Tuesday, 28 January 2020


Tuesday 28th January, 2020 1345

Hahaha! I went on Monday to buy a mask from the jing jo shop seeing as he had tried to sell me one the day before and guess what – sold out!

Then Brenda called me from the office. It's a holiday but by all accounts she had been asked to work so as to check on the foreigners. I assume foreign students too. I told her I was in Wuhan but sadly she is beginning to understand my brand of humour.

Nice to know they care but I suspect it's only so they don't get into trouble for letting us die in their employ. But it did give me chance to confirm a couple of things. One, that school doesn't start until 22nd February (stunned me, seeing as Chizhou are due to restart the 8th) although as that's a Saturday I'm not sure if we would work the weekend or wait until the Monday. I also found out the school are waiting for government instructions as to whether to open or not, something I have been wondering myself, what with so many people in close proximity. It was also confirmed that what I had heard was true – the Peace Corps are discontinuing sending volunteers to China. According to Brenda, Khloe who originally as they all do, signed up for a two year stint will be going home in summer and there will be no PCVs in China. Great news for me, it will mean a severe shortage of native English speakers in the universities in Lanzhou and my desirability should be enhanced. The decision was taken some time ago so it has nothing to do with the “contagion” and everything I think to do with Trump. I suppose I should thank him.

It does make me ponder on the question “If I had gone to Wuhan for a holiday and was now locked in, who would pay for the hotel?” I'd probably end up on the streets.

Having said that, Brenda informed me the number of cases here in Lanzhou is now up to eight. I have to rely on the Chinese for this sort of news as it's not on the media I use.

I read today that should UK nationals be repatriated from Wuhan they will be quarantined for a fortnight. At home, voluntarily. That will work!

Meanwhile, here:



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