Welcome to the ‘Jing: Ambassador of Republic of Yemen & Family

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jingkids welcomes new expatriate families who have made the brave decision to travel from overseas to the capital city for a fresh adventure. Welcome to the friendly Beijing community. We can’t wait to see you around the neighborhood.

Professor Mohammed Al-Maitami currently serves as the Ambassador of the Republic of Yemen to the People’s Republic of China and resides in Beijing with his family. He has two children at Canadian International School of Beijing (CISB) – Rema in Grade 7 and Marwan in Grade 11.

Welcome to the ‘Jing! What made you decide to come to Beijing?

I have been giving an unique and honorable opportunity to serve my country, the Republic of Yemen as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary in such a great, friendly and old-civilized and developed country as People’s Republic of China. Since I was a middle school student, I have been reading about Chin’s modern history; its struggle for liberation and the sacrifices made by Chinese people for the values of freedom, justice, equality and dignity, its astonishing achievements in liberating more than 400 million of its citizens from poverty and illiteracy, and raising their standard of life, health, cultural and scientific levels; these transformations and achievements have attracted the minds of millions of people over the so-called Third World. That beautiful picture stuck in my mind and that human dream of a free and dignified life that is firmly rooted in me are the great gravitational forces that pull me and my family to visit this great country and get to know it closely.

What are you most looking forward to doing here in Beijing?

My priority as my county’s ambassador to China is work by all available means to strengthen the friendly an partnership relations between two friendly peoples and countries. Yemen and China’s relations date back thousands of years. Yemen as one of the oldest human civilization had established commercial relations with China many centuries ago before P.C., including the silk road. Yemen was also among the first countries who recognized the establishment of the People’s Republic of China. As for my family members: my wife and children, getting to know the culture, the traditions of Chinese, learning the Chinese language and creating warm relations with Chinese families and individuals are among their first priorities.

What are your family’s first impressions of Beijing?

What caught the attention of my wife and children the most was the strong and good security of the city of Beijing, which is home to more than 20 million people. The beauty and greenery of the city, its  luxurious malls, the good organization of traffic are great, but what struck them most is the kindness of the Chinese citizens, their warmth and their friendly reception of foreigners.

What are your favorite things about Beijing so far?

Meeting people from different spectrum of social groups is one of the most interesting things we love to do in this city. Also, visiting Chinese monuments, strolling and walking in public parks.

What made your family choose CISB for the kids' education?

Choosing the right school for my kids was among the most difficult tasks we faced to settle in China. The transition of children from one environment to another and adaptation to the new environment and its culture represent a dividing line between thesuccess and failure to settle in. That’s why we had to research the school carefully to ensure our children could adapt and continue their studies efficiently, easily and richly. After careful research, inquiries from more than one friend and a direct interview with the staff and administration of the school, we found all these characteristics in this school. Truth be told, right away my children felt the care and understanding of the school staff and administration, and soon felt that they were part of the family of the school. They began to create positive and fruitful friendships with their classmates. What is important is the innovative pedagogical method of education at CISB. They make them think, meditate, and innovate, not to memorize and repeat what their teachers say.

Images: Courtesy of contributor

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