For much of March, the COVID-19 conversation dominating expat circles centered around those who were returning to Beijing after being stuck abroad, and the obligatory 14-day hotel quarantine they had to undergo. While some folks were able to petition for home quarantines, thousands of Chinese nationals and foreigners were sequestered in state-sponsored accommodation to ensure that they wouldn’t reignite the spread of the virus.

Although experiences varied wildly, for those returnees with kids in tow, the whole situation was particularly fraught with uncertainty, as was the case for Michelle Hemsin.

Originally from Thailand, Hemsin has been living in Beijing for the last 20 years, and currently operates Bodhi Therapeutic Retreat and Bodhi Sense. She returned to the Capital on April 9 with her two kids, aged 11 and 8, however, their quarantine took an unexpected turn when the family was separated in a hospital for two days.

To find out more, we spoke with Hemsin about their experience, the challenges they faced, and what delights awaited them on the other side.

Where did you guys fly back from and what prompted your family to return to Beijing?

We flew in from Bangkok. Bangkok was under confinement and social distancing. I knew that China was safe and if we were going to be in confinement for who knows how long, we may as well do the 14-day quarantine in China and be ”free”. Also, after nine weeks away, fleeing the coronavirus, I was keen to come home.

When our flight diverted to Zhengzhou, we were taken to the Henan People’s Hospital from the airport for two days of testing before being cleared and continuing the rest of our quarantine at the Novotel.

What was an average day like for your family?

We would spend half the day doing homework (it was a welcome task to fill in our day during quarantine). The rest of the time we watched National Geographic, HBO, played games on our phone, and I followed some zoom workouts. The meals divided up our days.

Is it better or worse than what you had expected?

It was better than expected because the room was nice, clean and brand new. The hotel was supposed to open in January 2020, but the Coronavirus hit so we were their first customers! The food was surprisingly good too. Their Western restaurant catered to us foreigners. We had pasta, pizza, chicken wings, sausages, boiled eggs, cream of mushroom/corn/pumpkin soup.

The staff at the hotel were also amicable, politely delivering our meals and trying to meet our request for additional items like pillows or borrowing the vacuum cleaner to do our own housekeeping. At the end of the quarantine, when we left for the airport, all the hotel staff, onsite doctors and all the other staff gathered to wave us goodbye. Once at the airport, we were escorted to the check-in counter, then escorted pass customs to the lounge and again from the lounge to the plane. It was either extremely good service or they didn’t want us to wander on our own.

What was the most difficult, or challenging thing for you and your family during quarantine?

The most difficult thing was to be separated from my two children, 11 and 8 years old, while in hospital. Luckily, both of them were allowed to share a room and although I couldn’t see them, we could talk to each other through the wall and video-call each other as my son had a working phone. The nurses were really nice and we speak Chinese so it went as smoothly as it could have. The most difficult part for my children was having two blood tests taken on the same day, and it was their first time.

What were you most looking forward to after leaving the hotel?

What we looked forward to the most, for me, was a stroll in our blooming garden and fresh air. For my children, it was to sleep in their own bed.

Were there any unexpected lessons you learned during this time?

The unexpected for us was to be taken to the hospital for two days. But we were well-treated, and it has made my children more resilient.

For families in a similar situation, do you have any hacks to make quarantine fun?

I had packed lots of snacks prior to the quarantine so that was a plus.

Photos: Courtesy of Michelle Hemsin

Many of us would agree that our Senior year of High School was one of the most memorable years of our life. Between graduation, college acceptance letters, Prom, and the knowledge that it’s the last year spent in your hometown (and parents’ house no less), it’s a time that we both never want to end, and can’t get past soon enough. Unfortunately, for the class of 2020, most of these traditions were devastated by COVID-19. In this series, we chat with Seniors to find out the extent of the impact to their final year of High School and what they’ve done to salvage those memories.

Meet Kristal D., an 18-year-old student from Beijing who’s finishing her senior year at Dulwich College Beijing (DCB).

Can you briefly walk us through how COVID-19 has evolved for you, personally? What were your initial thoughts? At what point did you realize the devastation and disruption it was causing? How do you currently feel?

I first found out about the virus from my parents in late December. At the time there wasn’t too much information circulating online, so I dismissed the news thinking it would pass relatively quickly, but there was a tangible fear from my parents as they recalled scenes from the SARS outbreak in 2003. Over the next few weeks, the situation escalated, with cases almost doubling on the daily, and the shortages of masks and sanitation supplies due to bulk-buying became a huge point of worry for myself and many others. The real challenge was trying to discern if the problem was real or if fear was driving the seemingly irrational behavior. The sheer volume of news and information flooding WeChat and news outlets made it so difficult to filter through the noise. It’s interesting, but disheartening, to see social dynamics play out in the face of a global pandemic.

Senior year of High School is supposed to be one of the most memorable years of your life. Unfortunately, however, you and your peers aren’t getting to enjoy all that it has to offer. Can you tell us a bit about that? What are the conversations that are happening amongst your friends right now?

As seniors, there was an initial excitement amongst my friends when school authorities announced a delay in reopening, we perceived it as more of an “extended holiday” because we didn’t really understand the gravity of the situation. It wasn’t until we were notified that school had been postponed “indefinitely until further notice” that we realized just how serious COVID-19 was and, with study leave in two months, we faced the possibility of not receiving an official graduation. There were also a lot of discussions and uncertainty surrounding the plausibility of continuing Dulwich’s graduating traditions. Previous commitments and clubs have also been paused, so having to work on projects remotely has also been challenging. Fortunately, with the virus currently controlled in Beijing, we were able to at least hold a small IB art exhibition off-campus to photograph our work and complete the IB Diploma Program. And with the school reopening date set to be Apr 27, we are all very excited to see our friends back at school.

What activities were you most looking forward to this year that have either been postponed or canceled? Prom, graduation ceremony, etc.

Grad trip, the leaver’s assembly, and graduation dinner were definitely among the most highly anticipated. I was also looking forward to ACAMIS football, which would have been one of my last tournaments with collegiate sports being so competitive. As for grad trip, my friends and I had booked our tickets to Japan and Korea back in January, so the discussions we were forced to have about cancellation policies and refunds were very difficult. The whole experience has honestly been an emotional rollercoaster of wishful thinking and consequential disappointments, but we are all holding out hope that graduation will commence as planned in late-May now that we are all going back to school!

Has COVID-19 affected your ability to graduate at all?

I think the situation is less stressful for those of us who plan on going to the US, but when IBO released the cancellation of exams, I was definitely worried about my conditional offers in the UK. Fortunately, universities have been extremely understanding in combating the obstacles presented by this pandemic, and I receive information daily through email and via social media about the means of support available to incoming students.

Has COVID-19 affected your plans for after graduation? If so, how? Were you planning on going abroad for college? Doing a bit of traveling during the Summer? Etc.

I’ve always imagined myself studying in the US, so I remain optimistic that my plans will resume as normal. While I do have safety concerns considering the severity of COVID-19 in the US and reported cases of xenophobia, I am hopeful that the actions taken towards combating these problems will alleviate some of the stress come August. I would love to travel over the summer, but probably only domestically.

Despite all that has happened this year, have you done anything to try and salvage these last few months of your High School experience? Have you and your friends been able to “hang out” on Zoom or FaceTime? Have you made backup plans for a Prom in case it gets officially canceled?

It’s interesting to watch scenarios strictly seen on film unfold in real life. Social distancing has definitely brought our creativity up to a whole new level. NetflixParty is very popular, and so are games like drawful and skribbl.io. I think we’re all very eager to physically be with our friends once restrictions are relaxed, so the backup plans we have so far mainly consist of get-togethers and outdoor picnics where everyone can communicate face-to-face without the restrictions of bad Internet.

Photos: Kristal D.

All international arrivals entering Beijing will now have to complete an additional week of home observation on top of the 14 days of centralized or home quarantine already required for returnees. The deputy secretary-general of the Beijing municipal government announced the new regulations at a press conference on Tuesday, adding that incomers must also designate a ‘health monitoring contact person.’

To be sure, the country’s borders still remain closed to foreigners. Nevertheless, given that 9th and 12th graders will be returning to the classroom next Monday (Apr 27), all of the students and faculty currently stuck abroad will be eager to come back as soon as they’re allowed. Unfortunately however, given the new rules, it will be a full 21 days between landing in Beijing and walking onto campus.

Other than the need to provide daily health checks and the inability to leave the house, the exact requirements for those under home observation were not outlined during the press conference. It was stated however that individual requirements would be communicated to the person via text message, presumably upon the completion of their two-week stint in state quarantine.

As officials reiterated at the end of March, all people who enter the greater Beijing area must undergo quarantine, without exception. Whether returnees are quarantined in a centralized location or at home is dependent on the returnee’s community, their age, or preexisting health conditions.

The change follows a mid-April case in Shuangjing, in which a returnee completed two weeks of quarantine, tested negative for COVID-19 with a nucleic acid test, but fell ill two days after returning home. The returnee then infected three other members of the household and forced over 60 ‘close contacts’ to redo their quarantine. This also resulted in Chaoyang District being classified as a high-risk zone.

Most experts estimate that the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 may incubate in the body for one to 14 days before symptoms appear, averaging an incubation period of five days. However, as the aforementioned returnee shows, the virus may be carried asymptomatically for even longer in some rare cases.

In addition to a growing number of cases in South Korea that have shown patients may not always attain immunity after recovery – a phenomenon that could either be caused by reinfection or from remnants of the virus resulting in false positives – cases like this illustrate just how little we know about the disease, which is why extra precautions are still being taken.

This article first appeared in our sister publication the Beijinger.

Photos: Sarah McCutcheon (via Unsplash)

As the crowds rush outside this time of year to take endless selfies with cherry blossoms and tulips, it may be that we neglect to take in another, lesser-appreciated site of Beijing spring: the city’s lively migrating bird population. Just as the capital’s parks are awash with endless varieties of pink, orange, and yellow flowers, there’s a multitude of wildlife up above to enjoy, if you know where to look.

We hit up the one-man ornithologist behind Birding Beijing, Terry Townshend, to walk us through which birds are gracing Beijing’s skies at the moment as well as where you can get a glimpse.

So grab the family and make your way around Beijing’s parks. Not only will it be fun, but you’ll learn a bit about our precious ecosystem in the process!

Beijing swift (Apus apus pekinensis, 普通楼燕 běijīng yǔyàn)

The Beijing swift has been associated with the capital since it moved in to make its nests in the original city walls in the 1400s. It spends almost all of its life in the air, eating, drinking, and sleeping on the wing, only landing to lay its eggs and feed its young. An incredible traveler, this bird will leave the capital in late July and spend the northern winter in southern Africa before returning the following April, and during that time it will probably remain airborne for nine months!

When? Mid-April until July.
Where? Tiananmen Square, Yonghegong, Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven Park.

Indian cuckoo (Cuculus micropterus, 四声杜鹃 sì shēng dùjuān)

Well known for its four-note song “one more bottle,” this secretive bird arrives in mid-May and sings incessantly, sometimes at night, until departing for South Asia in July or August. In typical cuckoo fashion, it does not make its own nest, but instead lays its eggs in the nests of other birds and leaves the ‘foster parents’ to raise its young. A favorite host is the resident azure-winged magpie.

When? Mid-May until September.
Where? Any urban park or large garden with mature trees. Often sings at night.

White wagtail (Motacilla alba, 白鹡鸰 bái jí líng)

This charismatic bird is often seen running along the ground, wagging its tail furiously as it catches insects. Often associated with water, it is a summer visitor to the capital and has a sparrow-like “chirp” call.

When? Late March and April until September or October.
Where? Anywhere with water, such as park lakes and rivers.

Yellow bittern (Ixobrychus sinensis, 黄苇鳽 huángwěijiān)

The size of a small heron, this secretive bird arrives in late May when its favorite habitat – reedbeds – have grown high enough for them to hide. Often seen perched low down in reeds waiting patiently for an unsuspecting fish to swim too close. Also seen flying low over reeds when commuting from its nest to feeding grounds.

When? Late May to September.
Where? Olympic Forest Park, Agricultural Exhibition Center Park.

Red-flanked bluetail (Tarsiger cyanurus, 红胁蓝尾鸲 hóng xié lán wěi qú)

The size of a European robin, this attractive bird is a migrant in Beijing, passing through in April and again in September and October, on its way to and from breeding grounds in Siberia. The males (above left) and females are often seen perching low down in trees and scrubs with regular forays to the ground to catch insects, wagging their tails downwards.

When? April and again in September and October.
Where? Any park or large garden or even residential compounds.

Light-vented bulbul (Pycnonotus sinensis, 白头鹎 báitóu bēi)

A common resident in Beijing in urban areas, but most obvious in spring when it sings and calls frequently. You can usually find the bulbul perched high in trees to feed on fruit, insects, or even nectar from blossoming flowers. The size of a small thrush.

When? All year but especially prominent in March and April.
Where? Any park, garden, or area with shrubs and trees.

Oriental scops owl (Otus sunia, 红角鸮 hóng jué xiāo)

Owls migrate? Yes, this tiny owl arrives in Beijing in mid-April and a few pairs stay to breed in the larger parks and university campuses. Listen for its call at dusk and dawn and, if you are lucky, maybe you can spot one roosting during the day.

When? Mid-April to September.
Where? University campuses or larger parks such as Yuanmingyuan or Summer Palace.

Daurian redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus, 北红尾鸲 běi hóng wěi qú)

The daurian redstart is a summer visitor that breeds in the hills and mountains around Beijing. They can be seen in parks and gardens in spring and autumn as they make their way to and from their breeding grounds. The male (above left) and female look different but behave in the same way – often perching low in a tree or bush and bouncing down to the ground to collect insects, quivering their tails.

When? April to October, occasionally in winter, too.
Where? Parks, gardens and, in summer, the hills and mountains around Beijing.

You can read more about Beijing’s vast and varied birdlife via Birding Beijing’s website or Twitter feed.

This article originally appeared on our sister site the Beijinger.

Photos: courtesy of Birding Beijing

With the proliferation of YouTube tutorials and music producing software available online, coupled with platforms such as Bandcamp, Soundcloud, and QQ, it’s becoming increasingly easier for young people to share their voice with the world, and to let their vision flourish. Whereas kids used to toil away in their bedrooms or garage, plucking at a guitar and hoping to be discovered by a small cohort of kingmakers and gatekeepers otherwise known as Major Label Executivess, the 21st century is ripe for an egalitarian artistic landscape.

One budding musician who’s taking full advantage of the digital music world is William Z, aka Wandering Scholar who will turn 19 this May. Originally from Zhengzhou, Henan. William has been living in Beijing for four years and is currently a student at Harrow Beijing (HBJ). Having just released his second single, “Vibing, a follow-up to “Stairs/Fears” which dropped late last year, I sat down with William to talk about what pushes him to make music, and how it helps him make sense of the world.

Tell us about the first time that music truly spoke to you, or affected you in that deep and visceral way music lovers experience?

To be honest, I can’t remember the very first time. But I do recall one particular experience that had a great impact on me. I was around 13-years-old and was sitting on a swing in the playground where we lived listening to some instrumental music on my phone. It was night time. The music filled my mind, transporting me to another world that is quite beautiful. I love that music can take me on surreal journeys through space and time to different places and bring me amazing, out-of-this-world feelings.

What is your musical background? Did you start off by producing beats on the computer, or were you trained on other, more ‘classical’ instruments?

I have very little formal training in music. When I was in primary school, I was inspired and motivated to learn to play the traditional Chinese bamboo flute. Later, while in middle school, I became interested in the piano. I took a few lessons and then quit so that I can practice on my own, the kind of music that spoke to my heart. I would download the music score, listen to the music and then try to master the pieces. Though I didn’t get far in learning to play the bamboo flute and the piano, I still love both instruments and hope to pick them up again and master them in the future.

Deep down inside, I have always wished I could create my own music. Not having a solid foundation in music training was a major keep back for a long time. It was only last summer that I discovered there are all sorts of fantastic music-making software out there that make it possible for anyone to make music. I was very excited and went on YouTube to learn how to use them. However, the learning curve was much steeper than I expected, so I’m still improving my skills. But because there are many platforms on which I’m able to hire music composers to help me make professional arrangements with my directing, I could still move forward with making my music.

What does hip-hop mean to you and who are some of your biggest influences?

My taste in music varies, with hip-hop being one of my favorite genres. The vibe I get from the different styles and artists are varied. Some songs make me feel hyped up and some would make me feel like chilling and being laid back.

Wandering Scholar is a really cool name that evokes images of philosophers shuffling around dusty cities, dispensing wisdom across the ancient world. How did you come up with it?

I had similar images in my mind when I created this name.  I came up with this name about three years ago. The meaning behind this name links to what I want to be and what I want to do. I want to accomplish a lot of things in diverse areas. For example, I want to make movies, write novels, create music, perhaps even dabble in business. Therefore, I chose the word “wandering” as I will be traveling to different “places” in this “long journey”. In my opinion, a scholar isn’t just someone who has gathered a lot of knowledge in the classroom only. A scholar is someone who can go out and explore, experience, and create things in the world, which is how I would like to be.

Could you tell us a little bit about how you approach songwriting? The eternal question, right? What came first, the lyrics or the music?

Usually, I am motivated to create a song when I want to express some feelings, ideas or preserve something, which could be anything like my memories and experiences. In terms of the order, the music always comes first and then the lyrics. Sometimes, I would be inspired to make a song about something. My first step would be to create a great melody for it, then write the lyrics. But most of the time, the melodies reach out to me first. For example, a great melody might suddenly come to my mind when I am walking my dog. That’s why I always carry my phone, so I could record these ideas before they slip away. I usually record me humming the melody.

Your song “Stairs/Fears” juxtaposes lyrics about hope and optimism with a more melancholic overture. As if to say, positivity is possible in this world, but it’s tenuous or fleeting, something we have to work for. The name itself suggests that as we ascend the staircase to self-actualization, we’ll consistently be met with fear and self-doubt. Or as you say, “Waiting in the dark for the bright light”. Can you talk a little more about that?

You are right. We have to work toward positivity and for the great things that we want in life. I chose the word “stairs” to represent the process and effort that I must make in my pursuit of the things that I want. Actually, it symbolizes the path that everyone has to take in order to reach their goals. Traveling the path alone, in itself, requires effort and endurance, but there will be other things along the way that pose challenges, which, if you don’t deal with in the proper way, might eventually prevent you from reaching your goals. Not knowing what to expect and the uncertainties about one’s capability to handle the unexpected in the right way are the things that usually create fear in people’s minds as they reach for success. Personally, I am not worried about the challenges that I’m going to face. I am afraid of being changed by things and becoming someone who is more focused on materialistic things. I am also afraid of losing my creative and adventurous spirit which I feel are the driving forces that would help accomplish my success. You know how people lose their dreams when they grow up? I don’t want to become someone who settles for less than I hope to achieve, and pretend that I don’t mind that I didn’t attain my goals. That’s some of the hidden meaning in the lyrics:

“Pretending you don’t care / Looking at elsewhere / Suddenly then you hear / Someone crying oh dear, that is my fear”

This was the first piece of music that I’ve ever created,  I wanted to write down my hope, expectations, and my fears as I took the first step on this creative path. I think this theme will exist in some of my other songs. Because I hope to reach different places/levels in the future and I would have this to look back at as a starting point. By then, I might be answering the questions that I asked myself in “Stairs/Fears” and ask more questions in these songs.

Listen to Stairs/Fears

Following up on the last question, where do you draw inspiration from when you’re writing a song? Not only musical inspiration, but also from the world around you? What do you hope your listeners take away from your music?

I write about things that are important and meaningful to me, that is after creating the melodies and having the beats made. I don’t make music for making music’s sake or try to find things to write about. I make music only when I want to express something that’s on my mind and are usually things born out of my experiences. For example, I decided to write the song “Vibing” because I found myself reminiscing about, and missing the time when my family went on a trip to The Bahamas when I was a kid. We vacationed at the Atlantis which is one of the best holidays I ever had.

Listen to “Vibing”

What does Wandering Scholar have planned for the future?

I plan to make an R&B song for my next release. In the future, I would love to make Disney-style music like “I See The Light”, and instrumental music as they have always had a big impact on me.

Photos: Courtesy of William Z.

After months of waiting and wondering when schools would reopen, the Beijing Municipal Education Commission finally announced today that high school seniors students will be able to return to school on Monday, April 27 with 9th grade students to follow on May 11. The reason that these grades have been selected to return to school first is due to the high school entrance exams in the Chinese public school system. How this will affect international schools whose middle school programs end at grade 8 has yet to be determined.

Although COVID-19 had begun to rear its head prior to Chinese New Year (CNY), no one could have anticipated the disruption it would cause to every facet of daily life, a disruption that reached deep into the start of the Spring 2020 semester.

Over the following weeks and months, more and more schools in provinces all over the country began opening their doors, albeit in batches by grade level. This was down to a directive issued by China’s Ministry of Education (MOE) on Feb 28 which said that schools should stagger their opening by grade level in an effort to minimize the risk of an outbreak in any one school.

As such, students in 9th and 12th grades have routinely started first, with other high school and middle school grades generally returning a week after, followed by elementary schools, kindergartens, and preschools. The last of which still hasn’t seen a return date in any of China’s territories. Likewise, in a similar directive, it was stated that colleges, universities, and after school training centers would be the last to reopen.

As each school prepared to welcome back students and staff, they were obliged to follow 25 guidelines laid out by the State Council’s Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism Against COVID-19 on Feb 25.

The guidelines required everything from setting up temporary isolation areas for anyone who shows COVID-19 symptoms to sanitation and ventilation protocols. This was in addition to the mandatory 14-day quarantine period all families and faculty had to abide by, as well as submitting daily health reports to supervising authorities in the lead up to the school’s reopening. And if anyone thought they’d be returning to school as they knew it, they were wrong, as large group activities were banned and lunch time had to be held in shifts to prevent crowds from gathering in the cafeterias and school yards.

While the news of Beijing’s youth returning to campus will be celebrated by students, parents, and teachers alike, the unfortunate reality is that many families and school personnel are still stuck overseas, unable to return due to border restrictions. Although this issue is yet to be addressed by the Municipal Education Commission, any return to onsite learning will have to take into account those who are unable to be physically present in the classroom.

At least one international school in Beijing has indicated they will continue to support online learning for the duration of the semester. When class does come back into session, they will most likely rearrange classes into in-person and online sections, and use substitutes where necessary.

Either way, however, the knowledge that life in Beijing — as we know and love it — is somewhere to be found on the not-so-distant horizon is enough to give everyone a much-needed sigh of relief.

Souce:Beijing Municipal Education Commission
Photos: thechildrenstrust.org

Many of us would agree that our Senior year of High School was one of the most memorable years of our life. Between graduation, college acceptance letters, Prom, and the knowledge that it’s the last year spent in your hometown (and parents’ house no less), it’s a time that we both never want to end, and can’t get past soon enough. Unfortunately, for the class of 2020, most of these traditions were devastated by COVID-19. In this series, we chat with Seniors to find out the extent of the impact to their final year of High School and what they’ve done to salvage those memories.

Meet Jennifer Z.! Jennifer Z. was born in China but spent the majority of her childhood in Australia. She’s currently a Year 13 student at Dulwich College Beijing (DCB).

Can you briefly walk us through how COVID-19 has evolved for you, personally? What were your initial thoughts? At what point did you realize the devastation and disruption it was causing? How do you currently feel?

The first time I saw a report on COVID-19, I was about to fly out for Chinese New Year. During the next week of festivities, the whole thing completely slipped out of my mind. When I got back to Beijing, it was surreal to turn on the TV and see that it was now a nationwide pandemic. It seems like everything escalated all at once after that: school getting canceled, theaters and malls shutting down, all large public meetings being banned. Living in Beijing right now feels a little like inhabiting a ghost town.

Senior year of High School is supposed to be one of the most memorable years of your life. Unfortunately, however, you and your peers aren’t getting to enjoy all that it has to offer. Can you tell us a bit about that? What are the conversations that are happening amongst your friends right now?

Although everyone’s doing our best to stay positive, it’s definitely hard not to feel like we’re missing out sometimes. Leavers’ assembly, grad trip, the last day of high school, these are all supposed to be major milestones in our lives, and knowing that we’ll never get to experience them in the way other classes have experienced them is disheartening. Nevertheless, the school is still planning ways we can celebrate under our current circumstances. We’re incredibly lucky to still be safe and to have methods like WeChat/FaceTime to communicate with each other.

What activities were you most looking forward to this year that have either been postponed or canceled? 

Above anything, I was looking forward to my grad trip. My friends and I were planning to take a two-week trip to Korea and Japan, and before the outbreak we’d sketched out an itinerary and even started booking accommodation. Sadly, all that has been put on hold due to the outbreak.

Has COVID-19 affected your ability to graduate at all?

Luckily, the impact has been quite minimal. Although IB May exams have been canceled, the IBO has been very supportive with ensuring that students still receive a diploma through a thorough grading process. Colleges have also shown a commendable amount of understanding during this time, sending out constant updates and resources for mental health support to prospective students.

Has COVID-19 affected your plans for after graduation? If so, how? 

Like many of my peers, I’ve been planning to go to the States for college for as long as I can remember. With the recent spread of the virus across the US, however, it’s disheartening to turn on the news every day and see escalating incidences of xenophobia and discrimination against Asian-Americans abroad. Of course, there’s also the unresolved question of whether we can get a student visa in time for the start of the Fall semester. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that things will be better by September!

Despite all that has happened this year, have you done anything to try and salvage these last few months of your High School experience?

Of course! Over the last few weeks, I’ve participated in and heard about some truly creative online hangouts, from virtual brunch to WeChat game nights to a group baking competition held over video call. It’s funny how before the pandemic, we were always told off for using social media too much, but now that everyone’s in quarantine, our digital addiction is what’s keeping us sane.

Photos: Courtesy of Jennifer Z.

The Easter Bunny has been hard at work, hopping around Beijing and dropping off deals and goodies at all of your local favorites. From brunch to afternoon tea, and chocolate to burgers, there’s enough here to ensure that your entire weekend is stuffed like an Easter egg.

Comptoirs de France special COVID-19 chocolate Easter Bunnies

Dine-in and Events

Frasca at The Opposite House

Take full advantage of an Easter set menu by Frasca at The Opposite House, including a selection of cold cuts as starter with traditional sweet Italian Easter bread, an Easter consommé soup filled with nutmeg Parmigiano and chicken bites, a homemade Swiss chard ravioli in butter sauce, a choice of roasted baby lamb Sardinian style or Patagonian tooth fish fillet marinated in Saba grape must wine as the main course. End the meal with a delicious Napolitano style ricotta candied fruit cake and not to miss the Easter chocolate egg! All ages. RMB 298/person. Additional RMB 188 per person for Free-flow Italian bubbles. 12pm-2pm & 6pm-9pm Apr 12-13. No. 11 Sanlitun Road. 6410-5210. frasca@theoppositehouse.com

Kempinski Hotel Beijing Lufthansa Center

All-You-Can-Eat Brunch at Signature’s Restaurant

Enjoy an All-You-Can-Eat Brunch on Easter Sunday at Kempinski Beijing’s Signature’s Restaurant including a la carte dishes, appetizers and salads, main courses, festive desserts, and even an egg hunt. RMB 288 gets you the whole spread with free-flow soft drinks or RMB 388 for free-flow beer and wine. All ages. RMB 288-388. Apr 12. 11.30am-3.30pm. Kempinski Hotel Beijing Lufthansa Center. 50 Liangmaqiao Rd. Chaoyang District.

Burger Box

Take a break from all the chocolate and sweets with Burger Box’s buy-one-get-one-free deal on their mouthwatering Stupid Egg Burger this Saturday and Sunday. Available for dine-in only. RMB 48. 10.30am-5.30pm. 1/F, Nali Patio, 81 Sanlitun Beijie, Chaoyang District.

InterContinental Beijing Sanlitun

Indulge in a special Easter Brunch all weekend at InterContinental’s Char Bar & Grill or Top Tapas. A 3-course meal runs RMB 258/person, or add another course for RMB 288/person. RMB 68 gets you free-flow soft drinks, coffee, and tea, whereas RMB 108 gets all of the above as well as bubbles. To reserve a spot, scan the QR code on the poster below. All ages. Prices vary. Apr 11-13. 11.30am-3pm. 3/F No. 1 South Sanlitun Road, Chaoyang District.

The Peninsula Hotel

Bask in the glow of Easter with an afternoon tea set at The Peninsula Hotel, and dine on delicate treats such as white chocolate mango pudding, tradition and raisin scones, and crab and avocado salad in a sesame basket. To book your spot, scan the WeChat Mini Program below. All ages. RMB 248- RMB 598. Apr 10-12. No. 8 Jinyu Hutong. 

Xian at East Hotel

Xian is cooking up a special Easter set lunch menu this weekend that includes a main course, garden salad, and festive dessert. What’s more, diners also get to enjoy free-flow soft drinks, Xian Lager, Tsingtao beer, and house wine at no extra charge. All ages. RMB 198. Apr 11-12. 11am-3pm. For reservations call +8610 8414 9810. Walk-ins are also welcome. No. 22 Jiuxianqiao Rd, Chaoyang District.

Sweets and Treats

Comptoirs de France

Whether it’s dark, milk, or white chocolate you’re after, Comptoirs de France has you covered! Browse their extensive catalog of handmade goodies by scanning the QR code on the poster below, and then swing by one of their many locations across Beijing to pick up your favorite. They’ve got hens, bunnies, eggs, and more to satisfy those Springy cravings. Prices and locations vary.

Kempinski Hotel Beijing Lufthansa Center

Gourmet Easter Chocolates at Kempi Deli

Various delicious sweets in the shape of your favorite Easter icons are available at Kempi Deli. Delectable gourmet chocolate eggs are sure to be a hit with the whole family. Prices vary. Daily 8am – 8pm. Kempinski Hotel Beijing Lufthansa Center. 50 Liangmaqiao Rd. Chaoyang District.

Jiangmaitang (JMT)

JMT has three Easter chocolate boxes which include various confections such as rainbow ganache and praline eggs, hens, rabbits, and dinosaur eggs for the kids. RMB 45 – RMB 226. 9am-4pm. 6 Chaowai Street, Central Park, Tower 20, #102, Yong’anli.

The Bake Shop

On the lighter and more savory side, The Bake Shop will be baking up some steamy hot cross buns. To place an order, scan the WeChat or Mini Program below. Prices vary. 10am-5pm. 63 Baochao Hutong, Dongcheng District. (located inside The Orchid Hotel).

Delivery

Sherpa’s

In addition to the various deals being offered by Sherpa’s partner restaurants (see flyer below), the favored expat delivery service will also be giving away a little token of Easter appreciation in the form of an Easter egg bottle opener.

Photos: Pixabay, Courtesy of the organizers

Despite how alarming the situation seemed at the onset of China’s COVID-19 outbreak, it was also quickly contained. In expat circles, it seemed no one personally knew of anyone who was officially diagnosed, or had died from the virus. However, that has since changed with the pandemic spreading rapidly across the globe. COVID-19 is no longer an obscure new strain of pneumonia whose origins are still in dispute. Rather, it’s a debilitating disease responsible for taking down people as high up as the British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, and the first ladies of Spain and Canada.

Countries like America, Spain, and Italy have seen an exponential surge in numbers, which has uncovered a new reality for expats in Beijing. Now, the degrees of separation between those with the virus and those without have been massively reduced, with people seeing their friends and family back home stricken down.

While we are all trying to avoid contracting or unknowingly spreading COVID-19, the question lingers in our minds. What does it truly feel like to have COVID-19, and is it as horrible as the accounts say?

A Beijing based international teacher who requested anonymity shares his experience with what he believes to be COVID-19, and what you might look out for if you find yourself in a similar position.

This interview has been edited for clarity and concision.

Disclaimer: All the information provided is based on the teacher’s personal opinion/experience and not a result of medical testing. We would urge you to seek medical advice if you suspect having contracted COVID-19 or any other serious illness.

Give us a bit of a timeline. When did you leave China, where did you go and when did you return?

Spring Festival was all I could think about. I’m an English teacher and like many expat teachers in China, I had a pretty sizable holiday break for Spring Festival. I stayed in Beijing for part of it, but did take a late flight out of the city. My flight was booked for Bangkok, Thailand on Jan 28, and everything went fine on my flight out. As far as I can remember I hadn’t heard about COVID-19 yet. There may have been some rumblings, but I honestly don’t recall. 

It was only after landing in Thailand that news started to spread. Then my coworkers began messaging me every day soon after. I was only supposed to be in Thailand for one week, with the intent to return on Feb 2. However, while in Thailand, my return flight, a Chinese Airline flight, was canceled.

Thankfully, my arrival airline, which was not linked to China, allowed me to book a second flight back to Beijing. I was on the phone with the airline the entire time after the booking, checking in, making certain my second flight would not be canceled. It wasn’t, and I landed back in Beijing on Feb 8. 

I got through customs fairly easily and immediately went to my apartment where I quarantined for two weeks.

How soon after your return did you feel the onset of symptoms?

I went the entire two weeks in quarantine, from Feb 8 to Feb 22, and did not display a single symptom. It was a relief getting through those first two weeks. I was going stir crazy. To celebrate having finished my two weeks, I treated myself to dinner. I went to Sanlitun, taking the proper measures to protect myself, face mask, social distancing, and hand sanitizer. After those two weeks, I loosened up a bit with going outside, but only just a little. After the 22nd, I stayed in my apartment most of the week, but treated myself to a Sunday reprieve called “Sunday Funday”, dinner in Sanlitun. 

This went on for a couple of weeks. 

Then on Wednesday, Mar 11, I felt what I suspect to be my first symptoms. 

What were the symptoms?

If I contracted the virus, my symptoms would have been considered mild to moderate. At first, I thought it might be a cold. I had a little bit of a runny nose to start, but we’re talking barely noticeable. I went to bed on Feb 11 feeling a little off, but honestly, I wasn’t concerned. 

When I woke on the 12th, however, that all changed. I felt strange. Best I can describe it was as a case of the “yucks”. It was a strange sickness I had never felt before. It felt mild at first, day one into day two, but suddenly almost out of nowhere, I felt struck down. I couldn’t put a label on it. It didn’t feel like a cold or a flu, but that’s the best I could describe it as. 

I took DayQuil and NyQuil the first few days, but they provided me very little in the way of comfort. I checked my temperature regularly, but it didn’t break over 37c. It was a mix of hot and cold flashes. I’d wear a sweater with the heat cranking and get ridiculously hot. Then I’d switch off the heat, lose the sweater, and become frigidly cold. I couldn’t stay comfortable and the whole time I felt like my skin was on fire. 

The best I can describe this sensation is “fire needles”. I felt like I was being stuck with fire needles under my skin but with no fever. It was the absolute strangest thing. 

The oddity in all this is that I didn’t have a conventional dry cough or a fever. I had malaise, fatigue, hot flashes, cold flashes, heaviness in my chest, shortness of breath, and a general uncomfortableness in my own body. 

The first wave lasted for a little over a week and then the symptoms dropped substantially. There were a couple of days I thought it was over. 

Then around Mar 20, I felt struck down again. This time, the symptoms didn’t feel like the flu at all. This time, I struggled with headaches and that same yuck feeling I described, fire needles and all. One day after the 20th was pretty tough. I remember checking my temperature every hour on the hour. I felt really bad, but I kept telling myself that it was mild in comparison to what I was hearing about in the news. People were on ventilators, fighting for their lives. I never felt as though I was dying. I just felt god awful with no end in sight. I went 23 days feeling like absolute garbage. Once I carried over into the third week, I started to worry. Everything I had read from the news, COVID-19 usually left your system after ten to 14 days. 

It was over 20 days and I still felt awful. The only reassuring thing about all of it was that it was “manageable”. I felt terrible, sure, but it didn’t feel life-threatening.

How did the infection progress and what sort of symptoms did you continue to feel or what symptoms escalated in intensity?

I am a generally healthy person. I go to the gym three times a week. I don’t smoke and I don’t drink heavily. Once I got sick, I didn’t leave my bed for the most part. 

I drank juice and water every day. I took men’s vitamins every morning and used aspirin for pain. I read that ibuprofen may or may not make things worse, so I didn’t chance it. One thing that helped a lot for me was saline nose spray. I used it to keep my airways clear and it helped me to breathe. Cool showers helped as well. I’d feel bad and then take a shower. Almost immediately, I’d feel a drop in the symptoms.

They always came back, but I would have a mild reprieve after taking a shower. I took two, sometimes three showers in a day just to fight off the general discomfort. This went on for three weeks. Then, thankfully, on Mar 23, a Thursday afternoon, I felt better. It was like a switch went off and something clicked. The needles were gone and I felt like a human again. However, I still suffered from fatigue and a bit of dizziness. 

On Saturday, the 25th, I went out for some fresh air and felt light-headed. Honestly, even now, I feel drained. I don’t feel sick. I just don’t feel fully recovered. I feel as though my body went through the wringer, a whole ordeal. I’m still taking it easy, one day at a time, but each day it gets easier and easier.

What did you do to combat the symptoms and try to regain your health?

I called my doctor during my sickness. I go to a private medical clinic and was informed that there were no COVID-19 test kits at my clinic, and if I were to go to any other hospitals, there were very few kits there as well. The likelihood of me getting tested was extremely low. I was told to stay at home and monitor my symptoms. I did not have a fever. Nor I did have a conventional dry cough, despite the heaviness in my chest. If I’d had a fever or couldn’t breath at all, I would have gone to the emergency room. 

Thankfully, that never came to pass. 

I simply quarantined a second time, three weeks of not leaving my apartment. It was difficult but it was the right thing for me, and the safest way not to spread the virus.  

Before you got the infection, what sort of misconception or misinformation did you have about the virus and how it might be spread/transmitted?

I checked the news daily, reports on the virus. I watched some informative videos and visited reputable medical websites with helpful information. I tried to steer clear of bad news on the virus, deaths especially. That wasn’t going to help my situation. I did the best I could to take one day at a time and to not panic. I monitored my symptoms throughout the day and did things that kept my mind occupied. I noticed that if I watched TV or delved into a hobby, it made me forget about the sickness for a time. 

What advice would you give the Beijing population and the rest of the world on how to best avoid this and take care of themselves?

The best advice I can give is “Do Not Panic”. Try to stay calm. I kept telling myself not to get worked up and to take calming breathes any time I felt rattled. Don’t ignore your symptoms though. Don’t be afraid to call your doctor. You can set up appointments over the phone. I didn’t leave my apartment but I was in regular contact with the doctor. 

Uncertainty can cause a lot of stress. 

Try to get answers from experienced medical professionals for your specific case. One thing I learned is that not all symptoms are the same and everyone reacts differently to the virus.

Has this experience dampened your desire to travel or interact with the rest of the general public?

Even after being sick, my outlook on life hasn’t changed. I want, like all people, to get back to a sense of normalcy. I want to travel again, to live my life the way it was before I got sick. I realize we are all in it for the long haul, but that hasn’t stopped me from wanting to go out and enjoy life. My outlook remains the same. 

Any words of hope and encouragement for worried parents in Beijing and the rest of the world?

Words of advice: Stay Calm. Don’t panic. Contracting the virus does not mean you are going to die. Mild to moderate cases are manageable. Staying calm is the best anyone can do in this situation. Be considerate. If you are sick, contact your doctor ASAP, and do everything in your power not to spread it to anyone else. Quarantines do work. Please be safe and do not panic.   

Photos: Unsplash