Application statement, part 2
The second part of my application statement was on:
Strategies for adapting to a new culture(2006)
"As far as adapting to a new culture, I have had soome experience on this subject, though admittedly nothing akin to spending two years in China. In addition to having travelled extensively in Western Europe, Eastern Europe and the Middle East, I have spent six months living in Greece and a semester in Italy. So I know what it is like to live in another culture and not just pass through. On both occasions, I occupied rather small rooms without private bath--accomdations I think most of my colleagues would have found cramped but which were perfectly fine for me. I understand that in China things will be even more spartan and unfamiliar. But in short I am not a high maintenance sort of person. Until recently, I could fit all I own into a station wagon. So while I know living in China for two years will be a great adjustmetn, it is one I believe my track record shows that I am prepared to handle.
As for the psychological adjustment of living in another culture, I have traveled enough to know that one must be receptive when one enters another culture and respectful of that culture's way of doing things. This is the way I have approached every culture I have ever visited. One man strategy I have is to follow and not to lead, to listen more than to speak, in short, to take the passive role and let the culture teach me. It is a way of looking at the world that has served me well in my past travels and I trust will do so in CHina."
(2008)
I certainly think travelling and living in another culture is a pretty good indicator of how you will do in the Peace Corps. The first person to drop out of our training group was one that I thought had the perfect personality for the Peace Corps but had never been overseas. I imagine this is something Peace Corps recruiters look for. I have to say as well that I think living in Utah was an excellent preparation for living in another culture. As I have often said, there is no place in America that is less like America. I have truly felt like an outsider there. But as Nietzsche said, what does not kill me makes me stronger. And the Utah experience gave me good training in what it is like to feel the displacement of living in another culture. Certainly the culture got to me at times, as it does to everyone here. I think the best piece of advice is to adopt a humility. I think one reasons Americans notoriously have difficulties travelling is that they do tend to be more aggresive and assertive, and that is simply no way to be much less to exist for any length of time in another culture. If I had one piece of advice that seems very CHina specific and that I did not know when I came, it would be to NEVER, NEVER TELL ANYONE HERE WHAT YOU ARE REALLY THINKING OR FEELING. They are not tellng you anything that goes below the surface and that is the level you need to stay at. It applies most to things like being angry or frustrated, which you should never under any conditions show over here. But it also applies to your opinions, ideas, et cetera. Assume you are a laboratory rat and act accordingly. Realize you are being observed, watched and analyzed. And try to observe, watch and analyze right back. That is the best way to survive, I would say. I got a little better at this as time went on, but it took some time to realize it and more to put it into practice.
Strategies for adapting to a new culture(2006)
"As far as adapting to a new culture, I have had soome experience on this subject, though admittedly nothing akin to spending two years in China. In addition to having travelled extensively in Western Europe, Eastern Europe and the Middle East, I have spent six months living in Greece and a semester in Italy. So I know what it is like to live in another culture and not just pass through. On both occasions, I occupied rather small rooms without private bath--accomdations I think most of my colleagues would have found cramped but which were perfectly fine for me. I understand that in China things will be even more spartan and unfamiliar. But in short I am not a high maintenance sort of person. Until recently, I could fit all I own into a station wagon. So while I know living in China for two years will be a great adjustmetn, it is one I believe my track record shows that I am prepared to handle.
As for the psychological adjustment of living in another culture, I have traveled enough to know that one must be receptive when one enters another culture and respectful of that culture's way of doing things. This is the way I have approached every culture I have ever visited. One man strategy I have is to follow and not to lead, to listen more than to speak, in short, to take the passive role and let the culture teach me. It is a way of looking at the world that has served me well in my past travels and I trust will do so in CHina."
(2008)
I certainly think travelling and living in another culture is a pretty good indicator of how you will do in the Peace Corps. The first person to drop out of our training group was one that I thought had the perfect personality for the Peace Corps but had never been overseas. I imagine this is something Peace Corps recruiters look for. I have to say as well that I think living in Utah was an excellent preparation for living in another culture. As I have often said, there is no place in America that is less like America. I have truly felt like an outsider there. But as Nietzsche said, what does not kill me makes me stronger. And the Utah experience gave me good training in what it is like to feel the displacement of living in another culture. Certainly the culture got to me at times, as it does to everyone here. I think the best piece of advice is to adopt a humility. I think one reasons Americans notoriously have difficulties travelling is that they do tend to be more aggresive and assertive, and that is simply no way to be much less to exist for any length of time in another culture. If I had one piece of advice that seems very CHina specific and that I did not know when I came, it would be to NEVER, NEVER TELL ANYONE HERE WHAT YOU ARE REALLY THINKING OR FEELING. They are not tellng you anything that goes below the surface and that is the level you need to stay at. It applies most to things like being angry or frustrated, which you should never under any conditions show over here. But it also applies to your opinions, ideas, et cetera. Assume you are a laboratory rat and act accordingly. Realize you are being observed, watched and analyzed. And try to observe, watch and analyze right back. That is the best way to survive, I would say. I got a little better at this as time went on, but it took some time to realize it and more to put it into practice.
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