20 for 20: Education Entrepreneur Jennifer Hyde Sachs
In celebration of our 20th anniversary, we're profiling 20 movers and shakers who, much like The Beijinger, have called the capital home for 20 years or more.
Jennifer Hyde Sachs arrived in Beijing more than 30 years ago to teach and from those humble origins, she would go on to found both The Learning Center and Hyde Education, where over the course of her career she has sheparded hundreds of families on their childrens' educational journeys, both here and abroad. She's also a mother of three sons, all born here in Beijing. Here's her China story.
What brought you to Beijing, and when?
I came here for the first time in 1988 with my mother, who owned her own travel agency and played bridge at the world level competitively. She brought the first group of American bridge players to Beijing to compete against Chinese players. We then came back in May of 1991 for another bridge tour, and I was asked if I would consider teaching for a year… I moved here in August of 1991 and never left.
What were some of your first impressions of the city?
I remember this incredible curiosity every time I turned a corner and saw something new. There were bikes everywhere of course, but also donkeys and piles of cabbage and people getting their hair cut on the side of the road. It was just so utterly different from anything I had experienced at age 25. I use the phrase "a kid in a candy store" – looking every which way to see what else I could find. I was also lucky enough to be almost immediately immersed in the underground rock music scene – so on top of being surrounded by interesting sights all day, I got to listen to Rush and Yes-inspired music by night in venues hidden all around the city.
Did you imagine at that time that you’d still be here, more than 20 years later?
Definitely not – I started out with a plan to stay for a year, but about three or four months into my first year, I knew I wanted to stay longer. Still, I could not have predicted I would be here 30 years later. And the time has flown by – it’s scary how fast it has gone!
Tell us about one of your quintessential first experiences in the city.
When I got off the plane and met my university rep that first evening, she reached out and felt my upper arm before declaring, in English, “You have a lot of meat.” It was definitely an “OIC” – Only In China moment.
What’s changed the most since you first arrived?
Cars. When I first arrived, there were so few cars on the road. You had taxis and carts and loads of black bicycles everywhere. I have a photo somewhere that shows Chang’an Avenue with bicycles all over the road and a few cars on the far right.
And bars. When I first arrived, there were just a couple of popular spots – Frank’s Place was one that lasted for a long time, and later Car Wash, which I think is long gone. You were pretty much guaranteed to find the folks you knew in one of these spots, but of course, now the landscape has changed completely. I could go to 50 bars in a night and not meet anyone I know.
How do you think Beijing has changed you as a person?
I am definitely more resilient and possibly more patient (though not as patient as my children who were born here). I am a slightly tougher parent than I would be I suspect (hard not to be when surrounded by tiger moms and dads in my business). I pivot better whether in business or in life in general. My favorite saying is that living in Beijing is a constant exercise in “planning the impossible.” You just never know what is coming around the corner.
What’s the main reason Beijing continues to be a draw for you to this day?
I never get bored. I am constantly learning something new here. It keeps me curious, and I really like people from Beijing. I hear a lot of foreigners badmouthing the local population and genuinely cannot understand it. I have met far more good souls here than bad, and I have felt truly supported and welcomed here these 30+ years.
Name your three favorite places in the city (aside from your home).
- Cheers – especially Store #32 (you will know why when you get there!)
- El Barrio in Nali Patio
- Bodhi Spa when I need a break.
What’s one piece of advice you have for relatively recent arrivals?
Don’t judge a person by the scowl on their face. Beijingers can look angry (and sound angry if you don’t understand the language) but most of the time, they welcome even the slightest attempt to really connect. Do anything you can to learn the language – at least enough to have a basic chat with a cabbie. Be curious and go outside of your bubble.
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Images courtesy of Jennifer Hyde Sachs
