IST

IST = in-service training.

For 5 days at the beginning of February, Peace Corps brought all of the China 12s (with a one day overlap with China 11s) in to Chengdu for some rejuventation. There were some language lessons, and a lot of open sessions led by our peers about all aspects of our lives here, from travel to making good assessments of our students, to chinese philosophy and history. It was something I had not been looking forward to, but after an initial day of shock from so many people speaking such loud english, I came out of the week feeling really inspired and ready for semester 2. In our medical session I learned about more worms and parisites we might be exposed to (with some pretty gnarly accompanying slides), in language sessions I really felt inspired to study much harder in the upcoming semester, and in all the time spent with other volunteers sharing stories and ideas and expertise, I felt really proud to be a part of this group and to be doing the work we're doing. We played poker and ate cheeseburgers and shared allll the failures and triumphs of our first 7 months here. On the first night, we had an open mic night that blew all of us away I think, in the face of so much talent. One site-mate pair altered some lyrics and performed an acoustic song just for us, the China PCV's, that had half the audience in tears, me included:

This is our life
Chorus:
Well, it's cold outside and the sky is gray
Pressin' down on me with its dismal face
With my feet in the air and my head on the ground
Where is my mind, Where is my mind

Verse 1:
Well, it's cold outside and the sky is gray
Pressin' down on me with its dismal face
I'm in no mood to talk so I walk quickly
Head down hood on and hope that people miss me
(Please miss me, Please miss me, I'm beggin' you, please today just today miss me)
Today, no fake smiles, No superficial speaking
No learning about another last minute meeting
I know it sounds bad but it's the way I feel and it's real for me so please just let me deal
(Let me deal, just let me deal, Today please no pep talks, just let me deal)
Let me miss my mom
Let me miss my Dad
Let me miss my job
Let me miss the man I had
Today, just let me hurt today

Chorus:
Well, it's cold outside and the sky is gray
Pressin' down on me with its dismal face
With my feet in the air and my head on the ground
Where is my mind, Where is my mind

Verse 2:
Well, it's cold outside but it's a beautiful day
I woke up, ate and showered, now I'm on my way
There's some slide in my glide and some pep in my step
As I speak to strangers on my right and my left
I'm in the mood to talk so I walk slowly
Head up hood down as I speak to those who know me
(those who know me, speak to those who know me, today it's so good to see all of those who know me)
Today, I'm full of smiles
Today, I can't stop speaking
I'm up for banquets and for last minute meetings
To me, it seems a dream this life that I've been given
Me in Peace Corps China, You got to be kiddin'
I love my students
I love my waiban
I love my site mate Matt
I love my life man
Today, I feel so good today

Chorus 2:
Well, it's cold outside but it's a beautiful day
I woke up, ate and showered, now I'm on my way
With my feet planted firm and my head held high
This is my life, This is my life
And this is my life, this is my life
And this is your life,
And this is my life
And this is our life
And this is my life,
And this is your life
And this is our life
This is our life