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Home » Feature » Art and Culture
Mrs Young Club for trailing wives
By Chen Ye |
June 29, 2010, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
NEWLY arrived wives are sometimes at a loss when they move overseas with their husbands, but the Mrs Young Club aims to make them feel at home.
The club in Caojiadu Community in Jing'an District was started by the community itself in an effort to help foreign women, sometimes known as "trailing spouses," learn more about Chinese culture and really feel that Shanghai is their home.
Since it started in early March, Mrs Young Club has attracted dozens of members from Australia, France, Japan and 13 other countries and regions, according to Caojiadu Community staff.
At the first session on March 6, they enjoyed Chinese tea culture, made traditional scarves and discussed their living experiences.
The club especially sees itself as a bridge between Chinese and expats during the six-month World Expo.
Caojiadu Community estimates it has more than 120 foreign families, among several thousand Chinese families.
"We want to combine Expo 2010 and traditional Chinese activities. Through communication and exchange we hope to combine Eastern and Western culture and show the pleasures of modern wives' life in Shanghai," says Zhou Yi, initiator of Mrs Young Club.
She says the club will provide free Chinese classes and courses in etiquette, cooking and various aspects of Chinese culture.
It will offer volunteer activities, such as helping in nursing homes, senior citizens' centers and Sunshine House for people with disabilities. Volunteers can also help needy families and work as local Expo volunteers in the community.
Vivian Harris from Australia has been living in Caojiadu for nearly 10 years and has a charming Chinese name, Hao Liwei.
"At first I was just in Shanghai temporarily with a job, but after spending time in the city, I found I have become addicted to it," says Harris, who was one of the hosts at the launch of Mrs Young.
"So I finally decided to live here forever."
She enjoys chatting with her Chinese neighbors and says she has become "something of a China guru."
"I hope that I and the other Mrs Youngs can make more efforts to help the city we love."
When a typical Mrs Young first moves into Caojiadu Community, there are problems of language and lack of familiarity with the environment, so it's common to feel lonely.
By attending more activities they start getting involved in Caojiadu Community, and they get to know each other.
"We made a decision to create Mrs Young as a platform for overseas ladies to enjoy a better life in Caojiadu," says Li Renfeng, a community office staff.
"Mrs Young Club is useful because we can discuss problems and difficulties together and share our culture with others," says Tang Zhinuo, a French Chinese.
"It is like a small United Nations. By sharing with friends we can learn more."
Initiator Zhou says the most recent activity was a visit to Master Ying Wancheng's house where they learned about Chinese calligraphy and had an afternoon get-together and chat.
"We hope to provide more opportunities to get together during the Expo," says Zhou.
Everyone interested in the club could contact Zhou Yi by 1376-1270-998
The club in Caojiadu Community in Jing'an District was started by the community itself in an effort to help foreign women, sometimes known as "trailing spouses," learn more about Chinese culture and really feel that Shanghai is their home.
Since it started in early March, Mrs Young Club has attracted dozens of members from Australia, France, Japan and 13 other countries and regions, according to Caojiadu Community staff.
At the first session on March 6, they enjoyed Chinese tea culture, made traditional scarves and discussed their living experiences.
The club especially sees itself as a bridge between Chinese and expats during the six-month World Expo.
Caojiadu Community estimates it has more than 120 foreign families, among several thousand Chinese families.
"We want to combine Expo 2010 and traditional Chinese activities. Through communication and exchange we hope to combine Eastern and Western culture and show the pleasures of modern wives' life in Shanghai," says Zhou Yi, initiator of Mrs Young Club.
She says the club will provide free Chinese classes and courses in etiquette, cooking and various aspects of Chinese culture.
It will offer volunteer activities, such as helping in nursing homes, senior citizens' centers and Sunshine House for people with disabilities. Volunteers can also help needy families and work as local Expo volunteers in the community.
Vivian Harris from Australia has been living in Caojiadu for nearly 10 years and has a charming Chinese name, Hao Liwei.
"At first I was just in Shanghai temporarily with a job, but after spending time in the city, I found I have become addicted to it," says Harris, who was one of the hosts at the launch of Mrs Young.
"So I finally decided to live here forever."
She enjoys chatting with her Chinese neighbors and says she has become "something of a China guru."
"I hope that I and the other Mrs Youngs can make more efforts to help the city we love."
When a typical Mrs Young first moves into Caojiadu Community, there are problems of language and lack of familiarity with the environment, so it's common to feel lonely.
By attending more activities they start getting involved in Caojiadu Community, and they get to know each other.
"We made a decision to create Mrs Young as a platform for overseas ladies to enjoy a better life in Caojiadu," says Li Renfeng, a community office staff.
"Mrs Young Club is useful because we can discuss problems and difficulties together and share our culture with others," says Tang Zhinuo, a French Chinese.
"It is like a small United Nations. By sharing with friends we can learn more."
Initiator Zhou says the most recent activity was a visit to Master Ying Wancheng's house where they learned about Chinese calligraphy and had an afternoon get-together and chat.
"We hope to provide more opportunities to get together during the Expo," says Zhou.
Everyone interested in the club could contact Zhou Yi by 1376-1270-998
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