Jingdezehn, China 2011

ELLO ELLO,

So, I figured I would share my China experience from last year just to log it and share some awesome photographs (take by me, thank you very much) ! I have to say that it was an amazing adventure and defiantly God given! I am very grateful to of had the chance to see and experience where my older sister, Hope and my younger brother, Josh had grown up :)

Last year at HACC, I had taken Introduction to Ceramics and Intro to 2D Design courses. Both of my professors are very creative and both love ceramics, so they were the chaperones for the China trip! Every spring they take a few students (as long as you are in the intro or advanced ceramics course) on a trip to China! It is exspensive and in order to go they need four students. I had been contemplating whether or not to go, since my father didn't have a job and I couldn't afford it. Luckily, my 2D professor knew that I really reallyyy wanted to go and told me he would work something out. The next class, he had told me that they were going to give me the extra funding they had left over, so that I could go! $2,000. Even looking back, that's a crazy amount and I am still so thankful! I would not have been able to go if it wasn't for my professor, Bob. Thank you, Bob!!

HACC Group

Master Thrower, Hu

The trip is ceramics based, so we went to the porcelain capitol of the world, Jingdezhen, China! It is by far the best place on earth! We were able to throw porcelain and make our own little tea cups or whatever we could think of! Although the Chinese aren't too happy with us "Americans", they were still inviting and sweet. Apparently most can speak and/ or understand a little English, but they just usually choose not to talk to you :) haha which was fine with me! I loved just walking down the street and saying "HELLO" to pretty much everyone that looked at me :) Smiles were all I needed! It's almost like being in your own little world, but with thousands of people around you. It's an experience you'll have to enjoy for yourself :)

DUMPLINGS!!

Before Jingdezehn, we flew into Shanghai, China. What a city! It is gigantic and amazing! Plus, there are no bugs. Anywhere! They have tons and tons of stores just piled on top of each other! Just think of a seven story mall, each floor has either a store or a few restaurants on it. AWESOME. Just awesome :) If you go to China, you MUST have their fast food. It's kind of funny what you can get "fast" (and the rice still tastes delicious!). Talking about food, oh. my. goodness, real Chinese food is to die for! It's like nothing you've had in the States. It's so much better and richer! The spices are amazing. It's hard not to eat healthy (or at least healthier than what you can get in America) because there are veggies and goodness in pretty much everything you order. NOODLE NOODLES NOODLES! You must eat at a noodle shop! I ordered noodles and dumplings a lot and didn't gain any weight! Carb. City. It was awesome! Plus you walk everywhere, which is another thing I love about China. You either walk to your destination or ride a bike. I will only trust an Asian man to let me ride on the back of his bicycle. It's not racist, they're just very good at it and I'd feel safer :)

Taking a taxi in China is hilarious! They drive like maniacs! It's total chaos, but it works. There really aren't any "lanes" that cars drive in, you just go wherever you want to! Traffic light is red!? Forget about it! Just go when it's clear (or not clear, it's your choice.) Pedestrians trying to cross the street? HA! Just try not to hit them as you speed through the intersection. Driving in China is my favorite, although I wouldn't do it myself! I was never able to take a motorcycle taxi, but I definitely will my next visit! Just another experience I forgot to do the first time around.

There is soo much more that I can write about, I just need to pick my brain a little bit. It was an experience I will surely never forget :)

I love going to foreign places. I love their cultures and differences. They have so much history and stories to tell! China has a unique feel and I love it! I am definitely going back and spending more time there. Shanghi was fun and Jingdezhen was beautiful and full of life :)

Next on my list for China:

The Great Wall

Beijing

Hong Kong

HOPE YOU ENJOYED THE PHOTOGRAPHS!

Love,

Hannah