The best part of my job is getting to speak with people from all over the world. I speak to people who work in various industries, coming from all walks of life. I have taught people to speak English, but people have taught me to listen. I have heard many stories over the years, but every so often I meet up with someone with a profound story to tell; that’s when I listen more intently and I am moved beyond words.
This is where I share some of those stories from abroad. I hope that readers can feel the same connection as I did when I was listening.
Man (and his family) in Quarantine
He awoke with a start from the loud banging at his front door. He couldn’t imagine who it could be at such a late hour. He ran quickly to the door to see it was the people in white coats that frequently came by to test the apartment complex residents for COVID, but now, at 1 A.M.? He was nervous and hesitant about opening the door, but he did, because he knew he had to. He asked them why they had to do this now. Why couldn’t they come at a reasonable hour? They said it could not be helped since they were overwhelmed and understaffed, due to the latest quarantine restrictions. So, he obliged; what else could he do? He couldn’t refuse. What would they do if he had. He didn’t want to think about it.
Such is the life in Beijing of late. It could have been worse–it could be like it is in Shanghai, where he heard it was under complete lockdown. People couldn’t even leave their apartments at all. At least here, if you tested negative, you could walk around the complex perimeter, which was fenced in, but still …
Life hadn’t been easy since he was contacted by the authorities through contact tracing. Apparently he had frequented a location linked to positive COVID cases. He said he was far from that place, but the authorities confined him to his apartment with the rest of his family anyway. So now, they can’t go anywhere until further notice. He’s working from home and his family is quarantined with him.
I asked him many questions: How are you able to go about daily life activities, such as, grocery shopping, running errands, laundry, etc.? He said that food is delivered to them. As far as laundry, they have a washing machine, but they have to hang their clothes out to dry around the house. And in case you’re wondering about how they throw away the trash, I asked that question too.
He said that they have to put the trash in bags with alcohol to help with the smell and they put it out in the hallway to be picked up by the authorities. Days go by with the trash not being picked up. He said, “You can imagine the smell.”
This is the life his family is living now under quarantine, and although he realizes it’s not as bad as other places, he doesn’t know how much more he can bear.
