As a self-confessed geek, I feel like science can be overwhelming to a lot of people. Science journalism and reporting might be the most boring stuff people can read but for young minds, it means a lot. Ever wondered why the dinosaurs got extinct? Or, how about why massive solar flames can be harmful to your skin? It’s never easy to understand such things especially when they sound so daunting.

But don’t get me wrong, science journals are like novels or any other good read — though it takes time and skill to understand the complex statistics or “scienc-y” language. So in Fantastic Subjects, a series from our sister magazine JingKids, we bring scientists to tell us how science can be so much fun by making out-of-this-world concepts easier to comprehend.

We start our first Fantastic Subjects looking above and seeing the stars with the help of astronomer Richard de Grijs. He’s also a professor of astrophysics at Kavli Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics and at Peking University.

Richard de Grijs

What’s it like to be an astronomer?
I am an astronomer. That means that my team and I study objects you can see – often only with a telescope – in the night sky. The objects we are interested in are very large groups of stars that all clump together because of gravity: all these objects attract each other, so you get nice round “clusters”. These clusters form in the most violent environments in the Universe. Think about collisions between galaxies similar to our Milky Way galaxy, or enormous “bursts” of new star formation in galaxies. To see the clusters we are interested in, we use large telescopes on Earth and even the Hubble Space Telescope, which is orbiting the Earth a few hundred kilometers above us.

What does it involve in terms of daily tasks, resources, or people interacted with?
My team consists of a mixture of undergraduate students, Ph.D. students, a few research fellows (called “postdocs” because they already obtained their “doctor” degrees) and many collaborating scientists from both inside China and abroad. Most of our work does not involve looking through telescopes, but working on our images and other data on computers. Images alone don’t tell you very much about what is happening to our objects; we need to be smart and try to understand the physics at work. We do that by looking at objects at different wavelengths (“colors”), from blue (or even bluer than blue, ultraviolet) to red and “infrared,” heat radiation that we cannot see with our own eyes (but some animals can). We analyze the images in the computer, where we “simulate” the conditions in space and then we apply the physical processes we think are important to see whether we can recreate what we see in the sky. So, really, it’s a lot of careful bookkeeping, “statistics,” and working with lots of numbers.

What are some of the interesting projects you have undertaken on this subject?
There are a few main topics my team works on:

We use the star clusters we are interested in as components of the galaxies they reside in. Because large star clusters only form in violent environments, if we can work out how old they are, we can use that information to determine when our galaxies were involved in collisions or other such events. One of my Ph.D. students is now working on large star clusters that are found in beautiful “rings” around the centers of some galaxies.

We are also interested in what star clusters are made of. But to see the individual stars, you need very good telescopes and equipment, ideally above the Earth’s atmosphere (which makes stars look like blurry images). Because star clusters like the ones we study contain millions of stars, we can use them to understand how stars themselves form, and what happens to them when they grow older. And in addition, because they are so close together, we can also study how they affect each other. My team is particularly interested in what we call “intermediate-age” clusters, which are about 1 to 3 billion years old; that’s not very old compared to the oldest stars in the Universe, which are close to 13 billion years old. Unfortunately, such intermediate-age clusters are not available in the Milky Way, at least not very large clusters, so we have to point our telescopes at some nearby galaxies, called the Magellanic Clouds.

A more recent project we have been working on very hard is trying to understand all kinds of stars that show changes in their brightness, so-called variable stars. They can be used to determine distances in the Universe, and we are working with both domestic colleagues and collaborators in Japan on a better understanding of the three-dimensional structure of the Milky Way galaxy using such variable stars.

Finally, I am working on a book about a topic in the history of science, specifically the determination of longitudes at sea. That’s a very different topic, but it relates to astronomy because they used to use eclipses of the Moon or the motions of Jupiter’s moons to tell the exact time you need to work out your position at sea based on the stars. This era is a really fascinating period in the history of science. I recently completed a section about the famous Chinese Admiral Zheng He, whose Ming dynasty expeditions contributed to progress in this field.

The star-forming region NGC 3603 – seen here in the latest Hubble Space Telescope image – contains one of the most impressive massive young star clusters in the Milky Way. Bathed in gas and dust the cluster formed in a huge rush of star formation thought to have occurred around a million years ago. The hot blue stars at the core are responsible for carving out a huge cavity in the gas seen to the right of the star cluster in NGC 3603’s center.

What are some of the most memorable/unforgettable experiences and places associated with astronomy?
I am very lucky to be a professional astronomer because I get to go to the most beautiful places for my job. These include observatories on mountaintops in remote regions, like the summit of the highest volcano in Hawaii and remote mountains in northern Chile. Going out at night in a really dark place and looking up at the night sky is truly awe-inspiring – it makes you feel really small, and you really appreciate the beauty of the Universe. I am currently in New Zealand, where I recently had the opportunity to look at some very special objects in the southern sky (not visible from Beijing) through a telescope with a diameter of 1 meter – fantastic images, a really good experience!

I have also been to observatories on islands in the Atlantic Ocean – the Canary Islands – and in the southern United States. My current stay in New Zealand is also job-related: I received an Erskine Award from the University of Canterbury, so they invited me to spend almost 2 months here in a very beautiful environment. Perhaps the most interesting place I’ve been to as part of my job was La Reunion island, a French territory in the Indian Ocean, where I attended a conference a decade ago. At that time, I was based in the UK, and so I flew there via Paris, an 11-hour domestic flight!

How has this subject changed your perspective?
As an observational astronomer, you will at one point or another be awed by the vastness and the beauty of the Universe, and realize that we as humans are really small fry and not that important in the grand scheme of things. I think that I am more level-headed now than I was when I was younger; I can see the relative importance of things better. Also, in astronomy, we deal with big numbers, and that is not something that scares me – perhaps a good thing too!

Located in the Large Magellanic Cloud, one of our neighboring dwarf galaxies, this young globular-like star cluster is surrounded by a pattern of filamentary nebulosity that is thought to have been created during supernova blasts. It consists of a main globular cluster in the center and a younger, smaller cluster, seen below and to the right, composed of extremely hot, blue stars and fainter, red T-Tauri stars. This wide variety of stars allows a thorough study of star formation processes.

How did you come to the point that you can do astronomy? What knowledge, skills, or experiences would be necessary?
It started quite a while ago, already at primary school around the age of 8. I was really quite into learning about astronomy then, and it turned out that I was quite good at maths and physics at both primary school and high school. Those were, in fact, my best subjects at high school, so the step to studying astrophysics (physics and astronomy) at university was not too large. Astronomy at university and research level requires you to have a good understanding of physics and be comfortable applying mathematical equations to your data. You don’t have to like pure maths, but you should be comfortable handling equations, particularly in the context of writing computer programs to deal with your observations (or theoretical analysis, if that’s what you like more). It also helps to speak one or more foreign languages, because the field is very international. My native tongue is Dutch, but by now my first language is English – it’s that important to make career progress in our field! In addition, many observatories are actually located in countries where they speak Spanish, and I actually decided to learn Spanish for that reason – that also exposed me to more of the interesting cultural aspects of the countries I have traveled to.

What’s your family/friends’ reaction when you first decided to pursue astronomy? And now?
My parents have always been only supportive. They saw that I was good at maths and physics, and they supported me in my choices, from a very young age. They only insisted that I finish my education, at any level I studied, so that I would have a good chance to land the type of job I wanted to pursue.

What do you think to be the essence of astronomy and why should people study or work on it?
Astronomy goes beyond the niche area of the field. We educate students to become critical thinkers who are familiar with big numbers, computers, “big data,” and who can apply their skills in a very wide range of fields. When I worked in the UK, many astronomy graduates would get jobs in the financial services industry in London – and make a lot more money than me… In the Netherlands, where I am from, institutions like the Department of Motor Vehicles, the national statistics institute, and companies like Philips would hire astronomy graduates. But above all, you should study astronomy only if it really interests you, not to get some service industry job. Without a passion, interest and some talent in the physical sciences, it will be very hard to reach your goals. Follow your heart’s desires!

Photos: Richard de Grijs

See more of my stories here.
Email: andypenafuerte@beijing-kids.com
Web: coolkidandy.wordpress.com
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The study of earthquakes is called seismology, and if you’ll forgive the pun, it rocks! While we may not feel it, the ground where we stand is constantly moving, albeit very slowly. When such movements cause breaks in the earth (“faults”), they can produce damaging earthquakes and also alter landscapes. Seismologist Marie-Luce Chevalier from the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences gives another insight into earthquakes: that they can shake our understanding of nature and move people to become more resilient and prepared. She explained more about earthquakes to Grade 4 students of Beijing Huijia Private School.

Chris (李思坦): What was the biggest earthquake in world history? And how strong was it?
The largest earthquake in the world was in Chile in 1960, it was magnitude 9.5!

Stella (李昕宇): Where is the safest place to be in an earthquake?
If indoors, you should find shelter under a door frame or sturdy table. If outdoor, make sure to stay far from electric cables, houses (risk of roof tiles falling) or trees.

James (何沅东): Who can predict earthquakes? Animals, scientists or others?
Nobody can predict earthquakes, unfortunately. What we can do however is to be prepared for it. By that, I mean, build safer structures and know how to respond. Scientists, on the other hand, can predict where large earthquakes are likely to occur based on the movement of tectonic plates and the location of fault zones. They can also guess when it may happen by studying past earthquakes and detecting where and how much pressure is building along fault lines. Interestingly, but not scientifically proven, animals have been shown to predict earthquakes, by for example being able to detect the release of gas and charged particles that may occur prior to an earthquake, and then escaping their usual habitat.

Chris (辛亿): Are there ways to warn people an earthquake is about to happen?
GPS stations are present in most seismic zones, and more in populated areas than remote areas of course. These stations continuously measure Earth’s movement. They record by how many millimeters or centimeters Earth moved, and can also show us that many small events are occurring which could be a sign of a big one coming. Also, sensors near seismically active zones can detect seismic waves and alert nearby cities through early warning systems.

Martina (李悉雯): How long do earthquakes last?
That depends on the magnitude of the earthquake. The largest earthquakes may last up to 1 minute but most earthquakes last between a few seconds and 30 seconds.

Sweetie (孙甜): How does an earthquake cause damage?
Actually, damages are caused by structures like buildings or roads that are not strong enough to resist earthquakes. When an earthquake happens in the wild for example, you will only see cracks on the ground, or fallen trees.

Julia (刘一萱): Foreshocks, main shocks, aftershocks—what are the differences?
Foreshocks are earthquakes generally of smaller magnitude and they happen before the big one called the main shock. Aftershocks are earthquakes of smaller magnitude which happen after the main shock, all in the same area of course. However, sometimes, the aftershock can be almost as big as the main shock: for example, the earthquake that struck Nepal in 2015.

Frank (李雨衡): What does an earthquake feel like?
You feel the ground shaking if the magnitude is strong enough. You will probably also feel dizzy since your feet are standing on something that is moving! If indoors, you can also hear the earthquake. I’ve been in a M5.6 earthquake in California and what struck me was the very loud noise coming from the ceiling, as if many people were moving chairs above your head.

Taylor (罗云): Where do earthquakes usually occur?
Most earthquakes happen along what scientists call “plate boundaries.” The most seismically active zone is located around the Pacific Ocean and is called the Pacific Ring of Fire, where approximately 90 percent of earthquakes occur. Most active volcanoes are also present along the countries and territories across the Pacific Ocean (Japan, Indonesia, and Alaska, among others).

James (石若成): What should we do after a strong earthquake?
Check yourself for injuries and get help if needed, then help others when possible; move to a safer location if necessary. Move out of coastal areas in case of tsunamis, away from bridges, electric wires, and stay out of damaged buildings.

Photos: Uni You

This article originally appeared on p 32-33 of beijingkids August 2017 issue.
Download the digital copy here.

Editor’s Corrections: The original article in the 2017 School Choice Guide (pg 96) was printed with two errors: 1) The pictures of Escelle of LFIP and Victorious of Daystar Academy were switched, and 2) Kirsten of YCIS’s quote had an accidental phrase “from my mother-in-law.” The correct rendering of the article is below. 

“I like leaning French, English with “Teddy Bear,” eating at the canteen, and playing at the playground with my friends.”

Escelle, 6, Canada, French International School of Beijing (LFIP)

While I was looking for adopters of the three lovely puppies that I accidentally found, most people simply replied “We love dogs but we cannot take one home.” One lady referred me to someone who might be able to help me find a potential forever home. I contacted her, hoping she might adopt the three puppies or help me find somebody.Upon contacting the potential adopter, she told me that, “I have more than 120 dogs, what about I give you a few?” Immediately I wondered “How can one person have more than 120 dogs?” ! I know a lot of people in Beijing helping more than one dog, buying food for them with their own limited salary and taking care of their medical or health needs. Owning 120 dogs in any capacity though seemed completely impossible. I interviewed the young lady to find out how she managed such a task. She has a day time job in finance and takes care of all these dogs in the evening after work. Her boyfriend helps her a lot with the daily running of the dog’s shelter. She prefers to be called April.1. How did this start and when did you get the first stray dog?

It was a white female dog I found during the day in my neighborhood. She looked helpless and remained there until the evening. Since at the time I had my own pet dog, I instantly sympathized with and cared about this new dog. The security guard said that she was abandoned by her owner who lived in the basement. The owner had another dog which they sold since it was considered to be a better breed. This one was a common one so dumped in the neighborhood. So I left her at my friend’s pet center and later at my nearest dogs shelter.

2. During the many years of taking care of dogs, did you ever have struggles or concerns?

Sure. My income is very limited. How can I feed them and take care of them? These questions always bothered me. However, I didn’t have too many struggles. When see those life-seeking and helpless eyes, see the desperation of dogs to be sold by owners to become food, you wouldn’t struggle too much. You only think about ways to rescue them, how to feed them, and how to find a trustworthy owner for them.3. How did the number of dogs increase from 1 to more than 120?

The number of dogs increased very quickly. In China, there exists a minimal awareness of proper pet culture and animal welfare. Abuse is often not a crime but simply done for fun. The cost of moral reproach or crime against animals is very low. Abusing, ill-purposed reproduction, stealing, and illegal dog meat are all what we fight against. Many stray dogs are extremely sick while some are deserted on purpose. These dogs are the ones we aim to help. I hope to use my strength to win kinder treatment for a greater number of animals. Over time, more and more dogs came to my place. My limit has been constantly extended.4. What’s your daily life like?

As I have to go to work day time, I care for the dogs and cats after work. For example, visiting families who will potentially adopt, taking the dogs to get vaccinated, and checking on animals who have been hospitalized for treatment. During the weekend time I usually clean up the shelter, trim the dogs’ nails and brush their hair, etc. Sometimes we get volunteers come to improve the shelter’s conditions. Since there are too many dogs, facilities are often quickly damaged, needing constant repair or replacement. Winter mats need to be sunned every week or replaced. There are no rest days. Being together with them and seeing their smiling faces are my most cherished rewards.

5. What are the challenges?

Too many challenges! Money is not the first thing. It is people. Very few people can do this for a long time. Some came with dogs they rescued, but then left the dogs here with me. A lack of human resources is the greatest issue. I need to work in order to cover all the expenses, but because I am constantly working I cannot set up a full-time staff to work on adoption, visitation, cleaning up, publicity and management. I am the one doing all the work right now. We need people to be willing to sacrifice their time and resources. The next challenge is funding. Every new dog brings with it a new host of financial responsibilities. These financial impacts include annual vaccinations, medicine, treatment, and utilities. The third challenge is social recognition. Many people consider it a waste of money and time to care for these dogs. They think participating in other charities would be much more worthwhile. I don’t want to lecture here, but just think, if I can save a life just by reaching out my hands, how could it be a wasting of time? If one cannot extend kindness to a reachable life, how could it be possible to do greater charity? Kindness does not differentiate between size or species!6. Did you ever think about giving up?

Yes, I did think about what their lives would be like without me. It was only a thought, nonetheless. I cannot give it up. When you see their lives changed because of you, from being afraid of human beings to wanting to be close to human beings, and from being paper-thin to being big and heavy, you could not possibly give it up. Such achievement and satisfaction cannot be reached by buying a LV bag. I will not give up. Surely one day I will be too tired to do it, but I will first find ways for them to be well taken care of.

7. What new perspectives have you obtained while helping all these dogs?

Dogs are animals with great feelings. Once a dog was hit by a car on an express way, lying there covered in its own blood. There was another dog as well that never left the afflicted dog’s side. Eventually both of them were saved and lived at my shelter. They ate together and always stayed together. Unfortunately one of them died due to sickness this year after having lived here for four years. The other dog then never left their den, nearly always lying there. Seeing this I realized that the feelings of these dogs are sometimes on par with or even greater than that of human beings. They know everything that is happening but simply cannot express themselves with words!8. What kind of help would you need?

Hopefully more families will be willing to adopt these dogs, giving them a forever home, regardless of what breed they might be, and treat them as a family member. I also hope that more people will pay attention to homeless animals, giving them help if they see them in trouble. Even if you may not like them please don’t harm them! They have the right to a peaceful life! Hopefully, more people will say no to animal performances and animal products. Helping them doesn’t have to mean giving money. Passing the message around also counts.April loves all her sheltered dogs and has strict requirements for adoption. Her dog shelter is in Changping District. They currently have limited helpers and are looking for committed volunteers. April speaks English and can be reached at the following WeChat account:

If birding is an unfamiliar area to you, or you are unaware of those with great birding passion, Terry Townshend is a great expert to meet. Originally from the UK, Beijing based Townshend is a world renowned ornithologist who has gained international media coverage and scholarly recognition. He has given talks in numerous schools, either international schools or local ones in Beijing, on the Beijing Cuckoo Project his team is working on. BeijingKids interviewed him on birding in general and the project itself.

1. What initially brought you to the world of birding?

I started to watch birds when I was 4 years old, beginning in my family garden in Norfolk, England.  I asked my parents for the names of the different birds, but they didn’t know so they bought me a book.  I taught myself from there.

2. What is your educational background? And your job?

I studied environmental economics at university but I have been working on environmental law for 10 years, specializing in climate change.  I am also a Director of EcoAction, a Chinese organisation focusing on environmental education and sustainable ecotourism, a freelance consultant on wildlife conservation and an independent consultant on wildlife conservation.

3. How many birds have you personally seen so far?

I don’t know how many I have seen in the world!  Probably around 3,000.  In Beijing I have seen 395 species, including several “first records” for the capital, for example a European Tree Pipit in the UK Ambassador’s garden.

4. What have you learned from observing birds?

I love to watch how birds interact with the environment; how they behave, what they sound like, what they look like (what differentiates one species from another), and the role they play in the ecosystem.  I have learned that each species has found a unique way to survive and reproduce.  Many undertake breathtaking, perilous journeys, travelling thousands of kilometers from their breeding grounds to their wintering grounds and back again thanks to modern technology such as tracking devices, we are beginning to discover many more amazing facts about the lives of birds and the incredible journeys they take.

5. Birding is a very narrow niche. However, you seem to have achieved a wide range of accomplishments, including book writing, lecturing, directorship, and ambassadorship. What do you see as the relationship or connections between birding and all these achievements?

Birds are amazing and birding is my passion.  Passion is a great driver. It makes us work hard for what we believe in.  I have been lucky to be able to spend time doing what I love and sharing that passion with others through writing and lecturing, encouraging, and supporting young people to learn more about our environment and why we should protect it.  Passion can help us achieve great things.

6. Many young people (and their parents) would like to choose a “broad” major that will give them more opportunities for stable, high-earning work. What’s your point of view on choosing a study/major?

I strongly believe that people should study subjects they are passionate about.  I think people are far more likely to succeed and achieve great things if they are passionate about what they do.  For many professions, the subject of study is not so important.  In many cases it’s possible to be successful in jobs that are unrelated to the study subject. So my advice would be to focus on what you are passionate about. Nothing is fixed in stone, so it’s always possible to study a different subject later if you wish.

7. You have been leading many education based events for schools. What are students’ responses to birding?

Children have a natural connection, and fascination with nature.  They are enthralled by finding a snail or a frog or a butterfly.  Their enthusiasm for birds is naturally high.  However, many young people lose that connection with nature in their teens or early adulthood when things like dating and socializing become more important.  The key is to try to maintain that connection with nature through developing an interest in one aspect of the natural world.  Birding is a great ‘window’ to nature as birds are more visible and obvious than many other animals and plants.  Many naturalists who study aspects of the natural world other than birds were introduced to nature through birding and their interests developed from there…

8. What are three achievements you are most proud of?

That’s a difficult question to answer.  My three greatest career highlights are:1) Presenting the results of a study on climate change in the US Senate in March 2014; 2) Being invited to become a member of the Global Advisory Board of BirdLife International; 3) Coordinating the citizen science projects on the Beijing Swift and Beijing Cuckoo. However, I get most enjoyment and fulfillment from introducing people to birding.  Seeing the look on someone’s face when they see a waxwing or a woodpecker for the first time is hugely rewarding.

9. Could you please describe a typical day in your life?

There is no typical day!  At the moment I am focused on following, and reporting about, the progress of the satellite-tagged Beijing Cuckoos, writing a report for the Chinese government on climate change law, developing a class for the International School of Beijing on the role of birds in the ecosystem and researching best practice at international airports to tackle the risk of birdstrikes.  If I have time, I like to spend an hour or two on my ‘local patch’, an area of scrub close to my apartment where I have so far seen 128 different species of bird.

10. What’s your view on the current birding situation in China, and what is a long-term aspiration of yours?

Birding in China is a relatively small activity but increasing fast.  One comparison I use is that, in the UK we have 60 million people and 1.2million are members of the national bird watching society – the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB).  In Beijing there are around 20 million people, so if there were the equivalent number of birders, the Beijing Bird watching Society would have around 400,000 members.  They have 400 members!  The figure of 400 was only 300 a year ago, so the membership is increasing fast. There is huge potential for growth.  I am encouraged by the number of young people in China who are interested in birding. China has incredible biodiversity, including many birds not found anywhere else in the world. I believe this should be a sense of national pride.  These birds are part of China’s natural heritage and deserve the same protection as man made heritage such as the Great Wall and the Terracotta Army.

11. Why should young people learn about birding?

It’s fun!  And birds are brilliant.  Who cannot be impressed by seeing a magnificent Golden Eagle soaring in the mountains or a Swift hurtling around Yonghegong Temple, especially when you know that Swift has traveled to southern Africa and has returned to exactly the same place without a map, compass, passport or visa.  And when one begins to learn more about these birds, it opens up a world of discovery.  The natural world is the greatest show on Earth and birding is your free ticket!

12. How can young students take part in your Beijing Cuckoo project?

In May 2016 we fitted satellite tags to five Beijing Cuckoos.  They were named by local schools and the students are following their progress on a special webpage here.  Anyone can access this page and the maps are updated daily, following the incredible journeys of these birds.  Two of them – “Flappy” and “Skybomb” are now in Africa having flown more than 10,000km from Beijing. Another is in India, almost certainly about to cross the Indian Ocean to follow the others to Africa.  These are incredible journeys and, before this project, scientists didn’t know where cuckoos in Beijing went for the winter or how they got there.  So the project is combining cutting edge science with public engagement.  We are so pleased that the project has received a lot of mainstream media attention, including the New York Times and the Beijing Science and Technology Daily, reaching many thousands of people who wouldn’t ordinarily read about birds. We plan to fit tags to more cuckoos in 2017 and, if Beijing schools are interested, they can contact me to ‘sponsor’ a cuckoo which means they can choose a name for a cuckoo and follow it through its migration cycle.

The Beijing Cuckoo Project is a collaboration between the Beijing Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre (BWRRC), China Birdwatching Society (CBS), the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) and Birding Beijing. These organizations work to catch and fit satellite tags on Eurasian Cuckoos (Cuculus canorus) in Beijing in May 2016.  Scientists have deployed ultra-lightweight satellite tags onto 5 cuckoos in the Beijing area.

Photos provided by Terry Townshend.

Those who buy a pair of Mantra sunglasses might feel this is their ever-best purchase. One pair of Mantra’s stylish sunglasses will support the donation of a pair of near-sight glasses to children in China’s remote areas.
A graduate of Columbia University in Economics and East Asia Studies, Sam Waldo first came to China’s Yunnan province six years ago, as a teacher. Being a young first-time teacher, Waldo initially was not regarded seriously by his students. But he worked hard to gradually gain their respect, by spending time with them through home visits, motivating and encouraging them.
It was through such daily time spent with them that Waldo realized many children didn’t perform well or lost interest in study simply because they couldn’t see properly what was written on the blackboard. After the teachiing program he then came to Beijing in 2012 to start up Mantra (which means “original heart”), raising funds by selling stylish sunglasses to support the donation of near-sight glasses to children whose families cannot afford them.
Waldo sees having lived in one of China’s more underdeveloped area as a great privilege, helping him to not be locked up in a tiny community. “People in these areas are so welcoming. They gave me their hands and time, sharing their stories with me, allowing me to witness their lives, and putting their children’s education in my hands. I got to experience the uniqueness of a convergence of lifestyles. In our current world when everything is moving so fast, I am really fortunate to be able to understand other people’s perspectives.”
When asked what made him decide to come to China and directly place himself in a poor remote area, he said he owed this to his very international education. He was born in Holland then lived in England, Scotland, Kuwait, and the U.S. He attended different types of schools and at an early age gained a global perspective and the desire to help those in need.
Over the last four years since Mantra was started, Waldo and his team have gone through considerable challenges. He considers perseverance as an important character quality, which has helped him stand firm in times of extreme challenges. “You have to just keep trying after a long time of no success”.
Thus far, Mantra has not gone the usual route of printing leaflets or advertising their products through mass promotion. Instead, Waldo himself often goes to a main business street, such as Wangfujing, to showcase sunglasses displayed in an old time leather suitcase, on an old bicycle or simply on a table. His marketing worked. He got lots of attention and orders, often far more than their stocks could immediately supply.
“We hope that when we do it this way, people will see who we are and begin to build trust. We meant for this project to be a positive contribution to the society at large rather than just selling sunglasses.”
Mantra glasses are designed by Australian designers based on inspiration from Chinese ethnic minority life and local Yunnan scenes such as terraced fields and lakes. Each pair has a unique name reflecting its inspiration; for example, Superfly in Dali Old Town, Hero in Er-Hai Dusk, and 88s in Kawagebo Sunrise. Materials are from the U.S. and produced to the highest quality standard. They cost RMB 360 for each pair. There are currently 21 types, mostly unisex with some particularly suitable for women. They don’t offer kids’ sizes at present.
For more information, subscribe to their WeChat account: findyourmantra.

This article originally appeared on page 17  of the November/ December issue of beijingkids magazine. Click here for your free online copy. To find out how you can obtain a hard copy, contact distribution@truerun.com.

PHOTOS: COURTESY OF MANTRA

It all started in 1992 when the Chinese born and US educated Melody Zhang went to Henan province for an education aid program. Then she went to the far western Xinjiang autonomous region for a medical aid program. From there, she founded Children’s Hope Foundation (“the Foundation” hereafter), which became an independent charity in year 2001. By 2010, the Foundation was fully registered under the Civil Affairs Bureau in Henan.

Melody Zhang, Founder of Children’s Hope Foundation

On 3 November, the Foundation formally opened its third Little Home (care house) of Children’s Hope in the same neighborhood as the Children’s Hospital in Beijing. This series of care-house project has previously established 7 such houses in Guangzhou and 2 in Beijing. Being one of two major projects currently underway at the Foundation, the Little Home project aims to provide a loving and caring home environment for children with serious disability or diseases. The project also aims to provide the families of these children a place to stay that is close to the hospital where the children get treatment. These care houses are rented apartments, which can serve as short-term housing for these families who often come from another province. These families can take care of their children here without worrying about the exorbitant rent which they would have to pay otherwise. Out of their distress coming to Beijing for their children’s operation and recovery, they can spend a typical period of 3 months here at the Little Home apartment. The current apartment is about more than 100 square meters and can hold about 4 families. Initial rent is settled, though long term rent support will be needed and appreciated.

The interior of a typical room of the Little Home apartment near the Children’s Hospital in Beijing

The Foundation also has another main project in Beijing’s northern part of Ma Quan Ying area which is near Shunyi. In this norther area, the Foundation’s Foster Care program here has helped more than 130 orphans with serious health conditions.

Children at the Foster Care house in Ma Quan Ying, norther part of Beijing

Currently, about 30 orphans are housed here in two Chinese court yards. Rent is already sorted for some rather long term, however, staff are struggling getting enough pay. “Donors typically prefer giving the money to direct use of the orphans. However, the staff do need to take care of them and they work so hard to deserve a salary”, told by Ms. Li Hong, Specialist of Development of the Foundation.

Children’s Hope Foundation can be reached by phone 64318082 for Chris (both in English and Chinese).

All photos provided by Children’s Hope Foundation.

A college training or education really may not be the only way for one to become a professional in the dreamed area. Rebecca Barkhouse, a born and bred Canadian woman, proves this theory to be true.

Having lived in Beijing for 9 years as a teacher of aviation science at the Beijing Aviation and Aerospace University (Beihang University), Barkhouse was a professional pilot in her home country Canada. As a female pilot, a rare profession even in Canada, she possesses some mature calmness and rationality in her demeanor. Such a style may be far from what costume designers often use to impress people, but it is her style of choice nonetheless. Barkhouse designed all the costumes for this year’s show, Christmas Carol, at the Beijing Playhouse.

Barkhouse was first brought to the world of design by her mother and grandmother who made clothes for her and her sister in her childhood. She liked the idea of being able to create clothes from a piece of fabric. Her mother then bought a sewing machine for them and from there they started making clothes for dolls, and eventually for themselves. “For me, after learning the basics of sewing, designing was the next step.” She says. She has worked with Beijing Playhouse on three of its main stage Christmas shows as costume design assistant. This year, she became the designer.

BeijingKids interviewed Barkhouse with the following questions and answers.

Q: What’s your perspective/approach for designing?

A: For costume design, the first step is talking to the director to get his vision of what feeling or impression he wants to create with the show.  Then I do some sketches and we discuss what is good or bad and then I will start making the costumes.  Really inspiration can come from many places but the Internet is very helpful to give practical examples of what the director wants.

Q: How long did it take to finish all of them? 

A: I started on the National holiday in October; first I choose costume pieces from the playhouse storage facility, then they were cleaned.  Next the actors had to try them on for size and I’ve been working on making the adjustments and also creating some costumes from the beginning for the more elaborate costumes.  I should be finished by November 15th.

Q: Any new inspirations or perspectives during the process? 

A: Absolutely! I find that the idea in the designer’s head doesn’t always end up as the finished costume. There are many reasons for that, it doesn’t stay in place when the actor is dancing, it is not easy to move in, or as I work on them, there are things I see I can add and it will make the costume look so much better. I guess this is what they call the creative process!

Q: When will the play be staged or available? 

A: The performances start on December 3rd and run through until December 18th.

Q: What is your perspective on the famous “Christmas Carol”, its key message? 

A: I really like the story of Christmas Carol.  To me it sends the message to never give up hope on anyone.  It shows that people can change no matter what condition they are in and the other characters in the show really kept being good to Scrooge even though he wasn’t nice to them.  So never give up and always be kind!

Q: Did your background as a pilot provide any special help or contributions to the designing process? 

A: The strange thing is, yes being a pilot has really helped me in the designing and costume-making process.  Even though flying an airplane is very technical, there are a lot of things that can be transferred, time management, prioritizing tasks, communication.  I’m not operating a machine, but there are deadlines and changes that need to be met.  It has been very helpful!

Q: What were some highlighted points for why this play production is a must-see? 

A: This show is going to be very colorful, lots of action, dancing and jokes.  Beijing Playhouse does a very good job of adapting plays to be enjoyed by the Chinese audience as well as the foreigners.  It is a great Christmas treat to see this play and the story itself has a very good message!

One unique area this show of Christmas Carol may impress the audiences is its incorporation of two classic characters from the renowned Chinese literature  “Journey to the West”. The monkey king has been included several times in previous years and this time in 2016, the pig man will also find a place in this Dickens masterpiece.

For details on the specific nights of the performances, you can email: broadway@beijingplayhouse.com.

“If you can drive a car, then you can learn driving.” Xinli Zhang, Manager of Sales and Marketing of Luzhou Aviation General passionately told BeijingKids. The one-of-few general aviation company in China recently launched their various aviation programs. For those with a dream of flying a helicopter in China legally, this might be your time.

As a Class A category general aviation company approved by the Civil Aviation Administration of China, Luzhou Aviation was established in April 2015. Situated in Tongzhou District’s Luzhou area, the company runs a pilot school, aviation club and an airport, aiming at becoming China’s first class general aviation industrial area.

Currently, three programs are ready for kicking off. If you would like to become a pilot, the Pilot Bud Program can equip you with 50 lessons of aviation theory and 40 hours of practical operation on the helicopter. All coaches were trained in the US. To attend the training course, you need to be above 17 years old, and are able to understand and speak Chinese fluently. Within a minimum of 3 months, you can expect to get a private helicopter pilot license.

If you are completely new to flying on a helicopter and your children would love a ride, the Air Tour program could be the right experiment to start with. This is a trial exercise for driving and riding for 15 minutes at the cost of 1680rmb/person and up. Of course, a professional pilot will steer the wheel for you.

Both programs use the classic R22 and R44 Robinson Helicopter from the US, reportedly the most popular light helicopter in the world, especially for training.

On a more relaxed basis, the Aviation Science Program is an aviation-themed industrial park featuring films, museum, plane models, and flying interaction activities. This could be a new venue of education and recreation for schools and groups.

Enquiries or more information can be found at www.lztyhk.com or phone 180 1021 2505 (Chinese and English).

Photos provided by Luzhou Aviation General.