homing # 2

homing # 2, originally uploaded by china.sixty4.

late for class - student of "Hunan University of Technology" - Zhuzhou, Hunan, China

photo: mark hobbs

stand

stand, originally uploaded by china.sixty4.

small "backstreet" east of the city - near the main campus of Hunan University of Technology" - Zhuzhou, Hunan, China

photo: mark hobbs

open

open, originally uploaded by china.sixty4.

lane between "Hunan University of Technology" and the 'workers' housing. Zhuzhou, Hunan, China

photo: mark hobbs

croquet

croquet, originally uploaded by china.sixty4.

every morning and afternoon a group of elderly men and women gather under the shadow of the apartment buildings, inside the grounds of "Hunan University of Technology" to play croquet, gently hitting the hard ball around the sun parched 'pitch'.

photo: mark hobbs

the shadows stay

the shadows stay, originally uploaded by china.sixty4.

the concrete stairs and wall, outside my door - apartment building - "Hunan University of Technology", Zhuzhou, Hunan, China.

photo: mark hobbs

comfortable

comfortable, originally uploaded by china.sixty4.

store keepers, small "back street", west of the Xiangjiang River, Zhuzhou, Hunan, China

photo: mark hobbs

corner

corner, originally uploaded by china.sixty4.

the last 'apartment' in a long row of buildings - late afternoon, central Zhuzhou, Hunan, China

photo: mark hobbs

amongst the clouds

amongst the clouds, originally uploaded by china.sixty4.

Back in China - a rusting bicycle, under the stairwell of my apartment building, old campus - Hunan University of Technology, Zhuzhou, Hunan, China.

photo: mark hobbs

apartment window

apartment window, originally uploaded by china.sixty4.

Back in China - My apartment window - old campus - Hunan University of Technology, Zhuzhou, Hunan, China.

photo: mark hobbs

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

dust sweeper

dust sweeper, originally uploaded by china.sixty4.

the endless job of sweeping the dust - Gaoqiao, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China.

Since first coming to China in early 2004, I have seen countless numbers of these "road sweepers", who seemingly have a thankless, endless task. In some cities such as Taiyuan, Shanxi province, the sweepers work in groups (both men and women). Taiyuan has the added 'problem' of dust both local from coal production and dust blown into the city from the ever expanding Gobi dessert. In a relatively modern/developed city such as Ningbo the road sweepers work from very early in the morning to just before sunset. I have seen (and photographed) mechanized truck road sweepers, but these are rare.

photo: mhobbs