shaoxing.....

Ok, so after a very tiring trip to shanghai then working again on Wednesday I had Thursday all to my self! It was amazing, well not amazing because all I really did was talk to jasmine our supervisor and do my washing haha! Still I got a lie in! At about tea time when Becca arrived back from work we went up to the third floor in the college canteen, its not the nicest of places, but we have found a few bits we like so it was the usual beef with peppers and rice, actually its all iv really been eating I think. After this it was another early night because I had to work on Friday at the company due to an unexpected trip to Shaoxing on Saturday with the collage anyway back to Friday now. Well I was at the company! It was good its interesting to see all head office building for the company coming together, when we first arrived, all the wall where white, their were little staff and it didn’t seem that big, but now the place is always busy and there must be a few hundred people in and out of the place everyday! It’s really interesting to see how they work, but thing have been difficult, simply just because of the language barrier! We were designing trousers again, which is ok, but without having any research or anything to get inspiration from it becomes difficult. I now understand why at university we do things the way we do, its impossible to come up with any innovative ideas without any source of research. It’s a good company though and the owner knows how to make a success of a business with him owning 11 other companies so I can see Intrex being a success in the future. When we arrive back home after work, we went again up to the 3rd floor for some food, this time we were very please to see we have found sweet and sour chicken! Amazing!!!! Finally we could get off to sleep, ready for a long day and our trip to Shaoxing! Saturday was another early start, we were up at half 7 to get ready in time to meet our supervisor and go to Shaoxing! The trip was around 2 hours with 3 of us packed into one car and the other two in the other. After we arrived we went to our rooms that were free! Think it was a sort of treat for us due to the work we have done while we were here. They were really nice as well!! Then after unpacking and getting things sorted we headed to the fabric market, which was amazing to see! It had such as variety of different fabrics, some good and some not so good. I bought some nice fabric, which would have cost loads back in England. After this we took a taxi ride to the old town, the min we arrived we took a boat along the river, turns out I’m a little scared of water, we got in and as soon at we set off Kate decided it would be a good idea to get a picture in which she attempted to move to the middle of the boat, well my face said it all! I looked like id just seen a ghost! The boat nearly tipped over, and this water wasn’t blue and sea like, it was a dirty green colour, haha! Was funny really but at the time I panicked like mad, to the point of shaking! We attracted a crowd as well when we were getting on the boats so when this happened all we had was a women shouting be careful, over and over again. I think Kate and Caroline thought my face was funnier then the fact we nearly ended up in the river! The ride on the riverboat was beautiful! Got some good pictures and videos! After been dropped off under some not so nice pigs trotters, we had a walk around the old china town, the people were lovely and the there was some funny smells around the place, it was good to see and experience. After, we made our way back to the hotel where a little later we met out supervisor and the rest of the teachers for tea. It was nice, I think sort of our final meal together before we leave. To finish off the night all of us including tong tong decided a few drinks in a local bar would be in order. When we arrived at this so called bar, all we saw was a massive poster with a woman dress provocatively with the initials S&M….. This made us question weather it would be a good idea, but we went in to see what it was like. It actually wasn’t that bad… it wasn’t a strip club like we originally thought it was just a S&M themed night, there were still some questionable acts, but the atmosphere was good, and we all got up dancing, even tong tong! Have to admit though I was somewhat happy to get into bed! This trip has taken its toll on me and I think some of the other too! The day after we the college’s graduate fashions show! We were sort of excited but a little apprehensive too as we had seen some of the work before. It was good to see how they do their graduate shows in china and I must say it’s a lot different compared to England! The stage was ok, but it had sequins down the side of it, so actually maybe not, they stuck a sticker on the back wall which fell over just as the show started, all the projected backgrounds where on a PowerPoint presentation so you could openly see when they had problem or if they made a mistake, it was fairly unprofessional, but the actual teachers and audience seem impressed and happy so I suppose that’s all that matters. The actual work I have to admit wasn’t good quality, the sewing was dodgy and the models were wearing bright colourful underwear, instead of something nude colour or something that relates to the garment, they did look thrown together I’m afraid. Still the actual college was happy with it so I suppose that’s all that matters! We arrive back in Ningbo about 6pm, and again me, Caroline, Becca and Kate decided the 3rd floor for dinner would be a good idea! Again ordering our usual! After it was an early night for all of us, Caroline and me were up early in the morning again for work!

Monday was again the usual, at the company this time designing t-shirts, the place was looking even more finished then before, and as its our last week there we are glad we will see it finished for the big fashion show on Wednesday. Anyway seem, as Monday was the same as usual ill move onto today. Well we had been told to just finish our work that was left to do then move onto a few new things, which were; 1. Finish all designs with fabric samples 2. Advise for brands and company 3. Take some photos of all of us and while we are working also all the team 4. Find some samples and pictures when we go back to England 5. 100 pictures of things we think could be useful to the brand. So we began by finishing all the work we had left to do then moved onto the 100 pictures, doing 50 today and 50 tomorrow. We were also told to dress up for photos, but as this morning the whole of Ningbo was nearly knee deep in water so that didn’t really happen! They still took the photos though which made me cringe so instead tomorrow at the big event we are going to get some really nice photos!!! I’m really excited, the place started off with no furniture, no paintings on the wall and nothing really inside it. But as the weeks have past its changed so much, and as tomorrow is out last day, I’m glad we will get to see the finished building and see the fashion show, plus we picked some of the models so it should be good! We have also been invited back to the company in the future if we wanted to! After work we came home and again headed up to the 3rd floor this time for a chicken burger, it was good but I’m miss home food now! Can’t wait to have a roast dinner when I’m back!