We're All Cooped Up

It's only been a few days since my last post (What else am I supposed to do with all this free time?) but the situation here has already changed -- and not for the better. I could never even imagine the situation we are experiencing here could ever happen in the US or any other democratic country. You may have heard how people are basically stranded in their houses, and if you haven't, here's a good article that discusses it. Housebound Chinese Cope with Being Cooped Up

Bleach water streaks on the elevator door --
as if we needed one more reason not to touch
things in public.

On it's face, being stuck in the house doesn't seem too bad; many of us have experienced a bad snowstorm accompanied with power outages -- a little frustrating and an inconvenience but usually short lived. But let's expand the situation a bit. Now imagine that all the public spaces have been shut down -- parks and malls in particular. Add to that your housing is an apartment in an apartment complex, complete with walls and gates and guards. You are told only to leave the complex for necessities, such as work (if your business is open) or shopping, and to get back into the complex, you have to show your ID and a paper that identifies you as a resident. In some extreme situations now, only one person per household is allowed out every day or two. Add to it that you can't have any guests and that you most likely can't visit any one else because most everyone lives in an apartment complex here, and they all are closed down due to current regulations.

People entering MacDonald's to order
and then exit.

How do you socialize? Well, up until a couple days ago, we could meet up at a few restaurants like a few MacDonald's or Starbucks. Then, new regulations came down. Last week, I was able to meet with a couple of men at MacDonald's for some fellowship (complete with rats scurrying around the garbage for entertainment) and Sandy was able to meet with some friends at Starbucks and sit inside and talk. She went back the next day to meet with another friend, and they had to order through the door, wait for their drinks, and then sit at tables outside. Now, you can order drinks at the door, but all the chairs inside and outside are gone, so essentially it is a walk-through (a pedestrian drive-through), and MacDonald's has similar policies, although they let you order inside. (A quick aside, there are very few drive-throughs in our city and I would guess in China as well; they haven't caught on and don't fit the lifestyle here.)

The seating area inside
MacDonald's

The seating area outside
MacDonald's

So, as difficult as it may be to believe, the government has essentially socially isolated a city of 4 million people. Those who have the option of going out, rarely do because they are scared; those who do go out, have very limited options for meeting up with friends. Sure, there is video chatting, but it doesn't replace face-to-face contact and the topics of our conversations are limited due to government monitoring. We are fortunate, though, because we are not yet under such strict restrictions, and we live in a large compound that allows us the freedom to walk about outside and has a small supermarket.

Many people are starting back to work now (or are working from home) but there is still no start date for the next term for schools -- for Emily or me -- and we will just have to wait until the government sets the date. So, I am prepping for online teaching -- but working that out for 370 students may be challenging. The way things are going, I could see this situation stretching out well into March. Please remember us all over here.