A local, a bride and the tea village.

by Nadia Natur (United Kingdom (Great Britain))

Making a local connection China

While out in Shanghai, I experienced some of the most eventful and inspirational times of my life. I developed so much, not only professionally, but spiritually. I made so many friends, and experienced once in a lifetime opportunities which I can truly say will stay with me forever. While in Shanghai, I and a group of girls, also from the UK, chose to visit the city of Hangzhou, know for its beautiful scenery. During our visit, we decided to visit the tea village of Longjing. Hangzhou is renowned for its array of tea villages, so visiting one while I was out there was definitely a must. The village was nestled in between a number of mountains. On my way to the Longjing tea field, a local Chinese woman approached us and began to talk to one of my friends. My first impression of her was that she seemed very sweet, yet timid. She was smaller than me, she must not have been any more than 4ft 9 and was elderly. As we continued to walk towards the tea field she tried directing us towards her house (which was coincidentally the same direction). Even with the language barrier, I managed to communicate enough with her to understand that she wanted us to try some traditional tea (from the tea leaf grown there), then show us the tea field that we wanted to see. We agree to go with her as we thought it was a nice gesture on her part, and that it would be nice to be shown about by a local. Once we arrived at her house, she proceeded to make the tea we were promised. It turns out the woman had lived there all her life and that she had been growing, picking and selling locally grown tea leaf in the village ever since she was little. It was a great story she told us about growing up there and how she lived. She looked after us as if we were one of her daughters, so kind and thoughtful. Once we'd finished our tea's she guided us towards the tea leaf field. As we arrived we had no idea what view was in store for us. Rows upon rows of tea leaves pretty much everywhere I looked. It has to be one of the most stunning views I've ever seen. I'm not surprised that Hangzhou is known for its beauty given they have views like these. As I was looking around I noticed a bride to be had chosen the setting for her wedding photos. She looked so happy, I'd never seen someone living so "in the moment" than she was. Her simile was so big, I couldn't see where one side started and the other ended. It's been a number of months since then. She's probably married now, and I can only hope shes living out her happily ever after. She really couldn't have picked a better place for her photos. After I'd looked around for a while, we stopped to take a few group photos. The elderly, local woman had brought her tea leaf picking hat and basket. She told us to put them on and pose as if we were actually leaf picking. It really did feel as though we were locals that worked in the field. It was great to be able to picture and put ourselves in her shoes to feel what it must have felt like growing up, working as a tea leaf picker. I am so glad we were able to take photos and capture these memories, as it was definitely a once in a lifetime experience which I will never forget. The friends I made, the elderly kind local woman, and the beautiful bride to be may be strangers, and sure I may not know that they are doing today or in the future which will always remain a mystery, but they will continue to live as a precious memory. It's nice to imagine what I think their lives are like now, hopefully happy, but that is why Hangzhou will always be a special place for me.