Our expat community thrives on connection, and here at jingkids, we’re all about our readers, and what they need and want in order to maximize their time here in Beijing. One thing you can be sure of is that the world of the expat is highly transitory as we come and go, and sometimes a special expat leaves their mark on the city as much as the city leaves its mark on them. We meet one such person in this article today.
I have only met Hannah Northcott in person twice over the course of the 3+ years that our time in Beijing overlapped – from late 2019 to mid 2023. Yet I feel like we know each other much better than the little time we have spent in each other’s physical presence, so much so that I didn’t hesitate to travel an hour out to Shunyi during peak hour traffic on a week night, to have one final dinner together (this would be our third time meeting in person).
Even if you haven’t heard Hannah’s name before, you most certainly would have come across one of her many initiatives that she has helped inspire and make a reality. From pioneering the ISB Middle School theater program to the 21-day fitness challenge that has grown into the Well Fitness group – a subset of the Well Women community, Clothing Auction Network (CAN), Magical Morning personal development course, and her unique Find Your Voice workshops, Hannah has planted seeds in various soils around Beijing’s expat community, helped them to take root, and blossom.
Having left such an impact in Beijing during her 11 years here, I just had to have one last chat with Hannah before she and her family of four left for Phuket, Thailand.
Q: What brought your family here to Beijing in the first place?
Hannah: Back in 2012, when Steve (her husband) and I were looking for teaching jobs, China was on our No-Go list. But out of the blue, the International School of Beijing (ISB) reached out to both of us, and voila we arrived in Beijing in 2012 with an 8-month-old baby.
Q: Do you remember your first impression of Beijing? How has that changed now?
Hannah: Of course I do. Back then, the air-apocalypse was raging and we lived in Shunyi when it was still undeveloped – with no mall or parks. There wasn’t even WeChat, or Didi – we had to rent drivers to go to town and back. Now, there’s Shine Hills which is basically Shunyi’s own Sanlitun of sorts. The architecture of Beijing’s entire cityscape has evolved so much. Then we all went through Covid and came out on the other side – and things have changed so much, we really can say we’ve been through the worst of times here.
Q: What do you have to say to newcomers to the city?
Hannah: Beijing has the potential for you to make things happen. It was a gift for me to be able to stay here for so many years and be able to create something that has impacted so many people. I really invested my time and energy to make that happen. So can you. Leverage the power of community and you have amazing possibilities here.
“First, think. Second, believe. Third, dream. And finally, dare.” ~ Walt Disney
Q: What are your top 5 Beijing must-try dishes?
Hannah: Definitely jian bing, tea eggs, sour tofu soup, pear soup, and Peking duck!
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