Reflections by Jennifer Nguyen

I knew little of what was in store for me when I signed up for this workshop. In fact, I had trouble explaining to people what the class was about. A lot of “uh’s” and “maybe’s” with a question mark were given as my answers. I may have been perceived as uncertain and lost about this class, but one thing I was quite sure of: I could not contain my excitement. Three hours into the first day of class, I knew without a doubt that the name “U+B Workshop” was much of an understatement. It was more than the University of Tennessee and Beijing School of Graphic Design coming together to collaborate on a Wayfinding project. It was bigger than a workshop. It was bigger than any space 35 people can take up. It was an experience, a reward, a happiness that was conjured up by the seemingly magical presence of talented minds and overflow of abundant love. I remember Professor David Matthews stating the beautiful harmony the Chinese create everyday amongst each other – that our individual identities were there to merge with another and to expand upon the idea of cultural interaction.

Two weeks later, I have come to realize David Matthews was spot on when he said that. I was transformed.

Workshop Together

My group was kind and light as a deer prancing on snow. They fluttered to me with gifts. Every day they embraced what I had to say. Listening intently with hands in laps and backs sitting up straight, they could have just sat in a stool rather than a chair with a back and still be just fine. I remember Catherine listening with pursed lips and open ears. Her eyes following mine: sometimes they fell onto the drawing in front of us, other times they fell on each other. Her gestures and expressions were gentle. Her frowns were subtle and her questions were anxious. I remember a language barrier that existed. But with a language barrier came a choir of delight every now and then as a sign of understanding proceeding after confusion. This singing was louder and stronger than any barrier, thus soon all was forgotten because of the universal language we shared: drawing. We drew and we erased. We laughed at the Cotton Baby and we adored it. We pushed for a fine presentation and we pulled through it. I could not have imagined a better outcome. With differences came obstacles but with perseverance came patience, and no clearer harmony could have been sung the way it did through the experiences we danced along together.

Travel Together

The time the Beijing students were there, we travelled Knoxville. I remembered driving Kitty, Kate, Catherine, Lily and Lindsey in my car. It was a sunny day with brilliance shining through the whitest of clouds. Both my sunroof and moonroof were open. I remember silently shuffling for questions to ask in my head while flipping through the radio, adjusting the volume for the ear every now and then. I noticed Lily first. Sitting in the passenger seat, she had her head leaned back, slightly tilted towards the window and out beneath the frame. I grinned. I looked in my rear view mirror, surprisingly all three heads were doing the same: looking up in fascination. I asked excitedly, “What’s your favorite part of Knoxville?” They answered in sync, “The blue sky”, eyes still gazing above them. I was truly surprised and at loss for words. Even several minutes afterwards, I could not help but to throw glances back there at them with interest and wonderment. I always took the blue sky for granted, I guess. Even on rainy days, I just knew the blue sky would come back shortly, sometimes even with a rainbow. But Lindsey told me in Beijing, the sky is always gray, thick with pollution. Even when the sun shines, the sky never turned blue, but only a lighter gray. Their land was lit like ours but their sky never reflected the same color. At that moment, I felt instantly inspired and grateful. This feeling I felt lasted for the rest of the night because it was that night that I was reminded once again the little things that can make anyone happy in a matter of seconds.

Thanks to the ear
That someone may hear
Thanks to the seeing
That someone may see
Thanks to the feeling
That someone may feel
Thanks to touch
That one may be touched
Thanks to the flowering of white moon
And spreading shawl of black light
Holding villages and cities together.

-James Berry

Dinner Together

Dinner rolled around every evening of course, but on the night of the 17th, dinner became extra special. The Beijing students cooked for us. We went grocery shopping together at Sunrise Market and it was then that our cultural experiences really began to intertwine in a totally brand new way for me. Through food we bonded. Curiosity exposed itself and my “uh’s” and “maybe’s” became “ooooh’s” and “aaaah’s”. I was fascinated with how quickly they were able to pull the 9 delicious dishes together. With two woks and a stove, they made the room of just air transform into a room of heavenly meals. There were soup, noodles, rice, mushroom, vegetables, beef, fish, and many, many more! For the longest time, new dishes could not stop making it to the table. I remember thinking right then and there that with the people I was with, all the room really needed was a kitchen and a dining table and I’m sure everyone would be more than happy to call it our home. Amongst the sizzling of the ingredients being thrown into the burning wok and the happy chattering of friends exchanging compliments, I remember wanting to just stand aside and observe quietly. I wanted to remember. I wanted to secure the feeling of warmth I had with friends I have only known for a week. I wanted it to be permanent and I wanted it to be forever. In a small room crowded with friends so amazing, I could only wish for the space to be tighter and for us to be closer; for it was that night, in my eyes, that our different identities became of one harmony.