pandemic – Page 2 – HurricaneMaine

And just when we thought things were normal…

As the summer was approaching we started making plans for travel. Beijing and Tibet were both places I wanted to go. Beijing was free to travel to but had cases from time to time until now. Tibet was just now opening for travel. And then….

There was a covid case in the Liwan district where there are many elderly who like to get together for activities and dim sum on a daily basis. Add to that relaxing of mask wearing and people who would not get vaccinated, and the one case became dozens. It really bothered me that Chinese people would not get the vaccine in the numbers that foreigners were. They felt safe as there were no cases and those that came in from abroad were Chinese nationals coming home who were quarantined. For a culture that embraced masks and was scared of the virus, I couldn’t fathom the lack of wont for the vaccine.

This started rounds of mass testing in two districts where there were cases. That expanded eventually to every district where multiple tests were required within a week.

As cases increased our finals were canceled which made it difficult to keep student attention as no more grades were to be collected. We thought it possible school would just cancel then but it didn’t.

You could see tents set up every half block and each apartment complex were assigned to a specific site. I was tested twice in a week despite being vaccinated. Yes, I know I could still carry the virus despite being vaccinated but really energy should be put into mass vaccinations.

The health code app we used to travel was now being used to enter everywhere including transportation. Now opening the app brought dread hoping the green code did not turn yellow overnight. That happens when you were in an area where an infected person was found. It required two more tests with 72 hours. Unfortunately that happened to colleagues who weren’t sure exactly where or with who they came in contact.

Jack and I went to a couple five star hotels over the weekend to have some sense of vacation, staying at the Sofitel first. A Russian restaurant I like is just around the corner and the bathtub was marvelous.

The next day we checked into the Grand Hyatt. I’m glad we enjoyed the pool and the executive lounge before they closed it. All pools and lounges were ordered closed across the city.

We finished out that next week of school. I still reviewed with the 9th graders as next year builds on that material. The IB bio kids had plenty to do as I have them for two years. We made plans to still have another week of school but at the end of the weekend was the announcement that students were done and teachers were to report to school Monday and Tuesday. A strange and abrupt end to the school year. Students at least received yearbooks but the awards assembly was virtual and the field day canceled.

Our social breakfast with social distancing.

In most districts all dining is suspended and food can only be ordered takeaway. In my district of Tianhe, dine in is still possible but at 50% capacity.

We could still walk around parks and mountains.

I had planned on going to Shenzhen to the beach as a last minute weekend holiday. Unfortunately, that city decided not to allow people coming from Guangzhou to go to the beach. Understandable but disappointing.

Instead we went to a nearby lake as a group. The village rents the spaces to people who want to spend an afternoon. It was a fun trip and I was able to spend time with friends from other schools I have not seen in awhile.

Even a huge downpour couldn’t dampen spirits. It was such a fun and relaxing day.

Some people who test positive are kept in hospitals and those that are contact traced are held elsewhere. There are some construction workers who needed to be quarantined and they are being held near construction sites.

I’m still going to try to go to Beijing. I also have two leadership classes at the end of the month. We will see what July brings…

This is actually being used as a barn. I should have snapped the picture when the goats were outside!

Adventures in school renovations (and during a pandemic)

This is not the first renovation at a school I have taught in but this is the most ambitious. We left last January with one building torn down and in the process of being rebuilt to bring grades 3-5 out to the campus. During the pandemic or was slowed until no cases and authorization allowed the project to continue. Over the course of the hybrid learning that was spring, there was amazing progress on that building and it was completed in October.

Before those grades come to the Science Park campus, the building will be used to house middle and high school as that building will be torn down. When plans are made here, things are done quickly!

The science department had to move before anyone else as we were moving into temporary new spaces that was the cafeteria. These rooms needed moved in order to build the construction road to be able to demolish the building.

We left for October break with a cafeteria and arrived back to school with 8 new classrooms. They are temporary so there are walls that are easy to put up. A little loud but I am grateful that the school does everything it can to help and to make the classrooms functional and teachers comfortable and supported.

Only 2 of the 8 teachers were here so we worked many hours between teaching to unpack rooms and determine existing storage that could be repurposed for the new rooms. We had ayis (translated as auntie) to pack their rooms but I unpacked to determine what was needed. The shushus (translated as uncle) can move a whole room in under an hour. Our storage space and office space for the technician is in a much smaller space so many items had to be placed in classrooms. Our rooms are also much smaller. It was a pretty stressful month as we were teaching as well and I was coaching cross country and running student council. Here are things waiting to be unpacked.

The place looks great. We are settling in. 4 more teachers returned. Then we watched and stayed as far away from the rest of the teachers moving into the future elementary building. We were able to go through in the end to snag cushioned benches to places in the hallway and rescued student created murals to brighten our space.

The week of Thanksgiving we went back to a normal teaching schedule (all my 36 science 9 students used to be in one 65 minute class and now they are separated into 3 classes of 85 minutes each. My 24 bio are now in two classes). We taught online as many things were being moved around campus and could not happen with students here. That Wednesday there were no classes (time for teachers to get their rooms together) and Thursday was a professional development day. Touring through the old rooms was sad.

After Thanksgiving break all students are now on campus and not staggered by grades as they used to be. This is as close to normal as we have been since the pandemic. This is mostly due to most teachers being such overseas. Now 90% off the teachers are back and more to arrive soon.

And here are the science rooms in various states of being torn apart and demolishing the building after windows were torn out.

Behind the science wing where the construction road was being made.

And views of the new building:

Next November we move into the brand new high school built where the old one stood. It is amazing looking according to the plans and hope I am here to see it completed! I also hope all the school is here to do the move as well! I know it will be smooth nonetheless as this is an amazing and supportive school!

I am tired as I spend more time teaching and talking but exhilarated to forge relationships with students now that there is more time to work with smaller classes. It is also great to be back to a more normal environment. This is an amazing school that cares about how everyone is doing. This holiday will be difficult not being able to go home to see family. It has been a year and a half already.

One day of quarantine…I think my test is negative…

So government quarantine for Covid-19 is tolerable. I am at the Long Hui hotel in tianhe. To get here I was greeted at my apartment by a person in full containment gear. I’m glad I had an opportunity to pack things in advance. So what did I pack?

Only about 4 days of clothes. They can all be washed in the sink it shower and I’m really getting multiple days out of them as I don’t get dirty
Two pairs of workout clothes with foam roller and exercise bands
A caftan I bought in Egypt. I seriously understand why my mom longer in them all those years
Pajamas
Travel underwear. My quick drying ones I travel with.
My bag of travel essentials, toothpaste, etc. I always keep that packed
Extra lotion. Most hotels in Asia don’t supply it.
Detergent to wash
A fan as the AC is not turned on. It would spread the virus if someone has it
A mug and instant coffee. It is not supplied at all. I always grab extras from hotels just in case.
Computer, SD card with workouts
All chargers
My diary. I’m behind on writing things down. Not that life is exciting. I don’t even know what day it is.
My asthma inhaler. My nightguard.
A container of leftover food as I was sure I would miss the dinner they served (I was right).
All the raw veggies and fruit I had left in my frig. (Spinach, 2 zucchini, tomato, 2 cucumber, 3 plums, 1 Asian pear)
Yam chips and protein muffins I had just made.
A knife

Others have been in government quarantine when they arrived in the airport so I had already heard some of the recommendations of what to pack.

The worst part was the walk from the apartment to the ambulance. I’m not sure what the guy was saying but it wasn’t the standard coming through greeting. Once they saw him and me and whatever he said, people would look terrified with some running to get out of the way. Because the ambulance could not park outside my complex, we walked further than we should have and I felt like crying by the time I was in the ambulance.

We drove lights and air horn but not complete sirens. Once there they checked your information, checked to be sure they knew the countries you had visited and how long you had been back, took my temperature and gave me a room card. I then went to the front desk where they made copies of the passport and double checked info and room. From there I went to the room myself.

This is an older hotel but nicer than most old chinese hotels. It is larger.

The rooms have a chair outside that they put water and food on. There is a waste basket for my trash and another for medical waste. There are video cameras in the halls, etc.

The room is a bit stuffy. I have allergies and there is an old musty smell but not too bad. I opened the windows anyway. If there are mosquitoes I’ll have someone bring me an electronic zapper.

I knew the wifi was slow but I was having trouble with everything. I was frustrated and talking to Ryan on WeChat when he suggested using my US sim card. Since I use Google fi I only pay for the first 6 GB and the rest is free. That is about $80 but worth it. It is so fast and I can use my phone as a hotspot. Not only can I work on the free PD with the state of PA for certification but can also watch Netflix as a reward!

As I arrived after dinner I was sure I would not get tested until the next day.

That next morning I think they forgot about me as it was a new crew. I messaged a person who reached out to me when they knew I would be arriving. He is a friend of one of my friends and had been here a few days already. He was able to contact the office here and they brought me breakfast. Steamed buns are the best! One of them had a nut filling that was amazing.

I was tested after breakfast and temp checks are at 10 am and 4 pm. I will not be given the results of the test unless it is positive and they take me to the hospital for 20 days instead.

I was finally given the WeChat group info so if we need anything we can message and get a response. My school is in continuing contact with me as well as many friends and I’m grateful. I’m glad to talk to family often.

Though they don’t do requests for meals, one of the office admin had been calling them often about me and told them I require vegetarian. They have done this for me so I don’t complain about anything about the meals.

Lunch of shredded potatoes and carrots with Chinese broccoli underneath and rice.

Egg drop soup, tofu with mushrooms and Chinese broccoli with rice.

Congi (rice porridge) with a hard boiled egg, donut, and steamed bun.

I’ve had 4 meals and they have been pretty decent and normal Chinese fare. In the second wechat group just among foreigners here they order from international restaurants. It is possible because the contact I mentioned above is the owner of one of them. I was going to order if they could not get me vegetarian but now many restaurants are being forced to close. Not because of anything specific but more anti-international sentiment. Many Chinese places are packed routinely so hopefully they are closing some of those down too.

Regardless, some people are really asking too much. Having things delivered that are non-essential. I really feel they will stop delivering everything if people don’t start thinking. They will only deliver at two times a day. Some people were ordering bottles of wine. A waiver is to be signed for being able to drink and there was quite a tirade of messages. I know it is tough to be in here but I just think differently than most people. Not that I’m right but just think differently. There are many things we don’t need and life does not have to be that complicated.

I can live on the food I’m given. I could have lived without my phone being a hotspot. I had books I could read on my computer, etc. I was prepared for no internet if need be. I am grateful I have the ability to take this extra time and work on PD when I don’t have the pull and demands of being at school. I finished a 10 hour class the first day!

So a day and a half has gone by and they have not dragged me off to the hospital…. So the result must be negative!!!! That is great news.

If I’m here until the 26th (that is what is on my paperwork) and that last test can’t be used to go back to school (all teachers and students just be tested), then I won’t start school with the others on the 27th as it will take time to go get the testing and get the results back.

While I was writing this my friend brought me the bug zapper which is good since I am getting bit. The fan would be good but would just blow around hot air. We were able to wave and yell to each other with thumbs up. He just wants a beer for payment. Most definitely!!!