After 16 years of living with my 18-year-old high school graduate brother here in Beijing, he’s finally moving out and starting his own life in Montreal, Canada. 

I feel like it’s very rare when siblings actually get along with each other, and my brother and I aren’t an exception. As most sibling relationships do, ours continuously fluctuated as we grew. We used to be best buddies when we were little and played with each other all the time, but at one point when we reached middle school and started leading our own lives. We were practically estranged roommates who happened to have the same parents. Of course, as per the typical sibling dynamic, we still had stupid, petty arguments like whose turn it was to wash the dishes or who was going to do the laundry this time. But overall, we mostly kept to ourselves, holed up in our own spaces.

In the few weeks before he left for Canada, however, I found myself and my brother being nicer to one another. I don’t know if it was because we both knew this lifelong “roommate arrangement” was coming to an end (for the time being), but we opened up to each other a little more and went out of our way to do nice things for one another; he bought me food without being asked and I helped him clean his room.

We may be extremely annoying to each other, but the fact of the matter is that we’ve never been separated for more than a few days. Even if it wasn’t by choice, we’ve been through a lot together, especially at the height of the pandemic when we had to travel across the world so we could spend time with both our parents. Soon, I probably won’t see him for a whole year. 

Now that he’s not living with us anymore, I keep finding myself having these realizations of the little things that aren’t going to happen from now on. For example, I never really had to use my keys to open the door whenever I got home from school because he would always be there first to open the door for me. But now that he’s in Canada, I will have to make sure I always have my keys. He would also always fall asleep whenever we went out to eat, and I would always take selfies with him, but I can’t do that anymore (until I go to Canada myself). On top of that, I will now be the one to wash the dishes, since we used to take turns (and would always get into an argument about whose turn it was). But now, it will always be me.

It’s quite bizarre that I’ll be spending my last year here in Beijing living like an only child. Who knew someone so annoying in your life could be kind of important to you?  Even though those dumb little fights we had were going to be the death of me, I’ll honestly miss having some drama around the house to keep me on my toes. However, a year from now, when I move into a two-bedroom apartment with him when I go to Canada, it’ll be like he never left (I believe).

Kuya, congrats on graduating high school and on being the overall good and kind person that everyone else (except me) says you are. You’re an okay brother, I guess…

This article appeared in the jingkids 2022 Teen Takeover issue

As we change and evolve throughout the various stages of our lives, so do our roles and responsibilities. As a child, the most worrisome thing was trying to fall asleep during nap time. Adults must constantly worry about paying the bills while still being able to provide for themselves and their families. Now, as teenagers, not only do we worry about our exam grades or university decisions, but also the transition into becoming those very adults that have been taking care of us since Day 1.

But don’t fret! As long as you learn some of these life skills, it’ll be smooth sailing on the way to adulthood.  

1. Taking Public Transport 

Unlike calling a Didi every time you need to go somewhere, public transportation is an equally convenient and financially sustainable way for you to get around. All you need is a navigation app like Apple, Google, or Baidu Maps to help you find the right buses or subways to take. Plus, as you get more familiarized with your usual routes, you won’t need to rely on your navigation apps as much.  

2. Cooking Basic Dishes 

It may be tempting to order delivery or takeout for a quick bite, but it can be enriching for yourself and your taste buds if you start to learn how to cook some simple meals, some of which don’t even require you to cook! Some examples are salads, grilled cheese sandwiches, cheese quesadillas, cup noodles, and microwaved eggs (which is my go-to, by the way.)  Cooking may seem hard and time-consuming, but you don’t have to be a professional chef to feed yourself. 

3. Doing Laundry 

If you haven’t the slightest idea how to do laundry, here are some basic tips: always separate the whites from the colors and clean your filter often. It’s also suggested to put your undergarments in a tiny laundry bag, so they won’t get ruined when you throw them in there.  Also, don’t forget to read the labels on your clothing, as they have specific instructions on how to wash them. 

4. Making a Resume/CV 

Creating a resume or CV is essential if you want to get employed in the future. Every professional job you desire will require a resume, so this is a chance to show your future employers what you’ve accomplished so far and more. Plus, it is a way to keep track of how far you’ve come. Your future employers will also get an idea of what you’re like before they know you.  

5. Taking Care of Yourself 

We’re not babies anymore! From now on, there won’t be anyone constantly looking after us or telling us what to do, which is why it’s up to us to look after ourselves. Taking care of yourself consists of maintaining your personal hygiene, eating balanced meals, drinking lots of water, being physically active, and replenishing your energy with enough sleep. It’s also important to take care of your mental health by doing what you love and unwinding from all the stresses in your life every once in a while.  

6. Managing Your Money 

Now that you’re about to go out into the world as another independent adult, it is essential to know how to manage and spend your own money. It’s always a good idea to ask for advice from people you look up to. For example, how much to save every time you receive your paycheck, creating a budget plan, and saving to ensure your future. Try your best not to end up drowning in debt for the rest of your life! 

It’s quite bittersweet to say goodbye to your childhood and not have a care in the world, but it’s all a part of growing up. We still have our whole lives ahead of us! There’s a lot to look forward to and a lot of “life” to experience, and you can be sure that having these life skills will start your adult life off right.  

Images: Courtesy of Emily Ranquist, Gunlock, RF._.studio, RODNAE Productions, Andrea Piacquadio, Ron Lach, maitree rimthong, Pexels

If you haven’t been living under a rock, you might have heard about the whirlwind controversy of the sexual harassment allegations made against Kris Wu, a 30-year-old Chinese-Canadian pop singer and actor. The controversy began when Du Meizhu, a 19-year-old Chinese college student and social media influencer, came forward and claimed that Wu had allegedly coerced her to consume alcohol and proceeded to have sex with her while she was unconscious. 

In one interview, Du claims that she wasn’t the only victim of Wu’s, and was paid hush money (RMB 500,000) by Wu, which she returned. On July 19, Wu made a post on his Weibo account, the Chinese version of Twitter, firmly denying the accusations and standing his ground. He ended his post by saying, “If there have been such actions, please don’t worry, I’ll go to prison myself!! I take legal responsibility for my words above!!”

This is rather ironic as it was announced last Saturday, Jul 31 that Wu has been detained by Beijing police for suspected rape.

Despite the serious allegations Du had made, many were unconvinced or skeptical about her claims because of her appearance and profession as a social media influencer. In this day and age, it has become really easy to question people’s sincerity, especially when it comes to sexual assault claims, just because of their appearance and social status.

It’s all too easy to make assumptions about someone. If you’re too poor? You’re doing it for money. Too pretty? You probably deserved it. Your job is a social media influencer? Of course, you would want to grow your audience and gain some attention by defaming someone famous! But would one really resort to scandal and infamy for that? Some might. But far more do not. It is saddening that in this case, many people are using her profession as a means of discrediting her and invalidating the allegations she has made against Wu as many claim that she’s seeking attention by stepping forward with her sexual assault story is a depiction of society’s patriarchal system that continually judges and silences women. 

Another example of women not being taken seriously because of their appearance and profession was apparent when American actress and model Megan Fox who went on the Jimmy Kimmel‘s live talk show in 2009 and related the story of how she was sexualized by Michael Bay, an American film director, at the mere age of 15.

Fox started to describe the time she was shooting a scene in a club as an extra in Bad Boys 2. She mentioned that the people shooting the film told Bay that since she was 15, they couldn’t film her sitting at the bar and holding a drink in her hand. “So his solution to that problem,” she stated, “was to then have me dancing underneath the waterfall, getting soaking wet.” Immediately, the live audience burst into laughter. 

Fox went on to explain how it was “sort of a microcosm of how Bay’s mind worked.” However, before she could finish her sentence, Kimmel interrupted Fox and said, “Yeah, well that’s really a microcosm of how all our minds work.” *Cue more laughter from his audience*

God forbid, if we were ever in the victims’ shoes, we would feel completely powerless going up against these well-known and highly praised celebrities. They not only have a comfy bed of cash to back them up but also have the power to ruin our lives via their associates and fanbase, who put them on a pedestal and could never imagine their idols possibly committing such an indecent act. In the case of Wu, his fanbase as gone as far as publicly declaring that they will break him out of prison. To which, multiple lawyers have gone on Douyin to try to reach Wu’s massive fanbase to inform them that their plan would land each and every one of them at least 10 years in prison themselves.

Thus, reporting the assault might not make a difference at all, which we imagine is how the actual victims would feel. According to the University of Oregon, for each reported case of sexual assault, more than 80 cases are not brought to light. 

With this statistic in mind, Du coming forward with her story and making it public shows bravery and courage that has paved the way for other victims to share their own stories. 

On the other hand, it’s important not to overlook false claims of sexual assault and/or abuse made with the intention of gaining some kind of reward. Although these occurrences are very rare, we cannot be completely oblivious to them. As stated by Schweitzer and Davidian’s law firm, “no one agrees on the percentage of rape allegations that prove to be false, but estimates range from 2 to 10 percent.” 

We applaud the speed with which the local authorities in China have taken action against Wu. In comparison to any Western or European country, reports of sexual assault made against a recognizable figure usually drag out for months, or years even. However, for Wu, more is yet to come and justice shall be served.

KEEP READING: How To Have a Civil Family Discussion Without Arguments or Even Agreement

Images: Weibo

Ever heard of a tree that distinguishes between good and evil? Well, you can find one such tree at the Beijing Temple of Confucius! But first, a bit of background information: The Beijing Temple of Confucius is the second largest Confucian temple out of many throughout China, after the Qufu Confucius Temple in Shandong Province. Built in 1302, the temple covers 22,000 square meters. According to online sources, The Beijing Temple of Confucius holds 198 stone tablets with the names of 51,624 advanced scholars from the Ming, Qing, and Yuan Dynasties, as well as 14 stone-steel pavilions from the Ming and Qing dynasties that are inscribed with prized information about ancient China.

The Beijing Temple of Confucius, along with all the other temples spread across China, is named after and dedicated to the great philosopher, political figure, and teacher, Confucius. Widely recognized as China’s philosophical leader, his teachings, also known as Confucianism – focusing on kindness, justice, knowledge, and loyalty – became the basis of philosophy in China for thousands of years to come. Confucianism made people realize that philosophy was a part of everyday life. By now, you’re probably thinking: What’s the deal with the all-knowing tree?

Well, the tree is called 触奸柏 Chujian Bai, or Touch Evil Cypress in English, and it is well over 600 years old! It was given this name because of a legend that dates back to the Ming Dynasty, between 1521 and 1567. While under the reign of the neglectful and cruel Jiajing Emperor, the government was under the command of Yan Song, the Grand Secretary. He was given this position by the Emperor but was infamous for being corrupt and was said to be as rich as the Emperor himself. One day, Yan Song came to the temple to worship Confucius on behalf of the Emperor, but as he was walking by the tree, one of the branches knocked his official hat – or 康冠liang’guan in Chinese – off.

Since Yan Song was known to be corrupt and just an unpleasant person overall, stories started to go around that the tree had the ability to tell the difference between people with good intentions and people with bad intentions. It wouldn’t be the first time in history that people have ascribed human qualities to inanimate objects based on superstition, and it certainly won’t be the last. Wouldn’t you be interested to see how the tree reacts to you when you walk past it?

KEEP READING: The Woman, the Myth, the Legend Behind the Great Wall

Images: Unsplash

When people think of China one of the first things they think of is the Great Wall. Designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1987, the Great Wall is over 21,000km in length and almost 3,000 years old. Located in northern China, it was constructed mainly to keep out various groups of northern invaders. General Meng Tian, a military general of the Qin dynasty, was ordered by Emperor Qin Shihuang to take his army of around 300,000 men to fight off some of the nomadic tribes, and to begin construction on the Great Wall. The workers used materials such as stone, bricks, and rammed earth to build the wall. While the Great Wall cannot be seen from the moon, according to NASA, the European Space Agency, and some of the astronauts who have spent time on the International Space Station, it is just visible to the naked eye from an orbit of anywhere from 160km to 320km above the surface of the Earth…but only under very favorable conditions, and only if you know exactly where to look and what you’re looking for!

And it’s not just science that makes the Great Wall interesting. There are a number of legends attached to it as well. Perhaps the most well-known legend behind the Great Wall is the legend of Lady Meng Jiangnü (孟姜女). Set during the Qin Dynasty, a version of the story of Meng Jiangnü begins with a man by the name of Meng who lived in the southern part of China, along with his next-door neighbor, Jiang. One day, a bottle gourd plant sprouted in Meng’s yard and grew rapidly over the wall between the neighbors’ houses, entering Jiang’s yard. Neither Jiang nor Meng had children, so both of them began to take care of the plant as if it were their child. Over time the plant grew bigger and bigger until it finally became ripe in the fall. However, upon opening the gourd, Meng and Jiang found a beautiful baby girl inside. The two families decided to name her Meng Jiangnü, and they raised her together.

Meng Jiangnü blossomed into a beautiful young woman. She was everything to the Meng and Jiang families. But soon Qin Shihuang, the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty, began recruiting men to build the Great Wall. It’s said that the men were worked to the bone with no rest, and many died of exhaustion. A young scholar named Wan Xiliang ran away from home to avoid this fate, ultimately finding himself in Meng’s yard where he was discovered by Meng Jiangnü. The two young people fell in love with each other, and after a while were married. Everyone was delighted. However, another man, who was also infatuated with Meng Jiangnü, was so outraged when he heard the news of her marriage to Wan Xiliang that he told army officers of Wan’s whereabouts. This resulted in Wan being taken away only three days after the wedding.

Meng Jiangnü was devastated.  She waited for a year for her husband to come back, but then decided she couldn’t take the pain anymore and decided to go to him instead. After what seemed like an eternity of crossing mountains and fording rivers, Meng Jiangnü finally arrived at the construction site. She could barely contain her happiness at the thought of seeing her husband at last. But upon hearing that Wan Xiliang had died due to exhaustion, and that had been buried in the Great Wall like so many others before him, Meng Jiangnü collapsed on the ground and sobbed, completely heartbroken.

Shortly after Meng Jiangnü started to cry, a 400km section of wall collapsed. The roar of the destruction overpowered Meng Jiangnü’s desperate wailing. Suddenly, the body of her husband emerged from the rubble, causing her to cry even harder. The emperor happened to be walking along the wall at that time, and he was furious at Meng Jiangnü for making such noise. He was just about to punish her, but when he laid eyes on her he immediately became infatuated with her. Instead of punishing Meng Jiangnü, the Emperor asked her to marry him. She reluctantly agreed but demanded that they first hold a funeral for her late husband. After the funeral, Qin Shihuang was ready to wed Meng Jiangnü, but to his disappointment, the guards informed him that she had killed herself by jumping into the Bohai Sea.

This legend brings to light of all the hard work of the Chinese citizens and also exposes the cruel and inhumane working conditions they had to endure under Emperor Qin Shihuang. Many years after the time of the legend, a temple was built on Fenghuang Mountain, at the foot of the Great Wall, in order to commemorate the story of Meng Jiangnü.

KEEP READING: Beijing Day Trips That Are Not The Great Wall

Images: Unsplash

Not to be bleak, but each passing day we dig a deeper and deeper hole for ourselves by killing the planet and creating heaps of waste. However, not all hope is lost. Let’s look at what Grade 10 students at Western Academy of Beijing (WAB), aka my classmates, created during their Design Sustainability unit as sustainable solutions to help save the planet.

It should be noted that students created projects tailored to specific categories: Media/Graphics, Workshop, Kitchen, and Textiles/Fashion. So, without further ado, here are six WAB students and their solutions for sustainability.

App for Renting Clothes

First up, we have Rune Knappskog. He wanted to create his project in relation to media because he believes it can make a bigger impact on a greater audience. “If you create something physical, it can only be seen by your classmates. If you make something using software, anyone with the internet can access it.”

For his project, Knappskog created a prototype of an app where people can rent out clothes to one another. “So, let’s say you want a cool shirt for one occasion,” he says. “Instead of buying a shirt and then never using it again, you can rent it for a day or two using this app.” By doing so, he claims that ginormous amounts of water will be preserved, as well as prevent toxic chemicals from being used in the making of fast fashion. What makes his product unique is that “it is about renting, rather than buying,” he says. “There are already many apps and websites where you can buy used stuff, and while this reduces buying fast fashion, renting clothes also reduces the trend of “buying clothes just for you to only wear once.”

Graphics for Bug Food

Next up, we have Lucas Hsu. For his project, he posed as a graphic designer and created a brand identity for insect snacks. “Entomophagy, the act of eating insects, utilizes less water and land resources, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, is rich in nutritional value, and could potentially be an accessible food alternative in underdeveloped or developing countries,” he states. “To effectively showcase the brand and the goals to the customer, I will be developing a brand identity that is both visually impactful and connected to our brand values.” By creating a brand style guide, he hopes to guide designers in the process of making branded products such as advertisements, websites, or packaging.

Shoes out of Car Seats

In the fashion category, we have Deboshree Bhattacharya. For her project, she made shoes out of leather cover seats from old, disposed cars. “With fast fashion growing immensely popular among the middle-class audience, it has also become a problem because of its carbon emissions which is further impacting the environment,” she comments. “These shoes will be up-cycled, recycled, reusable, and affordable even for middle-class audiences. Despite all of these qualities, the shoes will remain a luxury concept in order to remain appealing to a diverse range of customers.”

Repurposing Old Jeans

Another student who made her project based on the fashion industry is Sophie Yi. She made a formal gown from old jeans that don’t fit her anymore. “For me, buying clothes is the most tangible form of overconsumption,” she states. “My body has stopped growing, but I have not lost the habit of buying new clothes every few weeks.” With her project, she intends to inspire others to create a new purpose out of their old clothes that they have stopped wearing by showing them that “up-cycling is fun, and materials are not a restriction—everyday garments such as denim can be revamped to form something completely different,” hence the denim jeans being turned into a formal dress. With her project, Yi aims to combat the issue of overconsumption and hopes to “provide a sustainable alternative for future consumption.”

Bed Set from Old Garments

Now we have Momo Yang and Grace Zhao, also in the fashion/textile category. Even though donating clothes are a good option, “there are some garments that couldn’t be worn again.” Instead of throwing these fabrics away, the duo worked together to collect these old garments and turned them into a stuffed animal pillow and blanket set. On how their product helps the planet, she says, “the product reduces textile waste, hence it reduces what goes into landfills so factories could minimize the use of natural resources to dispose [of]the textile.” Their product is aimed at children and teenagers who are into cute items. “Our product looks visually pleasing with stuffed animal faces, and on the practical side, it is convenient with multiple usages, that it can be a pillow or a blanket.”

Pasta Made with Locally Sourced Ingredients

Moving on to the kitchen, we have Olivia Chen, who chose to work in this category because there are many various things you can do, and simply because she liked to cook, so it seemed natural to do so.

For her project, Chen created pasta with tomato sauce from scratch using locally purchased ingredients rather than internationally imported ones. “Especially for pasta dishes, people tend to buy products that are internationally imported or canned produce that is very processed,” she says. “By buying locally and starting from scratch, I can help reduce the damage of the transport and the waste of canned products.” When asked where she bought the ingredients, she says that she purchased them from a local market in Shunyi. If you’re interested in recreating her pasta, try her recipe!

KEEP READING: Shifting Schools Towards Sustainability: Tips From People Who Made It Happen

Images: courtesy of the students, Unsplash

Even though my nationality is Canadian, and have been living in China my entire life, I have and always will be connected to Filipino culture. As my dad’s home country, my family would frequently travel to the Philippines for the holidays. During our visits, we had the opportunity to explore parts of the country we had never been to before and experience the Filipino lifestyle, heritage, and its many specialties, not least of which is the food.

After years of trying food from both China and the Philippines, I’ve noticed quite a few similar dishes between the two cultures, or doppelgängers, if you will. They may differ in “personality”, but they sure do look alike.

Suman vs Zongzi

With Dragon Boat Festival coming up in a few days, you should know that the traditional Chinese delicacy, zongzi, has a Filipino sister called suman – a traditional rice cake typically made with glutinous rice, coconut milk, sugar, banana leaves, and cassava. I practically inhaled this for breakfast while I was in the Philippines. Zongzi is also made with glutinous rice and wrapped in leaves, but instead of banana leaves, the leaves are made from bamboo. There is also stuffing inside the rice, it’s wrapped in a pyramid shape rather than a long rectangular shape, and the taste is more savory than sweet. Both are equally delicious.

Lumpia vs. Spring Rolls

I know! The resemblance is uncanny between these two. Lumpia is a type of Filipino egg roll. The filling is typically comprised of ground pork, minced onions, carrots, and salt and pepper as seasonings, while its wrapper is made from flour and water. Spring rolls, which might as well be lumpia’s long-lost twin, is a Chinese fried spring roll composed of minced pork, carrots, bean sprouts, and cabbage – though the fillings can vary. The reason why they pretty much look the same is that their wrappers are both made of flour and water, which make them very fragile to the touch. The difference is in the filling!

Pancit Canton vs Chow Mein

Pancit Canton consists of wheat flour noodles, pork, chicken, shrimp, and a range of different vegetables. As for chow mien, well, it’s a Chinese food classic that’s cooked in various ways depending on which part of China you are in. These stir-fried noodles are a quick lunch favorite amongst foodies all around the world.

Isaw vs Yang Rou Chuan’r

Isaw – a popular street food delicacy in the Philippines – is made from pig or chicken intestines. Prior to being served, isaw is repeatedly cleaned and turned inside out, then barbecued on a grill, and finally, becomes the zig-zag treat on a stick you see before you. In my opinion, street food can’t get better than this. Or can it? Isaw can easily be compared with its Chinese cousin from Xinjiang: yang rou chuan’r, or lamb skewers in English.

Banana Cue vs. Tanghulu

Believe it or not, this isn’t a corndog. Banana cue is short for banana barbecue and is another Filipino street food delight. Instead of regular bananas, Banana cue is made of plantains that are fried and coated in brown sugar. Meanwhile, in China, there’s the classic tanghulu that’s traditionally made with whole hawthorn berries coated in a layer of candied sugar.

Pandesal vs Mantou

Although they may seem plain, both dishes are staples in their own country. On the one hand, we have pandesal, a common bread roll from the Philippines made of flour, butter, salt, eggs, yeast, and sugar, with a coat of breadcrumbs to top it all off. On the other hand, we have mantou – or Chinese steamed buns. Mantou is often made of flour, yeast, baking powder, sugar, and milk. There are several different kinds of mantou, with my personal favorite being the fried kind that’s served with condensed milk as a dip. Both dishes are made with minimal and simple ingredients, yet are highly popular among their people.

KEEP READING: “That’s Not Bing! It’s Roti!”: When Indian and Chinese Food Unite

Images: Courtesy of Amber Ker-Foz, Pexels, pinoycookingrecipes.com,niubball.com, amiablefoods.com, Pexels, panlasangpinoyrecipes.com