This is the first post of our new online journal, which we hope to update regularly during our upcoming journeys in China as Peace Corps volunteers. First up, we are set to fly to staging in San Francisco on June 27, where we will have a basic orientation, get our immunization shots, fill out some paperwork, and get general information about Peace Corps Service.

On July 1, we will fly to Chengdu, the country headquarters for the Peace Corps in China. We will live there for 8 weeks, where we will undergo immersion language learning and skills training. During our time and Chengdu, Laura and I will likely be split up and live with separate host families. Because we will be doing the same language and skills training, however, we should be able to see eachother during the day. I am extremely excited to go to China and specifically Sichuan province. Sichuan is known as the fire province because of its hot temperature and spicy food. It is also famous as the home to the Giant Panda natural preserve, Emei Mountain (one of the four Buddhist mountains in China), and the Grand Buddha of Leshan - the tallest stone Buddha in the world at 250 ft.

After 2 months in Chengdu, the Peace Corps staff in China will assign the two of us to teachers college in one of four provinces/municipalities in western China - Sichuan, Guizhou, Chongquing, or Gansu. All but Gansu lie in China's subtropical southwest - while Gansu in the colder north, bordering Mongolia. Once assigned, we'll join the English faculty at a teacher's college and teach American history and culture or American/British lit to advanced English students (training to be primary/secondary English teachers) 16 hours a week.

We'll keep you posted as we learn more.