As part of the application process for the Peace Corps, we write an "Aspirations Statement," in which we give our Expectations, Strategies for adapting to a new culture, and personal and professional goals.Peace Corps returned our original statement to us at the Close of Service conference. It has been almost two years to the day since the volunteers first showed up in San Franciso to begin this journey, and I thought I would reflect on each of these components:

Expectations (2006):

At my in person interview for the Peace Coprs, I was asked whether there was any specific location or assignment I had in mind. My interviewer noted that some people simply do not want to state a preference but in a way wouldrather let the universe decide for them. I noted I could relate to that way of looking at the world. Although I did offer a few suggestions, in truth, I had no specific place I wanted to be nor anything specific that I wanted to do: I simply wanted to be of service. So when te assignment offered was different than the one I had signed up for, I was not in the least reluctant to switch. My one test, that I be of use. was passed in the letter that stated the China program was in desperated need of university professors. Even though I had initially relished the idea of getting away from teaching for a few years, I understood that I should not run away from my talent and the one unique contribution I could make. In one sense, I will be in a place very familiar to me (the classroom), where I have been a teacher for over twenty years, if you include my time in graduate school. And though the subjects I am teaching will obviously be different than the ones I had in the past, in a sense, teachin is stil teaching. BUt in a much more important sense, of course, I will be in an unfamiliar land teaching new material to a completely different group of students. And that is precisely the challenge I signed on form

Reflections(2008):

The term is "mud hut experience." It referst to the fact that many Peace Corps volunteers join up with the expectation and even the desire to be living in a mud hut in Africa for two years. Many are disappointed to find out that their assignment puts them in an urban center with most of the comforts they knew back home. This is not only the case in China but in manhy of the Peace Corps assignments around the world that focus on teaching English. It is also true of many of the other assignments.  What they tell us now is "this isn't your mother's/grandmother's Peace Corps." ANd while it is true, Peace Corps is somewhat to blame for this expectation as they don't really advertise this aspect of their assignments. The posters and advertising in fact play up on the mud hut experience. I guess I initially had that sort of idea in my mind to some degree as well. ANd while you certainly must adapt over here, breathing bad air, making your own water, dealing with the culture daily. it ain't no mud hut, unless you get to have a laptop in a mud hut.  It was certainly more than enough compensation for not being in a mud hut to be in a culture as important as CHina, both in terms of its tradition and history and in terms of the role it will play in the world. I am not so sure I would have felt that way about being at one of the other urban teaching assignments around the world, though of course had I spent two years there I might feel different.

This year group of volunteers is only about two thirds of last year's group because China is requiring hiring qualifications. I have heard that Peace COrps is now considerring specifically recruiting for the China assignment, which they have not done for any assignment in the past. The policy has been that youu sign up and they tell you where to go. Now with the additional requirements for CHina, they are considerring changing the process and seeking out people and telling them they can have that particular assignment. I think it's a good idea