QINGDAO
EXPAT MAGAZINE Your community resource
Young in Qingdao A Teacher in Qingdao 10 Must Do in Beijing October 2012
A New Meeting Point
Photo: Marit Rambech
QINGDAO EXPAT MAGAZINE Creative Director Jenny Ek qingdaoexpateditor@yahoo.com Photographer Marit Rambech
Help us!
Editorial Team Cathy Ben-David Preeti Chaudhary
Qingdao Expat Magazine is always searching for volunteers to help with our community publication.
Events, Website & E-communications Preeti Chaudhary info@qingdaoexpat.com
Interested? Please contact qingdaoexpateditor@yahoo.com for more information!
Contributors Marit Rambech, Jenny Ek, Cathy Ben-David, Preeti Chaudhary, Marissa Balough, Donne Liddiard. Cover Photo Marit Rambech
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Qingdao Expat Magazine - 2
Musings of the Creative Director Already October, holiday time and also time for a new issue of Qingdao Expat Magazine, time really flies.
In the last weeks I have been busy with visitors from Sweden. I brought them out for a sail one a day - a great way to show Qingdao - highly recommended!
In this issue you can read about Anna, a young girl who already lived in Qingdao for 8 years. You can also read about Christine who works as a teacher here. A great news is also that Qingdao now has its own International Community Centre - read more about the centre on page 4 and the Launch Party on page 18. Have a great Moon Festival - and don’t fotget to eat a moon cake or two! Best, Jenny Ek Creative Director qingdaoexpateditor@yahoo.com Photo: Marit Rambech
he t t Ge t QD s late ws! ne
IN THIS ISSUE Expat Stages A New Meeting Point
4
Doing Business in QD A Teacher in Qingdao
6
Young Expats Young in Qingdao
8
Qingdao in Pictures Old Man Beach 10 Low Tide 11 Laoshan 12 What’s cooking in QD? North Indian Chicken Curry 14
Expat Travel 10 Must Do in Beijing
16
Out and About Evens in October 18 Events for Young Expats 19 Weekly Events 20 Weekends in Qingdao 20 Attractions to Visit in QIngdao 21 Get Your Questions Answered 21 Musical Monkeys for Toddlers 22 Expat Birthdays Birthdays in October
Qingdao Expat Magazine - 3
23
Address: 72 Tai Hang Shan Lu, Huangdao
A NEW MEETINGPOINT MISSION STATEMENT To build and to bridge communities and to bring people together in an informal and sociable manner.
A place for all ages to gather and share activities for social gain and to contribute to a meaningful daily life in Qingdao.
WHAT IS THE QICC ALL ABOUT The QICC was launched in August 2012. Our vision behind Qingdao’s first Community Centre was to provide endless benefits for the foreign communities in the region.
We are enthusiastic to listen to the needs and requests of people of all ages and are keen to see widening uses of the Qingdao Community Centre. We would like to help the community facilitate indoor and outdoor activities and we seek to fulfill any social gaps for families and individuals. Whether you are wanting to learn a foreign language, take a cooking class, join a study group or if you are just looking for a comfortable space to meet your friends for a cup of coffee, then the QICC is what you are looking for.
VISIT OUR WEBSITE By visiting our interactive website: www.qingdaocommunitycentre.com the community will be able to see all the upcoming events that the QICC has to offer. Our website will also provide the necessary information needed to make use of the QICC. We encourage any feedback and suggestions via our website. We aim to provide activities for a range of different age groups, from toddlers to adults, so that everyone’s needs are catered for.
LAUNCH PARTY The official Qingdao International Community Centre Launch Party will take place on Saturday 20th October 2012, starting at 11am. The purpose of this event is not only to celebrate the opening of the Qingdao Community Centre but also to give the community a taste of some activities that would take place at this Community Centre in the future. Please visit the website for further details and to book your spot at this event.
Qingdao Expat Magazine - 4
By Donne Liddiard
t u o b a e or ty at m r d a a e P R h c n Lau
the 26! e g a p
Expat Stages
FROM THAT...
...TO THIS!
Qingdao Expat Magazine - 5
Photos: Donne Liddiard
I have the opportunity “ of meeting people from
many different countries�
A Teacher in Qingdao Christine finds the school setting, in a Chinese school, enjoyable. A typical day for Christine would be a busy one. Greeting her students and co-workers is a daily routine. In the classroom she focus on building rapport with her students and trying to make the lesson enjoyable so that they can gain confidence and improve their ability to communicate in English. We met her and asked about her experience working and living in China. What is different about working in China compared to your home country? I find working in China much more enjoyable because the culture is very different than in the USA. I like studying about different cultures and the Chinese culture and its people I find very interesting. The Chinese have a way of slowing down and smelling the roses. In The USA, I find that it is more fast paced. Here I have more time to do the things that I enjoy doing and learning the language. Also, I have the opportunity of meeting people from many different countries, she tells.
What is the best? I must admit that the best part of working in China is the ability to be able to save money. With the economy situation in the USA and other countries saving is challenging. China has given me many opportunities to enjoy my work and the chance to save and be able to help my family with different financial needs. Also, working in China has been an experience that has given me a thirst to continually improve myself as a teacher, she states.
Qingdao Expat Magazine - 6
This is Christine
Send an email to qingdaoexpateditor @yahoo.com
Doing Business in QD
Share your experience!
My name is Christine Zahran and I’m from the USA. My father is Middle Eastern and my mother is from the Dominican Republic. I have been living in China for 7 1/2 years and in Qingdao, for 6 1/2 years. Prior to coming to China, I had worked for an International Company running a financial training program for South American radio station managers. Two years ago, I received my CELTA (Cambridge English to Adults) Accreditation in Vietnam. Last year, I received my Director of Studies/Teacher Training in Barcelona, Spain.
Apart from traveling, teaching is one of my passions. It gives me great satisfaction to see learning in action and to know that I’ve been an active part in that learning process. One of my ultimate goals is to train non-native speakers to teach English with the proficiency and passion that the language should be taught. “I look forward to having fun and being a lifetime learner!”
Photos: Marit Rambech
What was the most difficult part of living in China? Probably the most challenging part of moving and living in China has been the language. One really needs to learn a little Chinese in order to survive here. Also, when learning the language, we are able to get to know the people and their culture a little better. It’s been an adventure, she says.
What do you miss most from home? I have lived in different countries so home is a little foreign to me at times but of course not seeing my family as often as I would like has had its challenges but I know that I am making a difference in the lives of others so they understand, she explains.
“China has
given me many opportunities”
What is the best part of living in China? I must admit that the best part of living in China is building relationships. Over the years, I have made so many wonderful Chinese friends but also foreign. To be able to learn about other cultures has helped me mature as a person and to see the world in a different light.
Also, as a teacher, I find great satisfaction in knowing that I have had a part in my students’ learning the English language. To know that they have grown to be more confident in their ability to learn English has been very rewarding, Christine says. Also, living in China has given me many opportunities to travel, she adds. How long will you stay? I’m not sure how long I will stay in China but for now I am enjoying my life here, Christine says with a smile. I take each year at a time, she adds.
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By Jenny Ek & Marit Rambech
Young in Qingdao
Want to share your story? Send an email to qingdaoexpateditor @yahoo.com
When Anna was 8 years old she remembered her dad coming back home from work in England and asked Anna and her mum if they would like to move to China. To me, as an 8 year old I was excited but for my mum it was a big shock, Anna says. Funnily enough my dad had already agreed to the question at work that day so it didn’t really leave us enough time to say no, she continues. In the end, we didn’t say no and within a few months we were out in Qingdao. When I first arrived in Qingdao it was quiet, there weren’t so many foreigners 8 years ago, as there are now, Anna adds. With 8 years in Qingdao, Anna is probably one of the most experienced expats here, despite her young age. We asked her to share her experience of being a young girl in Qingdao.
Anna, after 8 years in Qingdao, where is “home”? England or China? This is such a difficult question to answer! As I am now 16, it is fact that I have lived in Qingdao longer than England, so people would say that Qingdao is my home. BUT, honestly Qingdao and England are both my homes, if I am in England I miss Qingdao, if I am in Qingdao I miss England so it is still a question I try to answer everyday of living here. How do you keep in touch with friends and family in England? I mainly keep in touch with family and friends in England through Skype. Since Facebook and Twitter etc. were blocked in China I haven’t
really been using it other than when I go on holiday to countries that allow them. I also send a few emails here and there. Which school do you go to? When I first moved to Qingdao in 2005 there were only 2 schools QIS (or QISS as this is its new name) so I attended this school for 2 years before moving to the new British school in Qingdao YCIS (Yew Chung International School) in 2007. I have been at the school from year 7 (grade 6) to year 12 (grade 11). How is school? School is an adventure. I am one of the only Brits in the school, but I enjoy the international environment.
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There are currently only 2 students in the A Level programme at YCIS, myself and a Korean boy.
A typical day for me based on my A Level course would be to have the typical English and Maths class, along with Marine Science, Chinese and Travel and Tourism (which is my favourite subject!) In total we have 7 periods a day with a 15 minute break and a 50 minute lunch time. How did you learn Mandarin? I started learning Mandarin at the age of 8 at QIS, but once I moved to YCIS I really started to study hard in the subject as YCIS has a great Chinese curriculum that helped me get an A* (97%) in my
Young Expats Photo: Private
Anna together with her parents.
International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE).
Can you give any tip to other young expats that struggle to learn Mandarin? My tips for young expats learning Chinese is, don’t give up. If you feel that you are struggling in the subject then just push through it. Of course it will be hard but Chinese teachers know this and will not force pressure on you. Another tip is to converse with Chinese nationals as this will give you more confidence and a stronger accent!! How is life as a young girl in China? Life as a young girl in China is a roller coaster, you still go through a lot of emotions that a typical
teenage girl would do but to be honest it has been the best experience of my life and I am thankful to my parents for giving me this great opportunity.
What do you do in your spare time? In my spare time, I usually chat to friends on my laptop, photography or go to Marina city to watch a movie, go shopping or just have fun by the water with my friends.
What is your future plan? My future plan is to graduate YCIS with great grades and plan to go to a good university either in England or somewhere in Asia, maybe Australia or New Zealand. I would love to become a hotel manager or do something related to hotels.
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What do you think your life looks like in ten years? I think my life will be pretty awesome in 10 years, hopefully I will have a great job in a place that I love, have lots of friends and just live life as it comes.
Do you have any tip to other youths living in Qingdao? My best tip for youths out here in Qingdao is to be sociable. Get to know the people around you who are the same age and have a similar background of moving around so you don’t feel like the only one and enjoy this experience you have the best you can! By Jenny Ek and Marit Rambech
OLD MAN BEACH
Share your photos!
Send an email to qingdaoexpateditor @yahoo.com
by Marissa Balough Qingdao Expat Magazine - 10
Qingdao in Pictures
LOW TIDE
Qingdao Qingdao Expat Expat Magazine Magazine - 11- 11
by Marit Rambech
S O LA
Qingdao Expat Magazine - 12
Qingdao in Pictures
N A H
Share your p hoto S end an
s!
qingd to aoexp a t edi @yah oo.com tor
Qingdao Qingdao Expat Expat Magazine Magazine - 13- 13
By Marit Rambech
Expat Home Cooking:
North Indian Chicken Curry
Share a recipe from your country! Send an email to qingdaoexpateditor @yahoo.com
Ingrediens 4 tablespoons oil (sunflower seed/groundnut/mixed nuts) 4-5 dry bay leaves 3-4 dry red chillies 2 cloves 1 teaspoon cumin seeds 1 teaspoon black peppercorns 1-2 small-medium onions, chopped Paste of 4-5 small-medium onions 2 ½ - 3 inch piece of skinned ginger 6-8 cloves of skinned garlic (blended in a food processor) 3-4 medium sized tomatoes (blended in a food processor) ½ - 1 teaspoon ground turmeric 1 – 2 tablespoon ground coriander ½ - ¾ teaspoon red chilli powder
1 – 2 teaspoon garam masala (or you can make your own by dry grinding the following spices in a food processor, store the extra in an airtight container in a cool and dark place for upto a month for future use) 1 tablespoon black peppercorns ½ tablespoon whole cloves 1 tablespoon plus ½ teaspoon cardamom seeds 3 tablespoons cumin seeds 3 tablespoons coriander seeds 4 (3-inch) cinnamon sticks 1/4 cup dried red chilles 1/2 tablespoon freshly grated nutmeg or nutmeg powder
All/most of these spices should be mostly available at Metro but if you can’t find them then instead of the garam masala, it is fine to buy the ready made Indian Curry spice mix powder, also available at Metro/Hisense Supermarket – you will just need to adjust the hotness of the curry by adding an extra ½ - 1 teaspoon of chilli powder according to your taste if you prefer it a bit hot! Salt, to taste (usually ¾ - 1 teaspoon is enough) 500 grams chicken breasts, thoroughly washed and cut into bite size pieces 1 handful of washed, finely chopped fresh coriander leaves
Qingdao Expat Magazine - 14
TIME Total 1 hour 20 minutes approximately Prep 35-40 minutes Cook 35-40 minutes Serves 4-5
METHOD Heat the oil in a deep wok like non-stick pan, over a medium-high heat. Once it is almost-smoking hot, reduce the heat to medium and add the dry bay leaves, dry red chillies, cloves, cumin seeds and black peppercorns and fry for about 20-25 seconds until aromatic.
Add the chopped onion and cook for about 2-3 minutes, stirring often. Stir in the onion, ginger and garlic paste and cook stirring often for 7-8 minutes or until golden brown. Add the salt and turmeric, coriander and red chilli powders + garam masala and stir for another 3-4 minutes. Pour in the tomato paste and cook over a medium heat for about 10 minutes, until the liquid has reduced and the oil leaves the sides of the pan. Add the chicken pieces and brown them over a medium-high heat for 3-4 minutes. Add enough water to almost cover the chicken (about 300-350ml), bring to the boil and then cook with the pan covered (with a slight gap to prevent from spilling) over a low heat until the chicken is cooked through and the liquid reduces (about ¼ should be gone) so the gravy thickens a bit (about ¾ should remain from original). The slower it cooks the better it tastes, this takes about 35-40 minutes for medium bite sized chicken pieces. Check with a fork: once the chicken is tender, it is done. Dish out directly into a deep serving bowl/serving dish while still piping hot. To garnish, sprinkle with the finely chopped fresh coriander leaves. Serve, while still hot, on individual plates, accompanied with plain white rice. (Any leftovers can easily be frozen and reused for upto 7 days. For reuse – take out from the freezer and thaw (in the fridge side) a day before you intend to use the curry. Re-heat over medium-high heat in a non-stick pan just before serving and then garnish with finely chopped fresh coriander leaves and serve individually accompanied with plain white rice.)
By Preeti Chaudhary
Qingdao Expat Magazine - 15
What’s Cooking in QD?
Photos: Preeti Chaudhary
10 MUST DO IN BEIJING By Marit Rambech, Jenny Ek & Preeti Chaudhary
1. Climb the Great Wall 3. Stroll in the Summer Palace
2. Eat Beijing Duck 5. Discover the Forbidden City 4. Cross Tian’anmen Square
Qingdao Expat Magazine - 16
7. Get lost in the Hutongs
9. Get Creative at 798 Art District
Expat Travel
6. Have a drink at Lan Club
8. Bargain at Silk Street
10. Go and see the Ledgend of Kung Fu at the Red Teather Qingdao Qingdao Expat Expat Magazine Magazine - 17- 17
Events in October
Qingdao Expat Magazine - 18
Events for Young Expats
Qingdao Playgroup
Thursdays 10.00 am - 11.30 am. E-mail: qingdaoplaygroup@gmail.com
Musical Monkeys
Fridays 10.30 am - 11.30 am. E-mail: qingdaomusicalmonkeys@gmail.com Note: New music for toddlers programme is availablew - Read more on page 30.
FOUR WEEK PROGRAMME Email for registra5on
info@qingdaocommunity centre.com
QINGDAO YOUTH SOCCER CLUB Sponsored by YCIS, at Qingdao Interna5onal Community Centre. Saturday mornings November 3rd,10th,17th and 24th The Award Ceremony will conclude the session on November 24th
TWO DIVISIONS TIGERS (AGES 6 – 8 ) 10:15 – 11:45 LIONS ( AGES 9 – 12 ) 11:45 – 13:15
COST is 375 RMB/child. Includes full uniform, team photo, officials, awards and bus shu\le Registra5on Capacity 24 per division (first come first serve basis, see email contact)
Volunteer Coaches/Assistant Coaches needed! (experience an asset but not necessary.) Shu\le Bus Route Transporta5on to be provided (Qingdao Jusco pick up to Qingdao Interna5onal Community Centre, 72 Tai Hang Shan Lu, Huangdao.) Child must be accompanied by parent/ guardian to each session
Qingdao Expat Magazine - 19
Out & About
PLAY!
MUSICAL MONKEYS!
Weekly Events PICTURE Photo: Marit Rambech
Photo: Jenny Ek
Photo: Jenny Ek
“Culture Club“
Qingdao International Business Association (QIBA)
Thursdays at 1 pm - 4 pm
Walk Inn Japanese Restaurant 4F Xinwen Zhongxin Buildning, 50 Hong Kong Middle Road
For more info contact eileenlamb@hotmail.com
Tuesdays evenings at 7:15 pm
Wednesday at 7 pm
For everyone who is interested in running but is tired of running alone, come along for an easy run of about 60 minutes!
Coctails 6:30 to 7:30 pm Meeting start at 7 pm
Meeting place alternates between Red Sculpture on May 4th Square and Shi Lao Ren SPR.
For more info contact info@qibaglobal.com
For more info or get to get onto the mail list contact qingdaohhh@gmail.com
QIBA meets on the 4th Wednesday of each month Hotel InterContinental 1F
Fun and cultural entertainment whilst learning this Chinese ancient game. Each player donates 20 RMB for the Qingdao Expat Charity.
Running Evenings
Weekends in Qingdao Photo: Photo:Jenny JennyEk Ek
Photo: Marit Rambech
Qingdao International Christian Fellowship
Qingdao Hash House Harriers - Runners and Walkers
All foreign passport holders are welcome!
Regular HHH runs for 60 - 90 minutes
Sunday Mornings 10 am - 11.30 am
Saturday afternoons at 2 pm
InterContinental Hotel Auditorium 3 F, 98 Aomen Lu.
Meets in the lobby of the Crown Plaza Cost: 10 RMB to cover beers and bus.
For more info visit www.qicf.org or send an email to info.qicf@gmail.com
For more info visit www.facebook.com/qdhhh or to get onto the mail list contact qingdaohhh@gmail.com
y ekl we ? a t r t n e Wa mind ur Expa ng re in o aili
jo ing m g ase n Ple Mor mailinat.com e e exp ff y o b C list o gda in
in
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Join us on our Coffee Mornings! Are you new in town? Or do you want to meet up with old friends? Come and join us for one of our Expat Coffee Mornings to make new friends, mix, mingle and catch-up with old ones or just to enjoy the stunning downtown view in some great company! Every Wednesday at Starbucks (next to H&M) Marina City, Olympic Sailing Marina. Begins at 10.45 AM.
Qingdao Expat Magazine - 20
Attractions to visit Little Qingdao
A small island with a light house and a cafĂŠ. Connected to the land by a narrow bridge. Open daily. Entrance fee 15 yuan.
Photo: Jenny Ek
TV Sightseeing Tower
348 metres tall and located in the north of Zhongshan Park. It has many different platforms for viewing.
Photo: Marit Rambech
Qingdao Pier
Located off the 1st bay near bathing beach No. 6. This famous symbol apperars on the Tsingtao Beer label.
You can find info about more attractions on our website: www.qingdaoexpat.com
Questions about living in Qingdao? Our Expat Representatives will answer your questions!
?
Gerd Burkard
Preeti Chaudhary
Cathy Ben-David
Pia Vinchon-Tahon
Lao Van Echelpoel
Alex Schroeter & Christlane Lawo-Fu Germany
Germany (Business Related) Phone: 139 6395 6259 E-mail: burkard.g@ger-lin.com France Phone: 139 6398 5712 E-mail: piavinchon@yahoo.fr
!
India England Phone: 150 5322 7805 E-mail: catherinebendavid@ E-mail: preetichaudhary1@gmail.com yahoo.com Belgium Phone: 136 7889 8189 E-mail: leo.vanecheipoel@gmail.com
E-mail: deutscheinqingdao@ hotmail.de
Help our Newbies! Interested in being a contact person? Please send an email to qingdaoexpateditor@yahoo.com
Qingdao Expat Magazine - 21
Out & About
Photo: Jenny Ek
MUSICAL MONKEYS! If you have a child aged 1 to 3.5 and you would like to continue with music for young children – this is for you!
A new music for toddlers programme is available. (Foreign passport holders only) 12th and 26th of October •9:30 am Music Session (free of charge) •10:15 am snack and drink picnic (fruit provided) •10:15 am Outdoor play •11:00 am Home time
A basic bus shuttle will be provided: •Jin Hai 8:50am Surf Plaza 9:15am (Hong Kong Road) (other pick-up places can be considered) •Music Room at YCIS Qingdao Camps Building 7, 36 Laoshan Road Please contact qingdaomusicalmonkeys@ gmail.com for more details.
Qingdao Expat Magazine - 22
Birthdays in
2 7 12 17 22 27
3 8 13 18 23 28
4 9 14 19 24 29
5 10 15 20 25 30
Peter BAMBERG (‘88)
Jackline RAGGI (‘96) Peter WADDINGTON Lawrence Wong Shoko Hearley
Rex ELLIOTT Riitta LAAKSONEN, Elin TINNERT (‘01) Matthew Bruno
Amit OZ (‘92) Carly Reynolds
Joanna CORL (‘98) Pieter Geerts
Max Kolding JOHANSEN (‘06) Steffen SCHEFFLER Yutaka SAKAMOTO Frands NIELSEN Kris Veen
Daniele Radrizzani
Askand ILLTELLYOU Seojin KIM (‘01) Bastian Priesnitz
Jessica MENG Jessica Meng Wilma Ekström
Andrew Herd
Cathy BEN-DAVID
Wolfgang VOLLERT Maelie BALEIX (‘04) Elli Pirounakis Piyapas Saekuo Constantin Quambusch
Ryan HOEFFT (‘00) George ROMANOS Himashie Perera
Haim SCHWARTZ Maia GIVLI Harry VAN PEBORGH-GOOCH (‘05) Jonathan SHI (‘04) Maia Givli
Shu Shin TING (‘88) Cecily EXNER
Leo VAN ECHELPOEL Julieta Caso Abbie Sykes
Aidan Wang
Bastian Priesnitz Alessandra Marelli
Michael SCHULZ Wei LIU Young Nim Kwon Adam Kaufman
Dong Ying KIM (‘95) Sara Russell
Saskia BÜNTE (‘94) Kenji YAMAMOTO Larry GAO
Denali SMITH (‘97) Juanita DE SOUZA Moon Kyn CHOE (‘93) Mirjam ERHARD
Tomas GUSTAFSSON
John CHAPPLE Emma Ding Oliver Chan
Kyung Lee KIM Ursula ULLMANN
Patricia BAMBERG (‘89) Louise Yuru Niu Christine ANDERSSON (‘99) Nathalie RENTON Sunny huang
Elise Sae-jung Kwon
Happy Birthday! Sheng Ri Kuai Le!
Qingdao Expat Magazine - 23
Expat Birthdays
1 6 11 16 21 26 31
OCTOBER
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