After being evacuated from Kyrgyzstan, I requested China for the second time and was invited to the program
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why Peace Corps?
2. Why China?
3. Where in China?
4. What do you do?
5. How long will you be gone?
6. How can we keep in touch?
7. Do you need anything?
1. Why Peace Corps?
That's a tough one. The first time I joined the Peace Corps, I wasn't really sure why I was doing it. I liked to travel and experience other cultures, plus I needed something to do. During my four month stint in Kyrgyzstan, I realized that I had stumbled upon a priceless opportunity. You learn patience with persistence and to live a little slower. But mainly I'm here because it's a good time.
2. Why China?
The Peace Corps doesn't exactly let you "choose" where you want to go. You can express preferences, and China has always been my first choice. After being evacuated from Kyrgyzstan, I requested China for the second time and was invited to the program. Its length of history and the complexity of written language have always intigued me. Plus I want to become a Wudan master...you know, like in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.
3. Where in China?
The Peace Corps office is located in the city of Chengdu in the Sichuan province. Volunteers, however, are located in the Sichuan, Guizhou, and Gansu providences as well as the Chongqing municipality.
I live in Duyun, Guizhou, China. Duyun is a city, Guizhou is a provience and China...well, that's a country. Click on the map to the right to get an idea of where I live.
click map to enlarge
4. What do you do?
I teach English at the local Teacher's College. The majority of my students are undergrad English majors studying to be High School English teachers. I also have 3 classes of 'adult' students. They are mostly former rural elemetrary school teachers chosen for a two year crash-course in English, which will theoreticly enable them to teach English at the elementary school level.
I get a lot of questions about my daily life, so I thought I would describe a typical week here. First and foremost, you need to forget the stereotypical Peace Corps 'simple' and 'rugged' lifestyle. I have friends in Peace Corps Mongolia who break apart frozen coal every morning so they don't freeze to death. That's not me. I have every amenity you do except central heat. (I use an oil-filled electric radiator.) Besides a drafty apartment, the most primative condition I must endure is my washer. I have to transfer the clothes into a seperate spin-dry compartment.
I teach 7 classes for 2 hours each per week. 2 x American Culture. 2 x Speaking. 3 x Writing. "Only 14 hours a week?! You must have lots of free time." I also have office hours, movie night, multiple English Corners, lesson prep and grading. So yes, I do have free time, but I'm not looking for more things to do.
I eat most every lunch and dinner at a restraunt. It's not much more expensive than cooking, and it tastes immensely better. I keep telling myself I'm going to learn how to cook. I'll just put that on the list with learning Chinese, touch-typing and kung-fu.
5. How long will you be gone?
I COS (read C.O.S. both a noun and verb meaning: Close of Service) on August 27th, 2004. Refer to the countdown clock at the top of this page.
6. How can we keep in touch?
E-mail ( dcriss1@yahoo.com ) is the quickest and most reliable method. I'm also available for a little chat. If you would like my telephone number or chat info, send me an e-mail. I would just post them here, but you know...cyber wackos and all.
If you want to send mail, use this address.
7. Do you need anything?
The only thing hard to come by is quality English reading material. But I'll take whatever you throw my way.
Note: As much as I hate to say it, do not mail cash. It has a tendency to get lost somewhere in transit.
All text & photos Copyright ? 2002 Andrew Criss unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved.
The opinions expressed in this website are the authors personally and do not reflect any position of the U.S. government or the Peace Corps.
