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Hangzhou is a 'great place to be'
By Francis Spiekerman |
September 28, 2011, Wednesday
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CHINA is the place to be: that is what we heard a couple of years ago. So when we had the chance to move to this side of the world, we were open to it, but did not know what we were getting into.
"You are crazy going that far with two teenagers," everyone told us. But the kids were already doing their own research through the Internet, getting in touch with students at the only international school in Hangzhou, the Hangzhou International School.
Having traveled to a few countries already, you know what problems you might face. Going to a place where you don't understand a word people are saying made us wonder why we did not choose to live in Shanghai. At least we could use our English there. But now, we are so glad we didn't, because Hangzhou is just like Shanghai's backyard. We live in a very relaxed atmosphere and Hangzhou offers us the real Chinese life we wanted to experience. It has a good mix with Western medical facilities, English movies, foreign bookstores and yes, Starbucks. Shanghai is only a mere 45 fast minutes away, close enough for a day trip.
I love the way Chinese people seem to enjoy and value what they have. They live in small houses sometimes only with a bed, a table, a chair and a light bulb. But when I pass those houses during my neighborhood strolls, they seem to be happy, chatting with people passing by, playing cards, probably drinking baijiu (white spirit). And the whole scene is colored with all the laundry hanging out. I always wonder what would happen if you tried this in Amsterdam.
Driving is another exercise that is totally different from what we are used to in Europe. A lot of the expats that live here in Hangzhou passed that completely illogical driving test and got their license to move around this city that is not at all ready for the number of cars that it has to deal with. Having only one gaojia (elevated road) getting all the traffic from north to south, Hangzhou gives you an idea of the future activities of the traffic department. I think I prefer the public red bikes although they are all so small that I am sort of curled up on the bike.
Hangzhou is not the metropolis Shanghai is and we do not have 18 different international schools to choose from for our children. But we do have a very close community of different nationalities helping each other find our ways. The international school is the common place for many of us to meet and therefore, a very important place in the lives of many families. Fortunately, the school is growing and offering more and more subjects and activities to make sure that the school is a good alternative to the ones in Shanghai. Our children will grow up living amongst the locals in many situations, learning not only to value their material world, but also to see the big differences and learn from it. This is an experience nobody can take away from them, wherever they go.
Hangzhou is a great place to be and with its cultural diversity, a big positive contribution to our international life.
Francis Spiekerman is president of Parent and Friends Association of
Hangzhou International School
"You are crazy going that far with two teenagers," everyone told us. But the kids were already doing their own research through the Internet, getting in touch with students at the only international school in Hangzhou, the Hangzhou International School.
Having traveled to a few countries already, you know what problems you might face. Going to a place where you don't understand a word people are saying made us wonder why we did not choose to live in Shanghai. At least we could use our English there. But now, we are so glad we didn't, because Hangzhou is just like Shanghai's backyard. We live in a very relaxed atmosphere and Hangzhou offers us the real Chinese life we wanted to experience. It has a good mix with Western medical facilities, English movies, foreign bookstores and yes, Starbucks. Shanghai is only a mere 45 fast minutes away, close enough for a day trip.
I love the way Chinese people seem to enjoy and value what they have. They live in small houses sometimes only with a bed, a table, a chair and a light bulb. But when I pass those houses during my neighborhood strolls, they seem to be happy, chatting with people passing by, playing cards, probably drinking baijiu (white spirit). And the whole scene is colored with all the laundry hanging out. I always wonder what would happen if you tried this in Amsterdam.
Driving is another exercise that is totally different from what we are used to in Europe. A lot of the expats that live here in Hangzhou passed that completely illogical driving test and got their license to move around this city that is not at all ready for the number of cars that it has to deal with. Having only one gaojia (elevated road) getting all the traffic from north to south, Hangzhou gives you an idea of the future activities of the traffic department. I think I prefer the public red bikes although they are all so small that I am sort of curled up on the bike.
Hangzhou is not the metropolis Shanghai is and we do not have 18 different international schools to choose from for our children. But we do have a very close community of different nationalities helping each other find our ways. The international school is the common place for many of us to meet and therefore, a very important place in the lives of many families. Fortunately, the school is growing and offering more and more subjects and activities to make sure that the school is a good alternative to the ones in Shanghai. Our children will grow up living amongst the locals in many situations, learning not only to value their material world, but also to see the big differences and learn from it. This is an experience nobody can take away from them, wherever they go.
Hangzhou is a great place to be and with its cultural diversity, a big positive contribution to our international life.
Francis Spiekerman is president of Parent and Friends Association of
Hangzhou International School
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