The word is in. I will be staying in Sichuan province for the duration of my time as a PCV. To borrow a line from the guidebook: "Blessed with vigorous rivers, a mild climate, and endlessly green valleys, Sichuan province...[is] justifiably known as China's 'Heaven on Earth.'" We have only been told the region we're placed in at this point, the specific site placement will come later. What I do know is that there will be 16 other PCVs located around Sichuan, primarily in and around Chengdu, the provincial capital. Word on the street tells me that I'll be teaching American culture/history in some form, and I hope that proves to be true.

I am happy with this assignment for a few reasons. First of all, I've recently become aware that the pollution issue in Sichuan isn't as bad as I'd initially thought. Chengdu is historically a misty city (ancient texts indicate that the locals used to pray for the sun to break through), so what I'd diagnosed as ridiculous smog is actually a combination of mist and then mild air pollution trapped in the mist. This soothed my paranoia about the air I was breathing. Second, I really want to take advantage of the bond I'm beginning to build with my host family. Staying relatively nearby will allow us to be able to see each other. My host parents were very happy that I'll be staying local. Also, I really enjoy my language teachers, two young Chinese women who are great--vivacious, funny and interesting.

My fellow Sichuanese PCVs seem to be a good mix of people, too. We'll spend the next week working together with the China 10s in this area on a summer teaching practicum, the details of which I'm still hazy on. All the other trainees are heading off to their respective provinces for the next week as well, then it is back to regularly scheduled programming for all of August. The farthest-flung site is in Gansu province, a whopping 34-hour train ride from Chengdu. Those people have to leave on Friday morning to get there...I was very happy not to be spending my birthday on a crowded train north. Just another reason to feel lucky about my post. Everyone else is a more modest distance from Chengdu, where the PC office is based. My "travel" to my summer project site consists of hopping the city bus across town to check into the hotel we'll all be staying at on campus.

OK--time to be off to class. Until next time.