Back on Board (Again) (Maybe)

POSTED BY: 杰克

PUBLISHED IN THE CHONX

Well, after 15 months I am back and able to publish for as long as the Middle Kingdom sees fit. A brief rundown of life events as they have transpired over the last year or so:

April 2007

Left Chicago for parents’ house in Tennesse to make final preparations for Peace Corps

June 2007

Went to Josh’s graduation in Denver; said goodbye to extended family

Packed bags and went out to San Francisco. Met Narit and said a tearful goodbye. Joined Peace Corps China. Met Nikki (and everyone else) for the first time.

July 2007

Commenced training at Sichuan Normal University in Chengdu. Moved in with host family in Wanke. Drank together almost every day and struggled our way through PST. Awesome memories outside the South Gate. Went around the Tibetan plateau with host family.

September 2007

Passed PST, moved from Chengdu to Chongqing, but not before having a debaucherous weekend at the Kehua. Carried 1 trillion Ikea bags on the hard seat train. Disembarked in Chongqing Bei, put down my shit, and immediately headed for the clubs by myself. Had a good first night in Jie Fang Bei.

October 2007

Started teaching. Met Bo in Ruyi. Met Krista May.

December 2007

*Met Julian*. Finished school.

January 2008

IST in Chengdu. Holiday for 12 days in Sanya. Julian moved in.

March 2008

Start school again. This time teaching 1/3 freshman, 1/3 sophomore, 1/3 Japanese. Interesting semester.

May 2008

Wenchuan Earthquake. Weeks of chaos but no one is hurt here. Nice time off school. Slept in the Olympic Center one night.

July 2008

Finished school. Mom and Dad came to visit and that was really interesting. Did summer project with Yuzhong school district primary teachers.

And that pretty much brings us up to where we are now – finished with summer project and going on a long-ass and exciting vacation with Julian. Chengdu on Monday. Sanya on Tuesday. Stay for 10 days. Back to the Chonx for a few days to wash clothes and re-collect ourselves. Off to Xining. Pick up Haruki who’s coming in from Tokyo. Drive out to the Tibetan Plateau to see Qinghai Lake. Hopefully see the Gobi. Yeeeah! Life is so good.