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Faces of China

 

 

It is always interesting  learning about the lives of people from other countries. However it is  best when the people tell about themselves.


I would like to share my impressions about China, especially about people who I met there. Each of them represents the unique person who I can't forget. All these were chance meetings. I did not know these people before, for example,  these two beautiful, merry, affable girls who are sellers in a supermarket.

I was very glad to chat  with some of them or simply to exchange glances. I came to love Chinese people because  almost all are open, kind and friendly. Each meeting has remained in my memory and kept inside my camera.

I met Catherine Hou in April of this year when I went for a walk on Jin Jihu Road in Suzhou. She is a Project Manager in I.C.D.LAMC Company and speaks English perfectly. I asked her about how Chinese people live in China. She proved to be a very willing and interesting source of information.

Catherine told me: "I think most Chinese are hard working people and they are very kind. Chinese people like to live with their parents together, because it's easy to look after each other.

Grandmother and grandfather take good care of their grandchildren after they were born. Their parents are busy with their work to make money for living. "

Catherine went on to add: " In the countryside, people have to work in the field all days to plant wheat, rice, and vegetables. They have little money to live. They have to save money for their child to study in school.


For most children, there is only one way to get a better life in the future, that is study. If you want get a good job, you have to study hard and gain good grades and marks in school and get into good college. Consequently  many little children have to take extra lessons, and they have little time to play. I think it is wrong, but we cannot change the situation".

I met several Chinese children. This small girl I met when I was shopping. She was utterly charming, a lovely girl who spent all her time with her mother in the vegetable market. I think her parents have a hard life and can't  afford  to send her to Kindergarten.

I met this young woman with her small son in a train which was going from Shanghai to Suzhou.

  These three boys rode their bicycles all around me!

  They were so relaxed that they made fun of me. 

And made faces at me.

While I waiting for  my train in a station this girl came up to me. She started talking to me with undisguised delight. I do  not speak Chinese, she does not speak  English. But we have understood each other very well.

 

She showed me her book filled up with hieroglyphs by her hand. She had made many notes in blank  places in her book. I was surprised by the  force of her desire to study. I was filled with admiration for her aspiration to knowledge. I think she is a vivid example of Chinese youth.

And again a chance meeting and another expressive and charming face .

This young couple were walking together in the park and they were only too happy to be photographed.

Buddhists from a monastery were very affable and approachable. They stood up and were welling subjects for my camera. 

The woman smiled as a token of consent when I asked to photograph her.

Dear fellow, the photographer from Nanjing, what are you thinking about?

When I visit cafes, restaurants, KFCs, McDonalds or any eating place I always catch many many smiles.

The man looked at my camera lens and smiled broadly.

I like Chinese sales women. They are very smiling and good-natured.

The Fish-seller cleaned a large carp for me. At the end of his efforts he showed me his thumb as a mark of success and gave a great smile.

  Ah, how I adore bag shops!

 This familiar  couple of stallholders in a vegetable market greet me warmly. They always are kind to me and without fail throw in extra pieces of fruit that I haven't paid for.

This man watched me taking my photographs with great interest in Shanghai. I was glad that I could please him!

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