When Rhea Lee moved from Seoul to Beijing at age 15, she wasn’t sure what to expect. “I had low expectations for Beijing – or China in general – before coming here,” admits the Western Academy of Beijing student. “I’d never visited and hadn’t heard many positive things.”

That changed quickly after her arrival. What surprised Rhea most was the kindness of the people in Beijing. “Everyone – from workers to my friends and teachers – was genuinely nice to me,” she recalls. “That wasn’t what I expected at all.”  She did have some culture shock, in the aspect of studies; she felt like the academic life here was way more chill and laidback compared to the strict and competitive environment there.

Before China, Rhea had spent her whole life in Seoul. The move represented a major life change. Outside of school, she maintains several passions. Music remains important to her, though she hasn’t played guitar in two years since moving. When she did play, she particularly enjoyed performing Billie Eilish’s “The Feather.”

Her culinary preferences are quite diverse. Although she is Korean, Rhea favors Japanese cuisine, especially salmon sushi, along with Italian staples like pizza and pasta. Athletics also play a significant role in her life – she plays football for Anejo (a football club supported by WAB) and enjoys volleyball. At home, she cherishes time walking her dog.

Rhea’s story shows how moving abroad can actually be a refreshing treat for a new look in life. Beijing offered her more than she anticipated – a welcoming community and new opportunities to pursue her interests. The city she initially approached with hesitation has become her new home.

Although she left Korea at the young age of 15, she did speak English beforehand, having to practice and learn the language at her old school located in Korea. For the future, Rhea explains that she will most likely be graduating from WAB, aiming to be a part of the top universities within Korea, such as Korea University and others.

Images: Rhea Lee

At just 15, Zander Reagin has experienced something only a few international students have. From his time in Korea and China during the spread of COVID, Zander has lived through quarantine in both countries, and his rare experience shows us how each country handled the crisis.

Zander’s first experience with quarantine began in Seoul, Korea, where he lived as a fifth grader. His entire family tested positive for COVID, except him. A physical screen was installed in his home to keep him separated from the rest of his family.

He attended school alone, transported by a private bus arranged only for him. “I wasn’t allowed to talk to anyone else for two weeks, not even my parents.”

Although isolated, people in white hazmat suits would deliver essentials once or twice a week, such as fresh meat, vegetables, and toilet paper. “They’d even pick up and throw your garbage for you, that’s how helpful they were.”

Zander and his family were eventually moving to Beijing, but due to China’s strict COVID protocols at the time, they were required to quarantine at Shenzhen before continuing.

Upon landing at the airport in China, Zander’s family and other passengers were held on the bus for six hours before being transported to a quarantine site through a bus ride that lasted three hours.

When they arrived at the quarantine site, they were instructed to stand in line, and were sprayed by disinfectant head to toe before checking into a hotel. “The whole place was falling apart,” he recalls. Keeping the windows open was a necessity because it was the middle of summer and the A/Cs were moldy.

He was required to take blood tests twice a day, a huge difference compared to the weekly nose swabs required in Korea.

“Somebody got COVID at school once, and we all had to quarantine for a month straight. Swabbed our mouths daily, but we had to walk all the way to the clinic.”

Zander looks back at his past and prefers his quarantine experience in South Korea compared to his experience in China. But despite his times of isolation and struggle, he learned a lot from his experience, making him more resilient and adaptable, traits that he carries with him as he continues his education in Beijing.

When 16-year-old Abhinav Singh moved from Delhi’s cricket fields to Beijing’s baseball diamonds, he brought more than just his athleticism—he carried the spirit of Indian sports culture. Now a top pitcher at WAB, the India-born athlete shares how cricket’s legacy fuels his baseball success, why pitching felt surprisingly natural, and how he bridges two similar yet distinct sports in Beijing’s international school scene.

Born in Bihar, Abhinav spent his first 13 years in Delhi, where he began playing cricket at age eight. Two years ago, his family’s move to Beijing upended his sporting routine—but not his passion.

Adjusting to life in China was both thrilling and daunting. Language proved the steepest hurdle, followed by cultural differences and unfamiliar social norms. Baseball entered the picture out of necessity: with no cricket programs available, Abhinav gravitated toward its closest counterpart. “Batting and pitching aren’t identical to cricket, but I’d say they’re 50% the same,” he noted.

Playing on a diverse team in a cricket-scarce country offered unique rewards and frustrations. While he cherishes bonding with teammates from varied backgrounds, finding practice spaces—or fellow cricket converts—remains a challenge.

Initially optimistic, Abhinav soon confronted the sports’ technical divides. The lighter baseball and mandatory fielding glove (not used in cricket) demanded quick adaptation. Yet his cricket foundation became an unexpected asset. “Throwing a heavier cricket ball builds arm strength. Switching to baseball made fast throws effortless,” he explained. Teammates agreed: “My friend said, ‘You’re throwing so fast—you should pitch!’”

Encouraged, he trained formally as a pitcher, rising to prominence at WAB and competing in inter-school tournaments.

For Abhinav, cricket and baseball’s contrasts extend beyond rules to their cultural heartbeat. “I’ve loved cricket since birth,” he said, recalling how India’s 2011 World Cup victory electrified him. Like millions of Indians, he feels the sport pulse in his blood—yet baseball now shares that space.

Images: Abhinav Singh

When 16-year-old Simon Strand moved from snow-filled small-town Norway to the megalopolis of Beijing, he traded country roads for skyscrapers, bland cheese sandwiches for fiery Sichuan cuisine, and frostbitten winters for Beijing’s distinct four seasons. Almost a year into his experience, the WAB 10th grader had made up his mind: he’ll take Beijing’s chaos over Norway’s remoteness any day. Here’s why.

Born in Manila to a Norwegian father and a Filipino mother, Simon has already lived in four countries: the Philippines, the United States, Norway, and now China. After a six-year stint in Norway, Simon and his family moved to Beijing when his father took up a diplomatic post. Nine months into his new life, we sat down with him to discuss the biggest differences he’s noticed between Norway and China.

The first shock was Beijing’s towering skyline. In Norway? Almost none—even the tallest buildings were modest by comparison. The sheer scale of Beijing’s population was equally staggering: the city alone holds four times as many people as all of Norway.

Then came the food. Beijing offered a dizzying array of international flavors and bold spices, while Simon found Norwegian cuisine comparatively plain—think untoasted bread with a single slice of cheese. In contrast, he now relishes Beijing’s spicy dishes, savoring flavors he never experienced back home.

The convenience of Meituan and other delivery apps also amazed him; in Norway, such instant gratification simply didn’t exist. And then there was the weather. Norway’s winters were brutal, with snow piling up to his knees. He recalls being stranded at school once when snow blocked the train tracks—and frostbite among friends wasn’t uncommon. Beijing’s milder winters and hot summers, where snow barely dusts the ground, felt like a reprieve.

In the end, Simon’s choice is clear: Beijing’s vibrant energy, diverse community, and endless opportunities have won him over. For a global nomad like him, China isn’t just a new home—it’s an adventure that Norway could never match.

Meet this year’s World of Work interns from Western Academy of Beijing (WAB). Every year, instead of going to school, WAB students spend five days experiencing what it’s like to work in the real world. This week, we’ll meet the seven kids spending the week at True Run Media.  #WorldofWork

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Matteo Grazzini doesn’t remember life before China. Born in Italy but raised entirely in Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Beijing, the 16-year-old WAB student is the quintessential ‘third culture kid’, and his journey mirrors what many expat families experience. Now, as he prepares to ‘return’ to a homeland he’s never truly known, he reflects on Beijing’s role in shaping him: through football, fleeting friendships, and the unique stability of a life in motion.

Tell me about your background and where you’ve lived.

Matteo: I’ve lived in China for about 13 years, since I was 3 years old. My earliest memories start in Hong Kong, then we moved to Shanghai when I was 5 — though I don’t remember much from that time. After two years there, we went back to Hong Kong where I spent four years and completed most of elementary school.

What was your experience like in Hong Kong?

Matteo: I didn’t have many close friends in Hong Kong, but I did stand out academically as the smartest in my class. When we moved to Beijing when I was 8, that’s really when I started developing my own identity beyond just being the smart kid.

What has school been like for you in Beijing?

Matteo: Between the ages of 8 and 12, I really started exploring my interests. I watched tons of YouTube and discovered my passion for English class, mainly because of my teacher. We had this tiny YouTube channel with about 20 followers – which seemed huge to us back then! He’d shout out our class after good lessons, which made learning feel special and fun.

Can you tell me about your football journey?

Matteo: Football is my passion – it’s how I relieve stress and express myself. I’ve been playing since I was 5 years old, spending countless hours training and improving my skills. The pitch is where I feel most at home, no matter what country I’m in.

How has your social life evolved since attending WAB?

Matteo: At WAB, I made new friends quickly, especially with students who arrived the same year I did. But just like my previous school, I’ve had to say goodbye to people as they move away. Still, this past year has been amazing for my growth – I’ve pushed myself out of my comfort zone and made memories I’ll never forget.

What are your concerns about going back to your country?

Matteo: It’s a weird mix of feelings, honestly. Having lived abroad my whole life, going ‘home’ to Italy feels both exciting and nerve-wracking. I’m especially pumped about the football opportunities there – that’s what keeps me most excited about the move.

What will you miss most about Beijing?

Matteo: Definitely my friends. We’ve built this incredible bond – they’ve influenced me in so many ways. We’ve spent countless hours together, always supporting each other. It breaks my heart knowing I won’t get to see them every day anymore. Beijing isn’t just a city to me – it’s where I grew up and became who I am.

Images: Matteo Grazzini

From Thailand’s beaches to the basketball courts of Beijing, 10th grader Somil has always carried one unwavering dream—making it to the NBA. Born in Thailand and having lived there for about eight years, he then spent two years in Myanmar before his family settled in China, where they’ve been based ever since.

During his breaks, Somil loves traveling within China or visiting Thailand because he’s obsessed with the beaches there. Thailand, with its relaxing waters and scenic coastlines, is his go-to spot to recharge.

But basketball is his real passion—more than anything, he dreams of going all the way to the NBA. Deeply in love with the game, his long days are packed with practice outside, gym sessions, and watching film—all dedicated to constant improvement. His relentless work ethic is driven by the belief that only hard work can help him stand out and reach his ultimate goal.

Beyond basketball, Somil enjoys gaming and singing. His favorite music is pop, and he often relaxes by singing “Espresso” by Sabrina Carpenter, which also keeps him motivated.

His family—mom, dad, and older brother, who’s 20 and in college—are all moving with him to Boston this year. This move marks a significant step toward his basketball ambitions, as Boston offers better training facilities, more competitive leagues, and a vibrant college basketball scene. Somil is confident that being in Boston will give him the boost he needs to join a Division One college team and, eventually, catch the eye of NBA scouts.

Living across different countries has made him incredibly adaptable and open-minded. Focused on his dream, he’s ready to seize every opportunity in Boston, working tirelessly to elevate his game and secure his place in the NBA someday.

Images: Somil Aryal

Some new interns came from the Western Academy of Beijing (WAB) to jingkids! Today, I will introduce one of the new interns, Sarah B. She is in Grade 10 and is currently taking a MYP curriculum. She first came to China following her father, who worked for WAB where in China. Five years later, she still lives in Beijing.

\Before she came to China, she thought the Chinese would have great antipathy toward foreigners, but after she came to China, she realized that the Chinese were very kind and polite.

Life in Beijing changed her life in many ways. The biggest change happened at her school. When she was in her native Canada, she attended public schools. While attending a public school, she prayed every morning and had no chance to meet an Asian student. However, after coming to China, she attends an international school and has been able to meet various students from various countries. In China, she has also been able to develop a new hobby of sewing clothes. Beijing has more access to fashion than Canada, which has made her more interested in clothes. It has also increased access to sewing by providing abundant opportunities and tools for sewing in schools.

Sarah says her future dream is to become a special education teacher, influenced by her father. She watched her dad help others sincerely as a teacher and thinks she wants to help many people, just like her dad. She says she will return to Canada to attend university after graduating from high school at WAB, to achieve her dream.

Images: Sarah B

World of Work (WOW) is a program that Western Academy of Beijing (WAB) High School Counselor Michelle Chow created. It allows tenth grade students to intern at various companies for a week. Normally, the students start on a Monday and finish on Friday, but there are instances when this doesn’t apply. WOW gives WAB students an opportunity to experience real work environments. Along with working, students are required to write cover letters, resumes and participate in an interview with the employer.

My name is Sophie Li and last week I interned at beijingkids to find out more about journalism. I was with fellow WAB student Christian Neoh, who took photos for the magazine. During our internship, I caught up with some of our peers working at other companies to find out what they hoped to get out of their WOW experiences. This is what they had to say.

Michelle Leow
Michelle (pictured above) is 16 years old, of Singaporean and Vietnamese descent, and has been living in Beijing for three years now.

Where do you work and what do you do?
I’m currently working at a design company called Di Lusso Gaopin Beijing Design. I don’t really have a specific job, but I’m essentially following the General Manager Mr. Einar Tangen, and (hopefully) learning about this industry, how businesses work, how to work with customers, etc.

What are you hoping to gain from this experience?
Initially, I had just wanted to learn about design industries and the specifics of it. However, after meeting Mr. Tangen, I realize that there’s more I can learn (beyond just design). I’m hoping to gain more communication skills, knowledge about businesses, customers, processes and work in general – all of which can be applied outside of a design industry.

Will this internship help you pursue a specific career? Do you know what you want to do when you’re older?
Honestly, I’m not completely sure what I want to do when I’m older but I do have a brief idea. I’m leaning more towards careers involving politics, law and psychology. Although this internship is based on design industries, the knowledge about different processes, types of peoples and other business related aspects can certainly help me in my future career. Additionally, Mr. Tangen is a politician and lawyer himself- much of what he teaches me will influence me in the future.

Do you think WOW benefits all students? Why or why not?
I think WOW (World of Work) benefits all students who take full advantage of it. If you’re working in a place that peaks your interest or relates to what you want to do in the future, you’re bound to learn something helpful. Even if you aren’t completely sure what you want to do in the future, WOW can help you figure it out.

Maya Roberts Maya is 16 years old, half British and half Chinese and has been living in Beijing for 15 years.

Where do you work and what do you do? I am working at [beijingkids’ sister magazine] the Beijinger during my WOW week. I am doing research, contributing ideas and learning more about the company.

What are you hoping to gain from this experience? I am hoping to gain knowledge about the working world. It’s a terrific opportunity to get an idea on what it is like to be in an office and to see the process of how you collaborate within a group.

Will this internship help you pursue a specific career? Do you know what you want to do when you’re older? I’m not exactly sure what I want to do. However this internship gives me an idea of this line of work. I enjoy the creative atmosphere and could possibly pursue this interest and job.

Do you think WOW benefits all students? Why or why not? I think that WOW benefits most of their students. Since most of us probably have never had a job, we don’t know what working is like and it opens our eyes to the real world a bit.

Did you personally find your internship? If yes, why did you choose this job? I personally found my internship, I decided I wanted to do something that I would be interested in and then used connections to try and get the job.

Michael Jiang
Michael is 15 years old, Canadian and has been in Beijing for his whole life.

Where do you work and what do you do?
I work at Oasis Healthcare Hospital. I observe and learn from my qualified mentors and specialists at the hospital and it provides valuable experience for me to take with me into the future.

What are you hoping to gain from this experience?
Valuable experience in a hospital environment as well as information about medicine. 

Will this internship help you pursue a specific career? Do you know what you want to do when you’re older?
Not too sure about what I want to pursue, but this opportunity gives me an idea of how a hospital functions and this makes me want to learn more about medicine.

Do you think WOW benefits all students? Why or why not?
I think it benefits students who want to learn and observe, because then they will take actual valuable experience out of this. If the students choose not to make good use of this program, they lose valuable time and experience – especially because WOW gives an insight on future possibilities.

Photos: Courtesy of the students