Living and studying in Beijing, as a teenager, it can be hard to let your everyday life go when it is gets time to leave. You get used to the environment, your social circle and your habits. Even the cultural part inevitably sticks to you. You get close to people and they become a big part of your life. So it can be a substantial change not only for you, but for them as well. 

This year, a lot of my friends are leaving Beijing forever. Some are still staying in China and are just changing cities, but some are going back to their home countries. 

It can be scary to lose in-person contact with people you once were close with. It was a big hit to find out that my friends will not be by my side in the future. I knew them for too long to let them go without sadness.

Change can be scary, but it is part of our lives. We all go through them differently and cope with them in our own ways. To understand these feelings better, I interviewed a few students going through this process and as well a professional psychologist to help you understand that you are not alone!

Shanalee Diop

(Grade 11 student from the French International School of Beijing)

How do you think this change will affect you?

I already knew that my friends were leaving Beijing, but it was still incredibly sad, thinking of having a life without them. But I was still happy for them.

You grow from the sadness, and as a result become more mature; first comes pain, then the gains. It can be tough to go back to being on your own – it is as if you are thrown in the forest, and you must survive all by yourself. 

Losing someone is hard, really hard, but you’ll get stronger as you grow. Instead of looking at the staircase, just take one step at a time. Don’t concentrate on missing them but continue enjoying your life. You may still see them again in future. In the meantime, you can still stay in contact! 

Louise Henriquet 

(Grade 11 student from French International School of Beijing who will for France to attend Ermitage International School)

What are your ways of coping with leaving?

Instead of feeling sad, think of it as a new beginning, like starting a new life, while still remembering the old life. I was born in Beijing, so I have been here all my life. Now I’m going to France near Paris to a boarding school. You should think of it as a twice the experience, in addition to your current life, now you also have a new life in France. So, think of it not as a loss but a gain. 

It is pretty easy to stay in contact with everyone since we all have social media, so finding people online is easy. You can always talk with everyone. A genuinely strong relationship can survive all the kilometres, and I believe that people with whom you lose touch are the relationships that are just not meant to be.

Even though I am afraid of adapting to the new school, and making new friends, I am excited to discover a new city and a new way of living.

I always try to think about the positive aspects, and focus on the new opportunities I will have. It also helps to keep in mind the reason why I am leaving, so I am mentally prepared. 

Yolanda Zhou 

(Former Tsinghua University High School International student who’s currently a grade 11 student at St. Mark’s school, Southborough MA)

What kind of advice can you give people who are also leaving their old life?

Do not get stuck in the past but think about the opportunities that lie ahead of you. Try to make friends and step out of your comfort zone as well. 

At first, I was really nervous to adapt to a completely different culture. I also had a fear of not being able to fit in or make new friends. But at the same time, I was excited to meet new people, teachers, and peers. I really wanted to socialize with everyone after an entire year of online leaning.

Also, I called my parents almost every day for the first few months after I left Beijing, so I guess staying connected to family is important. I think that communicating with your parents can help. It worked for me, and it keeps you from getting too homesick.

What does a professional have to say about this subject? Rachel George is a therapist and life coach who’s currently working at Western Academy of Beijing as a school counselor. 

According to Rachel, change is difficult even when there is excitement behind it. Especially when it comes to watching our friends come and go, or when it is time for us to be the ones leaving. It’s important to remember that transitioning is a process.

It’s completely normal to have an array of feelings. Excitement and frustration. Sadness and disappointment. You may even find yourself arguing with a friend that’s leaving or becoming frustrated. That’s all normal! When our friends move it feels like an ending of sorts and sometimes, we experience our emotions in a cycle. We can be in denial, thinking the move will not happen or we try not to think about it. We can be angry and frustrated. We can definitely feel sad and upset.

When transitioning to a new place Rachel suggests allowing yourself to feel your feelings. Oftentimes when our feelings are a little uncomfortable, we try to ignore them. However, we want to allow ourselves time to navigate through the process. If you’re feeling sad, allow yourself to feel that way. Angry? That’s ok too. When transitioning it’s also important to make sure you end well so you can begin well. Ensure you say goodbye to the people and even places that you held dear. This can be a face-to-face goodbye or virtually. You also want to make sure to make amends. Other words, say sorry. Try not to let your friends leave, or you leave, on a bad note. You want to make it nice with those you leave behind. Also, while you’re making memories be sure to talk about/create a plan for how you’ll remain connected. Maybe it’s a virtual hangout once a week, or a phone call every other week. Try to make a plan on how you’re going to stay connected.

This article appeared in the jingkids 2022 Teen Takeover issue

Throughout history, fashion trends keep on changing. Even though we all have our own personal style, fashion trends still guide the way we dress, particularly in the age of social media these days. We are constantly influenced by the current popular styles.  

People concentrate on how others dress, copying the most famous stars and high society, to be on top, for popularity. 

We cannot say it’s not true. All of us want to be fashionable and up to date. 

Keeping up with fashion trends that come and go can be really tiring and confusing. Taking inspiration from all over the world, you cannot be sure of what is fully trendy now in Beijing. So, dressing becomes complicated

To be considered fashionable, there are few “rules”or guidelines to follow.  

While spying from a corner on the streets of Beijing, we discovered a few trends that consistently popped up this summer!

Styles

Modern streetwear is definitely all the rage this season. We spotted plenty of pedestrians comfortably wearing oversized clothes. 

The Pinterest or “Clean girl” look is on fire. This clean-cut and casual style has become more popular over the last few months. 

Korean inspiration can be found in hairstyles, outfits and make-up, not only in Beijing, but all over Asia in general.  

High fashion brands are also popular, especially among the guys.  Logos as illustrations or patterns are making a comeback too. Anything with an iconic logo or brand name definitely stands out on the street. 

Items

Beijing’s summer is known for its extreme temperatures, so during this season, the less the better. Without further ado, let’s dig into the different trends for clothing pieces. 

This summer, there are two contrasting themes for tops: On one hand, we have comfortable oversized T-shirts, and on the other hand, we see skintight tank tops. The tees may be basic with a couple of nuanced  details while others have bold prints or patterns. The tank tops are ideal for hot weather and are usually cropped for girls, while men wear them in a longer version. We also noticed holes in shirts – deliberate or accidental? 

As surprising as it  seems, full length pants are very popular even during hot weather. Sweatpants and jeans are considered as closet essentials in Beijing. Baggy and wide-leg shapes are up to date, not forgetting the high rise waist. Flared or low-rise bottoms are slowly making their way into the trend but are still not popular enough. 

The obvious summer essential is shorts. In the city, sporty shorts are trending. For women, we tend to see a lot of tight legging-style shorts that give a biker look. Oversized sweatpant-style shorts such as basketball shorts are also trendy for both boys and girls. 

Flannels and button-ups are an easy way to dress up in this temperature. Light and thin materials are recommended. They make layering possible even in summer!

Dresses and skirts are surprisingly rare. It seems like people aim for comfort. For the few, we noticed, midi-skirts are taking over miniskirts as the go-to length in skirts. 

Outfits

We putted together some observed outfits to illustrate the most common and trendy ones. 

The tank top and jeans combo doesn’t seem to fade away. This outfit is always a safe and essential staple.

In the streets you can see more often the Oversized Shirt and the tight leggings short underneath. A relaxed association to enjoy summer. 

Similarly, these clothing keep the oversized t-shirt with sweatpants being the difference. Adding a cap on top, this fit is the absolute social media outfit. 

The basketball player outfit became very popular recently. Since the sports became famous, this trend naturally followed. The perfect opportunity to show off your favorite teams and sportive trait. 

Interesting Trends

Sometimes, some clothing pieces become unexpectedly trendy. While for someone it might be shocking, they are popular among teens. 

Sunglasses tucked into the back of pants 

This trend is popular among younger guys. You can sometimes see bikers putting their sunglasses that way. 

Socks on leggings

This summer, there is a recycled trend in town – Black leggings with Socks on top. This was popular in the 80’s, but now it’s got a new modern twist to it. 

Fuzzy flip flops

Everywhere I go, I can see someone wearing fuzzy flip flops this summer. This reminds of the UGG trend a few years ago. Even big brands like Christian Dior, Louis Vuitton and Chanel have joined this style this year.

Nails

This season, it’s all about simplicity – Half transparent colors are on fire. You can also add gemstones and small details to add a bit of spice. 

Accessories

The best way to spice up an outfit is by adding accessories. Even summer has its own trends. To tie your hair up, the trend went from scrunchies to hair clips. 

In this heat, to save yourself from sunburns, you can wear baseball caps and vintage style sunglasses.

Patterns

Overall, this season, patterns are not nothing special. Teens prefer to wear simple plain colors instead. But surprisingly, black and white checkers have taken to the streets with a grand explosion, taking over half of the Beijing. 

And of course, how can there be a summer without flower print on the streets? 

Colors

The classic combination of black and white is now trendy. You can go for neutral colors as well, for example neutral pink, green and cream. If you want to stay trendy but still pop out from others, go with navy or baby blue. 

This article appeared in the jingkids 2022 Teen Takeover issue

Ahhh, love is in the air. Oh wait, it’s just the smell of nail polish.

Getting your nails done can be an expensive pleasure, and getting a specific design can cost even more. But how can you say no to such beauty on your hands? There is a saying that nails are the cherry on top for any look, and we cannot agree more.  

So, for those of you who want to enjoy the pampering without emptying your wallet, here are three places that can satisfy any nail needs.  

Nails in Haidilao (海底捞） 

Haidilao is a Chinese popular hot pot place. It is not your ordinary restaurant – it includes multiple little privileges, like free snacks, free drinks, secret menus, and, that’s right, free nails.  

While you enjoy your meal you can enjoy a free manicure. They do a massage for your hands and you can choose a color to use. Haidilao lets you enjoy everything at once while just coming to eat. There are locations all over the city, but my favorite for when I want my nails done for free is in Sanlitun.

Find It:
1F, Sanlitun SOHO Bldg 6, 8 Gongti North Road, Chaoyang District
朝阳区工体北路8号三里屯SOHO6号商场西院1层
Tel: 6595 0079, 6595 2982

湫.实美学.NAIDU  

If you go on Dianping, this place has some great reviews and the prices are not bad (RMB 77 to RMB 288+). In addition to nails, they can also do lash extensions, which are popular this year.  

You have an excellent choice of colors to choose from, from dark to light, in any shades, so any design might be possible. They move fast, too, so you do not have to wait for a long time. 

If you feel bored, you can play with the cat that lives there – a small friend to accompany you while you are there.  

Find It:
707, 7F, Bldg A, Shuangjing Youshige, 8 Guangqumenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District
朝阳区广渠门外大街8号双井优士阁A座7层707室
Tel: 186 0041 9527 

星辰美甲  (Xing Chen Mei Jia Nail Salon)

Over the last few years, this place has become a major hit for teenagers to go to.  

To do a basic nail gel color, after the Dianping online discount, it only costs you RMB 68. You can choose from 180 colors. Because of cheap prices, the salon became popular in no time.  

Modern style, gorgeous colors – what more do you need in life?

Find It:
3 Shuizuizi Beili, Yaojiayuan Road, Chaoyang District
朝阳区姚家园路水碓子北里3号楼底商
Tel: 185 0087 6457

When all else fails, at least you can have nice nails! So, achieve your nail dreams with these great on-budget nail salons.

Images: Pexels, DIanping

There is a saying by Yotam Ottolenghi, a famous British chef, that “food can bring people together in a way nothing else could.” Food is a universal language, that any person can understand through taste. And even though we might have different cultures, we can share them through food.  

In the past, we’ve featured the similarities between German, Korean, Indian, and Cameroonian cuisines and Chinese cuisine. This week we are going to explore Chinese and Ukrainian cuisines. They might be divided by many kilometers, but there are more similarities between the two than we think.  

We are going to compare three separate groups of dishes.

So let’s start now! 

Roast Penny Bun Mushrooms vs. King Oyster Mushroom (酱香杏鲍菇) 

Both Ukraine and China are famous for their mushrooms. But the mushrooms that grow in each country are different.  

In Ukrainian cuisine, we use penny bun mushrooms that grow in the west of Ukraine. Combining the penny bun mushroom with the potato – the “king of the vegetables” – yields the perfect hot course to try in order to explore Ukrainian cuisine. 

In China, mushrooms are popular as well. They are commonly used in Henan and Zhejiang provinces. King oyster mushrooms are one of the rarest fungi, and they are used a lot in Chinese cuisine.  

In Ukraine, the mushrooms are roasted or fried, while in China, they tend to be stir-fried with sauce.  

Borscht vs. 福建佛跳墙 (fú jiàn fó tiào qiáng)

Both soups are made from multiple ingredients, merging with each other to create an outstanding flavor that will surprise you.  

“The perfect borscht is what life should be but never is.” – Aleksandar Hemon (a Bosnian-American author, essayist, critic, and television writer)

Borscht has a lot of varieties. Every region has its own style of preparing it. According to long-standing tradition, it is made from 12 ingredients: meat, beans, beets, potatoes, cabbage, onions, carrots, dill, parsley, bay leaf, tomato, and garlic. All these are ingredients you can find in the market.  

In China, 福建佛跳墙 (fú jiàn fó tiào qiáng) is considered one of the most expensive soups, and it has its own different varieties depending on where you are. It is made from different types of seafood, as opposed to borscht, which is made from meat and vegetables.  

Vareniki vs. Dumplings

They might look the same, but they don’t taste the same.  

Both dishes take a big part in their respective country’s cultures. A Chinese person cannot live without dumplings (jiaozi), while a Ukrainian cannot live without vareniki. They both have the same texture, but it is the inside that counts.  

There are multiple varieties of vareniki. You can make the dish with potatoes or with sour cabbage. But the most popular way to make vareniki is by filling the dumplings with cherries and eating them for dessert. Cherries are sour, so it is a perfect dessert for sour-lovers. To pound down the flavor, you can dip the dumplings in sour cream

Jiaozi, on the other hand, is made as a main dish with different kinds of meat or vegetables inside. The classic way to eat them is to dip them in a mixture of soy sauce and vinegar. 

In our society, we have billions of different recipes, but this doesn’t stop us from exploring new flavors. Through this exploration, we can understand the culture and life of different nations.  

Images: Darina Lo, Dianping

The trendiest beverage this summer is officially announced: FRUIT TEA!

These days you can see more and more people walking outside with their phone in one hand and a cup of fruit tea in the other. The popularity of fruit tea has skyrocketed in the past few years, making it trendy to include it in pictures and post them on your social media posts.  

To help you with this flavor trend, here are three of my favorite tea shops to visit. 

喜茶 (HeyTea) 

HeyTea is one of the most beloved places for tea of the tea community. Even people who do not like tea beverages know about this place.  

As a true tea lover, I could not not include this place. It combines the heritage of the traditional boba milk tea with the the innovation of different flavors and combination. 

For summer, I would recommend trying out teas with tropical fruits like mango and coconut, to remind you of the sweetness of vacation.  

SWEET CHART
Sweet: 4/5 
Tea: 3/5

Find it:
Floor F1, Chaoyang Joy City, No. 101 Chaoyang North Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing
北京市朝阳区朝阳北路101号朝阳大悦城F1层
Tel: 85811099

茶白道 (Chabaidao)

While you’re in Sanlitun, check out Chabaidao. I like to experiment, so I enjoy trying different teas each week. Each season they come out with new drinks, so you will never run out of options.  

Chabaidao is famous for their toppings, which can satisfy any sweet tooth in town. From fruit bits to ice-cream to Oreos, you can put in anything. 

The taste of the tea is not strong. So, for people who enjoy light teas and texture, this places is the best choice for you. 

SWEET CHART
Sweet: 3/5
Tea: 2/5

Find it:
F1, Sanlitun Soho, No. 8 Workers Stadium North Road, Chaoyang District
朝阳区工人体育场北路8号三里屯SOHO商场F1
Tel: 18501928735

Theatre Tea 

This place left a big impression on me. The more you sip their tea, the better it tastes. It’s like magic!

The prices might be a bit stiff (between RMB38-40) but the taste is incredible. The tea has a strong tea flavor, but it is not bitter at all. I decided to try the strawberry & oolong drink. I could taste that they used fresh bits of strawberries.  

Theatre Tea also is an excellent choice for people who does not like too sweet beverages. They do not add any syrups and the ingredients are all fresh.  

The packaging is cute. It is great for summer pictures outside in the park.  

SWEET CHART
Sweet: 1/5
Tea: 4/5 

Find it:
B1, Taikoo Li, Sanlitun, No. 19, Sanlitun Road, Chaoyang District
朝阳区三里屯路19号三里屯太古里B1
Tel: 64666188

Now, drink your tea! Explore new flavors and have fun with your friends!

Images: Dianping, Theatre Tea