A couple of days before this post was published, I transferred my dog Fu to her new foster family. It was a big decision, given that I had been taking care of her since September 2018 and we had already grown close to each other.

Fu was just the latest one to whom I said, “Kita kits” (“see you soon” in Filipino). Just this spring, I said zàijiàn to a couple of close colleagues who went on to new adventures in Beijing or back home.

See you soon, Fu!

And now, I’m the one who’s leaving.

It’s a sad moment, especially for the people with whom I worked directly, but I like to see this as a celebration. I’ve worked for beijingkids for 2.5 years, and it was all grand and action-packed. I have long forced into my mind that Andy is timid, but my work for the magazine has allowed me to explore the confident and communicator Andy. I may have flunked in my first managerial experience in Manila, but my career in Beijing has brought out a pragmatic but compassionate leader who’s always looking forward to motivating young minds.

I will always be proud that I handled the very demanding When I Grow Up column in the magazine. Not only does it requires precision in planning and coordinating, but also care as I need to work with a lot of pupils. During the times I conducted bimonthly question-and-answer sessions at various international schools, I’ve seen how pure and simple the pupils’ concept of the world is. And that was refreshing, given the dizzying pace of expat life in the capital had brought me to bumpy parts of the path toward achieving my goals.

Many of those road bumps derailed me, but the other humps have nudged me to stay on track. Never did I think that rescuing an old, limping, visually-impaired dog would eventually help me recover from anxious states of mind that had begun in the summer. And immersing myself into tons of events was stressful at first, but would prove rewarding later on.

You’ll find blessing and healing in the most unexpected part of your journey.

There are many things in my daily grind that I will miss (like being the first person to open the office every day…) and I know it will take time to sink in, but I’m excited about what happens next. Yes, let’s acknowledge that sadness is a significant emotion when someone departs, and departures are a normal process in life. But by accepting reality, we set ourselves free.

After all, “there’s no way to go but forward and upward.” That’s what I told myself before I left for China. And it’s the same thing I’m telling myself now that I’m setting out for a new and thrilling journey.

Photos: Andy Penafuerte III

Not often does an expat come to Beijing who has influenced numerous lives in the way that Chris Verrill did with his founding of the Beijing Playhouse (2006) and the Charity Readers Theater (2013). Along with introducing English language community theater to Beijing, he sparked an interest in many actors and other participants involved in these stage shows that they may have otherwise never knew existed. 

We at beijingkids have featured Verrill in our magazine and blog on numerous occasions because we have always appreciated the hard work he has put into his stage shows and the strong connections he has made with the greater community. When we heard about his upcoming departure we couldn’t let him go without asking him about his plans for the future and what he will miss most about life in Beijing.

Though it is always sad to say goodbye, the good he has done outweighs this sorrow and will hopefully create a new generation of stage show enthusiasts that will continue building this art form with the same vigor and passion as Verrill. We wish him good luck on this new adventure as he brings his Charity Readers  Theater to the US. “Parting is such sweet sorrow.”

Throughout your time here in Beijing you’ve completed numerous performances. How did you begin working here and what has been the trick to keeping active and helping to develop Beijing’s theater community?
China’s English Broadway theatre did 20 shows in 12 years. A total of about 200 performances, I think. For those 12 years, we were the largest locally produced English theatre in China. Plus we did about 40 or 50 educational children’s programs. And 100 or 200 drama workshops. I’ve long since lost count. When I got here, Beijing was probably the largest city in the world without a local English language theatre. We did the first show as a lark.  There was never supposed to be a second show. But the audience loved it and told us, in no uncertain terms, that we were going to do more. And they said they wanted us to start a drama education program to train children, too. At first, I resisted. But the love of theatre prevailed. 12 years is about 11 years longer than I thought we’d last.

Were there any challenges at the beginning?
When we started in 2006, a year before China’s National Center for Performing Arts opened, the Chinese audience didn’t even know what Broadway theatre was. The closest thing we could compare it to was Beijing opera. But that wasn’t always helpful. The audience of our first show was 90 percent expat. 12 years later, the audience of our last show was 90 percent local Chinese. The market had grown wonderfully. 

We know there must be many memorable moments throughout your time here, but what have been some highlights that you would like to share with us?
We had seven paying patrons on the opening night of our first show (plus a dozen or so curious media and other onlookers). But word of mouth spread. By the time that show closed, the 200-seat theater was full.

What are your plans for your upcoming move?
I have no idea what I’m going to do next. I wish I could stay.

Living in Beijing you see a lot of friends come and go. How does it feel to be finally leaving and what are some things that you think you will miss after you make the move?
I’ll miss the multinational expat community that has an insta-family feel to it. I’ll miss the resilience and perseverance of the Chinese people. I’ll miss cheap, delicious Chinese food. I’ll miss the family at the corner fruit stand that sells me jasmine green tea every day. 

What’s going to happen to Beijing Playhouse after your departure?
The current crew and teachers and students will continue the education programs. Except the shuttered main stage shows, other aspects of Beijing Playhouse will continue.

What advice do you have for people wanting to get involved in theater in Beijing but don’t know where to start?
The best option is Charity Readers Theatre (CRT). It’s not as big or professional as Beijing Playhouse shows were. But it’s still artistically rewarding. And the audiences have loved the last six shows CRT has done. Of course, the monthly drama club workshops will continue, too. Those are a fun, easy way to learn about theatre, have a few beers, and make some new friends all at the same time.  

Do you have any parting words for your fans or your extended Beijing family before you take off?
Audition for a Charity Readers Theatre show. If you’ve sometimes had that nagging thought in the back of your brain that you’d like to walk the boards, CRT is a great way to give it a shot. Instead of the three-month rehearsal and performance schedule of a Beijing Playhouse main stage show, Charity Readers Theatre is a show in a week. For an actor, it’s a much easier commitment. A great way to test the waters and get involved. 

Photos: Courtesy of Chris Verrill

So this is it. After 4.5 years of bantering about family life in Beijing, it is time for me to collect my things and head to the airport. Okay, that won’t actually happen for 10 more days, but the movers are here and they are starting to close in on my computer. Although I’ve been blogging for Beijing Kids since 2010, we arrived in Beijing 7 years ago, just before some long forgotten sporting event. In the spirit of the games, I pass on the Beijing torch to you, dear readers, with these parting words of wisdom.

Do something new. It doesn’t matter what, but venture out into the city and experience something different. This is especially true after the newness of it all wears off after the first six months or so. Join a group, go down an unfamiliar road, try a new restaurant, visit a TCM doctor, take up dancing – just don’t settle for routine. If you cannot think of something new to try, might I suggest having twins? You’re right; Salsa dancing in the park at night does sound easier.

Drats, one of the movers is knocking on the office door, so I’ll make this quick.

Leave Beijing and explore other parts of China. Sure, Shanghai is an okay start, but China is a vast nation and the farther away you travel, the greater the diversity you will encounter. My favorites region thus far is southwest China, but I regret not getting to the northwest too. Perhaps next time.

Continue to make new friends. Expat buddies are great. Making friends with locals is a no-brainer. But the longer you stay, the more friends you will lose. Don’t pine for those who have moved on to other parts of the globe. Get out and make some new friends. Sure, it can be painful to loose a best friend, but there is always room for a new one. Besides, the longer you live in the ‘Jing, the more you can help others get around.

I’m nearly out of time as my beloved iMac is the last thing to pack up and they are fiddling with the power strip.

The most important piece of advice I can offer to anyone in Beijing is to simply be.

Photo: Christopher Lay

This is the time of year that many of us bid farewell to dear friends, a normal routine for career expats. When children lose their best friends, it just breaks a parent’s heart. We teach our kids to deal with such a loss by promising to keep in touch, hoping to see one another again, and then by letting go.

This year, my youngest daughter will have the hardest time. Molly has been her best friend since the 1st grade when her family arrived in Beijing. We live in the same compound, the girls are in the same grade, and they just have sweet, compatible personalities. They rarely have major disagreements, and both Molly’s mom and I are amazed that they don’t tire of each other more often than they do. The girls like to play the same things and they simply enjoy spending time together.

As the school weeks were winding down, Molly’s conflicted emotions started to kick in. Part of her was sad to leave friends and certain aspects of Beijing. Some emotions included fear of the unknown where she’s going, and starting all over with making new friends.  At the same time, she was encouraged to be excited about those new changes coming up, and about simple things like the easier communication and fun shopping that awaits her. Mixed emotions for sure.

On my end, Ava measured her mood by watching Molly’s. If Molly was quiet, Ava believed something was amiss between them, rather than thinking Molly was wistful about leaving. If Molly was excited about the move, Ava felt that she’d be easily replaced as her best friend. Neither child could quite comprehend what the moms knew – that this is all normal, it’s all ok. Hard to watch, though.

This is a special friendship, and Molly’s mom and I have become close friends as well. Saying goodbye will be hard on all of us, but I know we will meet again. I promised Ava that we wouldn’t leave for summer break before Molly’s family flew out for the final time, and I kept my promise. While they will say goodbye this afternoon, we will take an early flight out tomorrow morning.

Impossible to convey to these girls now, they are learning a coping skill that they will appreciate as they grow older. They are learning about adaptation, too, with both meeting new friends in the fall.

It hurts to watch and it hurts to say goodbye. As my own mother (a former military wife) used to tell me, in her circles friends never said “goodbye” but “see ya” instead. They trusted that their paths would cross once again someday.

See ya, Molly.