Our lives have been moving fast since last we wrote. On September 3rd we were sworn in as Peace Corps volunteers. Until then we were trainees. Thirty five of the thirty six took the oath. We were sworn in by the head of the Peace Corps from Washington, Ron Tschetter. It was Renee's birthday so she got extra attention. After the ceremony we said our goodbyes, ate lunch, and were whisked off to Yongchuan by our waiban (Foreign Affairs Officer).
We are living on the Xinghu Campus of Chongqing University of Arts and Sciences. Our campus 
is beautiful. The entry road is tree lined and runs along the
lake. The lake is off to one side of the campus. Many of Renee's classrooms leave her a beautiful view. The lake has fish and the opportunity for some boating. There is also an island connected to the mainland by a walking bridge. It is a secluded and peaceful spot. Chinese couples are there as evening falls. The center of the campus is a huge plaza for gatherings and then sports fields and two tennis courts, The students live off to one side up a hill and the faculty live off to the other side up a hill. We live separate from most in a building mostly for the seven foreign teachers.
is beautiful. The entry road is tree lined and runs along the
lake. The lake is off to one side of the campus. Many of Renee's classrooms leave her a beautiful view. The lake has fish and the opportunity for some boating. There is also an island connected to the mainland by a walking bridge. It is a secluded and peaceful spot. Chinese couples are there as evening falls. The center of the campus is a huge plaza for gatherings and then sports fields and two tennis courts, The students live off to one side up a hill and the faculty live off to the other side up a hill. We live separate from most in a building mostly for the seven foreign teachers.Our apartment has a living room of reasonable size with a comfortable couch - TV, washing 
machine, dryer, microwave, and water dispenser. The study has two computers with printer and a wireless hookup. We are enjoying working side by side rather than vying for the computer. The room also has a cupboard, and table and chairs for eating. It opens up to a small balcony. The bedroom is also of a good size. We have outfitted with a comfortable bed. (Rich was not too thrilled with the pink bedspread and matching pillows, but we have toned it down a bit with a more masculine looking topsheet.) There is a good sized wardrobe built in. The bathroom is a western style - thank you. The kitchen is small. The stove and limited counter space is low so I hope Renee and I don't hurt our backs. We bought a wok and have a rice cooker. We are set.
machine, dryer, microwave, and water dispenser. The study has two computers with printer and a wireless hookup. We are enjoying working side by side rather than vying for the computer. The room also has a cupboard, and table and chairs for eating. It opens up to a small balcony. The bedroom is also of a good size. We have outfitted with a comfortable bed. (Rich was not too thrilled with the pink bedspread and matching pillows, but we have toned it down a bit with a more masculine looking topsheet.) There is a good sized wardrobe built in. The bathroom is a western style - thank you. The kitchen is small. The stove and limited counter space is low so I hope Renee and I don't hurt our backs. We bought a wok and have a rice cooker. We are set.Among the great things that has happened is that one of the other foreign teachers is married to 
a Chinese woman. Nina would like to learn English and Renee would like to learn to cook. In part, I am the winner in that deal. Renee and Nina have been going to the open market for meat and vegetables - sanitation boards would go crazy. (Nina is also coaching me a little on my Chinese language. We laugh a lot. Most of the good food Nina has cooked, but I'm learning a bit. Much of the seasoning is a combination of ginger, garlic, and onions, soy sauce and vinegar and something like powdered chicken boullion, also salt and sugar.)
a Chinese woman. Nina would like to learn English and Renee would like to learn to cook. In part, I am the winner in that deal. Renee and Nina have been going to the open market for meat and vegetables - sanitation boards would go crazy. (Nina is also coaching me a little on my Chinese language. We laugh a lot. Most of the good food Nina has cooked, but I'm learning a bit. Much of the seasoning is a combination of ginger, garlic, and onions, soy sauce and vinegar and something like powdered chicken boullion, also salt and sugar.)Renee starts teaching next week. She has eight Freshman classes of oral English. It looks like two of them are large. I have seven classes of Juniors on the new campus. The ride is horrible - I'll have to think how to describe it. My classes started last week. I enjoyed meeting them and reports back to me are good. They are capable students. On the new campus I have a large corner office with a great view. The schedule gives me a lot of time to use the office. I plan to have my Chinese tutoring done there. I'm off on Fridays, but Peace Corps rules say I can't leave site until 5. My eighth class is a Freshman class at Xinghu. I meet them this Wednesday.
For me my best things are three Chinese young men. Bob is in one of my classes. He has helped me with the computer (everything is in Chinese). He has talked with me, introduced his girlfriend, and shared some of Chinese student life. It will be my first try at tutoring. A second 
student is Xiang. I met him at the Traditional medicine clinic on campus. He is their best student. After my massage there I contacted him and he has agreed to give me massages at half the price at my apartment. What a wonderful young man. He has high asperations. The third is a group of tennis players. I have now played with them several times. I have also watched their practice several days. At this point I'm invited in and kabitz with the coaches and teachers. Two of them are names Zhou (Joe)' They invite me to play. On Saturday not only did we play, but Renee and I went with them for Duck Soup for lunch. I hope this relationship will grow. All I need to do is become proficient in Chinese.
student is Xiang. I met him at the Traditional medicine clinic on campus. He is their best student. After my massage there I contacted him and he has agreed to give me massages at half the price at my apartment. What a wonderful young man. He has high asperations. The third is a group of tennis players. I have now played with them several times. I have also watched their practice several days. At this point I'm invited in and kabitz with the coaches and teachers. Two of them are names Zhou (Joe)' They invite me to play. On Saturday not only did we play, but Renee and I went with them for Duck Soup for lunch. I hope this relationship will grow. All I need to do is become proficient in Chinese.I (Renee) feel that our life is filled with serendipities, which I know are the results of your prayers. God is very good to us. One day we met an older couple. An affectionate name for a person is Lao whatever. They said we could call them Lao Shang and Lao Wang. I guess we would be Lao Erickson. Perhaps we will share a picture of them one of these days. We can barely communicate with each other, but we seem to hit it off. Then there is Miranda, a Chinese friend of one of the other foreign teachers, who gave us a lesson in Tai Chi in the center of the campus one evening. Americans think they are interested in staying fit, but Chinese are serious about it. Women my age are agile and vigorous and walk with purpose. They love to ask how old we are and share that information. Here it is not impolite to ask. One other wonderful thing for me is that I can occasionally use one of the practice rooms in the music department to play the piano. The room is small with no sound absorbtion and the piano is well tuned, so I sound almost good:) I am a little anxious about my teaching; hopefully, I will quickly get into the swing of things.
