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Quarantine after one long day of travel to China

Boarding the flight required filling out a China customs app and showing our green health code which made us eligible to fly. We showed them often…. The hardest part of the flight was keeping a mask on for 24 hours. We could take it off to eat and drink but not for long. The key is to change masks often for comfort. There were empty seats so the crew was nice in letting us move for more space. The food was good and I was able to get vegetarian. Add there was wine…. And I was able to lay down across seats to sleep. I appreciate it now that I’m 57 and my legs swell when I sit for so long even with compression socks.

It took 14 hours to get from Dallas to Seoul. It took a little longer than normal as the Russia-Ukraine war has changed the flight patterns to avoid Russian air space. As China covid rules even apply to flight crew, many US crews cannot enter China without giving up weeks for quarantine. We stopped in Seoul only to change crews and we were not allowed off the plane. Three hours later we landed in Shanghai.

The first thing we saw at the gate were the quarantine personnel waiting to deplane everyone aboard. We grabbed our carry-on and walked out the gate.

I have to give the Chinese credit for organization and mobilization. International flights arrive in an area separate from the rest of the airport. It was a long walk which was welcome after being seated for so long. We walked through temperature scanners, people checking passports and assigning a bar code for us to be scanned throughout the process, COVID test (both throat and nose), checking passports and customs codes again…. After getting our checked bags we were then placed in holding areas based upon where we live in China. This makes it easier to move people to the next steps. We also made sure all of us were in the same bus to go to the same quarantine facility.

Following a worker in the final step at the airport to a bus that will take us to the quarantine facility.

Buses lined up to take passengers to quarantine.

It is one thing to self-quarantine and another to be part of centralized quarantine. To self quarantine you may still go get supplies and live with those in a household. Centralized quarantine means behind a door in a small room with meals brought to you, twice daily temperature checks, and COVID testing every three days. You cannot leave the room.

More paperwork and paying 4200 rmb ($662.51) for the 2 week stay and then I was taken to my room. All luggage was sprayed with a bleach solution even though it has been shown you don’t get COVID from objects. This is the Songzhi apartment hotel that used to house workers for the Songz automobile air conditioning company. Bare basic accommodations….

Some basic supplies in the room. Toiletries, laundry detergent, TP, bleach tablets for the bathroom…

Very. small. room. The wide angle shot makes it look bigger. To be able to have space to workout I pushed the bed against the wall. The bed is pieces of wood slats for a foundation and a mattress less than an inch thick. I folded it and the comforter to lay on. I have a run but warm blanket I take with me on airplanes Good thing I don’t roll much at night as I’m sleeping on an area the size of a sleeping bag.

That white chair is the only seating in the room besides the bed. The bar area is the only place to eat and work.

I unpacked necessities and made a little coffee bar. I have the mug I bought from Jess Greene, an amazing artist. I also have the other mug I won in the Resolution run race when I ran with Michele Belak. The kettle came with the room. I planned to make sure I have my coffee.

We can get some deliveries but cannot order meals from outside. I did bring some oatmeal and almonds for snacks.

The hallways are also sanitized with bleach several times a day. Trash can be set out at different times of the day for collection.

Food overall is pretty good. Even if it is not vegetarian there are so many veggies I can skip the meat. It is amazing how hungry you become when you hear the cart roll down the hall.

Starting the next morning after we arrived we were still teaching online which helped the days go by. It is definitely a relief to not have to teach in the middle of the night.

The weekends will be the hardest when there is nothing to break up the time. I have workouts and stretches planned throughout. I also saved books to read and computer files to sort. Wifi is pretty decent except at night. My school sent a couple different extra wifi options which help. In four days I have watched the Loki and Hawkeye avenger series… I also have West Side Story on my laptop but if I watch it anymore I will break out into song as I watch!

My school created a wechat group with support people from the school. Part of their job is to be available with translation help including the apps we need to go from Shanghai to Guangzhou. They were able to help us get supplies we need and even talk to my health office so I can do my third week of quarantine in my apartment!

Over half the people in this chat are support people

They even sent this card to keep track of quarantine days with a stamp of a ram, the school mascot.

I also brought this diffuser Becca gave me that I had not yet taken back to China. With some Patchouli oil, it helps to humidify and scent the air.

Now to keep to a schedule I drafted to make it through the days. I must confess that there are days I wonder why I came back. I almost made the decision to leave China this year. But, I still have a few places yet to visit here and it is a place I have always wanted to be. My school paid a nice bonus to stay and I have another year in a leadership position I would like to finish. The whole process is testing my resolve and this is a fluid situation.

If there is anything we have learned from the pandemic is that things change often and we will adapt. I can come home again in December but I may postpone it until Summer 2023. After all, I stayed longer this time than what was planned. I am also looking at where I would like to be next in the world…

Ahhh….Dallas

We had two flights cancelled in this whole procedure of getting back to China. First the original flight from LA to Guangzhou then a flight from San Francisco to Shanghai were both cancelled. I had looked forward to SF for the weather and opportunity for being outdoors.

But the flight from Dallas to Shanghai was the lucky one. After the Olympics concluded it was only one of two flights allowed to proceed from the US. Of course flying in to Shanghai changes quarantine a bit. Now three weeks will be spent in a quarantine hotel (or a central facility if someone near me on the plane tests positive.) After I arrive in Guangzhou I will have another week and more COVID tests.

I was required to be at the city of departure a full 7 days before flying. There we are to health monitor by answering questions and taking temperatures each day for 7 days. We also have to declare our vaccination status and prepare documents such as passport, visa, resident registration, vaccination form, itinerary, test results….. All of these need to be uploaded to an embassy site to be authorized to fly. Now the waiting begins. Without the code you are not allowed on the airplane.

I stayed in a suite so that I could cook food and not go to restaurants. I still had to teach online from 6 pm until around midnight. A walk everyday, swimming in the pool, and running allowed some breaks.

The hotel was in a corporate area so not a lot of thru traffic. There was even a small nature center 2.5 km away. As it is spring it was wonderful to smell pines and juniper and see everything turning green.

For outings we went to Bass Pro Shops to look at fish and did some mall walking. The weather was pretty decent for early March to be outside. One other colleague stayed in the same hotel. It was nice to walk and talk to someone each day.

It was good to see colleagues and students on the screen. This is my student government students and the other advisor Katie. And the days blended together….

One former teacher, now retired, lives not so far away. I stopped to see her and walk around her neighborhood. Ruth Volz used to live in my compound in China as well. Lots to catch up on!

Two days before leaving we had to go to two different testing sites to get a PCR test. Pretty stressful as the whole plane had to do the same thing at the same places. We prepared all the documents to be ready to upload to the consulate site and then wait to get the green code. I was able to get mine pretty quickly but half of our group were still waiting for their last test result before they could start they process. Needless to say it is very stressful.

Finally we showed both codes multiple times and was cleared to board. Next stop, Shanghai and three weeks of quarantine…

More Pittsburgh

With flights delayed, my time in the US was extended another 5 weeks. This caused a bit of anxiety as I have cats in China and am now teaching online synchronously. That means teaching at 7 pm EST and sometimes going until after 3 am. I have great people back in my school helping and often have a break where I can get a nap.

My beautiful cats being taken care of by students who live in my building in Guangzhou.

One of my classes. I asked them to come near the smart TV so we can take a selfie. I miss them so. Seeing them brings me great joy.

I was able to spend more time with Ryan and my brother Ken and sis (SIL). I am grateful for that. It has been some time since I have been back.

Hiking with Ryan on the Rachel Carson trail. Before that I stopped at the Spring Thaw race to say goodbye to my friend Michele. I wanted to run it but I was tired of the cold and I would not be able to do the hike if I had. The hills here are too intense and now at 57 I need to make choices.

The ice crystals are beautiful. We would do to admire them.

Ryan is an amazing cook.
Noodle soup with perfect 6 minute egg, bok choy, tofu, cabbage, and pickled jalapeno.

My brother and nephew Kevin came down to eat lunch with Ryan and I at my favorite place there Double wide grill on East Carson in Pittsburgh.

Sunni and I traveled to Pittsburgh to go to Phipps Conservatory. We were looking for the butterflies but we are a few months too early. The gardens here are beautiful. The following is a picture dump, but the orchards, bonsai garden, fern garden, and tropical garden are amazing. Smelling the foliage and seeing the great plants always makes me feel lighter. Spending that time with family is priceless.

Wisconsin bound

Note: I delayed this post until I could visit one more time due to the delay in return to China.

Because of work schedules and commitments, we scheduled the trip to see Becca when Ryan could also go on the 7th of January. Finally the day arrived to travel. The night before was a snowfall that actually stuck to the ground due to enough days of freezing temperatures.

View from Ryan’s apartment window in Pittsburgh.

The next day we headed to the airport early. I was glad that the priority lounges was open to get food and have a drink. Yes, it was the morning… It is 5 o’clock somewhere as they say…

At the connection in Chicago……

View of central Wisconsin from the airplane.

At Becca’s we ate some amazing cheese curds. Here they are battered and fried. Really delicious. Later she made a Moroccan dinner to celebrate my birthday. I miss the international dinners we used to make together for my birthday.

We went for a small hike at a sculpture park, shopped at some thrift stores, and drank coffee while waiting for a surprise Becca had for us.

The thrift store had a resident cat named Ivy who found people who obviously like kitties.

Sculpture Park

This sculpture symbolizes slow changes and allowing things to just happen.

This one symbolizes agony and the changes that takes place when you let it just happen and unfold.

Ryan, myself, Becca, and her boyfriend Ryan. It is -9C today and it’s the warmest it will be.

We stopped at a small convenience store. I like looking at the food in different areas.

Individual cheese and meat for sandwiches.

I love the cranberries are called red pearls.

The surprise was a brewery tour. Point brewery is the second oldest independent brewery in the states. The first is a brewery in PA. Their image is a person in an original photo that no one ever could identify. Maybe I could work as a tester inn a brewery. I do have a biology degree.

With Ryan’s dad (Becca’s boyfriend Ryan)

To get the vats in they let them with a crane from the ceiling.

Our tour guide recommended a restaurant in Stevens Point called Guu’s. It was fabulous. Fried cheese curds, mini Reubens, elote corn dip, fried green beans….

At night we went to granite peak ski resort. They had fireworks at night and the kids took turns skiing. I would cross country ski but not downhill.

I loved my new phone. Such good pictures!

It was brutally cold on Sunday. -18C and close to 0 in F. We went on a short hike which was beautiful walking in the winter scenery.

After returning I learned flights to China were cancelled to keep COVID cases down for the Olympics. I managed to fly back again to see Becca and her boyfriend Ryan. She assured me it would be warmer. Not really….. Plus a snowstorm delayed my landing for five hours. I’m glad I made it though!

We went to downtown Wausau. Cold but walked some places they had both been. On the way I saw three houses on the river for ice fishing.

Spring is close. Buds are just beginning.

We then went to the museum of dairy farming. It is a historical museum of the area. I love looking at old pictures and maps.

Here is what you do when you want to soak in the light in a Wisconsin winter!

So grateful that my Friday in the States allowed me time to visit one more time, even if briefly.

Georgia

I have wanted to see my friends Candy and David Shively the last time I was home but had not been home long enough. Now it has been three years since they docked in Hong Kong during their cruise. When my flight was cancelled the second time, I decided to go visit! They live in Peachtree City outside of Atlanta.

Warm Springs

I have watched the movie Warm Springs which details FDR and his life and look for a way to relieve his paralysis from polio he contracted as an adult. I loved the movie and how this shaped his view from the elitism of his circle to the actual lives of American people in rural areas. This shaped his policy when he became president.

His special cat that had hand controls since his legs were paralyzed.

Guest house. A few dignitaries did stay here when he was actually president.

Plaque of the death of FDR here at Warm Springs which occurred in his third term.

Afterwards we had lunch and a hike at Pine Mountain, FDR State Park.

Starr’s Mills

Another day we traveled to the Mill that was in the movie Sweet Home, Alabama. It was a beautiful place to be on a beautiful morning.

Senoia, where The Walking Dead is filmed

This was such a cute little town. We went to see where the series was filmed, shop some cute little stores, and eat fried deviled eggs for lunch. For the record, I have not watched the series.

It also seems that some part of this railroad section was used in Fried Green Tomatoes.

Grain bowl with chickpea fries and fried deviled eggs. They were yummy with the whites lightly fried then the deviled yolks are added.

Candy and I enjoying eating at a restaurant outside. At this point, eating inside during COVID is not very exciting and the beautiful weather helped.

Juliette, Georgia

Candy: we should go to Juliette.
Me: what’s in Juliette?
Candy: fried green tomatoes
Me: you mean the whistle stop cafe? Let’s go!
So we traveled to Juliette where the whistle stop cafe (which was originally a hardware store, I think?) was turned into a cafe for the movie Fried Green Tomatoes. When the movie was done, two residents bought it and maintained the cafe. The grilled catfish sandwich, fried green tomatoes, and fried okra was amazing.

We took the food and sat on the picnic table outside located to the back of the cafe and alongside the railroad track. Where we were was right next to the barbecue pit used in the movie to dispose of the body…

It was another beautiful day! We then browsed the cute little shops in this very small town. Everyone was so friendly with the most delightful southern drawl.

The Mill even though this was not used in the movie.

The waterfall is a short drive away and was used in the movie. The characters walked across the top.

I took advantage of the slightly warmer temperatures by running several days.

I also enjoyed watching birds at their bird feeder. I so miss having a feeder and watching birds and was pretty excited to see a Junco, Tufted Titmouse, and a Nuthatch among others. I had not seen them since I had a bird feeder at my home in PA.

We also took a golf cart ride around the subdivisions and the community. So many paths. I would like these for running and walking.

Before I knew it, the time was over and I was to head back to Pittsburgh. I will miss my friends, their hospitality, and the weather. They are a beautiful couple with an amazing community they live in.

Tionesta, PA

Both my mom and aunt live in Tionesta. It is a distance from Pittsburgh and I haven’t seen her in some time as well. Much better to talk in person instead of through Skype.

I helped my mom with some tasks and put together some shelves for my aunt. There was garbage to burn and I loved the little “she” shed of my aunt’s. We thought this was the only visit I would be able to make but when flights to China were cancelled I was able to go visit a couple more times. Snowy winter weather meant shoveling as well as other ways to help. My mom makes great grilled cheese…..

Sunni and I booked two nights at an inn at a winery. We liked it so much we booked it again a month later when we came up to visit. As I start teaching online soon, I will need to be up at night to teach synchronously with my school in China. Traveling to visit again may be difficult.

The winter weather in our second trip made for some beautiful pictures.

Glistening ice on trees on a beautiful sunny day. It’s beautiful, but I miss warmer weather….

Of course we drank wine but made a pretend drink like a coronarita using wine and fireball shots. We didn’t actually drink it, it was a spoof picture.

Worthington

It has been a long time since I’ve seen my brother and sister-in-law. I have really missed them and looking forward to spending time with them. One of the things I have missed is watching Christmas movies on the Hallmark channel while drinking some wine. For the first few days that is what I did, though I did fall asleep often. Between COVID and flu shots and jet lag, it was a strange first week.

I still managed to get some time in while also spending some great time with my sister in law Sunni and my brother Ken. Ryan came up to celebrate birthday on December 24th and I then went back to Pittsburgh with him. I spent most of them weekdays in Worthington and weekends with Ryan. We didn’t go many places due to COVID-19 and instead enjoyed each other’s company.

Views from runs

After a weekend in Pittsburgh I rented a car and came back to Worthington. From there we went shopping and drove to Tionesta to stay at a winery and visit my mother and aunt (another blog post).

Then one morning (January 5), I woke up and found that China had changed the entry requirements. Now there are more tests and a 7 day requirement to be in the city of departure before leaving for China. Never mind this is literally the day after I return from Wisconsin and that I had made other plans. The good news is that I had done most of the things I wanted to do before that as it was a possibility anything could change.

I then changed my hotel in LA, requested the tests, and cancelled the other things I could. Ryan wanted me to go back to Pittsburgh a day earlier to spend more time with him so I quickly packed everything I had to get ready to bring everything to his place. I met Ryan in Butler at a Mexican restaurant. It was a great dinner with Ken, Sunni, and Ryan.

I will also miss the kitties and puppies, especially Groot and Jax, the coolest cats. Actually Groot is pretty difficult to get along with but I think he liked me. It was difficult to say goodbye to Nina. She’s used to be my dog, and loves her new home, but still remembers me.

Putting a wrinkle into future plans was the announcement a few days later that China Southern flights are suspended due to 5 COVID cases. This means I may be stuck in the US. Though it means more time with family, it also means I have to teach online in the middle of the night.

Not only were flights cancelled for a few airlines, the majority of flights were all cancelled through the end of February. This is primarily due to the Olympics in Beijing and Chinese new year celebrations. They want to keep the cases of COVID in low numbers.

I will be enjoying more time with family and cats and dogs!

Eventually we had a foot of snow and also some very cold temperatures (-8C to -21C). What else do you do besides shoveling? Make snow angels!

The cats don’t know what they are missing outside…

Pittsburgh

(This post was to have been published a month ago, but multiple flight cancellations postponed that with no idea when my actual flight to China will actually be.)

It is good to actually see sky with only a few tall buildings around as Pittsburgh is a much smaller city than Guangzhou. I had envisioned that I would go to the theater, watch a movie with family, go to dinners but the COVID reality made me think twice. I am being overly cautious as the numbers of cases are much larger than this time in 2020. Even though the new omicron variant is milder, the predominant variant Delta is the concern. And most importantly, being exposed means that the antibodies would prevent me from going back to China. Sometimes it is just better to spend time with one another.

It was nice to take it easy and just hang out with family. I spent weekends with Ryan. It was refreshing to run around the riverfront. These pictures are from Herr’s island. The cute squirrel moved closer as I stood taking pictures of both him and the cardinal.

Ryan is a great cook. The breakfast scramble was delicious.

He makes great food no matter the ingredients.

I spent some time shopping. It is difficult to find my size shoe in China so finding running shoes and a good everyday shoe is a must. Also on my list are more running clothes and other pieces I find to take back. Lastly, I needed to get shelf stable food to take into quarantine. Packets of tuna fish, nuts, and oatmeal. Oh, and coffee.

We also walked, looked at possible other apartments for Ryan, and traveled together to Worthington to spend new years with my brother and sister-in-law, Ken and Sunni. I prepared to be ready to leave on January 21.

After learning that I needed to go to LA 7 days before flying to China for tests and health monitoring, I went to Pittsburgh a day earlier to spend more time with Ryan. First on the list was to make sure I had everything set for LA and then too repack for Wisconsin and to go back to GZ as I threw everything together at the last minute. The next morning I made sure I had the items for Wisconsin and reorganized the bags for Guangzhou. After coming back from WI, I prepared to leave for LA the next day….. Or so I thought….

The next day I found out that my flight is cancelled as well as the replacement flight and the next flight is now March 7th. Because of the Olympics in Beijing, almost all flights from the US were cancelled. It is nice to be with family but difficult to move around from place to place and live out of a suitcase. I made plans to split more time with family, start preparing online lessons, and run/hike to stay busy.

I took a long walk along trails by the river to meet Ryan when he was finished with work. It was a cold day but a really nice walk around the city.

Point state park is located where the rivers converge in Pittsburgh: the Allegheny, Monongahela, and the Ohio river.

I love the facade of this old building and hope they keep it’s look and character.

I have been in this restaurant many years ago.

More pictures from a run after much snow and very freezing temperatures.

I also walked to the Strip to buy Asian products to make dinner.

On weekends we went hiking….

And this was the first day of Chinese new year….

Who knows how long I may still be here….

Home for the holidays

As I was preparing to leave for the US, a number of celebrations were enjoyed with friends. Home is any place where you have family, friends, and a sense of belonging. Sometimes it is more than one place.

Dinner at a sauerkraut fish place with Jack. Of course I saw the menu and noticed pig brain.

Not having tried it before, we ordered it too. It really had no specific taste but was quite good.

I hosted a Thanksgiving dinner with friends and the food was delicious. Some favorites of the holidays and others a mixed bag of other international dishes

I am blessed to have so many beautiful people in my life.

My ugly Christmas sweater I made for the staff holiday party. LED lights make the fire glow

Friends at the school held a cookie exchange.

The school wide holiday Bazaar was also fun with great games for students and all things Christmas.

It is difficult to say goodbye to friends leaving the country you are in but we know it is not goodbye but until I see you again. My friend Trisha is going back to the UK.

And of course dragon boat which is my weekend hobby, exercise, and time with more friends.

This year I went out of my comfort zone and played the bass clarinet in a teacher ensemble for the students. I also performed a pantomime with other teachers for the whole school.

Before I knew it, it was time to leave for the US. I left lessons for when I am gone in January, made sure there was plenty of food for the kitties and people to take care of them, and planned my packing. A COVID test less than 24 hours old was required to get on the plane. At the airport, I ate in the China southern lounge.

After an uneventful flight to LA, the rest was a travel nightmare. Spirit airlines cancelled 8 flights and waited until boarding time to announce. Without a US sim card, I had no cell phone off of wifi. With the help of another kind person, I found a flight from John Wayne airport fire the next morning and she dropped me off at a hotel across from the airport.

I arrived 12 hours after I was originally to land in Pittsburgh where I went to my son Ryan’s apartment. He cooked a yummy falafel meal and it was great to finally be near him. Talking on the phone for three last 2.5 years was difficult.

The next morning I planned to renew my driver’s license, get a COVID vaccine, and walk around Pittsburgh to where Ryan works. It had been some time since I have been in a smaller city and could see beyond huge skyscrapers. It was an enjoyable walk through the different areas of Pittsburgh.

The hot metal bridge area in the Southside is where trains and barges brought coal to make steel. Along the river were many historical relics from that time.

For lunch I stopped at double wide grille. Here they have all kinds of food including vegan and vegetarian. It is located in an old gas station and the food is so good here.

Afterwards we drove to my brothers house in the country. I planned on staying here for the rest of the week before going back to Ryan’s. I drove to see my old friends at punxsutawney high school and just relax and watch movies. I also need time to get new credit cards and take care of the mail I received the last 2 years. On a run that week, it started to snow and the wind was brisk. A big weather change from Guangzhou.

I will also be traveling to Wisconsin to see Becca. I am sure it will be cold there.

Traveling in the age of covid

I had not posted about the process of having traveled to a medium or high risk area here in China. The last time I was actually quarantined for 3 days and was anxious about this time. This is what happens in China. I must note that high risk area might only have a dozen cases and they quickly lock Dien anxious buildings and test all the contacts of those people. All of this takes the numbers down quickly.

I not only had the covid test to get on the plane in Shanghai, but everyone had one when they came off the plane. They are really organized and streamlined. The process only took 45 minutes. They made sure by taking us by bus so that people did not walk through the airport and mingle before getting the test. Once back home you must contact your community health office. I messaged mine through the WeChat app (they are used to dealing with me….). I must have 3 more tests in the next 13 days. I have documents that get the tests for free but must be completed at a specific center. I can go to work but asked to limit my gatherings with people. At issue will be the Christmas party which is on my 13th day. I may not be allowed to go (and this time many more people from school also traveled to Shanghai). If you miss tests, they will change your code to restrict your movement.

The process: They had an organized line from baggage which gave time to register or open the app. This gives a qr code tied to your phone number and passport. This way it shows on your health code and is tracked if anyone on the plane shows positive test result.

This is the qr code for the app. A worker scans the code then scans the bar code of the test vial.

Multiple stations are used for rapid throat swabs. Then you are free to go. You have to contact the local health officer in your neighborhood or you will be tracked down.

This is the suikang health code that keeps all testing and vaccination records. I show this code every day to go to school and to enter my apartment building. You also show it when you enter any commercial or government building. It can be turned yellow or red if you do not get the tests or was in a high risk area. You cannot enter buildings if that happens or may be quarantined.

In the suikang code you can click to see the Nucleic acid test results. They all show here and is pretty handy so you don’t have to go back and get the result on paper. The first one is my test at the airport and was completed in 5 hours.

This is another app that shows where you have been. There is a little asterisk that shows I was in an area with cases. It will go away after 14 days and then will only show being in Guangzhou. But until then I may not be allowed in some places. Places with high volume will look at this app and not the other one.

This is what a red code looks like. You would be quarantined in your apartment or a quarantine facility and not able to go anywhere. I have obviously been quarantined from travel. Thankfully not this last one.