My fate has been determined. I will spend the next two years
of my time in China in the city, Neijiang. More importantly, I am at a
supportive school with a supportive boss, which is exactly what I asked for. I
remember the night before my big interview, I thought to myself, “What is more
important, a site mate or a great school?” I knew it would be a 50% chance I
would have a site mate, everything “just depends...” according to all my
supervisors. When I got my envelope, I didn’t know what to feel or how to
react. I was assigned to the province I’ve been living in for the past two
months, but in a different city. As I looked around at my other friends’
packets, some were headed south, east, west, and north. I just had a flood of
emotion go through me because we would not be near one another. My new program
manager approached me and started talking about my new school and boss, I
started to feel better, because I got what I asked for. I felt a little
disappointed I wasn’t leaving my province, but then I realized that I haven’t
seen my province at all. I’ve only stayed within the vicinity of two
universities.
Now that I am in Neijiang, I have to say I am pretty content
with where I am placed. It is a very small city, but it reminds me of New York
and Chengdu all at the same time. Lots of people, lots of traffic, and a lot of
shopping!
Funny/quirky things that have happened so far:
My apartment: my bed, sofa, two dining room chairs are all
broken in the oddest ways. My bathroom has a western toilet and a shower
head…that’s it. No sink, no actual separate shower one steps into. It reminds
me of an Indian bathroom!
Waiban (boss): First day I met her, she asked me if I wanted
to get a facial, her treat. I mean, how can one refuse? It was one of the
nicest facials I’ll probably ever have.
New Host family: pronunciation and miscommunication at its
best:
Mom: You do yoga?
I heard: You eat yogurt?
Me: I like green bean yogurt.
Mom: looks confused.
Later in the day:
Mom: Tomorrow I will buy frog.
I heard: tomorrow I will buy fork.
Me: No, don’t buy a fork, I can eat with chopsticks.
Mom: looks confused.
Over all, my site visit has been simply amazing. I love my
new boss and I really enjoy my new city. My apartment has some quirks and
seriously needs to be cleaned, but I will eventually make it my own. I can’t
wait to meet my site mate, who has already been in China for year, just the
support I needed.
Wish me luck <3
