Raising young kids in a new country has its challenges, but I have to say, it has been a refreshing experience for me to witness the way children perceive the world.
Coming from very small nations, my husband and I often lament about things like how mundane life can be on our little island. The ongoing joke being married to someone from alpine Switzerland is of course, the fact that Singapore’s highest point is less than 200m high. Yes, go islanders!
For our older son (age 4), transitioning to a new country where almost every aspect of his life gets turned upside down seemed daunting at first, but it actually has been such a surprisingly fun period for him and for us parents. Given his tender age, it all gets channeled through one vernacular – his observations. They often come in the most unexpected of timings (like when we are lying in bed trying to fall asleep, or when he’s walking in silence). Listening to the way to understands his new world really makes you realize how wonderful it is to be young again!
Here are some excerpts of our conversations over the months:
Watching TV with Papa (January 2019
(On TV: The State of the Union on CNN)
Kai : Papa, is Donald Trump a good guy?
Papa: No, this is why all these candidates want to push him out and take his position.
Kai : Thinks for a while and then asks: Does Trump speak Chinese?
Papa: No, why?
Kai: I will ask Trump to go to a very long Chinese class.
Papa: How long is long?
Kai: One BILLION hours. (he’d just learnt the word, billion, of course)
Papa: Thatβs really long.
Kai: Yes, he will be so tired that he will fall asleep and he will not be the President anymore.
Coming home from school (February 2019)
Kai: Mama, you know, I really really love Singapore and Beijing.
Mama: Oh really? Why do you love Singapore?
Kaien: Because Singapore has no thieves.
Mama: So itβs safe? That is true. And you like Beijing too because it’s safe?
Kaien: Yes, because Mr Xi (Jinping) takes care of his people. And you know, Mr Xi speaks really good Chinese.
In a taxi (March 2019)
(Taxi Driver overhears our conversation in English, looks in the rear view mirror and discovers that Mama as a Chinese face.
Taxi Driver: δ½ δ»¬ζ―εͺιδΊΊεοΌWhere are you from?
Kai (jumps in before I could utter anything): ζζ―δΈεη士人οΌδΈεζ°ε ε‘δΊΊοΌθΏζδΈεδΈε½δΊΊγI am half Swiss, half Singaporean, and half Chinese.
(Turns to me): I like Xi Jinping!
In case you’re wondering if what they’re teaching in Kai’s school, we are wondering the same! #gomao
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Little Roots in China 