Throughout our travels in China, I have met many individuals and shared interesting dialogue with each of them – the topics have varied, along with appropriateness, for such reason I will be ignoring what was discussed. These are the folks, in no particular order, whom I’ve befriended.
From the Reggae Bar in Hangzhou, the latest of my nights in China (returning to the hotel near 5:00 in the morning), I met many interesting characters. A bigger Chinese guy, with tattoos, who went by the name of Elephant, the bar-tenders Sean and Jake (at the end of the night Sean ended up waiving my extensive bar tab, so I gave him a nice tip), a fellow named Rod and later his uncle, Kana; Elias from Ethiopa, who was studying Chinese, a friend of Elias’ - Emmanuel, Dave from Ontario, and lastly a beauty by the name of Wang Meng. She is my age and is currently studying in Beijing. These guys were all older than me, but no more than a few years – except Kana.
After we visited the YuYuan Garden in Shanghai, two young women, art students, approached Jake and I and led us to a gallery where their work and their professors’ work was on display. Being an artist, and taken in by their friendliness, I couldn’t help but purchase a watercolor from one of them (I can’t remember either of their names, nor did I write them down, silly me; however, the watercolor I have is stamped, so Chengyan can translate for me).
When the class visited Zhejiang Forestry University, we were all greeted by students and had about an hour and a half to spend with them. Four ladies accompanied me and we walked around the small lake on campus. They were graduate students, studying landscape architecture, and they were very nice; I enjoyed my afternoon. Their names were Wu Tian jing, Wang Xiao Ru, Yu Hui yun, and Shi jie Qiong.
During our latter stay in Shanghai, I met three young women and this one dude – also a late night.
While in Suzhou, I met a few different people: a young lady at an art gallery (she was working) who’s English name was snow and at that same gallery I met a man who actually received a master’s degree in electrical engineering at the University of Minnesota – this was indeed a surprise – his name is Jian Ding. Earlier that evening I met a guy named Thomas, from Ohio, at a bar. Thomas is in the middle of a two-year contract, fabricating and powder-coating car parts. He was kind enough to inform me what happens on the second floor of the bar – when asked he responded, “Whatever you want, my friend” as he pointed at all the pretty young women serving drinks and told me I could take my pick (Don’t worry, Mom, I finished my drink and left, I was only out to take pictures that night). Two women from Canada who are teaching English in Suzhou asked me if I was doing a documentary (apparently walking around with a camera and a tripod is a great way to meet people), we chatted and walked for a bit before they went on their way. Also when I was setting up to snap a few, a bartender wanted to look at my pictures; within a couple minutes I had her friend in the bar make me another drink. It was and “English” pub, with lots of Brits and soccer on the telly.
While at the Shanghai Botanical Garden, I ended up talking to someone from a wedding party – he was taking a break from the photo shoot. I talked with him and he translated for me so I could talk with the photographer too. Turns out, this guy, Hua gong Heng, went by the English name Jason, also. The photographer’s name is Lin jiang xiang. They liked soccer; these guys were cool.
After half the class returned home, Jake and I met a couple from Finland – we had lunch and shared a very cramped van-ride with them to and from the Great Wall.
At the Administrator’s Garden, in Suzhou, I met a woman by the name of Claudia; we were looking at the same painting in the gift shop. Claudia was on a “business” trip from Germany. She gave me her card in case I ever end up in Germany. And speaking of Germany, at the hostel in Beijing, I had a nice conversation with Jens, the journalist, also from Germany. He lives in Kiel and is visiting his sister, who is living in China and teaching German (her husband works for Audi). Jens’ birthday is July 8, one day after mine, and after expressing my thoughts about President Bush, Jens shook my hand; later he told me he was also a “greenish-hippie”. Jens is actually 20 years older than I am and he studied archeology; he works in the T.V. and radio field writing essays, articles, and commentating.
Our first day in Shanghai we ran into two older woman at the Pearl Tower. With the help of Chengyan, we found out one of them has a son – a student – in the U.S. She thought I looked a pretty girl because of my hair; and on that note I’ll mention the security guard at the Shanghai Art Museum who, upon first glance from behind, thought I was walking into the wrong bathroom. At the museum, I also talked to an older gentleman on vacation from Australia; he wasn’t impressed with his “civil-servant” tour guide and suggested that, with my interest in Asia, a trip to Vietnam is well worth it. Apparently the latest generations are over the whole ‘war thing’ and very understandable when it comes to younger Americans and other westerners.
Also at the Hostel, we spoke with three fellows from Denmark – Simon, Michael, and some other guy (I forget his name). They are finishing up their trip around the world during their gap-year. Another younger woman, Ilaria, from Italy, I saw last night and talked to this morning. She is also staying at the hostel and use to live in China; she’s back to visit friends and have a good time.
When the class was driving back to Shanghai we stopped at rest stop to fill up on gas; we were playing Frisbee and a couple Chinese workers (they might have been security, I’m not sure) were spectating. So I decided to introduce them to the wondrous Frisbee and within five minutes we were tossing across the parking lot – that was a lot of fun. We also played Frisbee with a bunch of engineering students while waiting outside a craft museum in the French Concession of Shanghai; that was cool too.
Miscellaneous persons: at night there were numerous security guards and Chinese residents or tourists who wanted to see the pictures I was taking at night – few spoke English, they were all nice and they were all happy for me to share my photos with them. I interrupted a couple on West Lake, in Hangzhou, as I took pictures of the lake at night. Jake and I encountered a nice man who helped us figure out where we were in the middle of Shanghai. There is also the guy and the girls who sold me my cheap-ass watch that stopped working; and, of course, the tour guides: Adam, Lili, and Leo. (Adam and Leo in the picture) I love meeting new people – it’s a good thing I know English, other wise I’d be lost.
