Photographing D.C.

Photography in D.C. was very diverse in terms of subject matter.  although there were plenty of sites and buildings to photograph, the people and street culture provided the most interesting subjects.   

Much of the trip to D.C. was spent photographing.  Every location we visited and every museum we attended, I had my camera.  Many of the museum exihibits allowed photography, and those that did not had security guards who were quick to stop you if you tried!  Lesson learned- on multiple occasions.  The sights such as the monuments, the mall, the Capitol building and the White House were all nice photo opportunitys.  Even with such notable places on every street corner,  I found that the most descriptive elements of the culture in Washington D.C. were found on the streets and in the parks.  The typical impression one has of Washington is one that involves politics.  The city is the home to our federal government branches, but it truly offers much more beneath the surface.  The people are as diverse and the Declaration of Independance suggests.  There are so many cultures merged together in such a small area.  A great example of this is Chinatown.  It is truly a city within a city.  It has all the amenities and capitalism of the greater D.C. area, but survives on its own micro-economy.  Even the homeless population that fills the parks at night time have their own system of living and communal structure.  They all seem to have their own space and set up.  And they all seem to have their own methods of aqquring food and money;  methods that don't seem to intefere with each other.  Its a different world from Knoxville, but it was a very enlightening cultural experience.

Public Transportation

Public transportation always proved to be entertaining.  Although it could be quite hectic and draining just to get the group from one place to another in one peice, it was always interesting.  From the people on the trains to the people in the terminals, there was always something that captured everyones attention.

The train rides were always hit or miss in terms of how smoothy we could transport the group.  Sometimes, it was quite simple to get everyone loaded on the subway and back off at the proper destination.  Other times it was a game of rounding up the Bejing students who had stopped to shop or take pictures.  In the mornings and evenings there was the rush-hour factor that made it difficult to get the entire group on a train at once.  While on the train, many people would stare or whisper when the large group of students from China boarded.  This was due to both the fact that they were foreign, but also to the fact that the Chinese students and teachers have a very different understanding of 'Personal Space'.  It was not uncommon that the Chinese people stood very close to others, or even touched.  To Americans, it seems like an invasion of space, but to them its quite normal to be at such close range.  

Mets Game

One of the more cultural highlights for me was the Mets game.  The whole experience was quite eye-opening in terms of just how different the American and Chinese cultures are.  From the experience of a new sport to the experience of a pro baseball game environment, the reactions of the chinese students were very interesting.

The evening began with our arrival at the new Mets stadium.  The crowds were hectic and keeping up with the Bejing students was quite the task!  Most of the Bejing students were very keen on photography, which could be quite the distraction when trying to keep the group together.  They photographed every aspect of the night, anything from the people, the stadium, the food, and the game.  The actual game was very foreign to them.  Most of them are familar with basketball and soccer.  They were very attentive and seemed to act as if they were accuring an understanding of the game, however after the fact, they told me they had no idea as to what was going on.  Nevertheless they all seemed to have a fairly good time.  Even if they did not understand the sport, there was plenty of time for American food and socialization.  

A Final Farewell

Samantha and G; our final night in NYOur last night in New York was spent in Chinatown at a Cantonese restaurant. During dinner, many gifts were given and even more pictures were taken. I counted heads; everyone was finally there. For a moment, I began to feel nostalgic. The first day we met our friends, they were tired and confused, split up into sections arriving sporadically at the airport. Over the past couple of weeks we had really gotten to know each other and I was beginning to think I was sorry to see them go so soon. I made friends with two of the girls from my way finding team and I found myself surprised by how close we had become. 

G was older than me, but very trusting and sincere.  She and I struck a friendship after multiple travel mishaps including a trip through the metro splitting from the group for her early resignation one day in D.C.. I felt closest to G in New York one night standing under the canopy of the Holiday Inn Express. She was smoking a cigarette and rattling on about New York City's urbanized Chinese Americans. I felt I saw her in her element, a sea of yellow blurring behind her and thick smoke leaving her mouth as she spoke.  She had beautifully long hair and slender eyes, and seemed always to be wrapped up in her own mysterious thoughts. 

Then there was Samantha, warm and loving.  She was certainly the nurturer of the group, much like a mother.  She was constantly accommodating for someone's discomfort, including mine, reaching for a chair when I was leaning or handing me some form of snack when I looked famished.  She even compelled me to complain a little if I was ever hot or tired.  Her kindness gave her a special appearance, much more than that of just a pretty girl. Her curiosity and concern for others naturally made me seek her out as a strong link to the entire group from Beijing.  I will always remember her by her diplomacy and meek disposition. 

Back at the hotel, I went down to the girls' room the night before their early morning flight back to China. I gave them the jewelry I had been wearing since their day of arrival, hoping to offer a personal memento representing how much our friendship meant to me. I knew that they were sensitive girls and it was getting late after lots of conversation. Goodbyes were postponed to the early morning after making my many promises to show up in the lobby.

The only morning I slept in, I woke to find the sun in my face, a blinking phone on the night stand and my heart pounding in panic. I had missed our farewell.  After all the promises I made, and efforts toward building these friendships, I asked myself repeatedly how I could let this happen.  It wasn't until later that I had thought, with some resolve, that there was no need for a final farewell at all. Friendships are not bound to a mass of land or a moment in time.  They are forever.   

The Guggenheim Museum

Jen and friends waiting to enter the museumMid-week and New York was beginning to affect our group.  Many were discovering a new-found boldness as a result of experiencing the city.  They began creating their own agendas, going on shopping excursions and day trips to make the most of their stay.  There was something about the city of New York. It enlightened the soul and offered its own energy to the people; a caffeinated place, even after dark.  Unfortunately, the days were long and hot, and our group numbers for scheduled events were dwindling.                                       

I believe there was about twelve of us (half our group) that attended this tour. It was our third museum in three days and I was becoming a bit particular due to all the exposure. The entire museum only took about 90 minutes for me to review. As I was exiting I couldn't help but feel I missed the point.

 

I refused to stand in line for thirty minutes for the James Turrell exhibit after already waiting outside for admission.  I was disappointed by the display situation, the resultant awkward circulation options, and was unimpressed by the amount of space consumed by commercial aspects such as the cafe and gift shop. As my friend, Jen, and I made our way out, we turned back with a stupid look on our face.  Was that it? Yet, as we waited there for over an hour on our group to trickle through, I couldn't help but think that our friends from Beijing were very appropriate visitors.

                                                                                  

I remember how patiently some of the girls in our group stood in the line for James Turrell, without knowledge of what they were waiting for and without complaint.  Others were determined to document their visit, asking permission from the staff to take photographs of the art in each section of each gallery, as the rules did vary.  They were patient and open minded, simply enjoying each piece regardless of how and where it was displayed. I could tell that most really did appreciate the exhibition. For me, the most refreshing part of that day was to watch each individual exit, face lit up, grinning and not looking back.