As newcomers settle into their homes everywhere in Beijing this summer, one of the first experiences to seek out should be a walk into your neighborhood’s courtyard on a clear, clean summer evening. You’ll find grandmothers in loafers pushing babies around in strollers, toddlers in pigtails babbling and pointing at different insects, middle-aged women practicing their dance routines to blaring music, rowdy boys chasing each other on bikes, and old men setting up tables and stools for their favorite games.

These neighbors are the pulse of your community, and the first famous saying that should be taken to heart is  远亲不如近邻 (yuǎn qīn bù rú jìn lín). Translated into “neighbors are dearer than distant relatives,” this phrase will hopefully characterize this chapter of your life dedicated to China.

If you happen to be from North America, Australia, or the UK, you might want to take particular note to this article, as our societies have slowly lost the art of neighborliness. The Pew Research Center conducted a study in 2010 that revealed nearly half of Americans didn’t know their neighbors. Later research conducted by OnePoll revealed even more than half of American millennials cite busyness as the reason they have never spoken to neighbors, and instead sought out community online rather than next-door. This is despite their confession that they secretly crave greater local community involvement.

UK adults faired slightly better than Americans in having spoken to neighbors, though the relationships are mostly cold, keeping the other at arm’s length, with common knowledge such as full name, number of children, occupation, even length of living next door, often being basic topics which are never discussed (Churchill Home Insurance, 2017). And Australians perhaps have faired the worse, or perhaps have proven to be the most honest on their surveys, with the majority admitting to avoiding contact with those next door (Realestate.com.au, 2017).

But expats who live in Beijing will find that having good neighbor relations are essential to surviving in the first months and years, and these relationships will even be foundations for longer stays in the country.

Indian national Sarika Dhami has lived in Beijing for six years and feels particularly lucky to have found her current next-door neighbor Mischell. Previously based in Bangkok and a homemaker, Dhami has two children, an eight-year-old boy attending BCIS, and a three-and-half-year old girl attending a local Chinese kindergarten. Dhami has lived on the ground floor of her building for four years, after moving from an upper level in the same building.

For the first year living in the ground-level apartment, the then-pregnant Dhami didn’t know her neighbor was also expecting a girl. After she gave birth to her daughter Kaavya, Dhami spent the majority of time getting to know the ayi and caretaker of Mischell’s daughter Vivien.  But as the relationship between Kaavya and Vivien blossomed, Dhami and Mischell began spending more and more time together.

“Whenever I need help with something she helps. She’ll explain flyers to me or anything else I don’t understand in Chinese. If she finds good deals she’ll tell me. She’ll help me with Taobao, calling someone, or booking help,” Dhami explained.

The neighborliness isn’t one-sided either. “Our daughters are like sisters. Our doors stay open so they can play in each other’s home. Her daughter eats in my home, and we treat her daughter like our own, and it’s the same for them,” Dhami shared.

When either neighbor returns to their hometowns, they’ll bring gifts back to share. Since the girls are like sisters, if one family buys something for their daughter, they’ll buy a second for their other daughter next door. “If she buys anything, she buys two, and if I buy something, I buy two. If she bought a lollipop, then my daughter would get one too.”

They of course language swap, with Dhami teaching Mischell a bit of English, and Mischell teaching Dhami a bit of Chinese, and as Dhami is more connected to expat groups, she has been able to expose Mischell to a wider variety of friends.

“We used to go to each and every playgroup together, and I used to ask for special permission to take her to expat-only groups. I would explain that she’s my good friend and neighbor as our daughters are so close.”

Now that their daughters are getting older, Mischell started to look into international schooling for her daughter; she has often sought Dhami’s advice as she makes choices about school since Dhami’s son already attends BCIS. “We really try to help each other from the heart.”

Dhami and Mischell have an exceptional experience in being neighbors, and though their relationship is sweet, it shouldn’t be the benchmark. Dhami explained it really depends on the Chinese neighbor’s attitude. “There are people who don’t like to get mixed up with foreign people, but we should always be nice to Chinese people.” Dhami believes Chinese language is essential to a good relationship, but even without it, she suggests using a translator or even Google translate.

The work you put into language will pay off, as most of your neighbors are willing to help. They’re also more likely to be in location-based WeChat groups, like secondhand buy and sells, neighborhood news and events, and parents and kids playgroups. Though similar expat groups are helpful, expats tend to be more spread out from one another than the location-based groups of your community. On top of that, neighbors are typically more knowledgeable of what type of parks, malls, and playgrounds are within short distances from your home.

To round out cultural perspectives, I asked three good Chinese neighbors for their opinions, how they have built relationships with their neighbors, and what their suggestions would be for fresh expats.

Name: Annie Wang

Occupation: Mercedes-Benz Finance Department

Children: 2 sons, 14 years old and 19 years old

Hometown: Tianjin

Years in Beijing: 18 years

How long have you lived in your current apartment? 15 years

Number of foreign neighbors: Currently none, but she had a few in the past who stayed nearby for one or two years.

Summary of advice: Wang and her husband have made themselves available to give advice when neighbors ask about marriage and child rearing but they also share food they’ve cooked if its particularly tasty. Her neighbors in turn share vegetables they’ve grown. Wang described neighbor relationships that have evolved over time, as neighbors were closer in relation when children were younger. If an expat neighbor came by with the nostalgic plate of cookies, she would welcome the gesture, but mentioned she found it strange when expat neighbors gave their child the Chinese name Xiyangyang, the popular lamb cartoon.

Name: Marie Yuan

Occupation: Freelancer

Children: 1 son, 12 years old

Hometown: Tianjin

Years in Beijing: 22 years

How long have you lived in your current apartment? 4 years

Number of foreign neighbors: None

Summary of advice: Yuan pointed out that the closeness of neighbors depends on personalities, life stages and involvement with the property. Yuan was more involved in her community when she was an owner and when her son was younger, in a different neighborhood.  In that neighborhood she was very involved, going out to eat and shopping together, forming playgroups, and participating in online forums where neighbors hashed out complaints about trash and parking. In her rental in her new neighborhood, she holds packages for her elderly neighbors during the day when they’re out, but due to their significant difference in age, due to cultural respect, she doesn’t know their names beyond calling them aunt and uncle. She expects expats would have difficulty with elderly neighbors without learning Chinese, as it would be awkward to elderly Chinese having such a significant barrier.

Name: Xiao Hong Zhao

Occupation: Worker at SMIC Company

Children: 3 girls, 9 years old, 5 years old, 3 years old

Hometown: Yuncheng

Years in Beijing: 15 years

How long have you lived in your current apartment? 8 years

Number of foreign neighbors: Six or seven have lived in her building, and even more in her neighborhood.

Summary of advice: Zhao is active in her community, and knows the majority of her neighbors. She frequently greets them. Her advice to expats is that they respect both their own and Chinese way of life. Chinese neighbors might find expat behaviors strange, such as owning large black dogs, but that expats should still greet their Chinese neighbors warmly. She would find it to be a surprise for foreigners to share a plate of cookies if she didn’t know them before, but she does welcome neighborly behavior.

This article appeared in the beijingkids June 2019 Home & Relocation Guide issue.

Photo: Vanessa Jencks

Brooke and Aeijaha are best friends at a Chinese private school in Beijing.

Brooke is 8 years old, in the second grade, and has lived in China since she was in kindergarten. When she smiles her whole face lights up, with that light and joy moving from the corner of her mouth and spreading to her eyes and the rest of her face.

Aeijha (pronounced similar to Asia) is 9 years old, in third grade, and drips confidence behind her cool glasses and hair, which looks amazing no matter how she styles it. Aeijha just moved to Beijing last year, after being born and raised in Thailand.

Both are the children of expatriate teachers and both have faced bullying for their appearance here in China, a problem encountered by many expat children in a seemingly homogeneous society. Their appearance is unfamiliar to the average Chinese family, and often local children, teachers, and parents struggle to relate to those from a diverse background.

Brooke’s mother, Mel Williams, first thought her daughter was having difficulty due to being new in China. “I happened to look out the window of my classroom and saw that she was on the playground and no one else would play with her. She wasn’t crying, she was sliding and playing by herself, but no one would play with her.”

That day when Williams picked her up from school, Brooke confirmed that no one would play with her. “I told her that it was OK and that we were new to China.” But as the year progressed, Brooke still wasn’t making any friends. “It took a while, but once she learned a little bit of Chinese, then she started to make a few more friends.”

“She went through that in both kindergarten and first grade. I had to speak to the teacher when kids started to bully her. They would walk by her desk and snatch things, then rip them up. Their solution was to separate these children from her.”

That didn’t really solve the problem, as Brooke would continue to come home and tell Williams she was being bullied. Then Brooke began to fight back.

“Other teachers would come to me and say that she kicked somebody or that she pushed somebody down the stairs,” Williams explained.

Williams feels it doesn’t matter if the school is international or not, and in some ways, she found that it was worse in the international school, where children seemed to be “cliquish.” She suspects the root issue here is that when children grow up inside the same circles, they aren’t comfortable with making friends outside of their normal social circle.

Williams’ main tactic as a parent has been to help Brooke use her voice and to treat others with kindness. “I’ve told her that she has to use her voice, because she has one. She needs to tell people the things that she doesn’t like, and if it doesn’t stop, she can find something else to do. And if someone is bullying her, she can tell someone and ask for help. I would tell Brooke to always be polite and to introduce herself to people.”

Brooke had a better year in first grade when there were other expatriate children in the classroom. Issues remain with a handful of students who are not accustomed to non-Chinese peers, and these students will at times seek to be negative toward her.

Aeijha told me her parents have a similar response. They told her “treat people as you want to be treated,” and to rise above the bullying.

Besides simply looking different to peers, another issue of bullying is hiding behind language, when a peer is unaware that the girls can understand them. Williams told us: “I just reported to the teacher for the second time that a boy had been picking on her in class, not realizing her Chinese is actually really good. He tried to deny that he was picking on her, but another child confirmed it.”

During Aeijha’s interview, she confirmed that hiding behind language is an issue, and that in her own bullying experience when a group of older boys had made fun of her, calling her “fat,” they didn’t know she could understand them until the boys were confronted by the Student Affairs office. The principal required these students to apologize, but Aeijha felt the apology was inauthentic and “it really didn’t help.” When asked why, she explained they clearly were being forced. The only incident of bullying she experienced in Thailand at the International School of Bangkok was followed by a sincere apology from the student.

For Brooke, talking about bullying was much harder, and she wanted to present to me a picture of a strong girl who ignored bullying and dealt with problems herself. As we went through questions, Brooke would give Williams a look of, “I’ve got this. No, I’m not sharing that story.” Brooke began to tear up when she shared what her teacher said after a bullying incident, “My teacher said, I am perfect the way I am. It makes me confident that I can deal with these problems.”

Williams’ suggestions for schools and teachers is to offer sensitivity training so students have expectations laid out for them of how to treat others from diverse backgrounds. Teachers need to be on the lookout for signs of bullying. “For parents, they need to build their child’s self-esteem if you’re choosing to live abroad in an unfamiliar place, especially if local children are not open to expats.” She encourages parents to talk to their children about people who are different and how to have friends who are different. She has noticed that any child who is “different” can cause other children to make fun, as she has witnessed this with overweight Chinese children and an Autistic Chinese child.

Preston Thomas, currently employed at RDFZ Chaoyang Branch School as a Senior English Teacher, has lived in China for eight years and witnessed bullying due to differences while at his last international school, where the makeup of students was more heterogeneous.

“One incident was because the student was… half Chinese and half Australian; he was ridiculed because he was not fully Chinese and his Mandarin was not good enough. He was also insulted because his parents were divorced. Other incidents I saw were Chinese students insulting each other for darker skin tones.”

Thomas confronted this issue and others like it by talking to the students being bullied for both comfort and encouragement, but by also using the opportunity to explicitly teach about diversity.

“When students were judging other students based on skin color, I actually made it a point to make a lesson devoted to diversity. I told them that if they practice this behavior abroad, people won’t take it lightly. I reminded them, they are all citizens of the world. They will meet many different people from many walks of life and by judging solely by skin color is racist. Also, it is highly offensive and someday they might be the victims if they continue this behavior.”

Parents were not contacted in any of the cases, and the school overall did not offer support to teachers, students, or parents in dealing with either bullying nor diversity. Instead, teachers would talk among one another to make sure if a particular student was being targeted, they could all be on alert and address any incidents that might arise.

Thomas suggested for teachers, “One great resource, although dated, is A Class Divided. It is a great resource to promote diversity and understanding especially in younger kids, as it touches on race and passing judgment based on skin color.”

For parents, Thomas stressed the importance of being in the lives of children, asking questions and making sure the child feels comfortable talking. It is also important to know who friends are and to sometimes ask difficult questions, especially if a parent might suspect their child is bullying someone else. “Finally, don’t pass judgment. Give them the reasons why it is wrong to target someone, don’t just yell at them.”

While interviewing both girls, I couldn’t help reflect how my own children have fared in a Chinese private school. My son has been accepted easily, has had many friends, and has been even called “zhongguoren” by his peers. My daughter, being blonde haired and blue eyed, has not fared as well, including some teachers assuming, despite her bilingualism, that they can’t explain to her well if they don’t use English. But I learned to make extra effort so she would thrive socially.

My biggest tip for younger ages is to send a bag of candy or rubber erasers to class with your child, so even for that day they’re the classroom favorite. I also make sure to stay on the “good side” of teachers, as they are my child’s biggest advocates in the classroom.

One of my favorite stories is when her homeroom teacher stood up and explained that, “Yes she is different, she has different color hair and eyes, but we are all a family here in this classroom. We help each other.”

Lastly, though it wasn’t always easy to overcome culture, language,and my own introverted personality, I made sure to hang out with the parents of her classmates so she would have additional opportunities for one-on-one time with her peers. Children who had bullied her would stop when they saw how much their parents liked my daughter. It paid off, with many of her kindergarten friends remaining her friends even when they transferred to grade school and different classrooms.

This article appeared in the beijingkids May 2019 Identity issue.
Photos: Williams family

Our family absolutely loves books so much that when we were back in the US, we stocked up on nearly a whole suitcase of books. I’m not talking about those tiny carry-ons either. I mean side-busting suitcases that slightly go over the limit and won’t pass if the flight attendant feels cranky that day.

And why wouldn’t we? Goodwill in the US has books that are available for 50 cents to USD $1 (about ¥3.5 to ¥7).

Now those prices are hard to find around China. Taobao and JD.com often boast books that are ¥30 but the selection isn’t that great. Scholastic book fliers have plenty of variety and are sent through schools, but they start at a minimum of USD$3-$4 with most books averaging between USD$5-$10.

Roundabout Book Fairs, though, start their books at low prices rivaling even Goodwill. And you don’t have to waste precious luggage space either.

To make the most of these book fairs, I suggest the following principles:

1. If the book is worn, that’s OK.
   Some really like new things, but when it comes to books, typically wear is a really great sign. That would most likely mean that the person who owned the book before really, really loved that story. Chances are your child will love that story too. Severely damaged books should be avoided of course, especially if they’re workbook type books. 

2. Be wary of very new, unopened books.
   New is nice, again, but at a book fair of used books, that could mean the new book had something wrong with it. There’s nothing more annoying than reading about Skippy hovering over the deep end of the water, about to jump, turning the page to discover…. the crux of the story has been accidentally left out during printing. They lived happily ever after. The end. I’m sure Roundabout does their best to catch obviously damaged and misprinted books, but it’s possible they could miss a dud.

3. Go for books slightly above and way above your child’s reading level.
   I suppose it’s a no-brainer to skip books at or below your child’s reading level if they already have plenty of access, but I suggest stocking up on cheap higher-level novels that might interest your child, too. Instead of reading a picture book at bedtime, you could start reading a classic novel, like Where the Red Fern Grows, or The Wizard of Oz, or the Chronicles of Narnia series. Reading books with higher vocabulary will start them to develop better oral skills.

4. Get science and information books.
   So maybe this is nerdy, but when I was a kid my mom had a whole collection of those old encyclopedias. I used to sit and look through the pictures and read the entries because it was interesting. I learned about at least a hundred different types of Native American cultures, language, and dress. Offering diverse literature will give your children the opportunity to learn facts that will enrich their worldview and perspectives. If you can’t find encyclopedia style books, don’t worry. Look for magazines that are reputable for information, like The National Geographic.
5. Don’t forget foreign language books.
   Many expats now have children who are learning both Chinese and English, but Beijing is blessed with a strong number of French-, Spanish-, and German-speaking expat communities. If you see a foreign language book, snatch it. They’re rare! Even if your child doesn’t show interest, it could be a great gift to a future neighbor who speaks that language. And we all know as expats how these little gifts of home can make a world of difference when you’re settling in to Beijing.

And guess what? You’re in luck! The next Roundabout book fair will be hosted on Sunday, September 24 from 10am to 3pm at Keystone Academy Performing Arts Center (#10 An Fu Street, Hou Sha Yu, Shunyi District, Beijing; 北京市顺义区后沙峪镇安富街号). It’s free to attend!

If you want to help volunteer (and… shhh!… get a preview of the books on sale…) contact Roundabout for their volunteer opportunity the day before.

Volunteer Opportunity for Roundabout, Sep 23-27 and Sep 24
All ages. Roundabout invites everyone for a volunteer opportunity in two separate events this week. The setup for the Book Fair at Keystone Academy begins September 23 at 1.30pm and the takedown on September 27 at 8.30am. The second event is Roundabout’s public sale on Sep 24, with two shifts available (9.45am-12.30pm and 12.15-3pm). To sign up, contact Lily Zhou of Roundabout (WeChat ID: CHOWLZHOU, 150 1018 7653) or Friederike (fhm-wob@t-online.de)

Photo: Pixabay

Vanessa Jencks writes about relationships and faith at vanessajencks.com; more of her beijingkids articles can be found here. 
Email: vanessa.jencks@gmail.com
Twitter: @vanessa_jencks
WeChat: vanessajencks
Facebook: Vanessa Jencks

Educators with 21st century mindsets all understand the importance of integrating diversity into their lesson plans, and these three upcoming holidays might be a great time to talk about different practices around the world.

Navaratri, a Hindu holiday, is observed on Wednesday, September 20. Rosh Hashana, a Jewish holiday, follows on Thursday, and Muharram’s first day, an Islamic observation day, takes place on Friday.

One important note is that teaching about the holiday should never involve participating in the rituals of the holiday, as students in an international setting come from diverse backgrounds.

For example, in most cases, it would offend Jewish, Muslim, and Christian students and their parents if students were required to participate in any other religious holidays, but learning about another religion’s holiday is innocuous. Additionally, making students opt out of an activity due to religious beliefs is awkward in the context of peers, so this also should be avoided.

Navaratri, a major holiday from India, is celebrated in the Hindu diaspora and all over the country but in different ways in each state. The common theme is that good triumphs over evil. This is a great holiday to use a class comparison chart and internet research, with assignments of specific states and countries.

Students can research different aspects of the holiday, including the specific story celebrated, food, dance, performances, and dress, as each of these aspects differs from location to location. Five groups of students could be assigned northern states, central states, coastal states, Thailand, and Malaysia as an example. If students are particularly apt in internet research, teachers could add in more specific locations, including urban locations compared to rural locations.

Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year that’s celebrated 163 days after Passover. This holiday is also celebrated all over the world, but typically retains very similar characteristics in each location. This too could include internet research, or library research depending upon the breadth of resources available at your school, but instead of comparing locations, looking up the meanings to Rosh Hashana’s symbols are most applicable for learning.

Rosh Hashana meals typically involve quite a few sweet things to welcome a blessed year. Last year the Freudlich family and friends shared a recipe for honeycakes, which students could take home to try.

If students become particularly interested in this holiday, for further investigative research, they could study how the holiday has evolved historically and within the last generations of the Jewish diaspora. This Rosh Hashana Rock anthem is just a quirky part of that evolution.

The first day of the month of Muharram is the start of the Islamic New Year. This day starts the Muharram month, one of the four sanctified months of the Islamic calendar. Many Muslims choose to fast during this month, though it is not obligatory like Ramadan.

Many religions and cultures celebrate New Years, yet this Islamic New Year is brought in with very little fanfare in comparison. Though there are some variations from location to location and between the Sunni and Shi’a denominations, the day is focused on historical events from the past rather than looking forward to the upcoming year.

This observation day would help non-Muslim students from other backgrounds understand how history plays such a significant role in Muslim world perspectives.

After the teacher introduces the holiday either through a short lecture, classroom discussion with follow-up pair-shares would be great activities for this holiday.

Due to some of the more extreme customs of this observation day in some parts of the world, teachers should use discretion in deciding to continue an internet research-style classroom format for this holiday.

To maximize on these three diverse days, students could be challenged to write an essay about their own cultural or religious holidays and how these days affect their individuality or world view. Alternatively, if a classroom is particularly diverse, this could be made into a project where students teach one another about these important holidays through short presentations.

Source: Timeanddate.com

Photos: Dave’s Studio, Wikimedia Commons, Wikimedia Commons

Vanessa Jencks writes about relationships and faith at vanessajencks.com; more of her beijingkids articles can be found here. 
Email: vanessa.jencks@gmail.com
Twitter: @vanessa_jencks
WeChat: vanessajencks
Facebook: Vanessa Jencks

When parents separate or divorce, it’s usually a traumatic event which causes a lot of emotional stress and could have an adverse impact on their lives in and outside of school. Whether it is acting out in the classroom, playing the blame game with your parents or siblings, or having to experience your parents badmouth each other, these actions can continue to affect you well beyond childhood and into your adult years. This is why it can be helpful to seek out counseling at school when it is needed, in hopes of minimizing the complications that arise during this difficult time. We talked to Wang Anmin, a full-time psychological counselor at Beijing Royal School, about some of these issues, and ways that teachers and classmates can help students living through a divorce.

Every parent hopes reading will happen with no more difficulty than the “average” student, but the reality is that there really is no such thing as “average.” Every child is unique, with their own gifts and difficulties. We decided to investigate possible reading difficulties for students who have been diagnosed with attention deficit disorder (ADD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). We asked Serrina Smith, a certified Special Education teacher at Springboard International Bilingual School, a few questions to help us navigate the issue. 

 1. What are some difficulties in reading that ADD or ADHD could potentially cause?

Students with ADHD may struggle with inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. Students who have ADHD may be easily distracted, have difficulty sitting in place, and maintaining focus for the duration of a task. These struggles can then contribute to reading difficulties, such as reading comprehension.

In order to effectively read, a student must be able to grasp a level of understanding from the text, retain, and recall that information. While reading, students with ADHD may miss phrases in the text, skip words, forget where they are in the passage, and find they are unable to recall details. When students aren’t able to focus throughout reading, they encounter difficulties in their ability to organize, analyze, and construct meaning.

2. Are these obvious to spot or are students able to cover or hide these difficulties?

It all depends on the individual student. Fidgeting and the inability to attend to the text being read due to hyperactivity is obvious. However, other students may appear to be on task and focused, but are unable to answer comprehension or sequencing questions. Some students are able to read out loud fluently, but struggle to make connections to the text and retain information. These deficits are discovered during Q and A, character webs, and other formative assessments.

 3. Are these difficulties always a sign that ADD and ADHD might be a cause?

These difficulties are not necessarily a sign that ADHD is the cause. If a student’s English level is below the level of the text she is reading, she may not be able to gain understanding due to her lack of vocabulary. A student who is fidgeting may have not had enough opportunities to release some of his energy that day and appear to be hyperactive.
Students who are inattentive may not be engaged in the text because they are uninterested in the material and feel bored. Or, changes at home, such as a divorce or a death may be on the forefront of their minds and the text they are reading is then put on the backburner.

As an educator or parent it is vital to look at the overall performance and behaviors a student displays in multiple settings over a period of time before assuming that ADHD is the cause. 

 4. How can parents and teachers make accommodations in reading to help their ADD or ADHD child overcome these hurdles?

First, engage! Students need a blend of conceptual, procedural,

kinesthetic, and social elements. Your student may be a visual, tactile, or an auditory learner. Most students need a combination of the three learning styles in order to absorb information. Group work, interactive activities, and demonstrations can be used in addition to direct instruction. The skill of reading can be daunting and it is important to try to make it intriguing so students will enjoy it. Acting out a story, creating plot twists, reading out loud with emphasized inflections, using props, playing comprehension games, and making predictions are fun ways to get students engaged.

Teachers can change the classroom layout to limit the amount of distractions, promoting an environment more conducive for that student. Seating a student away from doors and windows, utilizing fidget seats or other alternative seating, alternating seated activities to incorporate physical movement, and helping to organize and structure larger tasks into smaller steps can be beneficial.

Patience, consistency, and collaboration are all absolutely necessary. Students with ADHD are struggling to sit well, focus, and control their impulses. They might need help to find out how to buy CPH4 in real life and finally get productive. They want to do their best and have their teachers and parents proud of them. Teachers and parents need to openly communicate the difficulties and successes they are seeing with one another to make goals and track progress. The strategies will need to change as the student changes. Providing positive feedback for small successes and behaviors can boost confidence and be a motivator for the child.

Biography Information: 

Originally from the US, Serrina Smith has spent the last two years teaching in Beijing. It was her experience as program specialist for children with developmental disabilities that sparked her interest to go back to school to pursue teaching. Smith believes that each child is unique, with different interests and skills; therefore she takes a holistic approach to teaching, with focus on the development of the child.

If Smith weren’t in the classroom she would be jet-setting. She has a strong curiosity for learning about new cultures and travels any chance she gets.

Photo courtesy of SIBS

This article originally appeared on p 38 of beijingkids June 2017 issue.
Download the digital copy here.

Imagine if even though you don’t have perfect 20/20 vision, you could still see perfectly throughout the day without using contacts or glasses. Sounds like the beginning of a gimmick or hoax science, but in fact, this is actually possible.  Ophthalmologists are now able to correct eyes in a similar way to orthodontists straightening teeth. Dental braces are now relatively inexpensive, the pain isn’t intolerable, it’s a common process, and as long as your teeth aren’t too bad, no surgery is required.

In the field of orthokeratology (nicknamed ortho-k or OK), doctors can prescribe contacts that will work at night to gently reshape the cornea until it fits the shape of the contact, almost like a retainer for eyes. The wearer sleeps soundly through the whole process. It works like this; the contacts will apply a small amount of pressure to the cornea that causes it to eventually form to the shape of the contacts. As the cornea shape changes, so should the lens prescriptions, and it is up to the discretion of the eye doctor how frequently to change this prescription.

The eventual results allow the user to see clearly without using contacts or glasses during the day. But not only that, Dr. Wu Yunyan of Beijing United Family Hospital said, “Orthokeratology lenses (OK lenses) can slow down the progression of myopia (nearsightedness) by 50 percent when compared to children who wear spectacles.” By Chinese law, Children should be 8 years old at least, though Dr. Tang Yan, of Beijing Aier Intech Eye Hospital, and her colleague, Dr. Fan Chunlie, have concerns that this age may also be too young. For adults under 40 years of age, it can reverse the effects of myopia and is recommended for those who have up to a -5 myopia or -1.5 astigmatisms.

In the future, the Chinese field is expected to include “collagen cross-linking technology” which would allow users to wear the contacts a few times throughout the year rather than every night or several times a week, explained Dr. Tang.

Though ortho-K has been practiced privately and experimentally in the US, with recent FDA approvals of the contact lenses used in practice, ortho-K has been administered for nearly ten years in China. “According to incomplete statistics, China has seen an annual increase in orthokeratology from 10 to 300 thousand per year, with the growth rate being around 40 percent per year. In 2015, national institutions fit about 800 thousand people, and the current count is 2 million people who wear OK lenses in China,” Dr. Fan said.

With all of this in mind, we still had a few questions. 

Do these lenses hurt?

“OK lenses are more uncomfortable compared to soft contact lens because they are rigid gas permeable contact lenses. The material of an OK lens is more like that of hard contacts of the early 2000’s. But since they are more gas permeable and anti-protein than traditional soft contact lenses, they are safer to wear at night.” Dr. Wu said.

“Children will feel a strange body sensation, but they should feel comfortable with the contacts after a week.” Dr. Tang said.

Who should not be recommended for this?

Fan explained that certain eye diseases like cataracts and glaucoma would prevent patients from being able to use OK lenses. There also may be hesitation for those with “acute sinusitis, severe diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and other collagen and neuropathy diseases.”  The solution also may cause an allergic reaction in some.

Children who are unable to take care of themselves, who have poor personal hygiene or poor compliance with medical instructions, should not be considered for OK lenses.

Can pregnant women wear OK lenses?

“The eyeball during pregnancy will change a little, and they will change back after pregnancy, so OK lenses are not suitable for this situation. We also do not suggest pregnant women wear OK lenses, because if they end up developing an eye infection, it is very difficult for them to use eye drops. The drops may hurt the fetus.” Dr. Wu said.

Are there any risks or side effects?

“Eye infection. Patients should pay special attention to the proper insertion and removal of OK lens and follow appropriate hygiene care procedures to avoid infection. If parents find that their child has redness of the eyes, tearing, or photophobia, then an eye doctor should be seen immediately.”  Dr. Wu said.

How much does it cost?

Prices range per person, per age range, and per package, but typically the cost is less expensive than Lasik eye surgery. To find out more information, call the hospitals directly to make an appointment.

About the Doctor

Dr. Tang Yan graduated from Wenzhou Medical College. She completed research in corneal contact lenses for two years at Peking University Ophthalmology Research Center, and five years of study in ophthalmology surgery at Fukang Tongren Ophthalmic Hospital Clinic.

Currently at Beijing United Family Hospital, Dr. Wu Yunyan graduated from Capital University, receiving her degree in clinical medicine in 1998. She has been an ophthalmologist almost 20 years and speaks both English and Mandarin. Dr. Wu has previously worked at Sixth Hospital in Beijing and Beijing Intech Eye Hospital.

Dr. Fan Chunlie is the Director of the Optometry Center at Beijing Aier Intech Eye Hospital. Dr. Fan graduated from Chinese Medical University and is experienced in the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric diseases and refractive errors.

Resources
Beijing Aier Intech Eye Hospital (北京爱尔英智眼科医院)
5F, Panjiayuan Plaza #12 Panjiayuan Nanli, Chaoyang 朝阳区潘家园南里12号楼(潘家园大厦) 5F (6773 2700)

Beijing United Family Hospital Eye Clinic
Between Buildings 14/15, Jianwai Diplomatic Residence
Compound (DRC), No. 1 Xiushui Street, Chaoyang
朝阳区建国门秀水街1号建外外交公寓14和15号楼之间
邮政编码 (5927 7038)

This article originally appeared on p 18-19 of beijingkids June 2017 issue.
Download the digital copy here.

Travel to INDIA

Jyoti Johari starts first with saying that “the culture of India is one of the oldest and unique.”  Not only does almost every state has its own culture, but climate, geography, and religion of the people (mainly Hindu, Muslim, Christian, and Sikh) all play into making the vast amount of subcultures in the country. “India is called a country with ‘unity in diversity’.” This has all created an “exclusive culture” which is a “composite mixture of varying styles and influences,” Johari explained.

Tell Me About Festivals of India by Nita Mehta and Anurag Mehta

“Books on the topic of festivals of India help kids read about various festivals we celebrate in India. It is said that Indians have festivals all year round – that’s 365 festivals in a year! Every day is celebrated with some festival somewhere in some part of the country. Hence it’s very important to let kids know about these festivals, which directly connect them to the culture of the country.”

All books available for purchase on Amazon.com

Ramayan Ki Kahaniyan by J.M. Mehta, and Ramayana for Children by Sudha Gupta

“The Ramayana (Sri Ramcharitmanas) is one of the greatest epics of Hindu mythology. The Ramayana is not just a story, but also an educational medium used by ancient sages to espouse the importance of doing your dharma (duty) in relationships. The Ramayana depicts characters that we should aspire to be like, the ideal father, son, brother, leader, wife, and on. The Ramayana, and Mahabharata especially, preach a lot of values that we would want our children to imbibe. Instead of simply commanding a child to respect his elders, we use examples from his favorite epics to teach him the same.”

Suggested by the Johari family. Daughter Vaariya attends Grade 1 at the British School of Beijing, Sanlitun (BSB, Sanlitun), while mother Jyoti doubles as a homemaker in Beijing and preschool owner in India. Father Anshul works as a manager for a semiconductor chip design company.

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Travel to GERMANY

Rico, Oskar und die Tieferschatten by Andreas Steinhoefel

“We cannot say what constitutes German culture, but we all agree that this is a great children’s book that is set in contemporary Berlin. It tells the story of a wonderful friendship between two boys who are both outsiders; one participates in a special needs program and the other one, a real nerd. When one of them gets kidnapped, a fantastic mystery unravels. We think it shows a Germany beyond ‘beer with sausages’, rather, one that is funny and heartwarming.”

Children’s and Household Tales by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm

“Everybody knows some fairy tales of the Grimm brothers and they are, of course, an important part of our cultural heritage. We read them a lot to our younger kids.”

Reckless Series, Lord of Thieves, and Inkheart Trilogy

“If, however, you think you are no longer scared of those evil witches, check again with Cornelia Funke. Many of her books are translated into English and very well received, like Lord of Thieves and the Inkheart trilogy. To connect again with Grimm’s culture, we suggest her Reckless series for young adolescent readers, which tells about a boy who falls into fairyland and has a tough time with many of those familiar characters who are, in fact, pretty grim and fearsome. Expect suspense!”

All books available for purchase on Amazon.com or on borrow from WAB library.

Suggested by the Hein family. Mom, Weibke, works as a library technician at the Western Academy of Beijing (WAB) Elementary School. She has three children at WAB. 

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Travel to AUSTRALIA

 

The Rabbits by John Marsden and Shaun Tan

“Claire is always interested in different animal species stories. Although this book is partly an allegorical fable about colonization, it is a nice storybook for children and a good book for adults too, to understand Australia as a country, how they come together in the past.”

Tomorrow: When the War Began by John Marsden

“Popular for the last 20 years, this book is widely read by Australian youth. It is about when a future war comes, how Australian young adults react to what happens. We consider it a great series.”

Both books available on Amazon.com

Suggested by the Song family. Claire, 12, attends Grade 7 at Hyde Academy. Mother Jane and father Garry founded O’Formula Fashion Ltd, which makes custom cashmere sweaters.

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Travel to BOLIVIA and MEXICO

Azucar by Ivar Da Coll

“This is one of our favorite books in Spanish. This is the story of Celia Cruz, Cuban salsa singer, and how she develops the talent of singing to entertain her family. After going to college to be a teacher, she participates in a talent show contest that ends up marking the beginning of an exuberant singing career. Her music expands to the whole world, and even to this day we still hear her songs that carry so much of the fire and sweetness that salsa brings into the lives of many.”

Julia by Georgina Lazaro

“This is the biography of Julia de Burgos (from Puerto Rico) one of the first Hispanic female poets. The book beautifully narrates the poverty and richness into which she was born in 1914. The retellings of wide rivers and green land remind me of my own memories as a child in Bolivia. Her father eventually takes her on a trip and he tells her stories of ‘Don Quixote’ and this inspires her to read more. After that and still at a young age, she starts composing poetry and finishing school ahead of her time. To continue her education, she separates from her parents and lives with a teacher. She then becomes a teacher and starts publishing her poetry.”

Skippyjon Jones Series by Judy Schachner

“We always have a good laugh when we read these books, where the mix of Spanish and English always comes at the perfect time. This book is perfect for English/Spanish speaking children. The books are about a Siamese cat that believes he is a chihuahua dog, and his imagination takes him to countless places. He is the hero of other chihuahua dogs who chose him as their leader. Very funny and entertaining!!”

All three books can be found on Amazon.com

Suggested by the Wise Maldonado family. Ruth Wise Maldonado was born in Bolivia, lived in the US for several years, and now works as a dentist in Sunny Dental in Shine Hills. Her husband is Abraham Wise Hernández, who works for the American embassy. Her daughter Elizabeth, 11, attends the International School of Beijing (ISB), while Sariah, 9, and Joshua, 6, both attend the International Montessori School of Beijing (MSB).

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Travel to ZAMBIA

Kristu Mu Nyimbo

“This is a Christian music hymnal with songs in the Zambian language. The hymnal is translated as “Christ in Songs.” As parents we have grown with music and this is the heartbeat of our family. Prudence sings well, has won many competitions, and has been featured on TV. Msafiri and all the children like music. David plays the guitar, Vanessa plays the piano, and Esther would like to learn to play the violin.”

The Tortoise’s Gift by Lari Don

“This Zambian folktale about a wonderful tree with a very tricky name, and the hungry animals who seek to learn (and remember) that name, is adapted into a chapter book for early readers. The repetitious nature of the story is well suited to the format, while the colorful and playful illustrations have the appeal of a picture book.”

Both books available on Amazon.com

Suggested by the Sinkala family. Mom Prudence works for the Zambian embassy, and dad Msafiri works for the British Council. Their son David, 17, is a senior in high school in Zambia. Vanessa, 11, Grade 6, and Esther, 7, Grade 2, both attend the Pakistan College School. Baby Winnie is 5 months old and stays at home.

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Travel to PANAMA and PUERTO RICO

Oh, Wie Schon Ist Panama by Janosch

“My wife lived for a time in Germany, and when she was there,

everyone thought Panama was a made up place. When she would show her passport for official procedures, she would be told it was a fake passport. So this book in German was helpful for her to teach others that Panama was in fact a real country.”

Magnificent Molas: The Art of the Kuna Indians by Michel Perrin

“The Molas are an important part of Panama’s culture. When we went there two years ago, it was amazing to see the different things the Kuna Indians would recycle to make the Molas, like shoe strings and plastic bottles. The Kuna have been supported and preserved by the Panamanian government. The children travel from their many small islands in boats to get to school every day.”

En Dondequiera Coquies! by Nancy Hooper

“Everywhere in Puerto Rico you find coquis, which are small frogs that are the size of one of the tips of your fingers. They make a loud sound like coquis (pronounced like the Chinese kou and English key). So this book, available in both Spanish and English, introduces you to these frogs.”

All three books available on Amazon.com

Suggested by the Febles-Bula family. Dad Pedro works for a company that makes the mapping technology for self-driving cars. Mother Iris Bula is a professional chef. Daughter Tyra, 13, and son Pedro, 11, both attend Dulwich College Beijing.

Photos by Uni You and Dave’s Studio, and courtesy of WAB, D

The team at beijingkids chose a reading-themed issue for many reasons. As writers, we naturally love books; as parents, we know books challenge our children educationally and spark their creativity; as expats, we love finding out about different cultures and locations near and far.

Books let us explore the world from the comfort of the warm sheets in our bed or propped on the couch under a soft blanket with loved ones tucked in our arms. Books let us escape suffocating, thick summer air or the cold bite of a winter night. Reading age-appropriate books over the summer is an inexpensive way to help students beat summer fallback, a common issue among grade-schoolers with empty summer plans. The world of literature seems as vast and wide as the world’s oceans, with every year producing new authors and experimental genres. For your children and teens, there is bound to be a book to set their love of reading ablaze.

“Read Around the World” as my last issue as Managing Editor is incredibly fitting, as I’m stepping down from the role to focus on my family and my own book and blog projects. I’ll still be around in Beijing for good times at clothing auctions, day trips to my favorite Beijing spots, coffee breaks, and events here and there. For the foreseeable future, Beijing is my home, and the community’s students, parents, teachers, and schools have my support. Be on the lookout for the July issue, where new dad and Managing Editor, Kipp Whittaker, will make his debut with a long-overdue Maternity issue. Don’t be surprised to see my name on articles and blogs too, as I can’t imagine completely leaving the beijingkids team while here.

Former Managing Editor Jessica Pan said working at beijingkids made a huge impact on her life. “I met my husband while working as editor; he did some work for the magazine one summer.” For her, the company colleagues were her family. “It’s an amazing group that I’m so honored to be a part of. I really loved that job.” Her favorite issue was the Mother’s Day issue. “We interviewed all kinds of different mothers living in Beijing: single mothers, mothers who have adopted, grandmothers, first-time mothers, mothers with four kids… I really liked interviewing and hearing the stories of the women and families who have found themselves in Beijing.” Pan is now a freelance journalist in London, contributing to ELLE, Refinery29, Jezebel, VICE, and The Daily Telegraph, and her memoir Graduates in Wonderland was published by Penguin in 2014.

Photo: Jessica Pan

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