September, 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.
Dining Out
Bring the Family: Meeting Point
With complexes like Pingod, Fuli City and Landgent International in the vicinity, the Shuangjing Qiao area just south of Guomao has become a haven for young expat families. To meet the demand, a host of new dining venues have opened in the Viva shopping mall and the new outdoor food court at Landgent City Mall across the street. The latter is home to the new location of Meeting Point, a family-friendly space specializing in cucina Italia with an Abruzzese touch. This is quite simply, a no-
Tiantan Park
Tiantan Park, also known as the Temple of Heaven, was completed in 1420 AD. Its distinctive circular pagoda makes it one of Beijing’s most recognizable tourist attractions, after the Great Wall and Forbidden City. Located about 6km south of the city center, it has an area of 2,700,000 sqm - significantly larger than the Forbidden City but smaller than the Summer Palace. It may originally have been a place of sacrifice for good harvests, but now the park and its immediate environment (which includes Hongqiao market and Toy City) offer a tranquil day away from the hustle and bustle of central Beijing. Alongside the austere Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests – famously built without a single nail or screw – this itinerary also incorporates the more lighthearted echo wall, jewlery and toy markets and a chance to see some of Beijing’s expert public performers in action.
Top 5 Places: To procure pizza pie
Annie’s
This Italian chain is a favorite among expat families. They have an expansive menu of pastas, salads and soups, but it’s their pizza that put them on the map. Instead of a thick, doughy Pizza Hut-style crust, Annie’s opts for crispy and thin so you’ll fill up on toppings, not empty carbs. They have all the classics including pepperoni, but we recommend the Melanzane (eggplant) or the Prosciutto e Fungi. If the couch looks too good to leave, get the pizza delivered.
Hutong Pizza
If you want culture and comfort food in one setting, try these square pizzas in a traditional Chinese courtyard setting. This restaurant in Houhai combines the tranquil ambiance of hutong Zen with the heartiness of Italian pizza and pasta; the result is the ultimate place to nurse your post-meal food coma. There are interesting pizza options, like roast chicken, but try their Pizza Margherita for a simple taste of delicious homemade goodness. Their veggie burger is rumored to be the best in Beijing –
another must-try if you still have stomach space!
Body After Baby: Experts dish on how to get your pre-pregnancy body back
After giving birth, new mothers often feel physically exhausted, run-down, and weak. Jodi Noffsinger Hwang would know - she’s a former marathon runner and yoga teacher at the Yoga Yard who found it almost impossible to make time to exercise following the birth of her son, Kai (now 2 years old). Hwang teaches pre- and postnatal yoga and says one of the biggest problems women face when looking to regain their pre-baby bodies is maintaining a regular exercise schedule. “I wouldn’t call that a mistake but it’s an obstacle – your body needs time to heal,” says Hwang.
Nine Months in Beijing: Your month-by-month pregnancy guide
Month 1
So, you’ve discovered you’re pregnant – congratulations! Now what? Doctors recommend taking prenatal vitamins (the earlier, the better). Folic acid is essential for preventing neural tube defects and omega-3 fatty acids boost the immune system. Discontinue any form of chemical birth control, and resolve to be as healthy as possible: Cut out alcohol, tobacco, X-rays, and over-the-counter medications (unless your doctor approves). Now is the time to sit back, relax and get ready for the ride.
To Do: Pick up books on pregnancy at Chaterhouse Books.
Month 2
Prenatal Nutrition: Get your essentials
Folic Acid
Folate and folic acid has long been identified as the most important nutrient for pregnant women for preventing serious birth defects of the brain and spine in developing babies. All prenatal vitamins (including those prescribed in Beijing) include folic acid, the synthetic form of the naturally occurring B vitamin, folate. Natural sources of folate include:
Beans
Lentils
Oranges
Cantaloupe
Avocado
Soybeans and soymilk
Green leafy vegetables
Beets
Broccoli
Asparagus
Potato
Folic acid is also found in enriched grain products like flour or wheat germ. Western brands of enriched flour such as Gold Medal can be found at Jenny Lou and Lohao carries wheat germ.
Essential Fatty Acids
Recommended Reading for Expectant Mums (and Dads)
Mothers in Beijing recommend these sources for information on pregnancy and childbirth:
What to Expect When You Are Expecting by Heidi Murkoff
The new fourth edition of what is arguably the most famous English-language book on pregnancy is as exhaustive as it is thick. The 600-page tome discusses topics ranging from pregnancy tests and month-by-month fetal development to diet, illness symptoms and even advice on sex during pregnancy.
The Expectant Father by Brott Armin
Aimed at fathers-to-be, The Expectant Father comes with a month-by-month explanation of the different stages of pregnancy and gives an overall view of the different hurdles (ranging from physical to financial) that first-timers can expect to face.
Giving Birth in Beijing: The ins and outs of pregnancy in the capital
Even before I moved to Beijing, I was planning to have a baby during our time here. Sure enough, a few months after we arrived and settled in, I became pregnant. My friends at home thought I was so brave to give birth (twice!) in China, but if they knew the realities of my situation - world-class hospitals and staff, the option of private suites, and household help - I am not sure they would still be quite so awed.
Shortly after arriving in Beijing, Shannon Byers returned to the US to give birth to her first child - because she was scared. “I felt sick and had no friends yet to ask for help, so I opted to return home to have the baby.” Now, after having spent more a year in Beijing, Byers doesn’t think returning home to give birth is necessary. She has developed a good network with lots of friends who have had children in Beijing - in fact, she’s the only one among them who didn’t have her baby here. Pregnancy is always a daunting experience, but like anything else, with the right information, it’s perfectly manageable in our city.
Flying Solo Transpacific journey, sans Mom
Despite the rising June temperatures, Beijing was dragging me into a crabby abyss of discontent. It was time to escape the city. I packed a couple of bags, picked out a few toys, loaded up on snacks, scooped up Reina and headed to Terminal 3 for a five-week “holiday” to Oregon. Just the two of us. Without mama. How much trouble could one well-adjusted, loquacious two-year-old be?
Family Night; Indoor fun at home
As we approach the end of summer and the swimming pools begin to close, don’t fret about how to keep the kids entertained. You can have a smashing good time all within the confines of your living room. Here are some recommendations for books, games and DVDs that will stimulate the mind, foster creativity and create a whole lot of fun. Imogen Kandel and Jessica Pan
Books
Where the Wild Things Are (ages 4 to 8)
by Maurice Sendak
Flower Power: Elsa and her mum beautify their rubbish problem
Attentive readers will recall that a few months ago Elsa and I moved in to a courtyard home, a couple of hutongs south of Ghost Street.
Getting to know my Chinese neighbors and their traditional way of life, outdoor dining in a vine-covered yard, proximity to beer and baozi – these were the seductive images that had sustained my three-year search.
On the whole, I haven’t been disappointed. I do have a vine-covered yard, where Elsa delights in playing with her new rabbit Blackie. The local baozi lady is now so well-trained that I don’t even need to get off my bike; she comes out onto the street and plops our steaming breakfast into my basket as we speed on smoothly to kindergarten.
And, the piece de resistance: there’s a hole-in-the-wall fruit shop selling Tsingtao that’s so close to our house I treat it as a remote fridge – just popping outside when I fancy a beer of an evening.
Tradition, Superstition and Soup: Chinese pre- and postnatal dos and don’ts
Mothers-to-be who debate the dangers of eating Chinese takeout are overlooking some wholesome care – Chinese traditional food remedies concerning pregnancy are
numerous. There’s an intricate list of things to do, eat, and avoid both before and after birth to promote the well-being of mother and child. And Kung Pao Chicken isn't one of them.
Apathy in the Classroom: Rethinking motivation in school
Since we’ve relocated to Beijing, my kids seem less motivated to do well in school. I’m not sure if it’s because they feel like we are on some sort of extended holiday or if this would have happened if we had stayed home. How does one motivate kids to study hard and care about learning? I don’t want to resort to bribery. – Concerned Parent
Iris Chan,
Vice Principal, Sino-Bright School
Debate Club: Swine flu, are you worried?
From Mexico to China and everywhere in between, the “swine flu” virus (also known by its scientific name, H1N1) has spread swiftly from a regional epidemic to a potentially devastating global pandemic. Not surprisingly, the media has been quick to sound the alarms and governments have been equally stringent in implementing anti-flu policies to stop its spread. But is the threat posed by swine flu really that great? And what is the best way to stop it? beijingkids assembled a diverse group to discuss the true danger of H1N1, how it’s influencing their lives in Beijing and what they would do to keep us all germ-free.
Fern Pugh, 14, UK, has lived in Beijing 4 years.
I want to be a Violinist
A graduate from the Guildhall School of Music, Tasmin Little has taken her solo violin tours around the globe, traveling everywhere from Iceland to China. A talented musician from a young age, Little is one of only four violinists in the world who has the
challenging Ligeti concerto in their repertoire. The English violinist took time out of her Naked Violin tour of China to speak with some aspiring musicians at the British School of Beijing. Imogen Kandel
Judy Liu, 14, Hong Kong
When you were a student, what was the hardest technique to master?
The number one hardest technique to master is to know how to practice. To have tools at your disposal that you can use. Practicing is not simply repetition; it’s using your intellect. Once you’ve mastered the art of practicing, you can really progress.
Yuyuantan Park
Centered around a giant lake, Yuyuantan Park is a serene locale, perfect for families who want to relax on a weekend. But before you rush into the park’s tranquil grounds, there are a number of impressive sights just outside, including the Chinese National Military Museum and the China Millennium Monument (which also houses the Beijing World Art Museum), both of which are worth a visit. Although all of these locations are sufficiently large to visit individually, it’s possible to get a taste of each with this itinerary, which takes approximately four hours.
The Tan Clan
The Tan family is always busy – Jacky is the financial controller of Raffles Beijing Hotel, and whenever he finds has a moment to spare, he spends time with his wife Sally and their two children, Denise (8) and Tyler (6). Dad does like to indulge in some alone time though, and some extra hours of sleep when the kids will let him. Jacky and his family took a moment out of their hectic schedules to share some of their family favorites with us.
Pregnancy is Like a Box of Chocolates
My mother’s first pregnancy didn’t quite go as planned (but do they ever?). When she was seven months pregnant, she came down with a severe case of chicken pox, so extreme that the residents at the military hospital where she was due to give birth took photos of her to teach the fellow residents – photos that she still prays never see the light of day. When she went into labor, her OB/GYN was out of town, and when it came time to learn how to breastfeed, her teacher was a male nurse.
Top 10 Events September
1 beijingkids Family Fun Day at Ole
Bring your family along for an exciting games and sports day at Ole. Play your all-time favorite sports and games and meet other families on Sat Sep 26 11am-4.00pm. RMB 100 per person (RMB 80 for Beijingkids’ Club members), includes a day pass at O’le with various activities for kids and parents: climbing wall, football, sac race, face painting, art & craft activities, games for young kids and many more! Also kids get a lunch box and gift bag!
2 Prepare for the Mid-Autumn Festival
