surviving arriving (thriving?)

So welcome to China
My name is Callum
i will be your tour guide for the duration of this 1-year ecotourism experiental exploration.
Based in Sichuan province, at beautiful Jiuzhaigou national park, we hope to explore the confines of this world famous reserve and get to know many of the conservation and community issues behind the pragmatic veil of apparent harmony promoted for tourism $$'s.
There should also be the chance to describe many of the famous wonders of China as i take time off to explore around Sichuan and beyond.
Right now, about a week after arriving in China, im in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan, still struggling to adapt to the hordes of blank-staring crowds and accept the highly frustrating language challenges. In a few days time i will travel to jiuzhaigou to begin my 10-month assignment as an ecotourism officer through the AYAD program. So that should be when things get interesting.
In many ways i was glad for the week just had in Beijing to prepare (e.g. sightseeing opportunities- tiananmen, summer palace, olympic site and more) with 'training', but in other ways the experience had just raised more questions. Perhaps this 'vagueness' will be a recurring theme of journeys in China, where subtlety and contradiction are often valued before clarity of expression. I'ts obviously a fascinating nation of vast potential and i plan to immerse myself in its culture as deeply as i can, but im also potently aware that i am and always will be an outsider looking-in, an observer who can never truly participate in the cultural performance. As if being a 6 foot 3 redhead isn't enough to stand out, there are other indelible stamps of upbringing on my soul that separate me. So where's the common ground? why am i here? we'll, we are all human, right? And on this planet together, there's some responsibility to work together. I've also learned, after years in SE asia following the investigative instinct, to appreciate buddhism. convenient then that in a couple of days i will have a chance to visit the largest buddha on earth, Luoshan Dafo. And after that, mr confucius (please dont confuse us!) should be my next target. the analects are already in the bag. Lao Tzu, Dao too!
So, with some fortune, ive survived the first week wandering through traffic chaos and unearthly smog. just another 45 or so of those weeks to go, and you will hear from me in some of those
next time youll hear more of beijing, my amusing colleagues and the beauty of jiuzhagou
1st post signing off
well wishes to you
callum