Shadowing
Serve tea in an authentic tea house, design cakes, or work 
alongside staff at a senior’s home, etc.
One of the most unique aspects of China Reflection is that it allows its visitors the chance to accompany, or shadow, ordinary Chinese living in and around the Beijing area as they go through their day’s work. Imagine going back home to your friends and telling them that you had the chance to “work” for part of a day in a traditional tea shop in Beijing. China Reflection is in close cooperation with numerous Chinese in various parts of Beijing city working in different fields. During their stay in and around the Beijing area, China Reflection’s guests have the option of working alongside ordinary Chinese, according to the guest’s interest (i.e. mini-apprenticeships, albeit in a foreign language). This opportunity is very unique, and much of its success depends upon the guest’s willingness to just “go with the flow.” Shadowing is as authentic as tourism can get, so be prepared for authentic situations and many surprises. The shadow program has many benefits:
1. Foreigners have a chance to get in contact with day-to-day ordinary Chinese trying their best to make it in this fast changing, ever booming economy. People always talk of wanting to see the “real” China. It is impossible to see the real China without being around and with real, working Chinese.
2. It gives foreigners a chance to try a multitude of work skills that they may have never had the chance to even consider doing in their own country. (Simon, in the picture above, had never worked at a bakery before this picture was taken).
3. It gives foreigners a chance to be completely immersed in a fast-paced Chinese environment. Immersion is the best way to learn Chinese, and there is no better place to be immersed than the workplace.
4. It is a good way for foreigners to meet many Chinese from different backgrounds in a limited amount of time
5. Everything about this is authentic and real. These are not teachers or people working for China Reflection. The people who agree to do this are common, working Chinese.
| Description | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cake Froster | This truly a unique shadow experience as you set yourself in the workplace of family-owned cake designers in Beijing. When you leave, you’ll be sure to take a cake home with you, as it is included in the price. | Details |
| Traditional Tea Server | Be ready for your chance to show them your newly acquired tea-pouring skills. Just don’t spill any tea on their laps! At the end, you’ll receive a complimentary box of tea, as well as your own tea-serving certificate. | Details |
| Retirement Home Care Giver | Join China Reflection as we travel to a retirement center in Beijing’s Jinyu hutong (Goldfish alley). This will truly be a heartwarming experience and will provide a chance for you to give as well as receive. | Details |
| Music Shop Employee | Begin the morning by learning about the different instruments in the shop. Afterwards, the owner or other worker in the shop will train you for your “work” (i.e. to introduce instruments to customers). | Details |
* Due to the fact that these program involve putting guests in direct and constant contact with Chinese as they work, we will only allow two people at most to join a shadow activity at one time (except for the retirement center) as we hope not to interfere with their jobs. These workers are very generous with their time, and it is too much of a burden to have to ask them to take on too many foreign “workers” at a time.