ylug_china_rlug Anniversary Celebration
A Journey of Friendship and Growth with the LEGO Community
Throughout my journey as an Adult Fan of LEGO (AFOL), I have been fortunate enough to meet some incredible builders, but nothing compares to the amazing people I’ve encountered since the inception of Blacklug. When I first dove headfirst into the uncharted waters of growing Blacklug and defining what it represents, I never could have imagined the incredible outreach and impact it would have—especially internationally.
One of the highlights of this journey has been the honor of becoming a part of ylug_china_rlug, a LEGO User Group (LUG) from the central plains of China, specifically Henan. Led by the talented Deputy Ambassador, Zhiyuan, this LUG has welcomed me with open arms, and I couldn’t be more grateful. Zhiyuan is an absolute beast in this community, an insanely talented builder, and most importantly, someone I’m proud to call my friend.
What began as a simple event brick exchange has blossomed into an incredible and lasting friendship, despite the distance between us. The bond we’ve formed over our shared love of LEGO is something truly special. Zhiyuan opened up his LUG to me, and the members have embraced me as one of their own, something I hold dear. It’s been amazing to be a part of something so vibrant, and I can’t wait to link up with them again at Japan Brickfest this year—I’m beyond excited!
Our regular catch-ups go beyond LEGO discussions, as we also dive into conversations about anime, life, and of course, any support I can provide to help Blacklug grow internationally. It’s been such a rewarding experience to see Blacklug’s presence grow on the global stage, and it all started with the shared love for the brick.
One of the coolest things Zhiyuan did was create the epic stop-motion video attached to this post, which was an absolute honor to be included in. But it didn’t stop there. He also asked me to provide a video to present to his LUG for their fourth anniversary celebrations—an opportunity that was huge for me and still something I struggle to fully comprehend. It’s moments like these that remind me just how far this journey has taken me.
Next year, you can bet I’ll be attending in person. I can’t wait for what’s ahead, and I’m so thankful to be part of this incredible international community.
Until next time, keep building and keep connecting!
