We're home, yeah!
Yesterday afternoon, I had an interesting conversation with my friend from the Chinese takeout at Soriana. As you know from my previous post, she is expecting her first child this fall. So naturally, the topics of conversation have been about children and then it moved onto children in China. She told me that her nephew goes to boarding school and returns home Friday afternoon to spend the weekend with the family.
"Oh, is that very popular, to send children to boarding school instead of public school?"
"Yes, its very common."
"How old is your nephew?"
"About the same age as your first son, 6 1/2."
"What?!? That's really young."
"No, they start going to boarding school at 3 1/2. Its to teach them to be more independent and self reliant."
There is no way I could ever send either of my boys to boarding school at that young age. I don't think I could do it.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
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I couldn't do that either. And 3-1/2 is WAY to young, in my opinion. :)
ReplyDeleteHope you and your family are well! :)
Hi Leslie,
ReplyDeleteThank you, we're all fine and happy to be home. I couldn't believe it when she told me that at 3 1/2 they go to boarding school. The thought of it just made me want to cry.
I did not know boarding schools were so common in China. I don't have any children but that seems like such a young age to leave the family. I wonder why so many families permit that for their children?
ReplyDeleteHi Leah,
ReplyDeleteI always knew there were boarding schools for special programs like gymnastics, swimming, kungfu, etc. And children are sent to those boarding schools at a very young age. That's always been the case. But this is just regular school so I was also quite surprised. I've had a couple of days to think about this and I can understand why, not that I agree with it.
With China's one child policy, the current generation of children are being spoiled by parents and grandparents to the extreme. By sending them to boarding school, the children are learning to do things for themselves and become more self reliant and responsible. That is the theory.
The families are willing do this because its like "keeping up with the Jones" but in this case with the Wongs, Changs, etc. :)
How did this lady make it from China all the way to Lake Chapala? That's fascinating to me. Last week on the plane, I sat next to a guy -- I think Chinese -- hand-carrying an automatic rice cooker. I always want to ask what their connection to Mexico is...
ReplyDelete