PCV Dee Warren says: Peace Corps told me today that I will not continue my assignment in Andijon, that I can be reassigned to a different location to finish out my last year of service - if I wanted to. And when safety can be assured, I will be able to return to say my farewells...to me, the valley already has.



PCV Dee Warren says: Peace Corps told me today that I will not continue my assignment in Andijon, that I can be reassigned to a different location to finish out my last year of service - if I wanted to. And when safety can be assured, I will be able to return to say my farewells...to me, the valley already has.

05/19/2005

[Excerpt]

For the best...

I have decided to close down this blog for the foreseeable future in the interest of Peace Corps as an institution, and the service of the PCVs who continue to serve in Uzbekistan.

If you have any questions, I would be happy to communicate with you via email: dwarren25@yahoo.com.

03:16 AM | Permalink
05/16/2005
...

During my drive back to Andijon last Thursday, rain storms gave way to patchy clouds and spotty sunshine as we drove over the mountain pass. It is always a beautiful drive, but with the dramatic light caused by stormy darkness behind me and sunshine fanning out in front of me, the valley seemed to glow. The evening light worked its golden hour magic across the hills and fields, a site etched in my mind...

I remember thinking what a special place the Ferghana Valley is - the landscape, the people, the history, the diversity, the abundance, the serenity, and the peace that had become my home over the past year. Although marked with hard times and struggles, my life there still always had a bright side to turn to, an experience etched in my heart.

Leaving the valley on Saturday, the valley showed me its best face ever. The cool spring air and brilliant sunshine opened up the skies so that I could see more of the mountain peaks than before, their layers stacked in green, blues and purples, the rolling hills in fresh sharp green against rocky snow-striped slopes topped with blue sky and fluffy white clouds. So beautiful I remember feeling as if the valley was putting on its best face to say good-bye. Indeed, the heart knows...

Peace Corps told me today that I will not continue my assignment in Andijon, that I can be reassigned to a different location to finish out my last year of service - if I wanted to. And when safety can be assured, I will be able to return to say my farewells...to me, the valley already has.

When this story was posted in May 2005, this was on the front page of PCOL:


Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers

The Peace Corps Library Peace Corps Online is proud to announce that the Peace Corps Library is now available online. With over 30,000 index entries in 500 categories, this is the largest collection of Peace Corps related stories in the world. From Acting to Zucchini, you can find hundreds of stories about what RPCVs with your same interests or from your Country of Service are doing today. If you have a web site, support the "Peace Corps Library" and link to it today.

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May 7, 2005: This Week's Top Stories "Peace Corps Online" on recess until May 21 7 May Carol Bellamy taking the reins at World Learning 7 May Gopal Khanna appointed White House CFO 7 May Clare Bastable named Conservationist of the Year 7 May Director Gaddi Vasquez visits PCVs in Bulgaria 5 May Abe Pena sets up scholarship fund 5 May Peace Corps closes recruiting sites 4 May Hill pessimistic over Korean nuclear program 4 May Leslie Hawke says PC should split into two organizations 4 May Peace Corps helps students find themselves 3 May Kevin Griffith's Tsunami Assistance Project collects 50k 3 May Tim Wright studied Quechua at UCLA 2 May Doyle not worried about competition 2 May Dodd discusses President's Social Security plan 1 May Randy Mager works in Blue Moon Safaris 1 May PCVs safe in Togo after disputed elections 30 Apr Michael Sells teaches Islamic History and Literature 28 Apr

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May 7, 2005: Special Events "Iowa in Ghana" on exhibit in Waterloo through June 30 "American Taboo" author Phil Weiss in Maryland on June 18 Leland Foerster opens photo exhibition at Cal State RPCV Writers scholarship in Baltimore - deadline June 1 Gary Edwards' music performed in Idaho on May 24 RPCVs: Post your stories or press releases here for inclusion next week.

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