As the COVID-19 Saga continues to draw out, families and teachers have committed to staying safe and infection-free, much to the detriment of their social and professional lives. Fortunately, Beijing expats are a tough bunch. In this series, we asked folks to share their stories of being stirred, but ultimately not shaken, by current events.

Through the eyes of Charlie L. and her family, Beijing is an old friend. Living in Beijing since 2008, she is an avid sports player, and has grown used to the sights and sounds of the place she calls home. But with COVID-19 now in full flight, she and her family are confined to the walls of their home. Although the development of the Coronavirus has prompted her to remain at home, she longs to be able to socialize with society again.

Charlie L.

Are you a Beijing Oldie or Newbie?

I am a Beijing Oldie. I’m originally from Hong Kong, and I have lived here since 2008.

What do you do in Beijing?

I attend school here in Beijing, I occasionally visit famous sites and landmarks. I kind of just live like a normal citizen in Beijing.

When you first heard about the outbreak, did you take it seriously or did you take it with a grain of salt?

I didn’t really take it seriously at first, but my parents did, since they experienced a similar situation during their childhood, so I was forced to take extra precautions.

Would you say that you have cabin fever? If so, how has it manifested itself?

I do not have cabin fever. The place I feel safest in is my apartment, I don’t mind staying inside my home since I have a lot of things to do in my apartment. E-learning has taken up a lot of time, and during my free time, I write songs among other things.

How has this outbreak changed your school-life daily routine?

Because of e-Learning, all my work and classes are on my computer, school is now attended at home and I no longer need to get dressed in my uniform and wake up two hours before 8am. I just need to wake up and walk to my desk.

What do you most miss about Beijing BC (Before Coronavirus)?

I miss being able to be around other people, I miss playing volleyball or badminton, being able to go to cafes and shops without worrying about being infected. But what I miss most is being able to go out without wearing masks, using hand sanitizer every hour and doing other precautions.

A few scenes from Charlie L.’s life in quarantine

What have you discovered about yourself during this time? Have you discovered new things that bother you or phobias that you never knew you had?

I discovered that I hate having an untidy room, especially my workspace. I have always been fairly organized with my room, but now that I’m constantly in it, I start to notice small details like dust on the floor, random hair ties lying around, and it annoys me so I put it back to where it’s supposed to be. I guess you could say that I have become hyperaware of my surroundings.

Once all this is over, what do you plan on doing? What do you most look forward to going back to?

When this is over, I really look forward to socializing again, whether that’s being in a classroom with classmates and teachers, or going out with friends for lunch, I just want to be around people again.

Gabriel Low is a year 7 student from Yew Chung International School Beijing (YCIS Beijing). Originally from Singapore, he has lived in Beijing since 2015. He enjoys playing football, watching movies, and listening to music. He is currently contributing to beijingkids as a student correspondent. 

Photos: Courtesy of Charlie L., Gabriel Low

The outbreak of COVID-19 has now affected 56 countries and territories around the world. This has also forced schools around China to remain closed until further notice, with classes scattered around the globe, and students stuck in different time zones and environments.

To make up for the closure of schools, many of them have adopted an e-learning system, where students and teachers conduct live lessons through video conferences. Over the past few weeks, students and teachers alike have been trying to figure out the knacks of this whole e-learning system, and to settle down wherever they are in the world. 

So, to find out more about how lessons are going for students, I asked a few of my peers from the Yew Chung International School Beijing (YCIS Beijing). 

When asked about her e-learning experience, Year 9 student, Sofia D. said, “I am currently enjoying Chinese, art, and science. I think the most challenging class is PE and drama classes. PE is very hard for me because we need to exercise from home, and a lot of us are in uncomfortable places to be exercising.” 

“Classes I am enjoying are math and G100, they both make learning great fun and give you a chance to step away from your devices,” says Emil D., Year 7, when asked which classes he has been enjoying. ”But without actually seeing a teacher, it’s very hard, especially when you’re stuck on a task.”

Emil D. is currently in Germany, seven hours behind local Beijing time. “I don’t really like being seven hours behind local time, just because I can’t attend live lessons. Being able to attend live lessons would make it easier since you have a teacher to ask questions.” 

Working from South Korea, which is one hour ahead of local time, Subin C., Year 7, had a similar take. “I had some challenges when I started e-learning because of the time difference, but eventually I got used to it.”

Although the use of e-learning has helped students stay up to date with their learning, it often involves looking at the computer for long periods of time. This can lead to negative effects on students’ health in the long run.  

Bryan C., Year 7, is one such student who has experienced these negative effects. “I feel tired every day because I’m staring too long at the computer, and my appetite has gone down recently as well.” As Bryan C. is currently in Beijing, it means very little time outside, and ultimately being confined within the house. 

As the number of COVID-19 cases increase worldwide, it is still unclear when schools can reopen. What’s more, the virus is aggressively urging more and more schools around the world to close for the safety of the students. As it seems for now, we may still be using the e-learning system for a while.

Gabriel Low is a year 7 student from Yew Chung International School Beijing (YCIS Beijing). Originally from Singapore, he has lived in Beijing since 2015. He enjoys playing football, watching movies, and listening to music. He is currently contributing to beijingkids as a student correspondent. 

Photos: Emma Matthews Digital Content Production via Unsplash, Gabriel Low