I spent the past week getting in touch with my roots and taking a pilgrimage to China. First time I returned to my family’s hometown in over 20 years. I didn’t hit any of the major cities. I stuck mostly to the villages and provinces. It’s good to put things into perspective every once in a while. Just a few images. These are the type of photos that no camera can capture. You want to try and remember every feeling with the camera but you just can’t…even just a few minutes later, it’s gone.
この一週間、中国で僕のルーツをたどる巡礼の旅をしてきました。僕の家族の故郷に帰ったのは20年ぶり。主要都市は行きませんでした。ほとんど村や田舎。時にはすべて考え直す事は大切です。写真を少しアップしますが、こういうのはどんなカメラでも撮れない、伝わりきれないものがあります。ただ、その一瞬の気持ちをカメラで留めておきたいと試してみるけど。。。数分間でなくなってしまう。
I feel you there… for 19 years, my immigrant grandma and I didn’t really have any sort of relationship; then I started studying Chinese and spent two summers in China, now she and I talk on the phone all the time and she’s happy that there’s finally someone in my generation (I’m the oldest of her 3 sons’ children) carrying the flag. Priceless.