Photo
May 26, 2013
Pizza Party Shenanigans. A few weeks ago this group of students came over to share some Chinese culture and make dumplings together. This time around we decided to learn about some Western culture and make pizzas. At first I was a little worried that the students might not like the pizza *gasp* because they aren’t used to eating cheese. But after seeing them smiling from ear to ear, gobbling up the pizzas in a matter of seconds, and having a flour fight, my worries were washed away. They loved it- I can’t wait to do this again!

Pizza Party Shenanigans.

A few weeks ago this group of students came over to share some Chinese culture and make dumplings together.
This time around we decided to learn about some Western culture and make pizzas.
At first I was a little worried that the students might not like the pizza *gasp* because they aren’t used to eating cheese. But after seeing them smiling from ear to ear, gobbling up the pizzas in a matter of seconds, and having a flour fight, my worries were washed away.

They loved it- I can’t wait to do this again!

Tags: Sharing Culture Secondary Projects Peace Corps China

Link
May 26, 2013
1 note
astrotourist: Excerpts from Paul Theroux's "Ghost train to the Eastern Star"

astrotourist:

“Luxury is the enemy of observation, a costly indulgence that induces such a good feeling that you notice nothing. Luxury spoils and infantilizes you from knowing the world.”

“Most Travel, and certainly the rewarding kind, invovles depending on the kindness of strangers, putting yourself into the…

Text
May 22, 2013
352 notes

Peace Corps Announces New Service Opportunity for Same-Sex Couples

horsecutecute:

asiamericana:

peacecorps:

We’re proud to announce that we will begin accepting applications from same-sex domestic partners who want to serve together as Volunteers overseas!

Same-sex couples may begin the application process starting Monday, June 3. 

Another step forward! It’s about time. Yay ya ya ya!

Changing the world one step at a time. Cheers to Peace Corps getting down with equality :)

Photoset
May 19, 2013
1 note

Adventure Club round 2-5.

This past week has been crazy— From teaching students how to bake brownies, to singing backstreet boys at KTV on a Thursday afternoon, to the infamous and never ending Chinese BBQs, to huge feasts with 10+ students crowded in small spaces— it seemed like there was never enough time in a day.

But this week was one of my favorite China weeks thus far in my time here. And I wouldn’t trade my life or the experiences I’m having here for anything else in the world

Tags: Peace Corps Secondary Projects China

Photo
May 18, 2013
2 notes
Dear Nick, I went to Tongren just like we talked about before you went away. From the moment I stepped off the train to the moment I stepped back on, I could feel your presence everywhere. That town was made for you, you were supposed to be there, and I’m so glad you got to spend the time you did there. Rachel took me to some of your favorite spots. The first day we went to the river bar, we sat there for 5 hours drinking that strange but somehow delicious grape flavored beer. We talked about you, laughed uncontrollably about the good times, and basked in your awesomeness for a long time, for so long you probably would have given us those eyes and told us to stop because we were freaking. you. out. The next night a bunch of other volunteers showed up and we climbed your favorite mountain. I know why it’s your favorite, it’s the perfect place. Not so quite that you forget your in China, but almost quiet enough to feel like your somewhere else, even for just a moment. and the lights, wow, those lights. However, I don’t know how you climbed that thing as many times as you did while in Tongren— I remember after our site visits, you came back and told us you climbed that mountain and thought you were gunna have a heart attack because it was so hot and because of how many damn stairs there were, yeah I got to that point too, thought I was gunna fall off the mountain. On our way back down, we lit some incense and I made a wish. I’m not going to write my wish here, because then it won’t come true, and because I know you heard it, because I know you were there with us. You’re mind, body, heart, and soul will always be in Tongren, Nick. I’m 100% sure of that. Thanks for making me go see it, thanks for giving me some closure, thanks for helping me to create new friendships that I never saw coming. You the best. Lets get weird.

Dear Nick,

I went to Tongren just like we talked about before you went away. From the moment I stepped off the train to the moment I stepped back on, I could feel your presence everywhere. That town was made for you, you were supposed to be there, and I’m so glad you got to spend the time you did there.

Rachel took me to some of your favorite spots.
The first day we went to the river bar, we sat there for 5 hours drinking that strange but somehow delicious grape flavored beer. We talked about you, laughed uncontrollably about the good times, and basked in your awesomeness for a long time, for so long you probably would have given us those eyes and told us to stop because we were freaking. you. out.

The next night a bunch of other volunteers showed up and we climbed your favorite mountain.
I know why it’s your favorite, it’s the perfect place. Not so quite that you forget your in China, but almost quiet enough to feel like your somewhere else, even for just a moment. and the lights, wow, those lights.

However, I don’t know how you climbed that thing as many times as you did while in Tongren—
I remember after our site visits, you came back and told us you climbed that mountain and thought you were gunna have a heart attack because it was so hot and because of how many damn stairs there were, yeah I got to that point too, thought I was gunna fall off the mountain.

On our way back down, we lit some incense and I made a wish. I’m not going to write my wish here, because then it won’t come true, and because I know you heard it, because I know you were there with us.

You’re mind, body, heart, and soul will always be in Tongren, Nick. I’m 100% sure of that.

Thanks for making me go see it, thanks for giving me some closure, thanks for helping me to create new friendships that I never saw coming.

You the best. Lets get weird.

Photo
May 18, 2013
3 notes
Bonfires in China. Never did I ever think that I would get to have an experience of this sorts while here in China. An experience so close to home, yet so very far away. A bunch of friends, a bunch of strangers, drinking beer and wine, eating delicious foods, dancing around a bonfire. Having the happiest of times, with the greatest amounts of giggles.

Bonfires in China.

Never did I ever think that I would get to have an experience of this sorts while here in China. An experience so close to home, yet so very far away. A bunch of friends, a bunch of strangers, drinking beer and wine, eating delicious foods, dancing around a bonfire. Having the happiest of times, with the greatest amounts of giggles.

Photo
May 18, 2013
2 notes
梵净山 A picture captures a moment, savors it. But being there, living it, is indescribable.

梵净山

A picture captures a moment, savors it. But being there, living it, is indescribable.

Photo
May 18, 2013
The city of Tongren; quaint yet modernizing, mountainess with bountiful rivers, and home to some beautiful people that I’m extremely lucky to know and to have known.

The city of Tongren; quaint yet modernizing, mountainess with bountiful rivers, and home to some beautiful people that I’m extremely lucky to know and to have known.

Tags: Tongren Guizhou

Photo
May 18, 2013
2 notes
Delicious Tongren, Guizhou Foods :D Tongren is a little town south of Chongqing that I took a visit to last weekend, and I made a discovery that they have the BEST food ever. 1. Si WaWa- translated directly into English as “dead baby” (uhhhhhh….) but regardless of the strange name, is one of the best things to eat ever. You get an endless amount of fresh raw veggies to put into mini crepes, which you then dip into this delicious spicy, soup esk sauce. Is your mouth watering yet? 2. Not food derived from Guizhou, more so derived from Peace Corps volunteers on a budget, whilst camping, taste buds. Oatmeal, with chocolate chips and bananas, made with some boiled water from the nearby stream. Can I get a NOM NOM NOM? 3. Bean hotpot. The hotpot I often, but not so willingly, eat in Chongqing is made with ungodly amounts of oil, animal intestines, and is usually topped off with a ton of spicy goodies. But bean hotpot couldn’t be farther from that, and it’s SO YUMMY. Lots of veggies, soup instead of oil, a ton of beans that turn into a chili like substance, and some added taco seasoning to give it a kick of Mexican flavor. Been daydreaming of it ever since I came back home.

Delicious Tongren, Guizhou Foods :D

Tongren is a little town south of Chongqing that I took a visit to last weekend, and I made a discovery that they have the BEST food ever.

1. Si WaWa- translated directly into English as “dead baby” (uhhhhhh….) but regardless of the strange name, is one of the best things to eat ever. You get an endless amount of fresh raw veggies to put into mini crepes, which you then dip into this delicious spicy, soup esk sauce. Is your mouth watering yet?

2. Not food derived from Guizhou, more so derived from Peace Corps volunteers on a budget, whilst camping, taste buds. Oatmeal, with chocolate chips and bananas, made with some boiled water from the nearby stream. Can I get a NOM NOM NOM?

3. Bean hotpot. The hotpot I often, but not so willingly, eat in Chongqing is made with ungodly amounts of oil, animal intestines, and is usually topped off with a ton of spicy goodies. But bean hotpot couldn’t be farther from that, and it’s SO YUMMY. Lots of veggies, soup instead of oil, a ton of beans that turn into a chili like substance, and some added taco seasoning to give it a kick of Mexican flavor. Been daydreaming of it ever since I came back home.

Tags: Foodie China NOM

Text
May 15, 2013
4 notes

What makes your ideal date? From the perspective of a Chinese college student

The next few weeks of class, before finals, I’m going to be talking about relationships and dating, which all of the students are very excited about. Especially since they all want to find their “one true lover”.

For their most recent journal assignment I asked them to write about their “perfect date”…

Here are some of my favorites:

What makes a perfect date?

1. Making a date with my true lover girl. Just sitting and staring at her, I’m enjoyable.

2. As far as I’m concerned, music, wine and red candle can make a perfect date.

3. A talkative boy makes a perfect date. If he is silence there is no active atmosphere and there is no joy.

4. A perfect date musn’t be sleeping or working all the day. But in my opinion, staying with my girlfriend all the time is so perfect date.

5. Sunny day, funny place, the one you lover.

6. I have a date with Lasa. Next year I will ride my bicycle to see my lover. (I’m assuming he’s going to Tibet?)

7. Win success or something that blossom and bear fruit. Having a sweet appointment with lover is also a good choice.

8. When you have a date, sincerity and a little shyness will make it perfect. Besides when and where you should have the date is also very important. I think you date her (him) at a park about 6:00pm is a great choice.

Tags: TEFL China