Foreign Schools in China – An Alternative
Posted by Jim Cashel
Chengdu Waldorf School Classroon
Foreigners living in China with children fret at the limited school options. Chinese public schools are typically not a good option (unless perhaps the kids are very young) because of the language challenges, didactic approach and huge classes. International schools are also often not a great option because they generally teach in English, include only foreign kids, and are very expensive.
Are there any “alternative” options for foreign kids in China?
I have lived in China this past year with my wife and daughters (ages 10 and 8). We have been very happy with our schooling option – a private, Chinese school called the Chengdu Waldorf School. Here are answers to questions we frequently receive:
1) What is the Chengdu Waldorf School?
The Chengdu Waldorf School is the first Waldorf methods school open in China. Operating since 2004, the school currently offers classes K-8.
2) Are foreign students allowed at the Chengdu Waldorf School?
Yes. The last few years there have been 3-5 foreign students per year (of about 150 students).
3) What is the admissions process?
Contact the school. They will send application materials.
4) What is tuition?
In 2009-2010 tuition for all students was approximately $2,500 per student per year. In addition there are a number of other expenses (lunch, musical instruments, field trips).
5) What language does the School teach in?
All classes are in Mandarin. About one hour per day is devoted to either English study or German study. The School typically arranges for the foreign students to be pulled out of class for an hour daily (sometimes corresponding with the English or German instruction) for Mandarin study. About 1/3 of the School’s teachers and administrators speak good English.
6) What is the curriculum like?
As a Waldorf Institution, the School’s curriculum is very project-based. The weekly schedule offers a mix of writing, reading, math, art, music, physical education, gardening, crafts, and other activities. The curriculum takes advantage of the School’s extensive grounds, which include a lake, garden, play areas, and other outdoor facilities. The school day runs from about 8:45 to about 4:30. There is relatively little homework.
7) What is the academic calendar?
Schools in China run from about September 1 to about June 30. The Waldorf School has a two week vacation at the end of September (which corresponds with the Mid-Autumn festival), a four-week break in February (Chinese New Year), and a few shorter breaks spread throughout the calendar.
8 ) How do foreign kids do at the Waldorf School?
The record of foreign kids at the Chengdu Waldorf school is mixed. About half do well, about half don’t. (Some return home early.) In general terms, the factors which help kids adjust are a) some knowledge of Mandarin before starting classes, b) previous experience with travel, foreign cities and new cuisines, c) younger age (older kids have a harder time), and d) exposure in the past to Waldorf education (or at least Waldorf values in education).
LIVING IN CHENGDU
9) How do foreign families get visas to live in Chengdu?
There are several visa options. Some parents have gotten work visas, typically for teaching English at one of the universities in Chengdu. It is also possible for a parent to get a student visa for Sichuan University if enrolling in a year long course (typically beginning Mandarin). Both of these options involve a moderate amount of paperwork and are best initiated before arrival. The third option is to use a tourist visa. Tourist visas can be valid for up to one year, typically requiring leaving the country every 60 or 90 days (a trip to Hong Kong counts).
10) How is it living in Chengdu?
Chengdu is a large city (10+ million people) with basically every modern convenience. The people in Sichuan Province are extremely relaxed and hospitable. It is easy to buy things, find good restaurants, and arrange cell phones, internet connections, and other needs. All of that said, Chengdu is in the heartland of China. There are relatively few foreigners here. Living in Chengdu demands both patience and a sense of adventure. It is important to learn enough Mandarin to at least be able to direct a taxi, buy food, and navigate other day-to-day activities.
11) What is the cost of living in Chengdu?
By American standards Chengdu is inexpensive. As a rule of thumb, costs are 1/3 (or less) US costs. Costs are 1/2 (or less) of those in China’s coastal cities.
12) What is the weather like?
Chengdu’s summers are hot (90s, humid) and winters are cold (40s. some rain). Winter temperatures sometimes drop into the 30s but it doesn’t snow. Many buildings are not heated in the Winter (restaurants, offices). Skies throughout the year are often overcast or gray (not just Chengdu – all of Sichuan Province). There is some modest, periodic air pollution, but generally it is not an issue the way it is in many large Chinese cities.
13) Where do foreigners live in Chengdu?
Foreigners live in many parts of Chengdu. Families attending the Waldorf School most frequently have lived near Sichuan University or the US Consulate, which are about 15 minutes by car from the School. Families typically hire a driver or arrange a carpool for their kids’ transportation. It is possible to live near the School, although the retail and restaurant options aren’t as interesting as closer the center of Chengdu.
OTHER SCHOOL OPTIONS IN CHENGDU AND CHINA
14) What other schools to foreign kids attend in Chengdu?
Most foreign kids in Chengdu attend one of several international schools (QSI, Eton House or Leman). As elsewhere in China, these are just for foreign kids (Chinese children are not allowed), teach in English, and have tuition rates similar to private schools in the US.
15) Do foreign kids ever go to Chinese public school?
In theory foreign kids can go to Chinese public school. In practice they seldom do for both linguistic and pedagogical reasons. Foreign kids, no matter their age, are typically put into first grade if they do not speak good Mandarin. Chinese public schools are characterized by long hours, memorization, and lots of homework.
15) Are there other “alternative private school” options in China?
We are not aware of any other “alternative” private school options in Chengdu or China, with the possible exception of a new Waldorf school opening in Guangzhou.
Overall we have had an excellent experience at the Chengdu Waldorf – and in China overall!
Explaining the China Miracle
Posted by Jim Cashel
Hard at work
Much has been made about China’s economic success over the past twenty years. China’s economy has grown eight-fold, hundreds of millions of Chinese have been lifted out of poverty, and China has weathered the current financial crisis better than any large economy (with expected 8% growth this year).
Analysts point to government policy, a centralized economy, an export driven approach, a devalued Yuan, and other factors to explain this economic success.
I’m currently living in Chengdu, China. As I look around, the main explanation for the “China Miracle”, however, is pretty obvious:
The Chinese work really hard.
That sounds banal, but it is true. Students generally are at school from 8-5 (plus half day Saturday), with several hours of homework thrown in. Most businesses are open seven days a week, often into the evenings. Construction sites buzz from six in the morning until ten at night each day. Even the Post Office is open on Sundays.
I’m not sure this makes for a happier society (the Europeans accuse the Americans of over-working, afterall). It does lead, however, to economic progress. The Chinese have witnessed the fruits of their hard labors over the last twenty years, they want more, and are working hard to get it.
Hidden Barriers to China – US Communications
Posted by Jim Cashel
It will take more than a handshake...
China – US relations matter a lot in global affairs. Transnational issues involving global warming, natural resources, international finance — to name a few — rely critically on China – US communications.
Unfortunately there are many obvious barriers to these communications: Relatively few Americans speak Mandarin; there are significant cultural differences; and our capital cities are twelve time zones apart.
There are also other, less-recognized barriers to communications that have been obvious to me since moving to China last Summer:
- Web Policy: The Chinese censor much of the web. These days, while most information sites are not blocked (NY Times, Washington Post, BBC), most social media sites are (Facebook, Twitter, blogs, wikis, forums, media sharing sites). This is a big deal, not only preventing Chinese from engaging with the rest of the world online, but also depriving the rest of the world of the intellectual and social participation of the planet’s largest country.
- Fiscal Policy: The Chinese keep the value of their currency artificially low in order to spur manufacturing and exports. This means that not only are foreign goods expensive in China, but also it is artificially expensive for Chinese to travel (but cheap for others to visit China!). When I travel in neighboring countries I see Russians, Iranians, Australians — but relatively few Chinese.
- Youth Exchange: Few Chinese young adults have spent significant amounts of time out of the country. It is expensive, and visas to many countries (such as the US) are difficult to acquire. In contrast, many American young adults have traveled through academic programs, the Peace Corps, non-profits, or military service. The current US Ambassador to China, Jon Huntsman, for example, learned Mandarin while serving as a missionary in Taiwan.
- Culture: This dimension is harder to assess, but my impression from Chinese friends (and please forgive me if I am wrong) is that Chinese are insular and feel some intimidation by the prospect of travel, or even becoming more global in perspective. I’m not aware of a long history of Chinese explorers setting off for discovery. When our friends travel to other countries, they often travel in big packs. To be fair, many of my American friends thought we were nuts moving to China, and would never try such a crazy thing, but I think the Chinese are more uncomfortable with globalization than they let on.
Things are moving very quickly in China. The Chinese are obsessed with learning English. Internet and cell coverage is great. Skype works well. There are many more foreigners here than in the past. China – US communications will likely improve given the current trajectory. There is a long way to go, however, and we really can’t hope to tackle many significant global issues unless fundamental — and sometimes hidden — barriers to better China – US communications are addressed.
Art on the Avenue 2009
Posted by Andrew Cohen
Forum One staff ventured into the field October 3 — well, we went right outside our front door anyhow — for Alexandria’s 2009 Art on the Avenue.
For the tenth year in a row, we sponsored a spin art booth at this annual multicultural crafts festival in our own neighborhood of Del Ray.
Close to a 1,000 children stopped by to create beautiful, original works of art. As you can see by their smiles in the video and slideshow below, they had a blast!
Web Censorship in China
Posted by Jim Cashel
What do the Chinese have against Ranger Rick? I was trying to read a Ranger Rick blog post to my daughter from our current home in China. Unfortunately the National Wildlife Federation’s blog site is blocked by the Chinese. So are all blogs on Wordpress, Blogger, BlogSpot, and other popular services. So are (it appears) any URL with the word “blog” in it.
The Chinese also really don’t like Facebook. Not only is the site blocked, but any site with the word “Facebook” in the URL is as well.
The Chinese government has been aggressively blocking websites for years. These days, few news and information sites are blocked — NY Times, BBC, Wikipedia are all fine (but have been blocked in the past). The real focus of Chinese censors is social media sites — Twitter, Facebook, blogs, bulletin boards — anywhere individuals can publish and collaborate. This censorship has become much more pronounced since uprisings in Xinjiang Province in July.
Interestingly, Chinese censorship is easy to bypass for anyone with access to a proxy server or VPN (which is to say, most Westerners living in China). But the cost of these measures, and the chilling effect of government programs, mean that much of the web is effectively off limits to Chinese.
I don’t know why there isn’t more of an outcry about this. The Chinese are very image conscious. If web censorship were raised more frequently by the international community, the pressure would likely help reverse at least some of the broad and arbitrary censorship currently in place in China. At least let us read about Ranger Rick?
Expat Guide to Communications and Technology in China
Posted by Jim Cashel
I recently moved from the US to Chengdu, China. I didn’t know in advance much about what communications or technologies would work. Here is a synopsis of what I’ve learned:
Outlets: Power outlets in China generally accept three types of plugs: Chinese (3 prong), European (two round prongs) and American (two flat prongs). They don’t accept three prong American plugs, so bring adaptors for those.
Power: Power is 220V. Most American devices (computers, peripherals, etc.) accept input of 110V-240V, so they are fine. Some devices don’t (in my case an American phone and a power toothbrush). Read the fine print on the power cord.
Cell phones: Many US cellphones work in China, but calls and data roaming charges are very expensive. If you plan to be in China for a while, it is easy to buy a phone (in any mall or countless other places). I bought a cheap Nokia for about $30 and then the monthly plan with China Mobile is about $7 / month. I pay my cell bills by buying little “scratch off” phone cards at stores or kiosks and type in the code to add money to my account. When your account runs low the phone company starts texting you (albeit in Chinese).
iPhone: iPhones aren’t officially supported in China. Nonetheless it is estimated that there are approximately one million “jail-broken” iPhones in the country (I see quite a few). They work fine on local networks for both voice and data.
Traditional phone: I have a traditional phone in my apartment (which came with my internet service) which I don’t use. Traditional US phones seems to work fine in China.
Skype: I’ve used Skype a fair amount. It is good quality, a smallish delay, but I’ve had problems with calls dropping, so I can only use it for personal communications.
VOIP Phone (Vonage): I brought my Vonage modem with me and plugged it into the wireless router I have in my apartment. It works well (make sure to adjust setting online to “low bandwidth”). I now use it for most of my communications with the US.
Internet: I signed up for ADSL internet service for my apartment through China Telecom. They installed it in a couple of days (their technician was right on time!). It has worked very well. Bandwidth seems comparable to my home internet in the US. I hang wifi and vonage off of it. I think the service runs about $20 / month.
Wifi: Wifi in apartments seems pretty prevalent (I see about 4 other services in my apartment building from my computer). A number of cafes which actively cater to westerners publicize free wifi, which works well.
Internet Cafes: I see a number of very large internet cafes which actually are large rooms full of terminals with lots of people busy at work (or games).
Web Access: Speed and web access across the board is good. I have access to most international sites that I use regularly (google, gmail, nytimes, etc.). The government does block some sites, in part depending on current domestic events. For me this has principally meant the social networking and blog sites (Twitter, Facebook, Wordpress, Blogger). If you have access to a VPN in another country, this problem goes away. There are a number of commercial VPN services, including in Hong Kong.
Availability of Supplies: It seems that everything you might need is easily available. I went hunting recently for a linksys wireless router, found one relatively easily, and paid about the same price as that advertised on Amazon (and I didn’t even bargain much). Salespeople are everywhere, helpful, and some speak some English.
iTunes: Good access to iTunes, including downloading songs and movies.
Netflix: Netflix blocks streaming of movies to other countries. It would probably work via VPN if you want.
Hope this is helpful! Bon voyage!
Family Planning in Nicaragua
Posted by Angie Milton
My last workshop for the thirteen brigadistas from communities around San Juan del Sur was on the topic of Family Planning. Unlike a general Family Planning session, this one had to not only advocate for the importance of family planning and the options available, but most importantly how to communicate that information, and best counsel the women and young girls in their community. So as much as it was a health class, it was a health provider training.
In Nicaragua one of biggest reproductive health problems facing women is adolescent pregnancy (which is the highest of all Central American countries). Despite the liberal Sandinista party in power, President Ortega has made all forms of abortion illegal. In addition to the legal barriers, Nicaragua faces cultural and religious obstacles to family planning as it is a Catholic country with a significant evangelical population. During the workshop one of the brigadistas talked about the opposition to birth control from evangelical members of her community, and their belief that the use of contraception was killing future children.
I was not totally prepared for these myths, but before giving the workshop researched the methods of contraception available to women around San Juan. I found out that both the pill and the tri monthly injection is free to all women at the Central Health Center. In an effort to combat youth pregnancy, the injection is strongly recommended to all women under 20. It was explained to me by the health director that “young girls have so much on their mind, and are so busy thinking about boys that they tend to forget to take their pill every day” so it’s better for them to get an injection every three months.
Throughout the workshop I solicited group participation, and began by asking the women why they thought it was important to have a “plan” for when to start a family. While my immediate answer would be “finish school”, “get a good job”, or “buy a house” their minds went immediately to age saying that one needs to wait until her body is mature enough to carry a baby. Others said she needed to wait until she was ready for the responsibility of a baby, and finally one woman mentioned having finished school in case her husband should leave her and force her to find a good job. The conversation emphasized their awareness of the problem of adolescent pregnancy, and the cultural view of motherhood in Nicaragua as the primary role for women. You should have seen their jaws drop when I said if I had them at all, I would wait until I was at least 30.
At the end of the workshop I put the women on the spot and paired them up to do some role-playing. In each pair one played the role of the brigadista, the other the woman seeking family planning advice. Each pair was given a “situation” and it tested the women’s ability to make the appropriate family planning recommendation based on the scenario, and provide counseling in the correct tone given the patients circumstance (age, risk, etc). My favorite was Dona Viega, the eldest of all the brigadistas who was faced with a young girl considering having sex, and seeking knowledge on her options for birth control. I wondered if Dona Viega would pressure the young girl to abstain, telling her she as too young to even consider having sex. But she proved her status as the veteran brigadista, and while first recommending the girl finds other ways to show her affection, she followed up with a progressive explanation of the condom, and advised she visit the health center to get started on a tri monthly birth control injection.
It was really amazing to be involved in such an important health workshop. In Nicaragua specifically the clash of sexual health culture makes it an especially complicated topic. For example the machismo culture (which makes it hard for women to assert their sexual rights), contrasted with the abundance of birth control available free of charge regardless of age, and without parental consent. And the strict anti-abortion laws in discord with the free access to emergency contraception (which I found out is being abused by women in Nicaragua as a method of birth control). In my view the root of the problem is boredom. Women in Nicaragua don’t have big enough dreams, nor strong enough female role models. They see their mothers, autns, cousins, and neighbors all with babies (all mothers), and often lack any other vision for themselves beyond it. I think if there were more to wait for, more options opened up for them to force the need for a “plan” it would solve much of the problem.
Forum One hits the streets of Alexandria for Rebuilding Together’s Rebuilding Day
Posted by Chris von Spiegelfeld
Forum One took a break from web design to help rehab a home for someone in need on National Rebuilding Day. In back-to-back years, a team of Forum One volunteers joined Rebuilding Together of Alexandria to repair a home for an elderly resident in the area. This year Forum One proudly rose to the challenge after learning of the repairs needed for Ms. Edith Threat’s home. Led by Forum One’s team captain, me, the team of volunteers dropped their PHP scripts and wireframes to pick up hammers and paint brushes. Their unselfish efforts to make Edith’s home a little nicer that day helped contribute to another successful Rebuilding Day in Alexandria, Va.
National Rebuilding Day is the annual signature event of Rebuilding Together, the leading national nonprofit working to preserve affordable home ownership by bringing volunteers and communities together to rehabilitate the homes of low-income homeowners. Affiliates such as Rebuilding Together Alexandria, work with captains and their teams by providing home rehab projects that fall within the team’s expertise and comfort level. Rebuilding Together then sends the captains out with an Affiliate representative to scope out the home and come up with a task and resource list. Afterward, the captain heads to a Rebuilding Together partnered hardware store like Lowes or Ace Hardware to procure the necessary supplies.
This particular year, the team had a single day to crank through some serious work of weather stripping a door, caulking and painting moulding throughout the house, securing a shaky banister, and replacing a bathroom fan. There was very little time to get so much done, but for the cracked team of Forum One volunteers, it was a piece of cake.
Upon arriving at Edith’s house, the volunteers knew immediately they were earning their community service hours that day. It was an unseasonably ninety degrees in April and there was no air conditioning in the home. Those that worked upstairs could not even open a window. Despite having ample amount of Dunkin Donuts and coffee, it took a tremendous amount of boosting from the team captain to keep the morale on high.
The bathroom fan was the first thing to get fixed. I immediately recognized the dangers of lingering bathroom odors and prioritized this task above the others. As the crew was getting set up, I singlehandedly mounted the fan in place.
Those armed with caulking guns and paint brushes hit the moulding with a fury. Within two hours the entire moulding in the house was sparkling white and properly adjusted against the ceiling and the wall. Never has such speed and precision been seen. Not a single drop of caulk or paint left the work area.
The weather strippers didn’t have it so smooth. Faced with the challenge of a shoddily designed door frame and eroding concrete, the weather strippers had to improvise. Using the resources at hand and angling the strip, the volunteers managed to storm proof the door without having to rebuild a whole new door frame.
The last task to fix was the railing. While the Forum One crew had the steady hands to drill into the banister, the work required a specialized drill which the team lacked. However, all was not lost. Forum One reached for a lifeline by having Rebuilding Together affiliated contractor, Kevin Grim, come with his tool belt. In no time that railing was capable of supporting whatever came its way.
At the day’s end, Edith thanked the team and put into perspective how much the volunteer work means to her and her community. Edith has lived in Alexandria for over forty years. She has seen her neighborhood through hard times and good times. As the neighborhood continues to develop, it is becoming harder to afford essential services such as food and home repairs. It is through the help of community minded organizations like Rebuilding Together and the efforts of volunteers and neighbors that have helped her get the services she needs for very little or no money at all.
Photo Gallery: Connections for San Francisco’s Homeless
Posted by Andrew Cohen
And now for a field note from the domestic front. Several Forum One staff traveled to San Francisco this past week to participate in the 2009 Nonprofit Technology Conference (NTC).
As part of this effort, four of us participated in the NTC Day of Service, along with other conference attendees from across the country. Last year, we helped install a wireless network in New Orleans, and the work was so satisfying, we figured we would do it again.
This year, we helped install a wireless network the St. Anthony’s Foundation. Along with about a dozen other volunteers, we helped mount wireless Access Points, pull network cable, and configure the devices. I documented the team’s efforts in the following photo slide show.
Located in one of the poorest areas of San Francisco, the Foundation provides counseling, technology services, rehabilitation services, and a free medical clinic. It also manages the St. Anthony’s Dining Room, which serves over 2,600 free meals a day, 365 days a year.
The need for social services in downtown San Francisco is acute. When one walks the streets, you encounter weary souls on nearly every corner. When we visited the St. Anthony’s Dining Room, the lunch line stretched the length of an entire city block.
Our service project will provide internet access to staff and visitors to St. Anthony’s center, providing a critical connection to the wealth of online services we all take for granted.
I put together a set of photos I took that morning during the install. After we finished our work, Karl Robillard, Manager of St. Anthony’s Employment Program/Tech Lab, gave us a tour of the Dining Room while lunch was being served. No photos were allowed inside the kitchen, but we saw massive pots of steaming pulled chicken being prepared by their chefs. Volunteers then put the food on food trays and served them to the Dining Halls’ guests.
Karl also gave us a tour of the St. Boniface Catholic Church next door. St. Boniface is the only church in the city that allows homeless to come sleep in its pews.
It’s easy to learn more about St. Anthony’s as they are blogging, twittering, and, “Facebooking.”
Note: That same day, other teams of volunteers executed other activities. Another team simultaneously installed a wireless network on Treasure Island. See all tagged photos from the Day of Service.
All in all, a satisfying day.
Investigating Casas Maternas in Nicaragua
Posted by Angie Milton
Yesterday I completed the first in a series of interviews on the topic of Maternal Waiting Homes or Casas Maternas in Nicaragua. I’m working as a volunteer for the Population Council and through a series of interviews with health officials, am hoping to deliver some background information on the extent and quality of the program in Nicaragua. Casas Maternas provide pregnant women who are either geographically, or economically unable to access health services with a safe place to deliver their baby, and receive medical treatment.
The Population Council currently has teams in Mexico and Guatemala investigating the Casas Maternas program in Guatemala. As the sole PopCouncil volunteer on the ground in Nicaragua, I’m hoping to shed some light on the program here and allow the two countries to share lessons learned to strengthen the initiative in the future.
The Casas Maternas program itself makes perfect sense. Much of the population in Nicaragua resides in rural areas far from both urban hospitals, and local health clinics. As a result 30% of rural women still prefer to give birth in their homes with the aid of a local midwife. However for women without a safe place to go, familial support, economic means, or fear of medical complications, the Casa Materna provides a safe haven for them to receive medical care prior to, during, and post delivery.
Much of my background knowledge on the subject came from a recent World Bank Report which claims that there are upwards of 50 functioning maternal waiting homes in the country. The study examines the program’s strengths, weaknesses, and makes recommendations for future improvements. My interviews seek similar information, but from a more personal, anecdotal point of view. The interviews are confidential, brief and emphasize the individual’s experiences, opinions, and suggestions for the program. The overarching goal is to have a dialogue with the interviewee, rather than gather specific data.
My first interview was with Dr. Rosa Elena Bello, the director of Servicios Medicos Comunales. She has a wealth of experience working with underprivileged women in Nicaragua, and has been educating pregnant women through workshops for over 19 years to help reduce maternal mortality rates. Her insight was valuable, however I think at times she gave general answers rather than simply saying “I’m not familiar with that process.” This is a typical Nicaraguan quality of “saving face”. Rather than saying “I don’t know”, it’s common for a Nicaraguan to give a false, or general answer. Lucking I’ve been living here long enough to be the victim of bad directions, and I know this. I’ll definitely be keeping it in mind during the coming interviews