Beijingkids felt curious about the teens who took over this magazine, and wanted to have a look inside the place they likely spend most of their time. A picture often says a thousand words, and in this case these rooms were overflowing with fun. We were partially inspired by a photo series by Gabriele Galimberti called Toy Stories. Galimberti travelled the world taking pictures of children in the middle of all their belongings. We took this idea and ran with it, providing a portal to these personal spaces so our readership can discover how these students live in China while maintaining their unique international lifestyle.
Jonathan Justin Chi
I am Jonathan Justin Chi and I am 12 years old. I am Dutch but have lived 12 years in Beijing. I attend Beijing World Youth Academy (BWYA). My favorite pieces in my room are books, an Ajax soccer shirt, guitar, gadgets, and sports equipment. The room is quite simple but at times it can get quite messy. People say bedrooms tell something about who you are, about your identity, for some part at least. I think we must consider ourselves lucky to have our own room, a space for ourselves, that we can create to our own liking. Here, I do my homework, sleep, read, play guitar, and watch movies. The most special part of my room is probably the door: it is always open.
Hannah-Louise Sampson
My name is Hannah-Louise Sampson. I’m 13 years old and come from England. I was born and raised in Beijing, so I’ve been here for 13 years and am currently a student at Harrow Beijing. My favorite things in my room are my bed because it’s so comfy and my Taylor Swift shrine against my window. I love these posters on my wall because they’re articles on Taylor Swift and they’re always interesting to read even if I’ve already read them multiple times. I’m a big fan of Taylor Swift. We’re called Swifties so being a Swiftie I put posters upon my wall to remind myself of how into I am of everything Taylor Swift does. It puts a smile on my face. That’s mainly how I decorate my room but I like being organized and not messy, even though from time to time it does get messy. In my room, I watch TV shows, catch up on sleep and try to read every night.
Bianna Berry
My name is Brianna, I am 13 years old and I originally hail from Raleigh, North Carolina. I attend Beijing City International School (BCIS) and have been in Beijing for four years now. I have decorated my room by choosing black, red, and white as my color scheme. My walls are primarily decorated with my own artwork. I would have to say that my favorite items in my room are my art supplies and my computer. If I’m not painting, I enjoy watching my favorite shows on my computer or reading, which I also love. On my last trip to America I brought back eight novels to help satisfy my insatiable need for literature.
Cameron Kazebee
My name is Cameron Kazebee and I am 15 years old. I came from Huntington Beach, Southern California in 2011. I currently go to the International School of Beijing (ISB). There are many things in my room I like, my DJ controller, my vinyl record of “Purple Knights” by Prince, my skateboards and my American flag. I kept the color scheme black and white in my room. On occasion I would turn on the PlayStation and play video games or mix music using my DJ controller. One of the more exciting things I do in my room is compose music digitally. So far, I have released about ten singles and one EP since 2016.
Photos: Chi Hong and Dave’s Studio
Download the digital copy here.
