High School at CNDIS

[Ana Kat]

Hi friends,
Our family will be moving to HK next summer. Our older son was admitted to 9th grade at CNDIS. We love the fact that the school offers an IB (opposed to HKIS which offers only APs), but we are very worried with the social aspect, since we've noticed that, even though the lower grades have a good mix of local kids and expats, the high school seems to be predominantly chinese. Any thoughts?

 

[howardcoombs]

You have a teenager who is fluent in English who is looking to attend a school full of students who will be fluent in English. Majority of these teenagers hold Canadian passports.

Granted, the %age of Chinese is higher than a typical Canadian high school, but they will be active teenagers fluent in English just the same.

What exactly are you worried about?

Your teenager (most likely) wont notice nor care about it.
You, as parents, will most likely find it a bit harder to make find friendship with the other parents due mostly to cultural differences.

HC

 

[penguinsix]

I think the largest number of expats in Hong Kong is Americans, but if you were to go up to a random 'white' person on the street, there is probably a 75% chance they are British or Australian. Many of the expats here are Chinese/American or Chinese/Canadian.

However, they speak English as well as you, and the kids have some of the same interests as your kids, be it hockey, football, this singer or that singer on MTV. Your kid will probably be pleasantly surprised by the similarities rather than worried about the differences.

He'll be fine.

 

[Ana Kat]

Dear penguinsix and HC,

Thank you for your responses. My worry is not different from the worries of many parents: that my children feel accepted in a new environment and therefore happy. They have lived in many different places, but it is our first time in Asia.

AK

 

[howardcoombs]

I have 3 yellow haired, round eyed ones that have gone thru the local school system; so I do have a bit of experience in the area you are feeling anxious about.

All I can say is "dont worry". Kids are resillient and at school they are not that different from others. As Hong Kong (and especially CDNIS) is a very cosmopolitan place, it is very normal to have multiple races and faces in the same class; the kids are used to it.

Lastly, from my experience, the usual bullying and name calling that goes on in a typical Canadian school does not exist here (or when it does it is stomped on quickly). Being an immigrant into Canada, I remember with pain all the days I came home crying because someone called me something unsavoury; my kids have not seen any of that here.

HC

 

[Ana Kat]

Hi HC,
Thank you for your nice message.
Even thought this will be our first time living in Asia, our family has lived in different countries and my sons go to an International School with people from all over the world. Some people told us though, that being in a school in Asia where population is mainly chinese can make adjusting hard for newcomers. I know that we are talking about children who hold either American or Canadian passports, but I am sure you agree with me that a passport does not necessarily make these children open and accepting to new cultures. Anyway, I was happy to read your comments and to feel that my children might have the chance to enjoy this wonderful experience.

AK