Shanghai

Despite my intentions, I moved to China and immediately became that person who forgets about their blog. I suck. But I will update now!

Shanghai is amazing! It's diverse, dynamic, and easy. Everything has been so convenient here. The cost of living is really cheap and it is easy to get around. My best friend from college picked me up from the airport and I was immediately able to move into the apartment I share with her. We took it easy over the weekend and by Monday Chase, another friend from college, had set me up with some tutoring work to support myself. Teaching work is abundant here and it pays very well. The metro is simple and can get you anywhere in Shanghai. Taxis are also cheap and easy.

I commute to the apartment of a famous Chinese actor to tutor his two little boys for two hours a day, five days a week. Tutoring one on one takes more focus and energy then teaching a class but the kids are generally better behaved when they have your undivided attention. Next month I will take on a larger teaching load to earn some quick money. Private tutoring pays well here, about 33 USD an hour. Considering the low cost of living I probably won't need to teach much after January.

I like the food here, and it is cheap! For 3 USD you can get a decent lunch. A reasonably nice dinner might cost 15 USD. I miss Korean food though. I think, despite my complaining while in Korea, that it has become my comfort food.

I think I will have to write a post comparing and contrasting China and Korea.

More later!

New Placement Consideration

The Peace Corps was in touch. I was told that it looks increasingly unlikely that Sierra Leone would open. Everyone under consideration was given three options- to pull their application, to remain under consideration, and to switch consideration to another country. I said I would wait but my placement officer got in contact and asked me to consider other countries. I was asked to switch to Comoros, which is a new program opening in 2015.

I have mixed feelings about this. Comoros is exciting because it is a new program. I'm honored to be considered for a position in the program- only twenty volunteers will go. Comoros also seems very beautiful. It is a tiny island nation off of Madagascar and looks like a tropical paradise (if an impoverished, devoutly Muslim, politically distressed nation could be considered paradise). On the other hand, there hasn't been a Peace Corps program there for some time, so there are no paths laid down. I am having to surrender the image I had created of how my Peace Corps service would be. I envisioned living in a hut with no power or electricity. I would have a compost heap and eat dinner at my neighbor's house most nights. Local village kids would help me get water from the well and come by after school for extra English lessons. There isn't much information with which to build a new image; no blogs, packing lists, or RPCVs to give advice. I can't seem to get a hold of the placement officer for Comoros so it is an entirely new waiting game, and this time I can't read dozens of blogs to satisfy my desire for information.

In other news I am almost entirely ready to depart for China. I'm packed, I have my ticket and visa, and have taken care of last minute chores. I leave in two days!