River Town: 2 years on the Yangtze (长江）

Usually I'd write about something exciting that's happening here, but things are pretty calm as Midterms are approaching (one full week from now). Luckily, I only need to take one week of my midterm exams, and then no more tests until I leave!!!! (how sweet is that?!?!) Thus I'd like to dedicate some of this blogspace to a book I've been reading for my St. Olaf culture class sponsored here. The book, River Town: 2 years on the Yangtze by Peter Hessler (who also did Oracle Bones), is utterly fascinating.

Peter Hessler, after graduating from Oxford, leaves America with his good friend to join the Peace Corps. With no Chinese experiences before, he and his friend are shipped off to Fuling (a small city near the 3 Gorges Dam -- under construction at the time) for the next 2 years, employed to teach English and Western literature. And the story goes on -- Peter writes detailed accounts of mistakes he makes (wearing shorts in China to an assembly and arguing back to teacher) and his life as a foreigner living among Chinese (one of two in the entire city....the other one, being his friend). A lot of the cultural differences I already knew, from growing up around Asian Americans and being in China a good number of times already. But the fact that he led this life right after he graduated from school made it all the more relevant to my journey in the east. As I continue to read his memoirs, I find that I'm not just reading about his journey, but lining up similar aspects to my own.

ah, well -- that's enough ramblings for now......
not much is going on. just studying and relaxing......

ADDRESSS

pleeeeeeeease, if you are going to send me a letter by snail mail, be aware of a couple things (even though it's probably too late)

1) it takes 3 FULL weeks to arrive. Please do not send post after the 1st week in December because of this reason
2) you MUST put my room # on the envelope: #1501
3)please PRINT your handwriting (not cursive or sloppy etc etc) -- the people receiving post have very little English skills. Bonus to you if you use CAPITALIZED LETTERS.

thank you everyone!!!