In our regular magazine piece ‘West Meets East’, we interview two Beijing families from two different cultural backgrounds about the same topic. This month, we talked to the Monte-Wen family from Italy and China and the Yong-Xing family from China about their approach to family travel.
Stefano Monte is originally from Venice, Italy and has been a prominent figure in the Beijing F&B scene since 2012. The former restaurant GM is currently taking time off from work to be a full-time dad. His wife Linn Wen is originally from Hunan Province and moved to Beijing to pursue her career as a journalist. She’s now working as an Executive Assistant in a tech company and enjoys reading, studying Japanese, and drinking Chinese tea in her spare time. Their seven-year-old daughter Melissa was born and raised in Beijing, is a student at the Italian Embassy School of Beijing, and loves Muay Tai and Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
Let’s just jump to the big question. What’s your family’s plan for this summer?
To stay in Beijing. If you compare it with other countries China is safer in terms of COVID-19 prevention. Plus, there are no international flight available at the moment.
Growing up, did your parents plan big family trips? If so, what did you like or hate about them?
No, we didn’t take big family trips because my parents didn’t like to move too much.
Do you think it’s important for children to travel at a young age and explore other cultures?
For children it’s very important travel and discover new cultures. Opening their minds helps kids to grow faster. My daughter lives in China but spends the summer holidays in Italy, so she is learning two different cultures and I’m sure she will get the best from both.
Do you think traveling contributes to a child’s personal and emotional development?
For sure. At first children might feel lost but I’m sure that seeing different people and different environments can help their personal development.
Do you think it’s better to travel as a family or to send children on summer camp group trips?
Both are good options. It’s safer with family because you always have support, but if you go to summer camp alone, you will become stronger because you’ll need to be more independent.
Are you concerned about the safety of your children when traveling?
It depends on which country we travel to. Beijing is very safe. But in some other countries you need to have four pairs of eyes on your kids.
Do you think traveling frequently while growing up helps prepare children for their independent life after high school?
Yes, I think so.
Dad Yao Yong graduated from Tsinghua University and was one of the founding members of Shuimu Nianhua (水木年华), a folk singing group. He later created his own internet gaming company, QQ Xuanwu, a music and dance game that has left a lasting legacy for a whole generation of Chinese gamers. Mom, Fang Xing also graduated from Tsinghua University and worked as a senior executive in a foreign enterprise and later went on to study at MIT. After being a stay-at-home mom for a few years, she opened a cake studio that is now very popular amongst celebrities. They have two sons, Owen (age 9) and Oliver (age 4).
Let’s just jump to the big question. What’s your family’s plan for this summer?
At the end of July, we and the families of a few of Owen’s friends are taking an RV and heading down to Qinghai Lake. We’re all really excited about this trip. We are looking forward to seeing Qinghai Lake and the Chaka Salt Lake as well as experiencing the beauty of nature and the endless prairies there.
Growing up, did your parents plan big family trips? If so, what did you like or hate about them?
I grew up in Nanjing and when I was a kid I went with my mother to Shanghai for a business trip. Then when I graduated middle school early, in the fifth grade, my mother took me on a long vacation to celebrate. We traveled down south from Nanjing, to Guilin, Wuhan, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen. This kind of travel would not have been easy from an adult’s perspective, with all the expenses and time arrangements. But as a young kid, I was very happy and excited to go to all kinds of scenic spots, learn about the local customs and traditions, and taste all sorts of delicacies. Now when I think about it, the memories are still vivid.
Do you think it’s important for children to travel at a young age and explore other cultures?
I’ve been traveling with my kids ever since they were young. It’s not so much that I want to broaden their horizons, as much as I want to travel and explore, and in doing so and I just happen to have to bring my kids with me. But there are a lot of interesting anecdotes we have of our travels, and now we often go back to those times. They may not remember certain events, but they can still recall those stories.
I’m grateful because I have had the opportunity to see many different lifestyles and regional cultures, and experience the tolerance and empathy the local people.
Do you think traveling contributes to a child’s personal and emotional development?
I think it does. Oliver, for example, was very introverted when he was a kid. In the past few years, the children have accompanied me in some of the most thrilling situations. For example, we went skiing in the US when we were hit by a snowstorm and trapped in our cabin in the woods, without food and water. We couldn’t go out. At that time, Oliver was just one and Owen was six. Owen braved the storm and helped me shovel snow, until eventually, we found paved roads. In that 24-hour period, the children did not eat or drink yet they were quite calm and cooperative.
Do you think it’s better to travel as a family or to send children on summer camp group trips?
Both are good options. Every year, we take a family trip together. My dad also insists on the boys and men traveling together. My brother has participated in solo summer and winter camps for the past two years. Different travel experiences will invoke a variety of emotions and provide various different advantages.
Are you concerned about the safety of your children when traveling?
Concerns are always going to be there. So choose the camps and event organizers you know well. In the last few years, we have participated in Qixing’s winter and summer camps, which take professionalism and safety very seriously.
Do you think traveling frequently while growing up helps prepare children for their independent life after high school?
I haven’t thought about that aspect much, to be honest. But now it seems that my two children have no problem adapting. Then again, I certainly didn’t lead an independent life before coming to Beijing to Nanjing for university.
KEEP READING: Parents From Different Cultural Backgrounds Share Their Thoughts on Summer Activities
This article appeared in the beijingkids 2020 June issue
