One of the world's most dangerous countries awaits Zuo Lei, the first local policewoman to be sent to East Timor on an eight-month peacekeeping mission, after passing strict exams by U.N. officials earlier this month.

Zuo, from Southwest China's Guizhou Province, undertook five months of intensive training in more than 40 fields, including shooting, driving, language and peacekeeping skills in Langfang, a training base in Hebei Province. She received notice of her mission a week ago - but dared not tell her parents the truth when she returned to her hometown to bid them farewell.

"I told them the government would equip us with the best facilities and East Timor was safe," she said.

In fact, everyone on the mission has been asked to write a will before leaving in case they die, since East Timor is the most dangerous place for peacekeepers except Iraq.

"My biggest hope is to get back safely. To be asked to write a will at 29 is not funny," she said. "I also hope that my parents and husband will take good care of themselves while I am away."

Zuo, who graduated from Chinese People's Public Security University in 2000 with superb shooting skills, will head for Langfang again Friday to report to the police training center there, accompanied by her husband who will see her off on the mission. Zuo will also open a blog on www.oeeee.com to "keep those who care for my safety posted," media reports said yesterday.

"I have mixed feelings about the notice," said the 1.68-meter-tall slender policewoman. "On the one hand, I've strived hard and waited nearly two years for the opportunity. But on the other hand, my husband has just been transferred to Shenzhen for a year and I had plans to give birth in the Year of the Pig."

Zuo said the toughest exam she took was driving, though she had thought English could be difficult. "I did not understand a word in the first class taught exclusively in English. But driving was tougher. As many peacekeepers have died in accidents on bumpy mountain paths before, the United Nations puts a very high demand on driving skills."

Zuo said her family had never imagined she could be chosen.

"My husband did not care at all when I sent in my applications, thinking my chance (to be chosen) was slim. He told me to quit when the notice did come. But he has gradually understood my choice and is helping me prepare my luggage," she said.

The government has given each team member two large cases and allowed them to bring one other piece of luggage.

Zuo has prepared a whole pack of necessities, including medicines, tissue paper, anti-mosquito liquid, preserved noodles, canned foods and even sanitation tissues.

"We were told that the hot wet climate there could give us dengue fever or malaria. It is difficult to buy things there," she said.

Meanwhile, 31 Shenzhen border police out of 125 Guangdong police will leave for Haiti next month. The border police, chosen from more than 1,000 applicants, will patrol the streets and train local police staff in the Caribbean nation during their eight-month stay there.

Shenzhen sent its first peacekeeping team of 18 policemen to Haiti in April 2005 and another policeman to Liberia in August last year.

Editor: Yan