Its been quiet on the eastern front. Too quiet. Where have all the China PCV posts gone? I realize that there's a ban on blogger, but I had expected some American ingenuity and technological side stepping.  I guess I'm just hungry for news from the nation.

I'm living with the parents now in their fantastic, newly renovated home in New Hampshire, USA. Even though I grew up by the ocean, with "sand in my shoes" as my mum says, I feel so much more at home in the hills and mountains. I'm very thankful/excited/relieved to have my parents living in foothills rather than sand dunes. Don't get me wrong, sand dunes are beautiful, I just happen to prefer rolling hills, solitude of the mountains, wilderness, etc.

Today I need to get more paperwork in line. My fantastic (ex)adviser at UMF pushed my transcript and teacher certifications through the bureaucratic tangles of various education offices, and now I need to send them away. Additionally, my $30,000 worth of loans need to be dealt with, and, oh yeah, I've got to unpack my entire life from my van. And then pack it up again and huff it half way across the globe. 

So yeah, and China PCVs or fellow applicants, post away and give me something to read!

Packing Lists

Next step: packing lists.

I'm being torn in two different directions when I compile packing lists for China. I don't want to forget anything, and yet I don't want to bring too much. The cause of the conflict is simple: I have no idea what I'm getting myself into.

When I hiked Mt Katahdin for the first time, I definitely brought too much. My 3000 cu inch pack was full of photo gear, layers, bags of gorp, water bottles and bladders, spare socks, spare spare socks, mini med kits, hats, sun glasses, sun screen, bandannas, and so on and so forth. I learned my lesson: the next year I carried a tiny day pack with one layer, a liter of water, and a sandwich. It turns out you really don't need a lot of gear for a day hike.

All in all, I'm attempting to pack for 2 years over seas, and its not easy. I've got to remember, and correct me if I am wrong current PCVs, that I can find things I need in China. Its not like I'm living in uninhabited wilderness for two years; I'll be teaching at a university in a city. I can do this.

If you're in China or you've been there, please give me packing tips. I've heard shoes are tough to come by for Americans with big feet, so I'm packing a few pair, along with socks, spare insoles, etc. Anything else I should stock up on? I think I read somewhere that deodorant is tough to come by. True?

Loose Ends

I've been busy getting all of my documents together for the PC. Today I knocked off my Canadian travel passport and I tired to get all my med work out, but only my Chest X-ray was ready at the hospital. They promised me my EKG would be re ready by tomorrow. We'll see.

T-minus 41 days until departure. Packing lists have started to form, albeit in tenuous, unfulfilled states. Looking through various sites, including peacecorpswiki.org, I've found some good Do's and Dont's for packing. I've got a pair of Chaco flip flops that I LOVE, but the PC wiki says they are a no go for an American in China. I'm bringing 'em anyways for travel, lounging, etc. I love these things too much to leave them. I coach skiing in the winter, and I would wear them on the hour drive to the mountain and the walks to and from the lodge. Seriously, get a pair.

Tomorrow I've got to get my medical evaluations sent, apply for a US travel passport, and clean up everything I need for my final transcript. After that, I need to get my teacher certifications from Maine, move out, convince some loan officers not to bill me, and give my mum power of attorney. Then, I think, I'm good. Oh yeah, and learn Mandarin Chinese. Almost forgot.

Bonus question: What are the extremes of weather in Chengdu, China?

Getting that paper.

One day left of student teaching, three in my undergrad career. Its all coming to a close while its all opening up. How poetic.

So yeah, one more day in the classroom. I have unofficially passed student teaching, according to my advisor. I need to get my final transcript from the registrar ASAP because I need it to apply for my teacher's certification. Both of those items usually take weeks, if not months to procure, but I've got some folks at UMF willing to get loud for me. I don't know what I'd do without my advisers.

Graduation is on Saturday, and the weather is looking favorable; hopefully I'll march in partial sunshine. The Bar-B-Q afterwards might see some rain, but that's alright, we can party indoors.

PC paper work is coming along. Passport and Visa paper are going out to the PC tomorrow, come hell or high water. Fingers crossed, I'll kiss this continent goodbye in 47 days.

Boston Public Library

I've gotten more done in less time then I imagined. After catching the 7:30 bus from South Portland, Maine, to South Station, Boston, Mass, I've been attacking my to do list. So far I've found the Canadian Consulate, which was an adventure, collected paperwork for a Canadian Passport, and posed for a lot more passport photos. 

The consulate informed me that my US passport photos would not be sufficient, as the US standards are lax compared to other nations, and that I should find Matilde's Photo Finishing across the street for expert passport photography. After a little searching I found it, a little hole-in-the wall photo developer specializing in international passport and visa documents.  Matilde took my photo three times, not just once like the last place I went to, because she wasn't satisfied. Then, after growing worried that Canada would turn down my documents, she applied foundation to my face to lessen the glare. Legit. She said "Those Canadians are picky, and your shiny forehead might get your photos rejected." Damn you, shiny forehead skin. She even printed extra copies for me, cut them to US and Chinese specifications for the respective passports and visas, but only after chiding me for getting my original photos taken at RiteAid. "Those stores," she complained "They want to be everything. But for real passport photos, you've got to go to a photographer." 

So here I am, taking a break and making the most of BPL's free wifi. Next up on the to do list: Apply for a passport at a US passport office. Then, I'm back on the bus to Maine.

Rosetta Stone Training and Graduation

The PC has sent me a subscription to Rosetta Stone for some pre-training training in simplified standard Mandarin. Very cool. I've logged about an hour and half on it so far, and I'm very pleased with the software, ease of use, and pedagogical strategies I've seen so far. Has anyone else tried this software? Any China 14s receive this, or is it new for China 15?

Graduation is almost here. So close! 6 days away! Very excited to march and call an end to my undergraduate career. I've got 3 days of instruction remaining in my Student Teaching placement, and few loose ends to tie up, but otherwise I am set.

Medical, Dental, and Educational

I called the Placement Office today and officially accepted my invite. Super Stoked. China 15, here I come. The PO informed me that I've got some dental and medical work to do. China wants more tests, and tests is what they will receive. I've got a dental appointment tomorrow, including X-Rays, and I've got to call the local hospital to set a visit. All of this is getting done ASAP.

Monday I hope to head down to Boston for a visit at the Canadian Consulate. I'm a dual citizen, US and Canada, so I'm going to apply for a Canadian Passport for travel purposes. Why not? I don't think it could hurt. I've also got to get some photos taken for visas, PC passport, etc.

So, I'm deep into finals here at school. Because I'm student teaching I'm finishing up my professional portfolio, and I have no final papers or tests. Don't let that deceive you, I'm still teaching 7 hours a day, and the portfolio is a good deal of writing, rationalizing, designing, arguing, etc. 12 days until I graduate, though. 10 until the end of student teaching, 6 left in the classroom, and 56 until I ship out for stateside rendezvous. Not that I'm counting.