When Tania McCartney discovered that she’d be moving with her husband and two children under the age of five, to China for four years, she was horrified. She never expected to fall to love with Beijing. She has compiled her experiences into Beijing Tai Tai, a collection of insights into Beijing expatriate life. Some anecdotes are humorous, others heartfelt. Written in a series of columns, it is a lovely book to pick up and read – all the while learning more about Beijing and the complexities of living life in a foreign country, without many of the things we take for granted in Australia.
Beijing Tai Tai is a book for anyone interested to learn more about China and knows what it is like to explore new worlds and to live with challenges. I loved reading Tania’s accounts of having her hair coloured; experiencing Chinese New Year in Beijing; navigating a menu full of Chinese food “delicacies”; dealing with a cranky Ayi (maid); and experiencing all the festive traditions that China has to offer. I could really relate to Tania’s experiences, as I experienced life as an expatriate with young children myself (although I lived in Norway, USA and France) and remember all the challenges faced, including reassuring little ones that the Easer Bunny and Tooth Fairy would find them.
Beijing Tai Tai is available from Exisle Publishing for $24.99 paperback or $9.99 as an ebook. It would make a great Mothers Day gift.
Tania McCartney, author of Beijing Tai Tai, has also published children’s books and adult nonfiction, including Handmade Living.
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My favourite destination is Tasmania. I love the amazing scenery and the wilderness.
I would love to visit USA again, my list of places to see there is growing mighty long.
Katrina
I love visiting the coast in Oregon.
Love Singapore. So clean, so fresh and so beautiful. Can’t wait to go back again.
Love Singapore. So clean, so fresh and so beautiful. Can’t wait to go back again.
Two of my favorite places to visit for a nice, relaxing time are Mackinac Island, Michigan and Prince Edward Island, Canada.
I love France and the UK. I’ve been to both twice and feel like there’s still so much I want to see!
Broome is beautiful in a tropical way, and Hobart is gorgeous in a crisp air, historical buildings way! xx
This looks like a lovely book! Where would I like to live? Paris, definitely! My son has been to China and says it is an amazing place!
I loved Cambodia – the wonder of Angkor Wat, the friendly people and the scenery.
Sounds like an interesting book. I would love to read this and learn more about China. I volunteer at the Pearl S. Buck House and now have a greater interest in China. Thanks for the heads up on this book.
Denmark! Cph! The best place i`ve ever been
I love to read and travel through books to the places I read about. My dream is to visit Ireland but I’m ready to go at a moments notice anywhere.
Italy. I lived there for a year while in university and still find many things and places to discover whenever I revisit.
Grace
I love to visit Portugal in the Spring!
Love to visit the hills in Italy and it would be a dream come true to live there
Current fave is Vietnam 🙂
I think we both know that my favourite place to go to is Japan 🙂
I have not been out of the country, so I would have to say The Sunshine Coast QLD. I have family there & the beaches are incredible.