first year English major students - "Dahongying University" Cixi campus
This class has about 40 students which is an average number for classes in China (I have taught up top 57 students in one class and as little as 17) this class is mainly made of young women (read girls) with about 5 boys, which is also the average. The boys either choosing to work on the family farm or look for a position in one of the big cities on the south east coast of China - Education at the University level in China is very expensive.
On the blackboard in the background the students have written Chinese quotes suggesting that "the students should not forget their dreams...." great advice of course, but these students have like most students of their age in China, very little knowledge of the outside world or any expectations beyond returning to their village or 'hometown' and doing exactly what their parents insist, settling down and having families of their own.
photo: mark hobbs
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
students
when they are together
two young boys at the entrance to a small hutong (traditional Chinese alley dwelling) - early evening - Gaoqiao, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
Happy "Fathers Day" to all of you 'Father's and to me :)
photo: mark hobbs
when the door is open
a woman sits outside her home, making a hat - late afternoon - Gaoqiao, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China.
photo: mark hobbs
Guozhi Geming
standing tall - Guozhi Geming the "Party Boss" (Chinese Communist Party) of the Gaoqiao market - late afternoon - Gaoqiao, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China.
This stern looking man, is both the "Party Boss" and manager of the Gaoqiao market, his word is final - no discussion. A translation of his name is "may the state govern" (Guozhi) and "revolution" (Geming) I love the contradiction.
photo: mark hobbs
when he reads
leaving a residential area, a young man reads a txt on his cellphone - Gaoqiao, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China.
In China it seems that everyone has a cellphone (perhaps, this is the case across the globe?) Actually it is over half a billion people who own and use a cellular phone in China. Amazing statistics when you consider that the mobile phone was first introduced in 1995. Many of the phones are of course Shanzhai (which can translate as "A Chinese imitation and pirated brand and or good, particularly electronics")
photo: mark hobbs
feel that funky groove
i love the irony here - a 'disco' tshirt hangs in a "nong tang" (alley) Gaoqiao, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
try explaining in Chinese what this 'Funky thing' is....
photo: mark hobbs
when the road turns
intersection of two alley's "nong tang's" - early evening - Gaoqiao, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
photo: mark hobbs
