As CeCe Peniston has so aptly stated: “Finally, it’s happened to me.” But for me it was not about meeting “Mr. Right.” Rather, it was an intruder getting in the house. I held off for as long as I could. This could only last for so long with something as insidious as COVID. At 0503…
COVID Apocalypse in China
Report from the Inside—In China currently, how many people really have COVID? Who the heck knows.Sorry for the lack of stats.But who in the heck knows. What I do know is this… Within the first 10 or so days of the Party dropping its three year old Zero Covid policy here are a few things…
There Are 13 Kids in School Today
13 in our entire middle school of grades 6-7-8. Whiplash! Now that COVID is being allowed to spread freely in China for the first time, the floodgates have opened. Our bubble has burst. An English Department colleague tested positive this morning. The first from our office. Another colleague is out sick today. Don’t know how…
Whiplash!
Within just about a week’s time, China has pivoted from the infamous “Zero COVID” policy to something akin to “We’ll be the greatest in the world at living with the virus.” (credit: Remo) “Embrace the Virus!” —-new bumper sticker (credit: Andrew D.) Folks at school at dropping like flies. As of yesterday afternoon, at least…
China’s Pivot
What’s Shanghai like right now as China finally drops its “Zero COVID” policy? 6 things… Those blue QR code signs are still present by security guards in subway stations. There is also an increasing sense of elation bordering on exuberance for those of us awaiting travel abroad—and a very hopeful return to NO hotel quarantine!…
It’s the fried rice
It’s the Malatong bowl, full of self-chosen veggies and tofu. The fried rice she makes, even while tired at the end of a work day. It’s those little times together watching “Friends” while eating dinner, or lunch on a cloudy Saturday afternoon. The long train rides to the karaoke place. The dinner dates at nearby…
She Waited There For Us All Day
Saturday evening, November 12th—Pudong district, Shanghai, China Normally, Serena would tell me if she’d invited someone to join us for dinner. When the grinning lady with short hair and oversized red sweater sat down, I was a bit surprised, but still assumed Serena had been in contact with her. I knew I recognized her. From…
“Burn it down”
After another day of insanity, a teacher yesterday said we may need to just “burn it down” and start the school over again. Emotionally drained, we wasted a good deal of our prep time debriefing what had just happened: 2-3 8th grade boys in residence hall filmed another boy while he was in the shower….
This May Put Us Over the Edge
A quick glance at this poor screenshot may not mean much to you, dear friend. Suffice it to say, this may very well put us over the edge. Various duties on top of full course loads on top of day to day coverages twice weekly extracurriculares on top of meetings on top of…. Now, residence…
Orgasmique
Subway station—Shanghai, China I’m sorry, sir, for stealing a pic. Please understand, I had to do it. I suspect this jacket logo not licensed by Gucci:
The White Hair
It’s back. With a vengeance. Fellow teachers didn’t much notice last night’s hair incident mistake, when I attempted to cover up some white hair but slicing it off—promptly opening up a larger expanse of shorter white hair. Then my hair became much shorter on one side in front. Shorter and whiter. It took students in…
Escape
Wednesday, October 12: Day X of “3 day” lockdown—Escape from Xishuangbanaa ESCAPE from the inside—accomplished! We have finally departed. It was 13:34.We first arrived in the neighborhood which would become our prison ( of sorts) around 20:00 on Sunday, October 2nd. We awakened the morning of October 3rd to find out our downtown Jinghong neighborhood…
Don't Let My Parents Read This 