Freshly Arrived, But Not Forgotten - Organizations for New Beijingers

There’s no doubt that for Beijing newcomers, getting acclimated to such a vast city can be overwhelming. Fortunately there are a number of organizations around town dedicated to helping foreigners immerse themselves in the city. The following is a list of groups that can help ease your transition. There is an International Newcomers’ Network event taking place tonight (November 30) - see details at the end of this post.

International Newcomers’ Network
The oldest and largest all volunteer newcomers organization in Beijing, the International Newcomers’ Network goes back fifteen years, but the current organization is far from outdated – in fact, the long history of this group, which boasts over 2,000 members, is its very strength. The network thrives off of the established camaraderie and shared interests of its members, and it participates in many charity and volunteer efforts. Organized monthly meetings, held the last Monday of each month (except in December) from 10am-12pm, at the Capital Club Athletic Center allow for a consistent, central place for people to meet, while events like an annual Christmas Charity Luncheon include live performances, handicraft sellers, and, of course, a spectacular buffet for all to enjoy. The monthly coffee meetings, held every third Tuesday from 10am-noon in the Sanlitun Bookworm and every third Thursday from 10-noon at O’Brien’s in Shunyi, are open to curious newcomers who might be a bit intimidated to jump into a more established social organization. “There’s a fascinating and wonderfully generous group of people behind INN,” says Mary Peng, Communications Coordinator, who assures that “it’s a totally relaxed atmosphere” and “one of the warmest and friendliest sorts of resources for newcomers.”

The Hutong
The Hutong’s (159 010 46127) self-explanatory location might appear to be nothing more than a traditional Beijing living structure on the outside, but on the inside visitors will be met with more than just an authentic hutong experience. Conveniently located just south of Ghost Street (Dongzhimen Nei), The Hutong offers classes and events that are catered to fit a variety of cultural palettes. Classes in Kung Fu, children’s music time, or Yoga, work well with newcomers looking for a routine cultural activity. However, since The Hutong can also be booked for private parties, classes in noodle-making, tea-tasting, and regional Chinese cooking might be something worth trying with a small group of friends or co-workers.

Neighborhood Chinese Club
More of a “hybrid” organization, the Neighborhood Chinese Club (010 845 01789) is just a half of what makes the NCLC – customized language courses make up the other half. As a social organization, it offers cultural classes in things like Peking Opera, classical Chinese instruments, and calligraphy taught by local, skilled professionals. The slight downside is that the website’s sometimes confusing English translation suggests that the classes might have bilingual translators that aren’t quite as fluent as one might hope. However, the convenience of having culture and language teaching in one place might outweigh this con. Since the NCLC center itself also offers an expansive list of language training courses, newbies hoping to develop certain levels of Chinese fluency might find this very useful.

China Culture Center
It’s hard to know where to begin with The China Culture Center (10 643 29341). One part travel agency, one part language class, and one part cultural seminar – this is one of the largest and most established organizations of its kind in Beijing. You might spend hours browsing the website’s photos, links and blog alone. Feng Cheng, Director of the China Culture Center, describes it as a “buffet for newcomers” – with so many offerings, foreigners have the chance to pick and choose whatever appeals to them. And for those who have been in Beijing a while, Feng says that the CCC can “cook up a customized specialty for those who know what they want.” Culture classes include an endless list of offerings ranging from sewing decorative house slippers to rice wine tasting. However, the scheduling of these programs can depend on their popularity, so it’s best to check the website’s calendar for the most up-to-date information on what classes are being offered. Trips and language classes are similar to what many other organizations in town offer, with detailed photos and descriptions on the site.

The Beijing International Society
Founded in 1981, the Beijing International Society is the most business-oriented organization in this list. The annual membership fee – RMB 250 for single/couple/family or RMB 150 for students enrolled in a Chinese University – is modest (but still a fee), and events, which range from three to four a month, feature guest lecturers renowned in their fields of study. Recent talks have covered such topics as the magnificence of the Great Wall and its changes over the years, to alternative economic development plans for China, presented by such notable figures as William Lindesay, one of the world’s leading authorities on the Great Wall, and the Beijing Bureau Chiefs of CNN and Newsweek.

The Yin Yang Community Center
Located a bit out of the way in a courtyard in Hegezhuang Village near the expat villas of northeastern Chaoyang/Shunyi, the Yin Yang Community Center (6431 2108) is a place for newcomers to get their minds, bodies, and souls in check. One of its main goals is to provide cultural information and entertainment in a way that is relaxing and rejuvenating. Workshops usually have a maximum number of registrants ranging between 10-20 people, so classes are kept small and personal. Whether learning Chinese fortune telling, Yogilates, or how to make healthy soups and salads from scratch, the center aims to make experiences as creative as they are calming. The chance to unwind can also be taken one step further by booking an appointment for anything from a Swedish oil massage to reflexology and energy healing. If family or friends are experiencing difficulties adjusting to life in Beijing, check the website – it features a list of contacts for specialized therapy and mental health resources to help people adjust.

Viva
The only all-women’s organization on this list, Viva stands out for its focus on connecting female business professionals. For women who are newcomers to Beijing, Viva’s networking opportunities can be as helpful as they are encouraging. The organization regularly holds events with speakers catered to discussing issues pertinent to business, women and China. “What makes Viva unique is our platform for business women, entrepreneurs as well as women in the foreign services to come together to meet, exchange ideas, learn and expand their professional network in Beijing,” explains Viva President Kelly Brantner. Non-members are invited to attend some events, and members receive discount admission. With events topics like “The Woman of the House: From Single Mother to CEO” and “How to Build Trust Across Cultures,” it is clear that Viva strives to live up to its mission to “connect, learn and inspire.”

Inspired
Inspired (136 211 32201) is a larger-scale organization that appeals less to the cultural and social aspects of China living and more to the professional and logistical aspects of making this country home. While it features many of the same networking and expatriate coaching events as a few of the other organizations previously listed, the unique aspect to Inspired is its approach to the spouses of expats. Jasmine Keel, Managing Director of Inspired, was an expat spouse herself when she moved to Beijing with her husband. “I started Inspired because I arrived in 2006 and I was an expat spouse. I loved having tea with friends and having manicures and pedicures, but I just needed a bit more,” says Keel. Three years later, Inspired has ample resources and mentoring for helping spouses cope with the dramatic change of a life in Beijing. Career counseling and self-employment programs are just a few of the options that they might find of interest. And although social interaction might not be the main focus of the seminars, many times they’re an added bonus, says Keel. “Most of our meetings, there’s a topic and seminar, but there’s also lot of group sharing. It’s very interactive.”

NOTE: International Newcomers' Network are having their Christmas Charity Luncheon tonight (Monday, November 30)
A sumptuous buffet meal featuring imported wines and organic cocktails. There will also be a Christmas Bazaar selling exquisite Chinese handicrafts, jewelry, Christmas carvings, ornaments and beauty products, as well as live performances from our beneficiaries and the New Orleans artist Leslie Blackshear Smith. All proceeds go to charity. RMB 350. This event is sponsored by agenda, the Beijinger and beijingkids.
10.30am-2pm. Beijing Marriott Hotel Northeast, 26A Xiao Yun Road, Chaoyang District.