Wednesday, July 14, 2010

students


students, originally uploaded by china.sixty4.

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

a patch of blue


a patch of blue, originally uploaded by china.sixty4.

wall - Gaoqiao, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China.

photo: mark hobbs

when they are together


when they are together, originally uploaded by china.sixty4.

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


when the door is open, originally uploaded by china.sixty4.

a woman sits outside her home, making a hat - late afternoon - Gaoqiao, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China.

photo: mark hobbs

Guozhi Geming


Guozhi Geming, originally uploaded by china.sixty4.

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


when he reads, originally uploaded by china.sixty4.

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

almost here


almost here, originally uploaded by china.sixty4.

wall - Gaoqiao, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China.

photo: mark hobbs

feel that funky groove


feel that funky groove, originally uploaded by china.sixty4.

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


when the road turns, originally uploaded by china.sixty4.

intersection of two alley's "nong tang's" - early evening - Gaoqiao, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China

photo: mark hobbs

at 5:36pm


at 5:36pm, originally uploaded by china.sixty4.

going home - afternoon - Gaoqiao, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China

photo: mhobbs