Learn. It's good for you.

I went to Jinyun Mountain this weekend. My friend Libby, who teaches less than 1 hour away from me, had mentioned that she may be interested in visiting. After a stormy night, I woke up to sunshine, crisp air, and blue skies. It was a hiking day.

Libby

We walked up the side of the mountain. We had to ask for directions constantly because the trail goes, what seemed like, right through people’s gardens. We were so close to their houses, we could have enjoyed a little afternoon television with them.

It also goes over many streams. I mentioned, off the cuff to Libby, that people frequently get their water from the mountain because they believe that it is less polluted.

Over the stream and through the farms...

At the top is a pagoda and we climbed to the top of that too. From the top, Libby pointed out the blue tin roofs on many of the houses. She said in one city, all the roofs are red. There was an NPR report on why, but she couldn’t remember the details. We could not spot any red roofs in Beibei.

All the way to the top of the pagoda

This is at the base of the pagoda.

On the way down the mountain, Libby pointed to people carrying water. “It’s good they don’t have to climb up the mountain with those filled,” she remarked. Then I realized something. Without mentioning the water on our climb, would Libby have recognized those bottles? I definitely wouldn’t have questioned the blue tin roofs.

How much of this world do I leave unquestioned and unnoticed? I’ve heard it said that the more you learn, the more you realize you don’t know. Although this may be true and overwhelming, I would rather feel like I know nothing and see parts of the world more clearly than let my life pass by in a blur.

I’m going to share a piece of China with you today, and hopefully I can share a bit in my future posts, so you too can see the world a bit more clearly.

A few weeks ago I went to a performance of the School of Minority Studies.

On the picture of China are drawings of a sample of minority groups.

There are 55 recognized ethnic minorities in China. Combined, less than 10% of the total population is from a minority group.

Students sang and danced to traditional music.
The diversity was incredible.

When I first arrived in China, I had a single story of China. I thought I was more knowledgeable than the average American. I had learned about Chinese government. I had read Wild Swans. That's good, right? It should have occurred to me that such a vast country would have great diversity, but it didn't. I'm slowly learning more about this country and I'm slowly learning how little I'm seeing.

On a side note: I also went to the School of Agriculture’s performance. It was mostly students singing or dancing, although at one point an older man got on stage to sing a song. While he was singing, my friend next to me nudged me and told me, “That is my professor. His major is rice.”

This is a major.

Peppermint Lattes

Yes, I’m in the Peace Corps. I frequently have to remind myself. As I sit here, enjoying my gingerbread spice latte, I chastise myself. Don’t get me wrong. I’m constantly grateful for all of the conveniences that I have. I have internet in my apartment. I have running water. There is a Starbucks less than 1 hour away from where I live. Yet, when I arrived at Starbucks today in hopes of a peppermint latte, I was all too quick to roll my eyes and sigh when I had to “settle” on gingerbread flavor instead. It’s moments like this that I need to remind myself of the luxuries that I have that other volunteers might not get to enjoy.

Luxury.

But, as my students say, “There are two sides to every coin.” I thought that coming to Starbucks today would fix my America cravings. After seeing countless pictures of Halloween, hearing about the impending graduation of many of my fellow MIIS students, and Thanksgiving and Christmas right around the bend I felt like I needed this trip. I thought that this Starbucks run would fix me. I thought that I would taste of bit of home and I’d be alright for a while. But, like any addict who falls off the wagon knows, we usually take some time to play in the mud before climbing back into the wagon. Maybe I’ll find a store to buy butter at today. Maybe I’ll go crazy and buy some cheese. Although it may taste good, I have a feeling that butter will not make me feel any closer to my friends and family.

All of this got me to thinking. Would I have been able to survive had I been placed in Africa or some remote island in the Pacific? Yes. Would my “problems” be the same? No. The fact of the matter is I’m not at home. Are the things that I experience more similar to home than someone living in hut? Probably. But no matter how close I get, the focus on the gap will arise. I will hone in on the differences.

Meimei
Real sister, maybe not. But I'm pretty darn grateful for her.

Olga and Marty
These people keep me sane.

You know what they say, “You always want what you can’t have.” People want happiness. Living in other countries really shows that that is a universal human goal. We all have different ideas of how to achieve it. The nouveau-riche of China strive to live lives of luxury. We’ve seen how well that works in the U.S., yet still some people have not learned the lesson. Some strive for security. Some people strive for simplicity. Others even look for happiness in love and relationships. Sooner or later we’re all left staring at the bottom of what used to be a gingerbread latte, still craving that peppermint. 

Every person can choose for herself where to go from there. I choose gratefulness.  

Ni Hao!

A few people have been asking if I’ve started a blog yet. I’m settled. A VPN was purchased a long time ago. I’m fresh out of excuses, so here goes…

My newest chapter began in June, 2013. This chapter of my life was met with more anticipation and resistance than any other. I began my Peace Corps application in 2011. I received my placement around New Years of 2013. I avoided learning any Chinese before leaving. I only talked about China if someone else brought it up. Chinese food was unappetizing. I still can’t explain my aversion. Maybe I was trying to fully experience my last days in the U.S. Maybe I was afraid. Whatever the reason, it did not stop me. I left Seattle on June 27^th with the final destination of Chengdu, China.

Ni hao, Mao.

I was placed with the most incredible host family in China, I’m 98.8% sure. They taught me about Chinese culture, they were patient when I was trying to learn Chinese, they took me many places around Chengdu, and they taught me how to play Mahjong.

My host cousin bought me this crown of flowers.
My host dad braved the humidity and rain so that I could get to hike.
Sister embraces the shenanigans.
Family love.

I'm going to teach everyone I know this magical game.

I also had the best training group in the world. We learned Chinese together, taught English together, and commiserated frequently. I miss them.

Yep. Miss 'em a lot.

After pre-service training (PST), I was sworn-in as an official volunteer. The same day, I left for my new home. I will be living in Beibei, Chongqing for the next two years. I have a very terrible recording of me riding the shuttle through campus if you'd like to see what my school might look like if someone happened to film the campus, while drunk, during an earthquake, with their cell phone camera: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbKpJoArSow

Swearing-in with Mr. Ambassador Locke

New city, new Mao

My school is a top-tier school. I am having a very different experience than most Peace Corps volunteers. My students are very advanced. I have a computer with internet and a projector in each room. Students are enthusiastic and come to class ready to participate, well at least most of them. I already have some stories, but if I tell them all now, I'm afraid that I'll have nothing to write about in the future. So, stay tuned.