My first time applying for a job, first time writing a CV and the first time working for a boss instead of a teacher. It all started with the simple requirement of doing a personal project in the last year of the Middle Years Program at an IB school. It wasn’t hard to think of a project to do; it was extremely hard. How is someone who’s interested in anything and everything supposed to choose one thing?  Stuck in thoughts and possibilities, I said down and thought, “Okay, I’ll just list down the things I enjoy the most”.

From photography all the way down to skateboarding, I stared at the scribble of words written down in a mind map of basically everything a human could do. Then, I thought of career options that I might want to explore. While I was thinking, the September issue of beijingkids was right in front of me, gleaming.

How about journalism? Writing, photography, designing, it’s like an all-in-one career.  My talents matched a lot of the things to do with the job. Expressing my thoughts through talking is something that I already did well, but expressing them through writing would be a completely different thing. So I jumped to it and sent an e-mail to the editor. Next thing you know, I was asked to submit a writing sample and a resume.

What I learned:
This experience was definitely full of learning. On the first day, I felt like I didn’t have a clue about anything that was going on (probably because everyone else on my team was expert at journalism). I had to catch up and stay on track with everything my colleagues were doing, saying, and of course, writing. Think of it this way – I was like someone who had never heard of Chinese and had to learn the language in a time frame of 3 weeks.

Putting aside the journalism part of it, I hadn’t ever even worked in an office and had to be on time for huddles (short status recaps) and meetings as well as complete tasks to tight deadlines. Not that I wasn’t independent before, but I think this internship turned me into a responsible person and even helped me improve my time management skills.

It was enlightening and insightful listening and working with some of the most experienced feature writers in Beijing. Seeing my first article being published on the magazine’s website gave me goose bumps. In less than a week I had a 100 reads which might not seem much, but to me, it is a huge deal.  I actually imagined a 100 different people standing on a street and reading my article.

My parents were also really happy when I told them that I learned about sales and revenue in a learning session organized by the True Run sales department. I felt important because I was learning these financial and managerial words that my parents use in their work. I learned about considering the role of the brand in the market and most importantly, writing appropriate content for our target readers.  The experience seemed unreal because of how much knowledge I have gained in such a short time.

My favorite memories:
The best thing about working at True Run was that it was in a physical office but didn’t feel like a job. Before my first day at work, I thought it would be a scene from a movie where the boss would be uptight and always on the border line of firing her employees. I actually found it to be the total opposite. I bonded with the beijingkids team as if they were students of my age and we all had the most informal relationship even during work hours.

The atmosphere was a lot like school, where the teacher would give suggestions, tips and positive criticism after a piece was written, and would become really warm and friendly during lunch breaks. I have developed several friendships through the course of my time and even the silliest of conversations I have had with my colleagues have contributed and been a part of the pieces I have written for the magazine itself.
 

I will definitely miss the million dollar smiles that employees gave to me while passing by and my first day when people would come up to me and introduce themselves while having a casual conversation about my background. I was pleasantly surprised by how warm and generous everyone at True Run was and will never forget the laughs and sounds of cheers we had even during meetings.

I think this experience will always stay with me in my mental diary and I will cherish the memories of my first job ever till the day I die. Thank you so much beijingkids, for giving me the opportunity to discover a new world for myself and for allowing me to become a part of your family! There will always be a feeling of gratitude from my side to the True Run Media group whenever I will look back at this part of my life.

Photo Courtesy by Gurkriti Singh 

Want a break from tall buildings, rush, and traffic?  Tianjin is the get-away destination for you. Less than a two-hour drive from Beijing, it’s a city that will make you feel at home with its unique cultural infrastructure and  friendly citizens. My 12 years there have allowed me to discover my inner “Tianjiner.” It is the fourth largest city (by area) in China and is located around the Hai River. With exciting attractions to visit and mouth-watering delicacies to eat, the city will surely warm your heart.

How do I get there?
If you own a car, enjoy the greenery on the drive along the Jing Jin Tang and Jin Ku expressways-and if you wish to reach the city faster, take the intercity train from Beijing South Station which will get you to Tianjin in less than 40 minutes. After reaching Tianjin station, catch a taxi to your first destination.

What places/attractions should I visit?
Strolling down the little streets of the financial district past old banks, churches and foreign architecture will transport you to Europe.  It’s my favorite part of Tianjin. It’s much like a fairytale land with narrow roads and ornate traffic lights. The street itself was originally built by the foreigners that lived in China before World War II, and is made up of British, Italian, French, German, Swedish, Austrian, Hungarian, Belgian and Korean concessions and banks. It’s a tourist must-see because it has rare traces of foreign architecture which survived the boxer rebellion that took place between 1899 and 1901. My long visits to the street and my curiosity lead into banks and old buildings; exploring dusty staircases, broken picture frames and collapsed bookshelves and furniture. The financial center is a place for Europhiles in particular; everything you see recalls a different part of the world.

Next, head to the ancient cultural street (also known as Gu Wen Hua Jie) and walk through the bright red rows of shops which look traditionally Chinese. The street is filled with flags and tall pagoda style roof tops. You’ll find a variety of traditional jewelry, snacks, clothing,  paintings and show pieces. When I walk down this street, I feel as if I am walking down China’s memory lane. I always wonder if this is how China looked before the revolution. I love the shopkeepers hawking their wares and the mingled aromas of foods and snacks. You need to bargain if you want to buy, because prices quoted range from almost reasonable to totally ridiculous.  Stop for some snacks along the way – I really enjoy tang hu lu – mini sugar coated apple sticks.

Before heading back to Beijing, spend your evening at the unmissable Tianjin Eye,  built on the bridge that spans the Hai river. Hop onto a dragon boat and enjoy the view of colorful lights reflected in the water. (You can ride on the Tianjin Eye from around 11:00am to 5:00pm in winter). At night the colors are mesmerizing as the wheel spreads a white glow. The last train back to Beijing leaves the city at 10:00pm. Don’t forget to take a camera with you, because you will want to capture this!

Where should I eat?
Good food is not hard to find in Tianjin. If you’re looking for authentic Chinese, head to Gou Bu Li where you’ll get a range steamed dumplings to choose from – great to gobble on a cold winter day. Around thecultural street there are plenty of Chinese restaurants serving good dumplings and Kung Pao chicken. Explore and find the cuisine you want -I go to a different restaurant every time; the streets are filled with choices from barbeque to hotpot.

In the Italian concession you’ll find a row of authentic Italian restaurants and bars, with a good variety of pizzas and pastas to choose from. My personal favorite is Trattoria-perfectly decorated in a rustic Italian style.  After your meal, try and satisfy your sweet tooth with some Italian gelato from one of the street’s many gelato vendors.

Tianjin is definitely a great day trip destination. Whether it’s with your family, friends or even alone, this city is guaranteed to win your heart.

Photos by Gurkriti Singh

My favorite teacher is my Grade 5 teacher, Melanie Agustina who taught me at the International School of Tianjin. There are a lot of reasons that I like her: she is extremely diligent, good-natured, and friendly. She is constantly willing to help and encourage students to become problem solving risk-takers and the philosophy of seeking to understand before being understood is obvious in her teaching.

Mrs.Agustina only taught me for a year but I had known her for a few years before I entered Grade 5. In grade 3 and 4, our classes involved a large amount of singing with her and our teachers brought us to her classroom during homeroom to learn a few songs with her while she played her guitar. In grade 4, I decided to join the guitar club and began taking lessons from her after a hard days of school. I realized my fondness for the instrument and how soothing the sound of it was for my soul. Many times we sang together in assemblies and I even received a certificate of great effort during one of those short and sweet guitar lessons. Although my fingers were sore and throbbed for the first few days, my passion for music flourished under her instruction. As an ensemble, we enthusiastically strummed and harmonized songs like River and Uncle Jed. Till today, I enjoy humming those melodious tunes when I feel blue or find myself weary in anxiety. I smile as they remind me of the fascinating times we had during those lessons and of her effortless teaching.

Although she taught me for only a year, she affects my life at an immense level even today. In elementary school, our homeroom teacher taught us all subjects except for arts and languages other than English (for me, this was Chinese). I would say that I gained huge amounts of knowledge from her on the subject areas that I was passionate about and developed an interest in those that I had disliked. Her enthusiasm and love helped me to become more inquiring. She brought a smile to her students and colleagues. a wave of happiness into the classroom.

I often recall Mrs.Agustina helping me with my math questions and how I could easily understand and apply my knowledge after she had helped me. I think the teacher’s attitude has always been critical for me; when I put in hard work, I want to be appreciated. Mrs.Agustina always kept a “you can do it” attitude which raised my self-confidence. The way I live is highly influenced by her teaching over those years and I believe I will always feel nostalgic for those moments. I love you Mrs.A!

Teacher’s Questions:

What is your name?
Melanie (Mel) Jane Agustina (Maiden name West)

If you have a family, please list everyone’s FULL name and nationality. How old are your children?
My husband: Erwin Agustina is Indonesian. Our son Ameer Nathan Agustina is 6 years old and was born in China (he thinks he is Chinese but the name is Arabic). Our daughter Ambieka Jane Agustina is 4 years old and was born in China, but she is Australian/Indonesian. Her name is Hindi.

Please list your occupation and your spouse’s occupation.
We are both teachers.

How long have you lived in China? What brought you here?
I lived in Tianjin for 5 years from 2004 – 2009, we got an opportunity to teach in an international school in China

Why did you become a teacher? Have you always been a teacher or did you do something else before?
I have always been a teacher – I began by teaching when I was 13 – teaching
children recorder and flute. I continued through my university to support myself. I worked in Tasmania as a teacher in the state educational department for three years and then moved to Kalimantan (Borneo – Indonesia) for 2 Jakarta for 6 months, Malaysia Penang for 2 and a half years, China for 5, Tasmania for 1, Indonesia for 3 and now Saudi Arabia.

Who was your favorite teacher? Why?
My parents – they were both teachers too and what they taught me in life has been more valuable than any mathematical equations. But at school my favorite teacher was my Geography teacher in college. I found the subject really interesting and her projects extended my interests and abilities. I especially loved the field work.

What is your teaching philosophy?
The role of an educator is not to merely transmit facts, ideas and knowledge to students but rather to facilitate the development of skills and nurture the growth ofeach individual in ways that are engaging, challenging and relevant. Students who are motivated, inspired and curious will naturally become knowledgeable and thoughtful individuals. It is our role as guardians of these students for a period in their lives, to instill a positive sense of self that will endure and ensure their development as thoughtful and reflective lifelong learners.

What do you enjoy most about teaching?
Making learning fun and interesting and watching the growth of students over time. Their ability to think, reason, find solutions and their creativity is always amazing.

What has been your greatest success as a teacher?
I can think of many things that I have been excited and happy about -but the best feeling is when you connect with the students personally as well as in a professional sense and are able to see them as individuals and unique people and help them grow and develop in ways that they feel are important for them. In a way my greatest successes as a teacher are not my successes-they are my student’s successes-I am just the facilitator to help them achieve these.

What is the most challenging aspect of teaching?
The parents, the meetings, the constraints of the curriculum, working with others who do not view or work with students in the same way, or who do not hold similar philosophies of teaching – anything that takes me away from my class, students, and their needs.

Gurkriti Singh is a Grade 10 student at Beijing City International School. She writes for the school magazine, BCIS Xuexi, and participates in inter-school debating competitions. Through her blog posts, she hopes to share unique and exciting experiences at BCIS as well as share experiences and topics related to her own life.

The beijingkids student correspondent program gives high school students with an interest in writing and journalism a resource for guidance, feedback, and real-life training. If you are a student interested in becoming a beijingkids student correspondent, or you know a student who is, please contact aislingobrien@beijing-kids.com

Photos courtesy of Gurkriti Singh and Melanie Agustina