CHINA
Country Overview:
"A land of contrasts, where ancient traditions meet rapid modernization, and delectable cuisine coexists with complex political realities."
My seven-year journey in China, from May 2013 to August 2020, was a whirlwind of experiences. I taught English, pursued my Master's in Politics & Foreign Policy at the prestigious Tsinghua University, and immersed myself in the media landscape at China Today and Xinhua News Agency. Beijing was my home base, but my travels painted a vibrant tapestry of China's diverse landscapes and cultures: the bustling metropolis of Shanghai, the historic city of Xi'an, the tropical paradise of Sanya, the unique blend of East and West in Macau and Hong Kong, and countless other destinations in between. From savoring the exquisite flavors of regional cuisines to navigating the intricacies of daily life under a distinct political system, China left an indelible mark on me.
The Daily Telegraph - China Response
I thought this was a really well-written response to the typical rhetoric that China typically puts out:
Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way
(有志者事竟成)
Having just finished three weeks of traveling in Southeast Asia due to the extended Spring Festival holiday, I was eager to return to Beijing to get back into my routine, despite the ongoing fight against COVID-19. My first priority was getting back to the gym.
After unpacking, a quick lunch and a shower, I put on my gym clothes, strapped on my Nikes, and scootered through the quiet streets of Beijing. Upon arriving at my gym, I noticed that the lights were off, and a lock was placed over the double doors. With a heavy heart, I approached and saw a sign that read: “According to the regulations of the relevant departments of Beijing Municipality, to prevent and control the epidemic, all sports business units and public fitness venues are closed.”
Frustrated but eager to find a way to workout, I went home and called multiple gyms around the city. “Sorry, we’re waiting for the notice to re-open” was the common response. So, like many people around China dealing with the epidemic, I did some workouts at home. Pushups, situps, jumping jacks (which I’m sure my downstairs neighbor didn’t appreciate) and stretches. But I knew this wouldn’t suffice over an extended period of time. I needed a better solution.
Living in the hutongs, my mind immediately thought about the brightly colored (usually blue and yellow) public workout equipment strewn across the city. I visited two before I finally found the holy grail of public workout equipment at Qingnianhu Park, just above the second-ring road.
Greeting the baoan at the gate with a smile under my N95 mask, I asked if there was a fitness area here. He said yes, and I asked if it was sufficient. He shrugged and said, “well, it’s not small.” I had to see for myself. He took my temperature, gave me a thumbs up for wearing shorts, and I made my way into the park. After crossing a bridge and nodding at a number of masked Chinese running past me, I finally saw the brightly colored equipment. Parallel bars, ab machines, pullup bars, monkey bars, a tricep dip machine, I couldn’t believe my eyes. This was the greatest outdoor fitness area I had ever seen.
For the past few days, each morning, I’ve gone to the park to workout and what early morning workout isn’t complete without elderly ladies stretching and gossiping with each other. Although we haven’t made it to a first-name basis, they’ve been kind enough to keep an eye on my jacket while I run around the lake and compliment me on my ability to brave the weather in shorts. I spoke with one of the ladies at the park, and she said: “Even though I’m 55, I’m not nervous about the virus. I come here every day to stretch, walk, and talk with my friends.” When asked what she is doing to keep busy, she said: “I cook at home every day! I like to make new dishes.”
I’ve always admired the tenacity and dedication Chinese people have to staying fit. Whether it’s the old ladies dancing together in public squares, or young Chinese going for a run on the streets, people in China are finding positive ways to deal with the current situation. Even despite the ongoing COVID-19 epidemic, the park I went to had numerous people running, stretching, working out, or simply taking a walk to enjoy the cold, but beautiful morning.
The ongoing epidemic might have impacted restaurants, local businesses, and offices. However, Chinese people’s optimism still remains, both in the hope of winning the fight against the coronavirus and in continuing to live normal lives despite the changes in the capital. I also spoke with a mother who was exercising with her son, and she said: “It’s safer to stay at home, but it’s important to get out of the house and have some fun.” The boy, who told me his English name was Kevin, said: “I like parks. But now we just need to wear masks to come here.”
Despite the virus, the cold, or the recent snow in the capital, Chinese are still determined to stay fit and stay positive, and its thanks not only to the baoan for doing temperature & mask checks at the gate, but also the government for keeping the parks open. They offer respite from the many hours spent at home and a way for people to stay healthy, even if you have to share a machine with an elderly lady in a puffy down jacket.
Packing To Leave
I have 38 days until I leave, and I’ve already started gutting my apartment, selling off small things, and de-constructing my IKEA furniture so I can sell that too. It’s weird being in an apartment that now echoes when I speak.
I just bought my 2nd suitcase on Taobao the other day, and I now need to pack seven years of my life in China into two suitcases and a carry-on. Packing may sound simple, but it poses its own challenges, especially since I’m looking to move to SE Asia, I am only allowed 23kg in 1 suitcase. Lucky me, I get to pay for a 2nd suitcase. Thankfully it’s hot down there, so I won’t need to pack any winter clothes. I feel like a girl having to decide which shoes to keep and which ones to part with.
I’m still working from home and no foreseeable “return to office” date in sight. Gyms are still closed, as are schools. China just closed its borders to foreigners and limited the number of flights domestic and foreign airlines can make, so hopefully, that will curb the number of “imported” cases, and we can get back to normal. I feel like I have so much to do over the next six weeks, such as get all my paperwork in order, close bank accounts, go to the dentist, sell all my stuff, have my apartment inspected by landlord to get my deposit back, among a myriad of other things.
The other problem I’m facing is that I can’t get to my intended destination of Thailand or Singapore. Countries around the world have either closed borders entirely or won’t allow anyone who has been to China in the past two weeks. As such, the only countries I found that had no flight restrictions or quarantine measures for people who have been to China are Cambodia, the Congo, and Zambia. My plan is to find a country I can fly to, stay there for two weeks, and then I will have more options. Ultimately, I need to get to Singapore, so I’m just waiting for them to open up their borders, but since they just closed down all entertainment venues for a month, prospects aren’t looking too hot.
Trying to plan my permanent departure from China amidst an on-going pandemic that started in China is not ideal. I feel stressed, anxious, excited, and relieved to be leaving after so many years. My planned date of departure is May 4, with my last working day on May 3. I'm not spending any more time here than I need to. Hopefully, the world gets a handle on the virus over the next month, which will ensure a smoother “transition” from China onto the next chapter of my life.
6 Weeks of Quarantine
It’s officially been 6 weeks since I landed back in Beijing. Since then, I’ve been working from home and adhering to the city’s mandatory self-quarantine measures. Here’s what it’s been like:
Some days are good and some are bad. Some days I’ll feel full of anxiety and let the existential dread creep in, wondering how I’m going to make it another hour. Other days, the sun is shining, I go out for a run, and I can get through the day with no negative thoughts.
The lack of socializing is difficult. Yes, my friends are still in Beijing, but with most bars closed and restaurants enforcing the “2 people per table” rule, as well as residential areas not letting in non-residents, it can be challenging to find somewhere to meet up.
I’ve found that some days, I lose all interest in any form of entertainment. There’s only so many movies or tv shows to watch, sometimes I can’t focus enough to read, and other days I have zero appetite to write. Other days, I find myself caught up in a good book or catching up on movies I haven’t seen.
Not knowing when things are going to end is the hardest part, especially since I’m preparing to leave China forever on May 4th. At this point, I have nowhere to go because due to the epidemic, many countries in SE Asia have stopped visas on arrival or closed the country entirely. I’m optimistic that over the next 6 weeks, things will improve and countries will start to open back up, but at the rate things are going, I’m not sure how long my optimism will last. Regardless, I will still leave China in May.
My gym, along with all the other gyms in the capital, has also been closed for 2 months now. Which is super annoying because gyms in Shanghai are open but because it’s the capital and serves as a representation for the rest of the country, Beijing is being super cautious about everything. I hope they open soon — there’s only so far I can get with working out at home. I’ve lost 3 kg since arriving back in Beijing on February 8th.
China Control Measures
I don’t know why, but I think it’s so funny that listed along every country with infected cases, they just wrote “cruise ship”
Visited my friend’s place yesterday and I had to scan a QR code, enter my phone number, and a system confirmed that I hadn’t left China in the past 2 weeks and gave me the “green arrow light” that I could enter his hutong.
Virus Docs
These are pictures of documents my friends have had to sign based on 1 - where they live and 2 - those who fly back into Beijing from overseas and 3 - a temperature check of the people who cooked and delivered my takeout food
Beijing Life Amid Outbreak
Glad to know China has bunkers available for… whatever bunkers are used for
Plastic Sheets
Taxi drivers have now installed plastic sheets separating passengers from the driver. Some communities have also implemented a lockdown which can be a problem since the gates are so high, there’s literally no way to get back in if you’re out past 10pm.