Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
needed goodies from mothers on email group Beijing Mamas (
http://groups.yahoo.com/
Kids will surely miss some of their old chums and comforts, but the rich experiences
make it all worthwhile. Not only will they have the opportunity to learn one of the most
widely spoken languages in the world, they'll be mixing with a truly multicultural crowd.
There is little time for kids to be bored in Beijing. Beyond the school-related activities,
there are also sports clubs, nearby mountains for weekend outings, and a plethora of activ-
ity groups.
Different areas of the city will provide your kids with different experiences. Up in Shun-
yi, where houses with gardens are standard and large international schools abound, they'll
experience as Western a lifestyle as possible in the city. On the other hand, if they live closer
to the CBD, they may not have a private backyard to play in, but they will enjoy a much
more authentic experience.
When it comes to schooling, Beijing has the resources to offer your children, whatever age
they are, a quality education. There are three main styles of education in the city—local
Chinese schools, international schools, and homeschooling.
The Chinese school system still typically relies on the old rote-learning technique, and
students study long and hard all day for the sake of the
g
ā
ok
ǎ
o,
the university entrance ex-
am. It's rare for expats to send their kids to these schools, but it's not unheard of, especially
in the first several years. As obvious outsiders, they may, however, occasionally experience
bullying. These schools are typically run in Chinese, but the more progressive schools have
a Western slant and may offer some classes in English at the primary levels.
International schools are usually the ideal option for most expats. Academic standards
are high and facilities, particularly of the larger ones, are exceptional. School fees are, on
the other hand, exorbitant. If you're not being brought over on a package by your company
and are doing it on your own, you may find the potentially RMB200,000 or more annual
school fees unmanageable. In this case, shop around and consider other options.
A third path is homeschooling. In addition to online support from your own country's
services, Yahoo-based support network Beijing Homeschoolers (
http://groups.yahoo.com/
group/beijing_homeschoolers
)
and the Beijing Westside Homeschool Co-op (
ht-
tp://groups.yahoo.com/group/BJWestsidehomeschool
)
help bring together Beijing families
who are educating from home.
