Dec 24 – Spent the morning buying the last groceries needed to cook a Christmas feast for friends at the apartment later in the evening.
Dec 25 – Had dinner with friends at another expat’s apartment and played board games to celebrate Christmas.
Dec 31 – Had dinner with other expats and then went to the People’s Square, in the middle of the city to decorate and fly paper lanterns, plus shoot off fireworks for New Years.
Jan 3 – Finished submitting all grades and completing one semester of teaching!
Jan 5 – Traveled to Chengdu for the two-week In-Service Training (IST) Conference that I helped plan as part of the IST Planning Committee.
Jan 17 – Last day of IST, learned the Peace Corps is ending its mission in China, effective June 2021.
Jan 18 – Traveled to Leshan to see the Giant Buddha.
Jan 19 – Back in Liupanshui.
Jan 20 – 25 – Celebrated the Lunar New Year/ Chinese Spring Festival with friends and family.
Jan 28 – Peace Corps China’s Emergency Action Plan was activated and as a Provincial Warden I began contacting volunteers, informing everyone we would be consolidating in Bangkok, Thailand.
Jan 30 – Flew from Guiyang, China to Bangkok, Thailand.
Jan 31 – Asked to help lead a Consolidation/ Evacuation Planning Committee, anticipating being in Bangkok for two weeks and while here volunteers would have had sessions regarding TEFL, Language, Mental Health, etc.
Feb 2 – All volunteers were informed that Peace Corps has decided to early Close of Service (COS) all volunteers, thus ending our service effective after a three-day COS Conference.
Feb 5 – Closing Ceremony
Feb 6 – COS Date, handed in all medical and legal paperwork needed to declare a COS, thus becoming a RPCV and a private citizen.
Feb 7 – Flew back home to the United States.
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