Today is a special Sunday post because I’m part of an online book tour for a lovely lady named Tania McCartney (who you might remember from the Handmade Living book tour). Tania is an editor, presenter and book-obsessed author of both children’s and adult books. This time around, it’s not craft or handmade goods she’s writing about, but her personal account of rounding up her two young children and herself and moving with her husband to China – a place she knew nothing about. I also know nothing about China, so I chatted to Tania a little about the differences in living and raising a family there and here back in Australia. I now know a little more – like that they adapt imported food brands to suit the palates of the locals. So Cadbury chocolate over there wouldn’t be the same Cadbury chocolate. Considering I actually keep Cadbury in business here, I don’t think I could survive! I’m not even kidding.

But Tania moved, adapted and even fell in love with the busy city of Beijing and beyond. Beijing Tai Tai is a series of column-like snippets on everything from the consumption of bull testicles to walking the Great Wall, the challenges, the highs and lows of expat life in China. Released just before Mother’s Day it just might make a great pressie for your very own Mum!

Tania and Ella buying blown sugar animals (they sound & look so awesome!) at Hou Hai Lake

I don’t know much about China but it intrigues me. How much of the culture did you know before you left? Was it what you expected? I knew NOTHING! And I was 95 per cent horrified about moving there – simply because I knew nothing. This 95 per cent horrified feeling surprised no one more than me – truly. I had already lived overseas and had travelled extensively, so I was shocked to feel so terrified, and I hindsight, I’m sure it was because I had not a clue about a China. I didn’t even know how to say hello! (it’s ‘ni hao’). It was also because I had two tots in tow – aged 2 and 4 – and as you well know, when you’re unsure of the availability of disposable nappies – that’s enough to send any mum into a flap!

As for expectations . . . walking out of Beijing airport into that balmy, hazy, fragrant night air – I will never forget how rapidly my expectations of China changed. In fact, most of Beijing Tai Tai is about how rapidly I fell in love with China (admittedly a love-hate relationship!) and how it completely surprised me. I had expected cold, grey, unfriendly – instead I got warm, colourful, welcoming. The city itself also surprised me – far more cosmopolitan than I ever expected, and – coming up to the Beijing Olympics (we arrived in May 2005) – Beijing was on the brink of becoming a world-class international city. And we witnessed that occurrence. It was astounding. Sure, there are parts of Beijing (and most of the country) that still look like 1950s China, but my goodness, Beijing is a stunning, modern city.

What was the biggest challenge you faced living there? Undoubtedly the pollution. Changing from a sunshiny, outdoor, sheets-on-the-washing-line life to an indoor, weather-oppressed, sterile existence – it was tough. It affected the kids the most, I think. Needless to say, I stocked up on every single indoor toy ever made – from balls on string that could be batted around without shattering windows, to arts and crafts and board games . . . we had a toy shop in our house. So, life in Beijing was very indoors, and there was nary 3 weeks’ change in seasons between scorching summer and freezing winter. This is why we expats go away a lot. They need to!

Surprisingly, the ‘culture shock’ hardly affected me when we moved to Beijing. I loved every minute of it. It was a bigger shock coming home.

Did the way you live your life at home change much? In terms of how you parented your children, played with them, your values, diet etc? Did any of that change or did you just transport your Australian selves to your China home and adapted to life OUTSIDE of the home?
It did change quite a lot – in terms of our lifestyle, what we ate, how much we travelled. Having an ayi (maid, cook, child-minder) really altered the way I parented, because it – gasp! – gave me some free time to be a woman, writer and wife, not just a mum, which is effectively all I was in Australia. I think this made me a better mum because I was less harried and stressed, less overwhelmed and a lot calmer. I was still home 100% of the time, didn’t go out to work and hardly ever left the kids alone with ayi for more than a short period of time, but I did have so much more time to just ‘be’. This, along with renewed self-confidence, was how I was finally able (after many decades of wanting) to become a full-time author. I am so aware of the gift living in China gave me and my family, and I’m so grateful for it . . . even if we’re still trying to clear the black pollution spots on our lungs!

Riley and Ella all dressed up for Chinese New Year

What did your children think of the experience?
They loved China. I’ve always said that travel and cultural saturation is as valuable an education as school is for children. If you can manage to offer your kids some kind of travel (even domestic travel) or exposure to other cultures, it will expand them in ways we can never dream. It affords them tolerance, acceptance, openness, a richer understanding and zest for life.

Main difference between Australia and China?
The way of thinking. In Australia, we operate under an individualist mentality; so long as we’re all right, then our loved ones will be all right. You know – fit the oxygen mask to yourself first. In China, and indeed, in most Asian countries, they operate under a collective mentality. The group comes first. The sins of the brother or sister or uncle or grandmother belong to the entire clan – and this is why people are so intent on ‘saving face’ when they deal with others. This makes for a lot of ‘skirting around issues’, not giving straight answers and a level of apathy that can be very frustrating. In the West, we are more open and direct, but I do think China will embrace a more Western way of thinking as it opens itself to the world. I witnessed an overnight change in the people of Beijing before we left in 2009 – and, like China itself, it can only continue onward and upward.

Most enjoyable moment/aspect
Being able to immerse ourselves in the astonishing culture and traditions that are still very much alive in China. The food. Oh my, the food. So far from the saucy, sticky, shiny, pineapply Cantonese food at bad Chinese restaurants in Australia. This Mandarin-style food was like nothing else. Our ayi went through a salt cellar and a 2L bottle of oil every fortnight in our house, yet I’d never been slimmer than I was in Beijing. I also loved the ‘little moments’ – those tiny little things . . . the elderly ballroom dancing to screechy vintage tunes in the streets, the fruit sellers calling out as they pedalled their bicycles through the streets, the flower markets so fragrant and spectacular, tears spring to your eyes, the curiosity of local children – just beautiful. Most of Beijing Tai Tai is made up of those little moments. Oh – and of course – that big, gargantuan moment – The Great Wall.

Worst moment/aspect
I was going to say the crowds, but this honestly was never a problem in Beijing. I hardly ever queued for anything and when there were major crowds, like at temple festivals or Chinese New Year, the people crush was a real rush. I loved it. The pollution was pretty bad and the mind-bending frustration over the way people ‘do’ things could get exhausting at times, but I honestly believe that the deeper you dive into a new place, the more you try to assimilate, the easier it gets to both understand and deal with such frustrations.

You’re quite crafty, are the Chinese?
Not really. They’re crafty in terms of ways to make money! But what they DO do well is provide a mass of delectable crafting provisions and accessories. I remember hyperventilating at several markets over the ribbon, the paper, the pens, paints – oh my, the list went on. And for 5 to 10 per cent of what we pay in Australia. Needless to say, I still have a fully stocked craft room!

What did you miss the most while there?
Friends and family, of course – but not much else. Ok – clear Aussie skies and Cadbury chocolate. Cadbury did come to China eventually but it’s just never the same as home; they adapt all foreign foods to local palates. Another side bonus of living as locally as you can – you just don’t miss much from home. Immerse yourself when overseas – it’s so enriching. And home is always there.

Do you miss anything about China now?
So much. Almost everything. The food especially. The local people. The sights and sounds. Chinese New Year (despite lack of sleep from overzealous fireworks!). The opportunity to travel and immerse. It was life-changing for our family.

Would you do it again?
I would move back in heartbeat. And I wouldn’t even be 95 per cent horrified.

Thank you so much Tania! And huge apologies again for not getting my act together to get this out the day I was originally scheduled (oops). For more of the book tour including reviews, snippets and giveaways, head here for a full list of blog links. And enjoy! x

Tania McCartney is an editor, presenter and book-obsessed author of both children’s and adult books. As an ACT Ambassador for the National Year of Reading 2012, she is passionate about literacy and children’s literature. Tania runs literary site Kids Book Review, writes for several online sites and loves paper, travel, marshmallows and laughing. Beijing Tai Tai, $24.99, ebook $9.99 is available from www.exislepublishing.com.au. Tania blogs at www.taniamccartney.com

{All images courtesy Tania McCartney}