China my China

Many years ago, or at least more than I want to admit, I got a phone call. It's one of those crackly, echo-y calls that tells you the caller is a long, long way away. I had a few of those already. It was Robyn. We had met the previous winter, 'courted' in the summer, and then she took off for China to be Michigan State's first 'exchange student' with Sichuan University. Pretty cool stuff I thought.

The language program that she had signed up for really didn't materialize and so she began teaching english. The purpose of her call that day was to recruit me. Having spoken english for a good part of my life (excluding those 'awkward' years when I communicated solely by a series of grunts and hand gestures) I felt uniquely qualified for the job. Besides, I was working a dead end job in the middle of middle America, China's was lookin' fine.

I worked extra shifts, saved up and bought a ticket. Before I left my dad bought me the Canon AE-1 you see above and get this - 12 rolls of Fuji slide film! Enough film to last a lifetime. My first camera and my first 'real' adventure and where both the travel and photography 'bug' bit.

We were in Chengdu, a smallish (by China standards) city of 4.5 million teaching at Sichuan University, a place that could accurately be described as both a prestigious institution of higher learning and a rat's latrine. Fair enough, I had been warned (by Robyn) but hey why talk about running your car into a tree when you can run your car into a tree (huh? nevermind).

These were simpler, but interesting times. Deng Xiao Ping's experiment with market reforms had just begun (he started in Sichuan where he was from). Small, private markets began springing up all over the city. One excited day we even witnessed the arrival of Pepsi at a local shop. An occasion for a couple of college aged punks to celebrate.

And there were the classic 'old guys with wispy beards smoking pipes' that were straight out a NatGeo special.

So now we're headed back to Sichuan, which will be my first time in Chengdu since we made a return trip in 1991. Older, wiser (OK, older anyway). Frankly, I am not sure what we will find.

 Above : my students and some hairy goomer that happened to walk into the shot.

Comments

[BM]

RE photo please! Or is that her with the killer beard?

[Robyn]

Is most certainly NOT her with the killer beard! And you'll have a photo over my dead body. ;-P

[Jennifer]

That is one handsome dude with the killer beard right there. I think I know him!

[Dave]

BM - I'm of the belief that 'killer' and 'beard' are best left as descriptions in a police line up.

Jennifer - I see your point. Put that dude in a pair of dad jeans and well - ladies, the line forms on the left..

[BM]

I demand Robyn pics! Demand, I say!

[Dave]

BM - What you didn't save a copy of Playboy, March, '85? Oh right, you hadn't gone through puberty yet. Sit down junior.

[BM]

Why don't you tell that to my killer beard?

(I don't really know what that means.)

[Linda]

Oh David - thank you for the photos - especially the old guys. Do you sell your images? I would like to have a copy of the old guys.
I first went to China in 1996. Prior to that I belonged to some student Australia China friendship groups when I was an art student in Australia. I have been back 3 times since then (including a lovely trip in 1993 during the Sars scare-magnificent-no tourists- empty country) and I never lose my fascination for the country. Chengdu is a hell hole furnace of a city in the summer - but ultimately an amazing city for food and culture.
What gear do you shoot with?

[Dave]

Hi Linda,

Thanks. I do sell prints. I'll send you the details separately. We're in Chengdu now and I'm happy to report that the food is as good (if not better) than I remember. Day 1 and a LOT more exploring to do.

For gear, I'm currently using Canon full frame digitals. Left the film and the AE-1 back home.