. Before the industrial era, many women gave birth in a squatting or kneeling position generally considered to be the most comfortable, allowing optimum positioning of the pelvis. As births moved into hospitals, women adopted the standard lithotomy position (lying flat on their backs with their feet in stirrups).
Top 10 Things to Do in January and February
1. Temple Fair Tour
Usher in the Year of the Ox 
The festivities officially begin on Jan 26. Visit temples to eat local food, buy crafts, see costume parades and marvel at fire-spouting performances. We’ve rounded up the best parks and fairs to experience all kinds of folklore and traditions, but if it’s too cold outside, you can enjoy other colorful traditions such as wearing red, decorating your house with red paper-cuttings, and raising red lanterns. And of course, the entire city will be setting off firecrackers, so be prepared.
2. The Nutcracker
Beijing Babas at The Bookworm
Peter Stelzer
Where are you from?
New York City.
How many kids do you have? A 4-year-old boy and a 2-year-old girl.
What do you do in Beijing?
I teach history at Yew Chung Int’l School.
What did you do before? I was a legal director for an NGO.
What’s your style?
Middle-age funky.
Where do you like to go eat? Hatsune or Greek Delicacy.
How do you stay warm
during winter? Snuggle up to the person I love.
What’s the last book you read? The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon. It’s about the 20th century development of Judaism and comic books.
The Legend of Lijia
How a factory girl became a journalist
Ask Lijia Zhang about her transformation from factory girl at a missile manufacturer to journalist and author, and she’s likely to reply, “You’ll just have to read my book,” referring to her recently released English-language memoir Socialism is Great. But ask her a few questions about her daughters and Zhang reaches into her purse to dig out photos of her two girls striking poses during a trip to India: May, 11, and Kirsty, 9, half-Chinese, half-English with matching brown hair and doll-like features.
It’s nearly inconceivable that Zhang, who today speaks English with a faint British accent and dresses in colorful clothes, was forced to abandon school at the age of 16 because her mother pushed her to take over her job in a missile factory in Nanjing. Zhang toiled there for the next ten years, but maintained a fierce sensibility within. She staged a demonstration of Nanjing workers in 1989, escaped tedious factory life to live abroad and has since entered the spotlight as a critically acclaimed author whose book was recently reviewed in the New York Times.
Fair-Hop Like It's 2009
Ring in the Year of the Ox at Beijing’s best temple fairs
Beijing is gearing up for Spring Festival, China’s biggest holiday, and come January 26, 2009, it’ll be time to celebrate in lao Beijing fashion. Do as the locals do: Bundle up and head to the temple fairs around town.
The tradition of temple fairs extends back a thousand years, and nowadays you’ll find a cornucopia of regional foods, arts and crafts, and traditional performances on display in Beijing. Go back in time to the Qing dynasty, play traditional games, eat fancy treats or get tech-savvy – there’s more to Chinese New Year than the fireworks exploding throughout the city.
Knead Your Heart Out
Homemade dough is an easy way to pass the time when it’s cold and dreary outside – and making it is half the fun.
Difficulty Level:
Medium [adult supervision recommended]
Best Family Eats 2009 - CBD
Bellagio
Best Taiwanese
Packed to the brim with busy office workers, Bellagio is for kids who love to play grown-up while they dine amid ritzy décor. The offerings are reasonably priced (appetizers start from RMB 12, mains from RMB 30), and kids will enjoy this sweet Chinese cuisine. The pineapple fried rice, served in its very own pineapple, is a feast for the eyes, while the BBQ beef stir fry noodles are healthy as well as filling. Don’t miss their renowned shaved ice desserts, some piled precariously high. Traveling with kids or a stroller is a cinch because of underground parking and multiple elevators. Booths are available for families needing more space. Imogen Kandel
Daily 10am-10pm. 6/F, Shin Kong Place, 87 Jianguo Lu, Chaoyang District (6530 5658) $$ 鹿港小镇, 朝阳区建国路87号新光天地6层
See Directories for Sanlitun, Sanyuanqiao and Yayuncun locations.
The Skiing Season
Rather than concede defeat to frigid temperatures and hide indoors, take advantage of the cold weather – hit the slopes for exercise, fresh air and a family getaway. Although Beijing sits on a plain, the city is surrounded by mountains and is located near the Xishan and Yanshan mountain ranges, providing several choices for skiing and snowboarding excursions. There’s a resort to satisfy every type of snow sport enthusiast – indoor slopes at Qiaobo Snow Dome, ideal snowboarding in Nanshan Ski Village, Shijinglong for beginners and Huaibei for beautiful mountaintop views.
Best Family Eats 2009: Lufthansa
Dini's Kosher Restaurant
Dini’s may be a kosher restaurant, but the far-ranging menu includes dishes from Japanese, Chinese and Middle Eastern cuisines, as well as global kid favorites like chicken nuggets. Youngsters who like to play make-believe will love the child-sized kitchen in the play area, which includes play kitchenware and toy food. They deserve kudos for the changing table in the women’s bathroom. Delivery service available. MN
Sun-Thu 11am-10pm, Fri 11am-2pm, Sat 6pm-11pm (Mon-Sat 2-5pm cold food only). 32 Tianze Lu (near Nüren Jie), Chaoyang District (6461 6220) $$ 蒂妮犹太餐厅, 朝阳区女人街星吧路天泽路32号
Best Family Eats 2009: Lido
Eudora Station Bar and Restaurant
Best Hang-Out Spot for Dads
Patrons of Eudora Station Bar and Restaurant will be pleased to find a sunny dining section with wide windows facing Lido Street. Ordering for the little ones will be easy, with a kids menu featuring options like mini beef burgers and spaghetti bolognaise. Hash browns, always a hit with kids, take an interesting twist at Eudora with an herb and cheese variety – something parents might enjoy too. Take advantage of the afternoon snacks promotion: snacks at half price and two-for-one drinks (except alcoholic beverages). Eudora’s buffet brunch is a great option for the whole family on Saturdays and Sundays, and kids can romp in the weekend-only play area. Takeout and delivery service available. Chona Rodriguez
Daily 9am-2am. 6 Fangyuan Xilu, Chaoyang District (6437 8331) $$ 亿多瑞站, 朝阳区芳园西路6号
The Memory of Taste
Other families eat three meals a day. In mine, my mother often treated us to a fourth meal: second dinner at midnight.
The occasion combined the comfort of home cooking with the casual and transitory pleasure of a late-night snack. I’m not sure what a normal family dinner ought to be, but dinners at the Tsai residence tended to be slightly serious affairs that required us kids to be guai, to sit properly at a table with my father at the head, and my mother to nudge us to eat just one more bite. But the late evening chow sessions were something entirely different; they were all about fun – the equivalent of jumping up and down on the bed.
I Want to Be a Drummer
Leonardo Susi, born in Sao Paolo, Brazil, started drumming 18 years ago and now plays drum set and percussion styles ranging from rhythm and blues, jazz, Afro-Cuban, pop and rock in shows all across China. Since coming to China five years ago, he was a frequent performer at the JZ Club in Shanghai; now he plays a nightly set at CJW and teaches percussion. Fresh from a gig at an international jazz festival in Hong Kong, the musician stopped by a 6LD class at Dulwich College Beijing and spoke to students – who play trumpet, flute, drums, saxophone and clarinet – about his love for jam sessions. He also showed off samba beats on the pandeiro. Best Family Eats 2009 - Chaoyang Park
South German Bakery, Cafè Konstanz and Bodenseestube Bakery
Bread lovers know that the bakery and café why the on the first level of this two-floor eatery is the place to go for fresh, crusty loaves and alfresco dining in warm weather. Upstairs, the restaurant offers a quiet and relaxing dining experience with German food at reasonable, if not exactly cheap, prices. There’s no separate smoking area in the restaurant, but the menu offers perfect fare for battling winter’s chill. And the range of hearty breakfast options will satisfy both hungry meat lovers and those on a health kick (try the “Vital Breakfast” of muesli, fruit, honey, cheese and bread). Takeout or delivery service available with minimum orders of RMB 300. MN
Daily 7am-10pm (bakery), 9am-10pm (restaurant). 28 Zaoying Lu (Lucky Street, near Solana shopping mall), Chaoyang District (5867 0201) $$ 朝阳区枣营路29号好运街27号
Best Family Eats 2009 - Dongzhimen, Dongsishitiao
Da Dong Roast Duck
Best Peking Duck
Consistently voted one of Beijing’s best duck restaurants, Da Dong is also popular with families. Peking duck is always a winner with kids – the process of filling and folding the pancake is always good entertainment and the staff will happily oblige with a demonstration. In addition to the signature dish, Da Dong’s menu has many appealing options for children, such as the crispy skin chicken, stir-fried veal with shallots, and numerous vegetable dishes. The restaurant is equally famous for its lines, so it’s best to reserve a table (6.30pm or before for dinner; 12.30pm or before for lunch) or arrive early to beat the crowds. At the Dongsishitao location, children love watching the bustling kitchen through the see-through windows. Both restaurant locationes have highchairs, good bathroom facilities and a no-smoking policy throughout. Angela Snowball
Say Hello to Beijing’s Smallest
Heba Esmail Soukni
Libyan. Born to Elham Babina and Esmail Soukni on Jun 13 at Peking Union Medical Hospital.
