#chinaincov

[changsha2015]

After a very long but amazing weekend we all finally returned to changsha, over the weekend we have had an amazing tour of Guilin where we visited local museums and landmarks that made this province truly amazing. I can say the one thing that amazed us all were the mountains, they were so striking and defining to the landscape and truly made the horizon beautiful to look at with it defining the lines and light. 

We were educated about the culture and local customs from all the museum that showed me how amazing and diverse the country is. The communities formed and shaped around the landscape showed me how you could be so cut off yet still thrive as a community. 

We also were lucky enough to see a live chinese opera called impressions where they used the outdoor natural backdrop to emphasise the love story, they also included local people in the play which to me really gave back to the community and allowed them to teach others about the beautiful ways they live their lives and their customs. 

Its been a lot to take in over these last 3 days but its been truly amazing. China is amazing and so diverse from one area to another, I cant wait to see more of this week.

Jack Miller

[changsha2015]

Today we had a Calligraphy session with Changsha University Lecturer and also a famous local calligrapher. I was able to learn from this session key aspects about this ancient art and why it is so important to the Chinese people, we learnt that it helps them to clear there mind and to try and be as purest as possible in order to create a good solid style that will have replicated from some of the famous calligraphers Chinese culture. I found when I had the chance to try the art of calligraphy my self that my work was nothing like what it was supposed to, but then again I had only been at this for an hour and not years like some of the students had been. I learns some key information today about Chinese calligraphy and that was there are 5 different styles ranging from the clean shapes of the square style, all the way to the rapid style which is very loose and quick while the square has very persist timings and lines to get correct. Some of these styles would have practical uses but the ones like the crazy cursive and would be used for purely artistic reasons. Over all I found this experience truly amazing I have never experienced something so challenging yet rewarding when done right it gives you a sense of accomplishment and pride. We then moved on to a museum about 40 minutes away from the university where we were given a guided tour that informed us not only about Chinese culture, for example we learnt about the door gods, how they made bamboo paper, a traditional printing method and also about chairman Mao. The whole day had been interesting and full of facts and to top off the day in the evening we had a show done by the university demonstrating the dragon and lion dances normally performed in the Lantern festivals but kindly enough showed us and even let us have our own go at each part. Today has been an eye opener for the rich heritage and traditions this country has to offer, and I am glad I was lucky enough to attend this exchange trip.

Jack Miller

[changsha2015]

Presentations!

Today we had a our first day of study which involved us receiving some great information from professor sun. He showed us some a great presentation that highlighted key features about Changsha and Hunan culture. I learnt a lot from his presentation and feel that with that and the first hand research I can gain from the country itself it will be a great benefit to my project. 

After we had a lunch break we then proceeded to give the chinese students of CSU presentations on some of the famous british culture aspects like Easter and its roots, or folk stories and traditional gifts. I chose to do mine on Easter egg painting as I thought it had great and historical roots in British culture and also the holiday of easter had some resemblance to the spring festival of chinese culture, with the birth of new life and new starts.

Over all I found the presentations hard for various reasons but at the same time I found it so interesting especially with the questions I was asked by the CSU students especially when they don’t know as much about the holiday as I thought.

Then we had the amazing chance to go and eat at Together Eat It, this restaurant allowed us to drink and eat some amazing food, we even ate bullfrog which surprisingly I absolutely loved. Then i had the bright idea to eat a hot chilli and to get 3 other lads to do the same the pain was so intense I have never had a chilli so hot and one that made me and the others physically cry. I can say I will never eat one of them for a long time.  

Jack Miller

[changsha2015]

First Full Day

As the title states today was my first full day in china, after a very long day of traveling we were able to have a good night sleep and spend today feeling fresh and ready for the adventure ahead.

We started off wilth our breakfast which is nothing like we were all used to back at home, we had noodles, steamed buns, soup, boiled eggs and fried beans. Even though it was so differnt i found it enjoyable and tasty to eat. We then had a guided tour around some of the CSU campus and i must say its massive and the shear size just overwelmed me as i am used to a smaller campus like Coventrys. But the surroundings of teh campus area are amazing and really something that will need a further venture.

We then were lucky enough to sit down and have lunch with the orginerser of the international exchange trip, and again the food was so differnt to what we are used to back home and yet it tasted and looked amazing, I got to say my favorite was the Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs they were amazing and presented so beautifully.

Then after we had all had our fill on the food and the beer we were lead on to a coach that took us to a small town about an hours coach ride away called Jinggang, it was an amazing little traditional town that had everything from snacks and local food to souvenirs the atmosphere there was amazing.

And when we got back for dinner it was safe to say we were all well and trully wiped out. But what an amazing first full day here i love it already.

Jack Miller

[changsha2015]

And we have landed

After a long and safe trip we are all now seataling in to our rooms. Its been a long day so far but i have seen some amazing architecture in just the breif moments we were all out on the road. Cant wait to see more of this amazing country.

Jack Miller

[changsha2015]

Jack Miller - Project Proposal

After talking to some of the Changsha students about the food and drink that is common in Changsha, I have been intrigued by the colours, textures and the ingredients that are used. I find the food that I have researched and looked into seems exciting and more interesting compared to what is common in the UK. I want to create a menu that shows the differences between common meals of the day so for example I would compare a common Chinese breakfast to an English breakfast and so on for lunch and dinner, I want to also inform the viewer of the ingredients that go into each dish. Hopefully this will demonstrate any common ingredients or vast differences between our cultures. So I aim to create a final out come of a menu that will show these dishes and allow for the viewer to compare the contents and the differences in the two cultures. Jack

[susanxuanzheng]

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Moving poster in London Underground.#chinaincov #covinchina #csu

[susanxuanzheng]

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Beautiful Lisa~ 🎉🎉#chinaincov #covinchina