A Staycation in Guangzhou: Books and Shows for CNY

Since we are an international school in China, we are given a two-week long break from February 10 to February 25 for Chinese New Year. This allows time to travel to places around the world. However, many may be looking forward to a vacation and a break right here in Guangzhou, in other words, a staycation.

If you are looking for a lazy break while in Guangzhou filled with naps, television, and food, here are some easy reads and quick shows that I would definitely recommend for this two-week break.

TV Shows

Atypical

This Netflix series is one season long with eight episodes. It follows the life of an 18-year-old boy named Sam as he explores the world of dating while dealing with autism. It is an interesting look at the world through the eyes of someone with this disability and how it affects those close to Sam while adding a comedic aspect to the circumstances. I would totally recommend this show as it is quick and a different look at life with autism as many aspects of the media tend to hide the realities of this disability.

Girl Boss

This Netflix series is one season long with 13 episodes. It explores the life of a 23-year-old girl named Sophia who is still trying to find her place in the world. She eventually finds herself becoming quite successful with her business selling clothes online. This show follows Sophia’s journey of growing her own business while still dealing with the everyday problems of life. I recommend this show as it is empowering as a woman to watch Sophia grow her business from nothing, all independently.

Books

A Thousand Splendid Suns

by Khaled Hosseini

This book follows the life of two young Afghan women, Laila and Mariam. It explores the hardships women in Afghanistan have to face every day and what their life looks like as the war surrounds them. It is a book that will surely make you think. It does not shy away from the realities of the circumstances women are put into and the restrictions they have to work around.

The Girl Who Fell From The Sky 

by Heidi Durrow

This book tells the story of Rachel, a girl who has just recently survived a tragic accident. In result of this accident, she is forced to move to a new town where she struggles to find her place as she is of mixed race, unable to determine how she fits in. The book is told from many perspectives both in the present and the past, all dealing with ideas such as race and tragedy.

These are just some of my recommendations for this break, but if you have any, please leave them in the comments below!