There are countless jokes about the stereotype of couples who dread spending time with their in-laws. This joke has been further exasperated during quarantine, but not all feel this way. In fact, some are making the most out of the opportunity.
Hong Yan and Jie Ge
Hong Yan, a medalist of the world wrestling championship (and soon to be a mother), and Jie Ge, who’s from Belgium and now works in the Chinese winter sports industry, are both born in the same month and year, and fell in love with each other in Beijing. As they are both active individuals, they managed to come up with a unique way to spend time with the in-laws by all doing yoga together! Here’s the story of how this couple was able to introduce yoga to the in-laws as a way to pass the time, and stay fit during quarantine.
Jie Ge teaching his mother in-law and sister in-law yoga
BJK: Congratulations!! How do you feel that you will become a mom soon?
Hong Yan: I feel really happy and a little nervous. I’m looking forward to the baby boy. Pregnancy takes a long time, it’s difficult for a lot of women, but I don’t feel much discomfort. I think it is because I was a wrestler, so my body can deal with it well. And my husband makes me happy every day.
Hong Yan
How would you rate your husband’s ability to get along with his in laws on a scale of 1-10?
8~9. He works hard, also helps with the house work and is a very responsible person. He likes talking with my family and making jokes, which gives us a lot of energy, even though he sometimes has difficulty with cultural differences.
What is your fondest memory of when your husband supported you?
He always gives me many surprises. For example, he likes to give me flowers, and leave me sweet post-it notes. The biggest surprise was when he proposed to me. He asked me to marry him, on a little fishing boat on a lake in Yunnan. Another surprise, was when we were having a maternity check-up in Belgium. I asked him to make a video of the doctor explaining to us everything about the baby, but maybe he was a little too nervous, he actually ended up recording nothing, even though he held up his phone for the whole time.
Jie Ge
BJK: It seems like you have a great relationship with your in-laws! How did you come up with the idea to teach your mother-in-law yoga?
Jie Ge: I like sporting. My mother in law likes square dancing (广场舞). But last year she had an operation to both knees. So she joined me in the yoga to keep her body more flexible. Then, my sister-in-law saw my mom liked yoga and saw her progress, and she joined us too! I also have a friend of my brother who joins me for morning fitness.
How do you like the experience staying home with your in-laws during the epidemic?
The whole family, also Star’s (Hong Yan) brother and his wife and kid, Nike, we all stay under one roof. Life at the Chinese countryside is very different from China’s city life. Sometimes cultural differences are challenging, but we should do our best to learn from these differences instead of seeing them as an obstacle. Also, I like to spend more time with Nike. It helps me get into my role as a father, and Nike learns a lot of English from me.
Any tips/secrets for keeping a good relationship with the in-laws?
There is always things we’re not really used to, even might feel a little uncomfortable. I think Chinese countryside habits in hygiene are still far below the standards of China city life. And Star’s family sometimes feels I am too strict about my own principles. But I think we should just accept differences, learn to ignore what we don’t like, and not try to “preach for change”. Instead, I try to focus on the value I can add. I try to make difference by setting examples. And I also try every day to accept other ways of living and thinking, so I can become a better self.
Photos: Courtesy of Hong Yan
