Freda Zhao – Beijing Kids

Family Travels: Prairie Roaming Companions – Two families take a road trip to Inner Mongolia

morganshang — Tue, 24 Sep 2013 00:00:00 +0000

The Zhao-Zhang and Gu-Liu Families

Travelers: Greg Zhao, Hong Zhang, and their daughter Freda (age 17), a student at the Western Academy of Beijing. They traveled with friends Michael Gu, Anna Liu, and their children Alex (age 15) and Nicole (age 5), who attend the Western Academy of Beijing and Windsor Kindergarten respectively.
Destination: Inner Mongolia and Hebei province
Dates: July 19-23, 2013
Cost: Approximately RMB 2,000 for a family of three. This included hotel accommodations for RMB 680 (RMB 280 per night for two nights at a hotel in Zhenglanqi and RMB 120 for one night for a three-person room in Nongjiale Inn), transportation (gas money) for about RMB 500, and about RMB 700 for food for four days.
Planning: The travelers arranged everything themselves by consulting online maps and made hotel reservations online and by phone. They stayed at the Huangchao Holiday Hotel in Zhenglanqi, Inner Mongolia, and an “Agritainment” (Nongjiale) Inn in Hebei province.

This past July, our family friends, the Gu family, invited us to take a road trip to Inner Mongolia. They had previously gone on a similar trip with other friends, so this time around they decided to go farther. Both families packed their cars full of gear and on-the-road snacks.

We spent the first day driving to the town of Zhenglanqi in Inner Mongolia, where we stayed for two nights before traveling down to Datan Town in Hebei province to stay for a night at a local rural hotel. Since we mainly took small country roads that were not on GPS, there were a few instances where roads were closed for construction and we had to take alternative paths. Here is the route we took:
Day 1: Jingcheng Highway, Sixth Ring, Badaling Highway, Huailai (Hebei), Chicheng, Guyuan County, Shandianhe Village, Zhenglanqi
Day 2: Xanadu Ruins, Zhagesitai Nur, Chaigendaer Village, Zhenglanqi
Day 3: Zhenglanqi, Xanadu Musuem, Shandianhe Village,
Guyuan County, Datan Town
Day 4: Fengning Manchu County, Moulin Park, Lama Mountain, Dajue Temple (Daigakuji), Huairou District, Shunyi District

The first day included a grueling eight-hour car ride up to Zhenglanqi. However, the drive was scenic, with winding rural roads curving around mountains and lakes, progressively changing to long stretches of grass plains and herds of sheep and cattle. The air was clean, the sky was blue, and the temperature was blissfully cooler than the stifling heat of Beijing. We had a simple dinner at a local restaurant after arriving late in the fairly urbanized town of Zhenglanqi.

We spent the following two days driving to different grass plains and lakes (called “Nur”), stopping and going as we pleased. It was an easy, laidback day of long hours of driving and watching the scenery go by, and taking photos and collecting bouquets of wildflowers. We stopped beside a large lake where sheep and cattle grazed, and Alex tried out the horseback riding offered. At night, we returned to our hotel in Zhenglanqi and celebrated Nicole’s fifth birthday with cake and local milk tea.

We made for Hebei Province on the third day. We stopped by a museum of the Xanadu Ruins that exhibited artifacts from remains of the Yuan dynasty. In the afternoon, we stopped at Datan Town and checked into a local inn for the night.

The next morning we returned to Beijing via a different route. We stopped at an intricately-designed Buddhist temple and climbed the stairs to the shrine on the side of the mountain. We then stopped at Moulin Park in Fengning, Hebei, before embarking on the four-hour car ride back to Shunyi, with dinner at a small country house where we caught our own fish.

Moulin Park was the highlight of our trip. Alex, his dad, and I embarked on a trek, though the two moms and Nicole stayed behind because the hike was fairly advanced. After climbing through pitch-black and dripping wet caves, we came across enormous suspended boulders and glacier mills. We scaled rocks with cutout footholds and ladders with flashlights clamped between our teeth, squeezing into impossibly tiny spaces and finding a huddle of bats on the bottom of an overhead boulder. Upon reaching the top, we were amazed by the breathtaking view. We could see the mountains, the valleys, fields, and rows of vegetation, and the local’s tiny brick houses.

Travel Tips:

If children in the family are all older than 7 or 8, camping outside in the prairies is a good alternative to staying in hotels.

Though the areas were fairly touristy, don’t have high expectations with hotels. The accommodations in Zhenglanqi were adequate, but our stay at the local rural inn in Datan Town was a little challenging.

On the road, the only places to eat are small restaurants with questionable hygiene, so exercise caution. Also, food gets more expensive the closer to Hebei and Beijing you get.

When buying local mutton, be aware that when sellers weigh the meat, they include the skin and fleece, so you may end up with a small amount of edible meat for a high price. The best season for beef and lamb is in the fall, when livestock are fattened from summer grazing.

It’s considerably colder up north, but the sunlight is very harsh, so sunscreen, long pants, and long sleeves are advised.

photos courtesy of Freda Zhao

This article originally appeared on p34-35 of the beijingkids September 2013 issue.

Check out the PDF version online at Issuu.com

“Attraction”: Bird’s Nest New Open-Air Performance

Nimo_Wanjau

Thirty-one acrobats will be soaring 38m in the sky at the Bird’s Nest from September 12 to October 7 in an open-air performance, Attraction, in a move to utilize Beijing’s Olympic landmark according to China Daily and Global Times. The upcoming performance is a fantasy musical drama of a love story emphasizing the harmony between man and nature, incorporating stage elements such as magic, acrobatics, plays and dances. The show will be 70 minutes in length.

The purpose of producing this performance is partly an attempt to redevelop Beijing’s Olympic venues. The large stadium provides a good expanse of space for more complicated maneuvers that will involve the acrobats flying at various angles for approximately five minutes. The acrobats are students a martial arts school in Henan province aged 15 to 18. The school took part in the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympic.

Tickets prices for the performance range from RMB 100 to RMB 880. Details will be published later on where to purchase them.

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Freda Zhao was a beijingkids intern (of the month of July) currently studying at the Western Academy of Beijing. She is one year from graduating high school. Outside of school work, she enjoys reading, painting, and mimicking cat sounds in her backyard (to draw strays to her house and feed them)

China Heat Wave Alert: Dangerous Temperatures and Health Hazards

Nimo_Wanjau — Mon, 29 Jul 2013 04:00:00 +0000

From the beginning of July, China has been experiencing one of the hottest summers recorded in recent past. Temperatures have risen up to over 40 degrees Celsius in some cities, with Beijing hitting the 38 degrees Celsius mark last week and this has started to take its toil on China’s people. The China Daily previously reported that hundreds of people have already been sent to hospitals due to the heat wave. According to Sohu, on July 28, Hangzhou received this year’s first patient suffering from a heat stroke, who is currently in critical condition. This is a deadly condition with a mortality rate of up to 90 percent within 24 hours of developing the condition, and this could happen to anyone if proper measures are not taken to prevent it.

The patient’s body temperature was at a startling 41.7 degrees Celsius when she was sent to the hospital, her blood pressure was unstable, and her lungs were infected, causing respiratory failure.

A common misconception of heat stroke is that people must be under the scorching blaze of the sun outdoors for it to develop. As it turns out, the woman suffering from the heat stroke wasn’t even outside when she passed out. She had been at home in the 40 degree Celsius temperature in Hangzhou (meaning that temperatures inside would have been around 35 degrees Celsius), sleeping and staying in such sweltering conditions. This condition is unlike other forms of hyperthermia (heat exhaustion, heat cramps etc.): it is a true medical emergency that is often fatal.

According to MedicineNet.com, infants, the elderly, athletes, and those who physically exert themselves outside are the most susceptible to heat strokes. Symptoms of heat stroke include high body temperature, difficulty breathing, absence of sweating, confusion, agitation, seizure, and/or coma.

During this time of such high temperatures, it is advised to have the air conditioning on indoors, even if it’s just a little, and windows should be kept slightly open to ensure a steady flow of fresh air. Stay in cool areas and avoid venturing outside after noon when the day is at its hottest. Wear hats and loose, light weight clothes. Most important of all, drink lots of fluids and remain hydrated. For more tips on how to stay cool in this blistering weather, check out our blog on how to beat the heat.

Photo courtesy of rosipaw of Flickr.

Freda Zhao is a beijingkids intern (of the month) currently studying at the Western Academy of Beijing. She is one year from graduating high school. Outside of school work, she enjoys reading, painting, and mimicking cat sounds in her backyard (to draw strays to her house and feed them).

Safety First: Being Smart as a Teen in Beijing

Nimo_Wanjau

Teenagers are synonyms with adventure. Safety is often used to describe living in Beijing. These two words are not to be taken lightly though especially when it comes to the expat community teenagers. Let’s put it this way: Beijing, like any other city in the world, has crime lurking in places that could potentially happen to anyone. Here are a few tips for teens in Beijing on how to keep themselves and their friends safe.

Alcohol, Bars and Sanlitun:

The issue of underage drinking is entirely up to each individual household customs but this maybe the number one issue with teenagers today, especially amongst middle and high school students from the expat community.

The novelty of going to Sanlitun Bar Street with friends may seem like the cool thing to do but it may not be such a good idea. Going to criminogenic areas such as Sanlitun is just courting trouble; we’ve heard about more than a handful of cases where either local or foreign people are assaulted and injured in these areas, especially late at night.

Alcohol and frustration are let out in these late nights and dark alleys, so despite how “mature” this little teenage “risk-taking” may make you seem, the lack of consideration for consequences that leads to endangering yourself and your peers is entirely not worth the deal. Avoid these areas as much as possible, particularly at night time.

Scratch that. Just avoid going out at all during night time.

Nighttime escapades? We don’t think so:

Past 8pm, grab your friends and cart yourselves right home on a taxi together. Nighttime is always a high time for conflict and crime, when frustrated people could blow off their steam at any moment and at anyone. Don’t take a taxi alone; don’t take this as a general statement about all taxis, but some can be quite sketchy and being alone in these taxis at night just bodes unwell. Especially do not take “black taxis”, so make sure the taxi’s car plate starts with “B” and the meter’s running.

Biking at night is another idea that you’ll have to slam down. We’ve heard of quite a few accounts of theft or assault related to riding a bike alone at night. Try to get home before the day darkens, but if you are unable to let your parents (or even a friend) know where you are and see if they can pick you up.

Buses and Subways & Beggars and Thieves:

Public transport is convenient and cheap. However, along with the “public” factor come the possible hazards of theft and pickpockets. The next time you take the subway or a bus, keep these few points in mind.

– When the bus driver or ticket seller suggests passengers to keep their belongings close, it usually means that they’ve spotted a pickpocket on the vehicle.

– Same goes for subways, but a little vaguer in this case since you can’t be sure which car the thief is in.

– Keep your bag tucked close and make sure you can see all zippers and openings.

– If you’re holding your phone in your hand on the subway, make sure you stay clear of the doors when the subway arrives at a stop. Some pickpockets make a grab for your phone right before the door closes, so that you have no chance of chasing after them.

– Beggars will walk through the subway cars, usually with a mike and amplifier, singing or explaining his or her tragic situation while displaying their injuries and disabilities. Some women will have babies in their arms, trying to seek compassion from the passengers. The hard truth is, they are usually under some sort of organization and more will come swarming towards you angrily trying to get more (usually on the streets instead of the subway). If you want to help them, give them non-refundable food rather than money. Usually it’s alright to just walk away.

Last tip: Always be prepared. Keep a phone on you at all times, along with the emergency numbers in Beijing, those of your embassy, your parents, and Chinese speaking friends.

Emergency Numbers in Beijing:

Police: 110
Fire: 119
Ambulance: 120
Traffic Accidents: 122

Like the Chinese saying “不怕一万就怕万一” goes, it’s always better to be safe than sorry, so let’s be responsible young people and avoid trouble and danger!

Photo courtesy of Dror Poleg of Flickr and Fotopedia.com

TV Shows of the Teen Obsession: Part 4, Others Shows You Shouldn’t Miss

Nimo_Wanjau

For the last installment introducing TV shows that teens are obsessed with, let’s look at shows that didn’t really fit within the comedies, supernatural and crime drama genres but still hold a very large fan base. Some of them have a wide-ranging demographic, so look out for the shows that have been around for a while now!

Doctor Who

Who doesn’t know Doctor Who? Currently on the eleventh regeneration of the Doctor, this show has proved to be a must watch for the now teenage population. Decades later the show is still a continuation of the adventures of a time traveling alien explorer, The Doctor (also a Time Lord) and his companions travel through space and time battling evil as they go.

From the first screening of the show in the 1960s, this show has gathered fans from all over the globe over the decades. Today there are fans that have watched the starting seasons in their childhood and grown up watching regeneration of The Doctor.

Both teens and adults follow this show fervently, fascinated by The Doctor and his eccentricities, following his adventures through time and space in his “TARDIS” (outer appearance is a blue British police box from the 1960s), a sentient time-travelling spaceship. This show is an important part of British popular culture, and elsewhere it is a cult television favorite.

Orphan Black

An exploration into one of the most controversial fields of science; this show follows Sarah, an orphaned outsider, discovers she is a clone after trying to clean out a dead woman’s bank account. The dead woman looked exactly like Sarah, and had committed suicide.

Complications arise as Sarah realized she and the dead woman weren’t the only clones. She is caught in a spiral of a deadly conspiracy, running from assassins set out to take them out one by one while trying to figure out who she is and what is going on. This series explores the moral and ethical implications of cloning as Sarah searches for her identity while faced with danger.

A rather new series, this show has been renewed for a second season to be aired in 2014.

Grey’s Anatomy

Medical dramas are not uncommon; this one focuses on the personal and professional lives of five surgical interns and their supervisors, residents at the Grey Sloan Memorial formerly known as Seattle Grace Hospital.

Packed with sassy banter and drama, Grey’s Anatomy is a fun and interesting look into the medical community and how these residents juggle their demanding medical training and personal lives. The show varies; it has sad moments, funny moments, serious moments, and not-so-serious moments.

Grey’s Anatomy is the highest-rated drama in the 18-49 demographic. The realness of the characters and drama and intriguing storyline draw viewers in and grab their attention throughout the seasons. Be warned: there are character departures and deaths at the end of seasons, so prepare for some tear jerking heartbreak!

Hannibal

Dr. Hannibal Lecter, a classic character from Thomas Harris’ horror novels, has been once again revived on screen. This time, however, much less emphasis is placed on this renowned psychiatrist’s cannibalistic tendencies, and chooses to focus on the relationship forming between him and his patient Will Graham, a young FBI criminal profiler, who is disturbed and haunted by his inclination to empathizing with serial killers.

Hannibal’s aloof and suave exterior along with his brilliant mind still draws us to him despite the actual monster he is, and Will’s compassion and humanity creates an easy tension between them. In a slow, mind-twisting exercise of control and dominance, the interaction between Will and Hannibal is both fascinating and fear-inducing.

This show is not for the faint-hearted, for there are huge amounts of blood pumping gruesome scenes, but it is a wonderful pick for anyone who enjoys psychological thrillers.

Mad Men

Focusing on Donald Draper and the people in his life, this show explores the business of the fictional advertising agency Sterling Cooper & Partners (formerly known as Sterling Cooper then Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce) and the personal lives of the characters through the changing moods and social customs in the United States during the 1960s.

Don Draper is a mysterious man with a secret past, but when the advertising game becomes more and more competitive, his past and present threaten to topple his careful balance between work and family life.

This is an excellent show which highlights the daily lives of office members in an ad agency that is true to life and presents a rather accurate depiction of office life back in the mid 20th century. Mostly a favorite of adults, some teens also enjoy the tension and drama “Mad Men” provides.

This is the last of our introduction to the television obsessions of the teenage population today, so we hope that these four blogs have given you a good idea of what’s running through those crazy heads some of the time. Maybe try out some of these shows if you haven’t already; many of them are just as suitable for adults as they are for teens!

Photos courtesy of Alkonium of deviantART, Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, pidublu of Flick, and cesar-a of deviantART.

Freda Zhao is a beijingkids intern (of the month) currently studying at the Western Academy of Beijing. She is one year from graduating high school. Outside of school work, she enjoys reading, painting, and mimicking cat sounds in her backyard (to draw strays to her house and feed them)

College Event Review: New Oriental Vision Overseas College Fair in Beijing

Nimo_Wanjau

Last Friday, New Oriental Vision Overseas (新东方前途出国) held a large college fair (美国本科顶尖名校巡回面试会) at the Zhongguancun Crowne Plaza. This event gave students the opportunity to speak with admissions officers from various universities and colleges from the US, including the University of Chicago, Cornell University, University of California Berkeley, Swarthmore College, William and Mary College, and more. This event proved useful for those looking to apply to these colleges, as they were able to speak to the admissions officers directly in the interview sessions. Here’s my experience.

Twenty-minute interviews were held for four sessions. During each session, four students were able to speak to the admissions officer of the university or college they signed up for. I signed up for interviews with two universities: William and Mary College and the University of Chicago.

At the interview, the four of us sat in a line across from the admissions officer. It was quite strange, as we were not informed of how the interview process would go or if the interview was actually a formal interview. The first session with the admissions officer of William and Mary was more like an information session. When we sat down, the lady spread her hands and said, “So what would you like to know?”

To be honest, this first session was a bit of a letdown. The three other people in my group asked endlessly about acceptable TOEFL score ranges and what sections on the TOEFL are most important. I managed to squeeze in a question about student life and the campus at William and Mary before we ran out of time. Overall, I felt like the first session was rushed and not well planned out.

The second session with the admissions officer from the University of Chicago was much better, though we were very tight on time. The session length had been shortened from 20 minutes to 15, so after a few rounds of asking about our interests and why we wanted to study in the US, the ushers were pressing the admission officer to end the conversation and hurriedly herded all the students towards the conference room. However, this interview session gave us an idea of what kinds of questions would be asked during the actual application process.

After the interview sessions, there was a two-hour seminar where the admissions officers introduced each of their schools and participated in a Q&A session with attendees. The atmosphere was light and the admissions officers cracked jokes during their presentations to make their university more appealing to the audience. The latter soaked it up. It’s amazing how many Chinese students and parents are eager and interested in the “study abroad” business; the appeal of top-notch American universities was not to be underestimated.

Outside of the conference room, college students from universities such as Yale, Duke, UCLA, and Carnegie Mellon were available to answer questions regarding the application process. Students and parents crowded around the students and bombarded them with questions ranging from “how do you apply” to “what did you do to get in” (supposing that the college students themselves would know).

It was very amusing (though not surprising) to see parents immediately drag their teenage kid to one of the college students when it was revealed that the student was accepted to and is attending Yale University. Ah, the power of prestige.

This was a good opportunity to speak to admissions officers and find out more about the universities. If you missed this session, fear not, as there will be another session in Beijing on Sunday, August 4. Universities that will be attending include Emory University, University of Rochester, University of California Santa Barbara, The University of Texas at Austin, Pomona College, Haverford College, Harvey Mudd College, and Smith College.

Reservations for interviews with admissions officers are required, and can be made online here (Chinese-only).

The Details:

Date and time: August 4, 2.30-5pm

Location: 4/F, Crowne Plaza Beijing, 106 Zhichun Lu (200m from Haidian Huangzhuang metro station C exit), Haidian District

海淀区知春路106号北京皇冠假日酒店4层 (地铁海淀黄庄站C口直走200米即到)

Contact: 6260 5599 or 5900 0326

Photos courtesy of New Oriental

Teens and Sleep Deprivation: Why Schools Should Start Later

Nimo_Wanjau — Fri, 19 Jul 2013 01:00:00 +0000

Teenagers are the walking (or rather, slumping) definition of sleep deprivation these days. Going to sleep during the wee hours of the morning and having to crawl up early to go to school, students are facing harder physical challenges simply by fighting the urge to fall asleep in class and trying to concentrate. According to the National Sleep Foundation, teenage circadian rhythms are actually different from those of young children and adults. The school hours we have now are set according to adult biological clocks – but is this the best schedule for teens?

According to the Better Health Channel, the human circadian rhythm shifts forwards in adolescence due to puberty hormones. This means that teens will feel sleepy an hour or two later than an adult would. That explains why teens are still perky and awake at 11pm, disregarding the massive piles of schoolwork and the lure of social networking sites. There is no surprise why some who are serious in their studies get Modafinil from trusted sites like https://buy-modafinil-online.org to help them fight daytime sleepiness and be productive of have more focus during classes. Teens also tend to wake up later than the average adult, but early school hours have made this impossible for most.

Here are some of the starting times for international school in Beijing:

· The Western Academy of Beijing: 8.30am

· Beijing BISS International School: 8.15am

· International School of Beijing: 8.15am

· Yew Chung International School of Beijing: 8am

Students usually have to wake up more than an hour earlier to get ready and make their way to school. This amounts to waking up earlier than 7am for five days a week during the academic year. Now if most teenagers went to bed past midnight, this would mean that they’re getting less than seven hours of sleep.

Scientific studies have shown that teens need about nine hours and 15 minutes of sleep to function best, which means that teens are going to school and being crammed with information they can’t process as well as they could. There are also severe physical and mental health issues linked to sleep deprivation, such as depression, narcolepsy, insomnia, mood swings, a greater likelihood of eating unhealthy foods (sweets and fried foods especially), and higher levels of insulin resistance that leads to the development of diabetes. Rather counter-productive, wouldn’t you say?

This leads to my final point: Schools should shift their hours to start later in order to fit the teenage biological clock. If school started even just an hour later (at 9am), middle and high school students would be able to concentrate and perform better. If we want students to get the most out of their classes, they should be in top shape –not turn up every morning like members of the “walking dead.”

Photo by *Farm3* of Flickr

TV Shows of the Teen Obsession: Part 3, Crime Dramas

Nimo_Wanjau — Wed, 17 Jul 2013 07:00:00 +0000

Our previous blogs spotlighted comedies and supernatural dramas that were suitable for a teen audience. However, a portion of the teenage population has been drawn to a more suspenseful and intriguing selection of crime dramas. These shows tend to feature a much more serious tone (though not without a healthy dose of humor) and focus on the lives of criminals – or those who pursue them.

Sherlock

This BBC adaptation of the stories featuring Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous detective and his partner shed an entirely new light on the characters through a contemporary London. As a “consulting detective,” Sherlock Holmes and the trusty Dr. John Watson assist the Metropolitan Police Service in solving various crimes.

This modern take on the popular detective stories still includes iconic details from the original, such as their names, 221B Baker Street address, and Holmes’ arch-nemesis Moriarty.

So far, two seasons have been released; each season has three episodes only, but each is almost the length of a movie (just shy of 90 minutes). The show’s fan base covers a large age range, with teenagers and young adults being the most fervent. The quality of the writing, cinematography, and performance is top-notch. Sherlock is about more than just solving crimes; it’s about going on an adventure with Holmes and Watson.

NCIS

NCIS follows the fictional adventures of the Naval Criminal Investigation Service Major Case Response Team, a team of special agents who solve criminal cases involving Marine and Navy personnel. This show is plot-heavy and focuses on the complex but amusing dynamics of the team, mixing drama and comedy into the seriousness and intensity of a police procedural.

Leroy Jethro Gibbs, a former Marine gunnery sergeant, leads this globetrotting team of colorful personalities. Teens will be satiated by the suspenseful crime-solving, while the liberal dose of humor keeps viewers from getting too weighed down by the action.

Ten seasons have been released to date, with over 200 episodes in total. However, NCIS shows no signs of stopping; the show was renewed for an eleventh season in February and will start again on September 24.

Criminal Minds

This show centers on members of the Behavioral Analysis Unit, a subsection of the FBI. The team is called in by the local police department to assist in solving serial or particularly violent crimes.

The team uses profiling, a controversial science that combines working out the basic characteristics of the perpetrator and the victim, gathering evidence and comparing it to historical precedents, and psychological analysis.

Since the work is very time-consuming and psychologically-demanding, the unit is very close-knit – though the members are also unable to maintain stable personal lives because of this.

The Fall

A new show that only began airing this year, The Fall focuses on an investigation led by Detective Superintendent Stella Gibson of the Metropolitan Police concerning a string of murders in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Along with the local police (PSNI), Gibson chases after the serial killer who stalks his victims in and out of the city. The show also turns the perspective around and follows the serial killer, Paul Spector, and his sadistic impulses.

The show reflects the emotional distance that real detectives must put up in order to transition from work to home. In fact, the show’s realness is one of its biggest draws.

Breaking Bad

Walter White, a high school chemistry teacher, turns to a life of crime after being diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. He starts producing and selling methamphetamine (crystal meth) with one of his former students to ensure his family’s financial future. As he gradually becomes a major player in the drug industry, White finds himself faced with life-threatening challenges.

Breaking Bad focuses on the effects of a fatal diagnosis on the mental state and morality of an average, hard-working man. Different from the other crime dramas, this show follows the life of a criminal rather than those who pursue him, offering an inside look through the perspective of someone at their wit’s end.

Packed with action and stomach-twisting crimes, these crime drama TV shows have allowed teenage fans to satisfy their obsession with murder and crime, sometimes giving a much-wanted perspective into the lives of both criminals and the ones who hunt them.

Keep your eyes open for the last installment of this blog series, featuring miscellaneous series that teens are crazy about!

Photos by JoolsdS of deviantART, andiezoe of Flickr, and Wikimedia Commons

Oh Marker, Where Art Thou? Get Your Art Supplies at Beijing International Art Material Center

Nimo_Wanjau — Mon, 15 Jul 2013 07:00:00 +0000

Summer is a good time to develop some of the artsy skills you’ve been putting off. Getting good quality art supplies for reasonable prices, as well as actually finding what you need is relatively hard in Beijing. Many of you know about the row of art supply stores across from the National Art Museum of China, but have you been to the shops near the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Wangjing? Recently, they were renovated and combined into one large department store for art supplies: the Beijing International Art Material Center. Here’s a peek inside.

Most of the small, individual shops are gathered in the second floor. Once upstairs, you will be faced with an entire hallway full of stores selling almost anything that you might need for your summer art escapades.

Rows of paint, shelves of paper, boxes of brushes, and clusters of easels can be found in any of these shops near the back corner. Brands include Faber Castel, Marie, Winsor and Newton, and Sakura. Bear in mind: Generally, you get what you pay for.

This being said, most of the supplies are reasonably priced. A set of good quality watercolor brushes (5-6 brushes) ranges from RMB 38 to 55. A batch of sketching paper (20-30 sheets) can be as low as RMB 10. There aren’t many art stores on the first floor, but you’ll find cafes and bookshops (with art books, of course).

Recently, the third floor of the department store has been holding a sale for a variety of art supplies, such as kneadable erasers, sketch pads, watercolor paints, and more. Prices are getting down to the single digits, so don’t miss out!

Address:

Beijing International Art Material Center, Bldg 15, Huajiadi Beili (across from Central Academy of Fine Arts), Chaoyang District 北京国际画材中心，朝阳区花家地北里15号楼（中央美术学院对面）

Getting There:

Take buses 132, 471, or 944 and get off at Huajuadi Nanjie

Photos by Freda Zhao