Comments from In-Country Teachers
Evaluations returned to CTP in spring semester from China

    Chengdu, Sichuan: More survival Chinese and how to ballroom dance. Singing lessons would have helped.

    Nanchang, Jiangxi: More about the Chinese system of schools/education, more about Chinese learning methods,
more about motivating students.

    Wuhan, Hubei: That shoe sizes above 10-1/2 are not available at all. That I would soon run out of Vitamin C
tablets.

    Beijing: I wish I had known how to do the waltz, tango and foxtrot, but no matter. The students are always happy
to teach you. I also should have learned "Country Roads" by John Denver.

    Hangzhou, Zhejiang:  Not to bring so much - really!

    Xianyang, Shaanxi: More of the Chinese language; wish I had known what it was like to be stared at by hundreds
of people.

    Kunming, Yunnan: I didn't know it would be so polluted in the guesthouse, that there would be no one over thirty,
that there would be so many foreigners, that there would be so many missionaries.

    Kunming, Yunnan: Exactly what we were going to teach. I think this is something that the Chinese colleges should
provide.

    Nanjing, Jiangsu: Coming to China is a commitment of time, energy and money (not much), so it's necessary to
prepare yourself mentally for a cultural enigma. Part of living in China is discovering so many new things.  This is what
makes it a unique and wonderful experience - it's difficult to grasp all ideas that make up China.

    Nanjing, Jiangsu: That I would have a VCR here. I'd have brought lots of tapes.

    Nanjing, Jiangsu:  Your English will get worse.  Blow your nose at least once a day.

    Hefei, Anhui: How long the mail takes to get to America and how much longer it seems to take to get to China, and
the fact that my friends are terrible correspondents.

    Chengdu, Sichuan: Nothing -- I was extremely well-prepared. Maybe more on visas and technical aspects.

    Chengdu, Sichuan: Chengdu is quite fashion-conscious - it's not a camping trip.... How fast this society is changing.
They seem quite up-to-date in many ways and of course look to us Westerners for the latest trends. I had thought I
would need to be more conservative.

    Changsha, Hunan: More about Changsha's weather - it's awfully hot (104 degrees) in the summer and very cold in
the winter -- it snows; and the spring . . . I've never dreamed of so much rain, it's incredible.

    Yan'an, Shaanxi:  [second-year teacher] It has been so long I have forgotten.  You can buy almost all the
electronic stuff here.  A laptop is a good idea. If you have big feet or are tall, don't count on finding shoes or clothes.

    Jinan, Shandong: How to be more patient.

What are the best things about living in China?

    Beijing: Without question, the students and friends we've made are the best part. Teaching is very rewarding!
Travelling is hard but very interesting.

    Beijing: Experiencing the Chinese culture and economy; helping other people (students); trying out my hand at
teaching; meeting American businessmen and hearing about their experiences in China.

    Beijing: No matter whether you are in a great situation or a hellish adventure the interest level is always extremely
high.

    Chengdu, Sichuan: The people here are generally friendly and kind.

    Chengdu, Sichuan: Where we live; teaching and social routines; travelling and experiencing China; cultural
revelation.

    Suzhou, Jiangsu: The students -- fantastic, and the streets -- always something interesting.

    Nanchang, Jiangxi: No commuting, great food, time to think and reflect, appreciate the (relative) lack of consumer
hype, feel important!

    Jinan, Shandong: Wonderful, deep friendships, fascinating people, and generosity of Chinese hosts.

    Kunming, Yunnan: Practicing my Chinese, learning more about China.

    Kunming, Yunnan: Learning a lot about yourself and your culture by meeting and befriending those of another
culture. The food. Being a teacher, both for the pleasure of it and for the respect it gives you in China. The mellow pace
of life.

    Shanghai: Discovering cultural universalities and differences.

    Xianyang, Shaanxi: Travel, cheap beer, leisure time, being in a completely different culture, exotic foods, getting to
know the students, shopping (and bargaining).

    Xiamen, Fujian: Cheap food, friendly students, free time.

    Tianjin: Diversity and new experiences.

    Tianjin:  The food:  cheap, fresh and very good.  Especially the fruits and vegetables.  The people are very friendly
and generally helpful to foreigners.  Also - the naps!

    Dalian, Liaoning: Lots of new things to see and learn. It is as different from America as I can imagine. We are
learning firsthand about China - also we are gaining important skills that will, in the future, further our scholastic pursuits.
My health has improved.

    Fuzhou, Fujian: Interacting with my Chinese colleagues and students on a day-to-day basis.

    Fuzhou, Fujian: The people. We've met some real jerks and power-tripping bureaucrats but the kind, humorous
and delightful people more than make up for them. The unexpected. Amid the squalor and filth of Fuzhou are scenes of
exquisite beauty and humor. We met an 80-year-old man who used to be a cook for a Jewish family before WWII --
lots of stories from him. The different perspective on life.

    Guangzhou: Being outside the U.S. during a U.S. presidential election. Being outside the U.S. during football
season. Good reception for BBC World Service (though I do prefer NPR). Teaching. Friendly folks. Good stuff
(cheap). Really good food. The adventure of it all.

    Harbin, Heilongjiang: The pace of life, students, time to learn the language.

    Hangzhou, Zhejiang:  Daily life in China includes you - you're not a tourist any more.

    Nanjing, Jiangsu: The people -- their total willingness to let you prove (for yourself) what kind of person you are
and their acceptance of you.

    Nanjing, Jiangsu:  You never know what's going to happen.  You meet people from all over the world.  You learn
that Americans are very wasteful - this is a humbling place to be.  You learn the way we do things is not necessarily the
best way.

    Nanjing, Jiangsu:  Everyone says the students are the best thing, but I would extend that to the people of China.
How well they get along in their great numbers suggests the strength of this culture, especially when you see their lives
really aren't easy.