=3D20
The sun started to rise at 5:15 this morning and wisps of red-orange-yellow=
=3D
colored clouds wafted about. Later the colors changed to grays and purple=
=3D
s and whites. The weather here is full summer at 40 degrees C. yesterday an=
=3D
d expected again today. Some relief expected in a day or two from the hurr=
=3D
icane that is now whipping up and drenching Hainan and GuangDong further so=
=3D
uth of JingDeZhen. (Their 6th typhoon of the season...poring rains (it's ra=
=3D
ining cats and dogs is the English idiom..).....and winds at 145 KM per hou=
=3D
r....) JDZ seldom sees such weather....we share a climate like Atlanta.
=3D20
=3D20
The Birds abound=3D2C in JDZ=3D2C cicadas chant in their on-and-off manner=
=3D3B t=3D
he rice crops are turning from green to yellow hues=3D3B the street sweeper=
s =3D
and hod carriers still work everyday=3D2C collecting the trash=3D2C pulling=
the=3D
ir carts=3D2C moving ceramics from throwers to trimmers=3D2C to decorators=
=3D2C t=3D
o kilns=3D2C then to the shops and exporters. Moving goods. =3D20
=3D20
=3D20
=3D20
The economy struggles here as elsewhere=3D2C but the government seems to be=
p=3D
ushing Chinese to comsume more and keep the factories open...mostly it is h=
=3D
elping. Farmers are encouraged to buy goods to keep the factories open and =
=3D
healthy. They get stimulus money to afford buying a refrigerator=3D2C a new=
T=3D
V or a computer or stove.... Technology spreads...even to the farmers who h=
=3D
ave no electric power. They are encouraged to build methane producing gas '=
=3D
factories' on their farms to make gas from animal feces=3D2C with which to =
co=3D
ok and provide light. These projects are encouraged and subsidized by the g=
=3D
overnment.=3D20
=3D20
=3D20
Graduating college students ....so far...70 % have found work. Good =3D2C b=
ut=3D
not perfect. The economy shows some signs of growth in China in some areas=
=3D
. It is hopeful to see that the 2020 plans includes an extreme increase in=
=3D
clean energy production....wind=3D2C solar=3D2C nuclear...instead of coal=
=3D2C o=3D
il=3D2C gas production of electric power.
=3D20
=3D20
Good to see that the leaders here can learn quickly and=3D2C of course=3D2C=
mak=3D
e it happen quickly...cause they don't have to ask anyone if it's ok. Just=
=3D
enact the policy and it happens immediately. BUT...Still greed and some di=
=3D
shonesty....as is the way for some humans...but the national leaders seem t=
=3D
o be interested in working for the people.
=3D20
=3D20
The recyclers collect every single scrap of cardboard=3D2C paper=3D2C pla=
stic=3D
=3D2C glass and anything else that has value. Plastic shopping bags=3D2C t=
hat =3D
are not biodegradable=3D2C are now banned in China and one can see the diff=
er=3D
ence in the condition of the roadside and the two rivers that converge here=
=3D
in JDZ 80 km south of the China's largest freshwater lake -Poyang Hu.
=3D20
=3D20
The campus is a ghost town again=3D2C as most of the students have returned=
h=3D
ome for the summer holiday. There are some students who stay and study or d=
=3D
o local volunteer work in old folks homes and orphanages. Some local studen=
=3D
ts act as translators and interpretors for potters and business people=3D2C=
h=3D
ere to learn about porcelain...or on a buying trip.
=3D20
=3D20
=3D20
JDZ relies heavily on manufacture and sales of porcelain wares=3D2C but the=
re=3D
are also other industries. Suzuki has an automobile factory here that emp=
=3D
loys about 2=3D2C000=3D3B Italy's Augusta-Westland-ChangHe helicopters are =
manu=3D
factured here in a joint venture. Fixed wing aircraft are made here. There =
=3D
is a fireworks factory=3D2C just outside of town...every wedding=3D2C birth=
day=3D
=3D2C anniversary or store opening calls for LOTS of firecrackers. There ar=
e =3D
literally thousands of small resaurants in addition to the big restaurants =
=3D
in or near the big hotels. You have heard me describe the food here. GREA=
=3D
T! Fresh and ultimately edible.
=3D20
=3D20
=3D20
The Pottery Workshop/Sculpture Factory is bussling with foreign potters and=
=3D
artists from all over the world=3D2C who come here to make ceramics..as is=
t=3D
he San Bao Workshop=3D2C just outside of town. People are gearing up for th=
e =3D
Oct 18-22 JingDeZhen China International Ceramic Fair and Conference. I h=
=3D
ave made some large (50cm) platters with blue and white Eagles to display. =
=3D
Cone 13=3D2C gas fired in oxidation.=3D20
=3D20
=3D20
Some folks who displayed works in the Contemporary Exhibition LAST year ha=
=3D
d problems getting a copy of the catalog=3D2C but I am told those issues ha=
ve=3D
been ironed out=3D2C so if you wish to be in the juried exhibit=3D2C send =
me a=3D
note off-list and I will send you the info....deadline for images is July =
=3D
31st!
=3D20
=3D20
=3D20
I am disappointed with communications here in China. U-Tube was banned aft=
=3D
er March problems and now Facebook is blocked.... after the July 5th unrest=
=3D
in the West. Ahhh! I miss Facebook.
=3D20
=3D20
=3D20
So=3D2C as the bats eat mosquitos=3D2C the birds sing and fornicate somewhe=
re s=3D
ecretly=3D2C and as I secretly sweat profusely because of the 40 degree hea=
t.=3D
..with respite from the A.C....I wish you once again...
=3D20
=3D20
Happy potting!
=3D20
as F. C. Ball used to say...."Make pots!"
=3D20
=3D20
Ric
=3D20
=3D20
=3D20
=3D20
=3D20
=3D20
Richard H. ("Ric") Swenson=3D2C Teacher=3D2C=3D20
Office of International Cooperation and Exchange of Jingdezhen Ceramic Inst=
=3D
itute=3D2C=3D20
TaoYang Road=3D2C Eastern Suburb=3D2C Jingdezhen City.
JiangXi Province=3D2C P.R. of China.=3D20
Postal code 333001.=3D20
Mobile/cellular phone : 86 13767818872=3D20
< RicSwenson0823@hotmail.com>
=3D20
check out the rest of the Windows Live=3D99. More than mail=3D96Windows Liv=
e=3D99=3D
goes way beyond your inbox. More than messages
_________________________________________________________________
Show them the way! Add maps and directions to your party invites.=3D20
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowslive/products/events.aspx=3D
