Peter Hessler’s “River Town: Two Years on the Yangtze” is a book about his experience as a Peace Corps volunteer. His experiences strongly remind me of my own as a volunteer in Malaysia in the 1970s.
He discusses how beautiful the city was at night while being not so attractive during the day. He is mystified by some of the routines and rules in the school. Croquet was played differently than in the US.
Students are amazed when a fellow, female volunteer acts very casually during a class lecture. She removes her sweater and ties it around her waist!
He acknowledges that he made mistakes but that the people were understanding and attempted to help the volunteers adjust.
His experiences in this wonderful book reminded me of my own experience so many years ago. Of course, thirty-six years ago, the very idea of a Peace Corps presence in China was out of the question. In 2009 many people visit, live, and interact with citizens of China.
You can read some exerpts at: http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0060953748/ref=sib_dp_pt#reader-link
Hessler, P. (2001) River Town: Two Years on the Yangtze. Harper Collins Publishing: New York.
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