So you want to send me something, and I want to receive it, here’s where it goes:
No.45, Lanzhou Road
International Office
Longdong University
Xifeng, Qingyang, Gansu
P.R. China 745000
If you are scratching your head about what to send, always welcome are stain sticks, hand sanitizer, or potato chips. And I’m not going to lie: if you want to send me the makings for Rotel dip, you could be a hero.
Also: if you feel so inclined to undertake the mailing of something, please do yourself a favor and enjoy the USPS flat-rate international boxes. Any other method is way, way, way too expensive and just not worth it.
Getting Schooled in China 
Kathryn, I finally caught up with your blog. It’s great reading. It sounds like things are going really well for you. Classes start here today; I teach tomorrow and am working at home, trying to stretch the summer as long as I can. We had the new student orientation Friday, and there are some PCMIers among them.
What do you like in your Rotel dip? Maybe we can send some along. (I assume you need Rotel tomatoes, which we had in TX; my late father-in-law loved them.)
Tell whoever made the video that it is great! It put me to thinking about my days as a PC trainee and folks I haven’t thought about for a long time.
Enjoy your time there!
Take care!
Keith
Keith! So wonderful to hear from you! We’re already in Week 4 (!) of the semester, and my freshman students are finally done with their military training, so I should have something resembling an active course schedule soon! Of course, National Holiday is this next week, so I get a taste of being busy and then a week off. Please tell the PCMI students that if they ever want to ask questions or talk to someone I am available for that service! I am jealous that this year there are multiple PCMI students – I could have used a peer for support. Luckily, I had two other PCMIs at my training site this summer, and one lives about six hours away from me now.
I had always been taught that Rotel dip was just the Rotel tomatoes and some sort of shelf-stable cheese. Is there possibility for variation?
Good luck with your first week of school – and the rest of the term! I miss my fellow students and teachers so much, and I am legitimately sad that I won’t get to see and hear about everyone’s project presentations and theses defenses! It’s strange to think that my graduating class hasn’t even applied yet!
Kathryn, this is your Uncle Joe (Papa John’s brother). What a life experience, I am sure you are learning as much as your students. I really enjoy your blog about your experiences, and hope that the cultural shock over some of the food is the worst that you will have to bear. I look forward to more of your experiences and adventures.
-love, Joe
Kathryn,
I just got caught up on your blog. What an experience. By the way, your mom and dad gave us The Joy of Cooking as a wedding gift and I love it. I know you mom would be so proud of you, I am.
Love, Aunt Tari