Buffalo Grove Countryside - April 24, 2008

By Charles Berman

When Shaw Wu and his son, Borler, saw a notice about a Me and My Dad bonding group three years ago, they didn't know it was tailored toward Jewish fathers and sons.

Shaw Wu simply looked for a club where he and his 8-year-old son could spend quality time together while both could make some new friends. The Chinese-American father and son signed up, and they found what has turned out to be a perfect match through the Jewish Community Center in Buffalo Grove.

"Right when we joined we felt very comfortable," Wu said. "We didn't feel like strangers, we got along great and so we kept going."

While the group isn't particularly religious, their activities often have Jewish cultural themes.

"They were very inviting and sometimes they even paid more attention to us to explain their traditions," Wu said.

Shaw Wu said they have learned a lot, but the other 11 father and son members may have learned more about acceptance and the importance of incorporating people with different backgrounds in their lives.

"I was very impressed and surprised knowing they stayed to expand their perspective of the world," said Gary Cliffer, a group member from Buffalo Grove. "It takes some courage to walk in to a group that they might think is exclusive; but we welcome in all people.

"And it makes our kids realize when it comes right down to it, we're all people, and family is important to all cultures."

So to show their gratitude, the group met at the Wu family's Lincolnshire home April 15 to learn about Chinese culture.

The group crammed in together, sons on their fathers' laps, and listened attentively as Chinese teacher Chi Chi Liu displayed Chinese art and geography. Children asked questions about the Great Wall, Chinese handwriting and the life of kids in China. The group went on to make Chinese dumplings as well.

"I'm glad you have this group with close father and son relationships," Liu said. "The Chinese see children as the hope of the family."

Group leader Steven Weisberg said it's truly impressive how Wu went above and beyond to teach his son about other cultures.

"They take it all in and rarely miss a meeting," Weisberg said. "We were very happy to follow their lead and do the same for our group of kids and learn about their values and customs."