Anya Nordström

September 19, 2007

Anya Nordström Just over two weeks now in China, and I'm actually starting to adjust! I've learned all the and signs for numbers (because it's different than just holding up the number of fingers, like back home) so I can easily shop in the market. I can now get myself around on the subway and NOT get lost, and as weird as it may sound it's starting to feel more like a home-away-from-home than I originally expected.

Things are still completely different though... like the castings. The language barrier is the hardest part; in Toronto a lot of the castings have to deal with personality, but here I feel like the clients look at you as a coat hanger or piece of meat. You're strictly judged on looks, and your posing ability.

That's another thing! Most castings go like this: check the book, take a card, maybe some pictures, maybe ask you try try on some clothes.... but in China (and apparently most of Asia) they ask you to pose, which means you end up doing this sort of silly dance changing position every two seconds or so; some smiling, some serious, some action. They have names for the poses too! "Cool" pose means more editorial. "Serious face" means not so sexy poses, etc. "Big" pose means, well, bigger poses. It's hard to explain, but I think the best is the "lady" pose which is smaller movements, but more regal looking. I'm sure there are more I haven't heard about yet, but I"ll be sure to let you know.

The jobs are different, but not in the way in you might expect. Most of them consist of photographers and stylists who don't speak English so you're constantly looking confused and being pulled around in different directions.

The taxis are definitely still a challenge. Yesterday I was trying to go to Bei Jing Lou (the shopping district) and when I got in the cab the driver turned to me and started pretending like he was rubbing money together between his fingers. I mimed back that I had money and then realized he thought I wanted to go to Bei Jing!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I had a good laugh at that. Now I've learned it's best to get someone who knows Chinese to write down common places so that you can just show them. Trust me, it's easier.

The market is starting to pick up now, more and more castings and more and more jobs, so I'm sure more exciting things will happen along the way!

More soon!

-xoxo Anya

Anya Nordström is a Chantale Nadeau model, with CalCarries in Guangzhou.