I’m currently sitting in our hostel in Xining, Qinghai. After 42
hours of travel from San Francisco, we arrived at the hostel last night
and then probably had the best sleep of our lives. I’m starting to get
back into my China groove. It feels good to hear people speak Chinese
and the food helps bring back the comfort zone as well.
Before traveling to China, we had orientation at Stanford. Quick overview of the program I’ll be a part of for (at least) the next year: VIA (Volunteers in Asia) was started back in 1963, so VIA turns 50 in 2013! There are two components to VIA, one brings volunteers to Asia and the other brings Asian students to Stanford. There are about 20 of us volunteers going to countries in Asia including China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar. We all met at Stanford for a couple days to get to know each other and learn more about VIA. Then we split up between China volunteers and SE Asia volunteers and will be having training in our respective areas for the next month. Training will involve TESOL training as well as language classes. There are 6 of us new China volunteers.
The Stanford orientation was excellent. Highlights include hearing the founder of VIA, Dwight Clark, speak about the history of VIA and talking with VIA alumni about their experiences. I got to meet an alum who actually had my same post in Hunan a couple years ago! I’m excited to be a part of such a supportive and long standing community. The VIA chapter will definitely not end after my time in Hunan; they don’t call it the “VIA family” for nothing.
Before traveling to China, we had orientation at Stanford. Quick overview of the program I’ll be a part of for (at least) the next year: VIA (Volunteers in Asia) was started back in 1963, so VIA turns 50 in 2013! There are two components to VIA, one brings volunteers to Asia and the other brings Asian students to Stanford. There are about 20 of us volunteers going to countries in Asia including China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar. We all met at Stanford for a couple days to get to know each other and learn more about VIA. Then we split up between China volunteers and SE Asia volunteers and will be having training in our respective areas for the next month. Training will involve TESOL training as well as language classes. There are 6 of us new China volunteers.
The Stanford orientation was excellent. Highlights include hearing the founder of VIA, Dwight Clark, speak about the history of VIA and talking with VIA alumni about their experiences. I got to meet an alum who actually had my same post in Hunan a couple years ago! I’m excited to be a part of such a supportive and long standing community. The VIA chapter will definitely not end after my time in Hunan; they don’t call it the “VIA family” for nothing.
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