Kim Duistermaat

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  • in reply to: Is Leshan with Kids a Good Idea? #49943
    Avatar photoKim Duistermaat
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    It depends on how little they are and how much stamina they have. It’s not that far but it has many stairs. You should definitely not be in a hurry. If they are good walkers they can do it, but under about 3 yrs I would suggest you should be prepared to carry them for short stretches. Also, think about how to motivate them: counting steps, singing songs, looking for bugs, regular pauses and rest, promise of a small candy at mid-point and top, things like that. I think they will be impressed with the buddha, and feel very proud of themselves when they reach the top. An alternative is to do only the boat ride in front of the buddha, not tiring at all and still a good view. Have fun!

    in reply to: Good place to buy baby clothes? #49935
    Avatar photoKim Duistermaat
    Participant

    For cheaper kids clothes, try the side streets of the Chunxi Lu shopping area, there are two or three corridors on ground floor and at least one below ground floor full of kids clothes shops. Similar shops can also be found in the clothing area of Lotus wholesale market (HeHuaChi).

    For more expensive things, also in Chunxi Lu the large malls such as Chicony, Isetan, each have a whole floor full of kids things (clothes, shoes, toys, etc.). Just as the MixC mall, Global Center and other large malls.

    And then of course there is the H&M for good quality foreign stuff, but it is more expensive than in Europe. H&M is all over Chengdu, but there is also a branch in Chunxi lu. And Uniqlo has good basics.

    in reply to: Selling Discounted (New) Totobobo Masks #49908
    Avatar photoKim Duistermaat
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    up up! Nobody? I’m sure Chengdu will be reaaaaallllly dirty again next week, hahahaha…. better be prepared!

    in reply to: Free Baby Bedroom Furniture #49852
    Avatar photoKim Duistermaat
    Participant

    Still available! Pickup for free before 22 March

    in reply to: Selling Discounted (New) Totobobo Masks #49851
    Avatar photoKim Duistermaat
    Participant

    Upupup! Still available, any reasonable offer accepted.

    in reply to: Chengdu Air Dirtier than Beijing's in February #49817
    Avatar photoKim Duistermaat
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    We have been monitoring and recording almost daily for the past four years. Chengdu air is on average much worse than Beijing. In Beijing, there is one or two bad days, followed by days of blue skies and relatively clean air. In Chengdu, many months of the year there is a constant high level of air pollution. The average is worse than Beijing. On a positive note, the air pollution in winter times seems to have become less intense each winter since 2012-13, which was particularly bad. This winter, there have only been a few ‘dark purple’ days in the US embassy readings for December, while in 2013 both January and February had almost a week of such pollution (over 300 aqi).

    in reply to: Places that Sell Aquariums and Fish? #49750
    Avatar photoKim Duistermaat
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    There is a small street opposite the Fraser Suites, next to the Opera building. They sell aquariums and fish. Or is that the pet market you are referring to?

    in reply to: Check Your Apartment for Carbon Monoxide #49749
    Avatar photoKim Duistermaat
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    If you suspect a gas leak, call the gas company as soon as possible. They came to my house last month because I thought I smelled gas, and checked everything, did not find any leak and left without me having to pay. Earlier last year, they came and installed new tubes and it cost really not much, about 75 rmb I remember. They are professionals and responsible for gas safety.

    in reply to: Selling 2-kid 1-mum Bicycle #49747
    Avatar photoKim Duistermaat
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    Another attempt to upload a picture

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    in reply to: Free Baby Bedroom Furniture #49742
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    some pictures

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    in reply to: Selling 2-kid 1-mum Bicycle #49736
    Avatar photoKim Duistermaat
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    Up up! Anyone with a good offer will call themselves the owner of this really special and practical bike!

    in reply to: Trustworthy ayi available from 1 April #49658
    Avatar photoKim Duistermaat
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    just sent you a pm, Charlie!

    in reply to: What is Chengdu missing? #49657
    Avatar photoKim Duistermaat
    Participant

    – Easily accessible information in English about outdoor destinations around the city: what, where, how to get there, what you can do there, facilities available or not available, with pictures and good maps.

    – clean air
    – traffic police giving everyone that goes against the traffic (especially ebikes) a fine.
    – clean supermarkets, with spotless veggie and meat departments
    – children swim classes in English, in an affordable, warm pool, taught in a way kids enjoy.

    in reply to: Advice Need on Moving to Chengdu with a Family #48846
    Avatar photoKim Duistermaat
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    On another note, if you want to teach piano (and musicianship) to foreigners here in Chengdu, I would suggest you try to find private students, via the international school community, the chinese schools offering English tuition, online on this forum and on chengdufamilyliving Yahoo group. Some schools allow non-employees to do private classes for students after school hours on the school grounds. I would think there is a market for good English-speaking piano/music teachers here. You may also contact Goldenotes music school, they have lots of foreign students and may be interested in a foreign teacher. And ofcourse the conservatory.

    in reply to: Any Dutchies around here? #48832
    Avatar photoKim Duistermaat
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    Yes, there are some Dutch people here, but not many. Probably also some students. There is no ‘club’ or anything, but a wechat group and the annual Kings Day reception. If you have small kids it would be nice to join the Sinterklaas party with your family.

    in reply to: Expat Sporting Activities in Chengdu? #48831
    Avatar photoKim Duistermaat
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    There is also an active rugby group.

    in reply to: Getting a Chinese Drivers License? #48830
    Avatar photoKim Duistermaat
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    Hello Excelsior, I’m in the same situation as you are. I managed to get my license done here in Chengdu only through a stupid mistake of the lady who handled my papers at the testing center in Chengdu. With lots of embarrasment etc. the big chief found a way to cover their tracks. But if they look properly at your file and at the rules, it will not be possible and you will have to go to Beijing. I think in the end that is even cheaper than going through some grey-area agent who offers to buy you a license.

    in reply to: Advice Need on Moving to Chengdu with a Family #48829
    Avatar photoKim Duistermaat
    Participant

    Hello, just another thought or two:
    About the kids’ education. There is an active homeschooling group in Chengdu. I expect that you will be aiming to keep their level on par with their age group back home. That means that they will have to work on their UK school work. It will not leave them time to study fulltime Chinese to the level that they will need to fit in a Chinese school. It will take them years and many hours of private tutoring (costs?) and rote learning to do so. If they manage to do (motivation??), did you consider what a Chinese high school will mean for the quality of their education? You will want to choose a school that will give them access to foreign universities and colleges once they graduate, I guess, in case they would like to. Consider the costs, entry requirements, etc. for those as well.

    Second, did you consider applying for jobs with foreign universities opening up new campuses in China? They may be able to pay you more and with more benefits, and at the same time you get your culture exposure. I know of a new initiative of Groningen University (the Netherlands) in Yantai, ‘close’ to Beijing. There are also UK, USA and Australian universities doing the same in other cities, such as Nottingham in Ningbo, and New York University in Shanghai. I think it is worth to explore these.

    Good luck with everything.

    in reply to: Free Parking Downtown? #48360
    Avatar photoKim Duistermaat
    Participant

    I parked once in the parking lot under the Grandma’s kitchen area on Kehua Beilu and don’t remember paying for it. Try?

    in reply to: Kindergarten or Children Playgroups? #48319
    Avatar photoKim Duistermaat
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    Another playgroup is located in Tongzilin (Chinese/English mixed). Send me a pm if you want their phone number.

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