Glam and Spice In China!

by Yayra Tamakloe (United States of America)

A leap into the unknown China

When the universe puts on a show and the world rolls out like a golden carpet, what a pity it would be if we choose not to walk on it. I experienced wonder and beauty which only happened in October 2019 because I let myself be present. A couple months prior, I had been accepted as a finalist into the annual International Youth Design Competition hosted in Beijing, China. This was not my first time making a trip to China for the same competition however this time was different. I anticipated the long flight and dressed comfortably in sweats, keeping my platinum white jumbo braids on my half-shaved head wrapped up. It was a smooth flight and the process through the Chinese immigration compared to my previous visit was relatively faster. I arrived a day early to my assigned hotel hoping to get some rest before the strenuous weekend only to be told by the receptionist “sorry, we don’t have room available”! WHAT??? I just got off a 12 hour flight and yes I got there a day earlier than scheduled but at least let me PAY for a room! The fatigue from the trip, being in a country whose language I did not speak and the current “unavailability” of a room sent me into a downward emotional spiral. I called a friend crying after the receptionist also told me that there was an art festival happening for which all the hotels around were booked. After about two hours and some string pulling, they were able to find me a room which cost about 600RMB! I graciously took the room and retired for the night. Having been there a day before my scheduled arrival, I had plenty of time and I hit the streets of Beijing. With my camcorder around my neck and google translator on my phone, I got into a taxi and made my way to Tiananmen Square. It was a piece of architectural magic. After a couple hours of exploring as much as I could, I joined the rest of the contestants and we immediately headed to work. Over the next two and a half days, we worked tirelessly to make sure the competition went smoothly and it did but, I had other plans. The last time I arrived in China, I got so wrapped up in my head about the competition that I did not give myself the opportunity to enjoy and appreciate another part of this wonderous world. This time I made a little plan to experience China and the universe favored me with my own person helper. A young receptionist (ShuRong), offered to take me to a location I was looking for after my futile attempt to find it by myself. I had had a self portrait made during my previous visit and I wanted another one this time. That one quest turned into an exploration of some of China’s oldest and most well kept streets and cultures. The Lama Temple’s pomegranate trees, surreal structures of Buddha, pictorial narratives and prayer wheels along with the smell of pure incense being burnt by devouts filled me with an outworldly sensation. ShuRong (my new friend) and I had street food which included fried potatoes with VERY spicy seasoning and I got some Peking duck. The evening drew closer, it got colder but I got my portrait. It was not without a crowd of people gathered around to see this different looking human who they apparently thought was an American celebrity. As the only black person in almost all the spaces I visited, I drew attention with my skin, my haircut, those extra long jumbo platinum braids I wore and my unapologetic Africanism I showed through my choices of apparel. I had a taste of authentic Chinese hot-pot (and they were not kidding on the hot part) and officially concluded that the Chinese love their spice! We ended the night with a night in drinking out some authentic Chinese beer after she helped me pick out some “paichu”, a local type of gin made out of grains. All of this happened because I chose to walk on the carpet the world laid out in destination, China!