When the Asiedu family moved from the US to Beijing in 2010 following a long-held dream to experience a new culture and city, they figured they might be here for two years in total. Two years flew by, then five, then… well, you know how it goes. Eldest daughter Dorothy (16) and her sister Diane (14) are students at Dulwich College Beijing, while their youngest Elizabeth (12) goes to Daystar Academy. Dad Kenneth is currently stuck in Philadelphia missing his leading ladies, but Geena credits FaceTime for keeping them all connected during this tough time.
We quizzed the Asiedu family on their favorite documentary films, and we were not disappointed!
Dorothy – American Factory
In 2014 Chinese auto-glass company Fuyao opened a factory in Dayton, Ohio. The documentary shows how the local American and Chinese workers, who are brought over to train them, try to overcome their language and cultural differences such as safety, unions, and work ethics. By the end, most of the workers had been replaced by machines, and I now appreciate how Artificial Intelligence is affecting the global workforce.
Geena – The Last Dance
This documentary series is a fascinating and detailed look at the 1997-1998 season that culminated in the Chicago Bull’s historic sixth and final N.B.A. championship title, led by His Airness Michael Jordan. Jordan says that God created him to play basketball, and I am still in awe of his excellence and relentless pursuit of greatness. I am not a competitive person so watching Jordan tap into his competitive side to achieve excellence has been inspiring to me.
Elizabeth – Blue Planet II
Blue Planet II shows mesmerizing ocean scenes and animals. The production crew was able to place cameras on sea creatures such as whales, and I enjoyed seeing this point of view. Sea creatures are as protective of their little ones just as human parents, and I was sad to watch the part where a mama whale was so sad that its baby had died. Blue Planet II also shows us the impact of human activities and climate change. It is important for each of us to do our bit to make sure that sea creatures can thrive in their natural habitat.
Diane – Becoming
Becoming shows parts of Michelle Obama’s life before, during, and after her time as the First Lady. It was interesting to see the contrast between these different stages, and I have come to appreciate how she learned to establish herself as an individual, and dealt with negative press. Michelle makes lots of witty and inspiring comments, and one of my favorite lines is a quote about young girls, “We can’t afford to wait for the world to be equal to start feeling seen”.
Kenneth – Minimalism
This Netflix documentary makes a persuasive argument for the benefits of living a minimalist lifestyle. There is nothing inherently wrong with owning material possessions, but we often have more than we need. We have been conditioned to give too much meaning to the material stuff we collect. Minimalism can assist us to find freedom from the trappings of our consumer-driven culture.
KEEP READING: How About Just a Little Sip? Beijing Parents’ Views on Underage Drinking
Photos: Uni You
This article appeared in the beijingkids 2020 June issue
