During this long wait to return to China, I’ve been in continuous contact with my students, friends, colleagues and others in Luzhou via WeChat, similar to our US Facebook. One of the highlights of my extended time here has been spending it with my mom. I’ve mentioned before her patience in joining me for numerous educational videos for my students, or helping me record fun sharing moments to make their day while we wait to re-unite.

I share the latest with you, a Mother’s Day greeting sent out last Sunday. I’ve already had many comments of surprise, delight and astonishment at how much we look alike, or how wonderful my mom looks for 87. (Yep! She certainly does!). Hope you enjoy it as well.

News of my China Return

I’m still waiting for my college’s invitation letter to be authorized by the local government in Luzhou. Every province in China has its own regulations concerning teachers coming back from overseas. Some are less strict than others, especially those teaching in the Tier 1 cities, such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. Many of those teachers have already been allowed back to their schools and have been enjoying their teaching placements for the past year. Luzhou is a Tier 4 city, one that is about 5 million people, so it’s farther down on the list of opening up. Also, I work for a Chinese school, not an international school, so this also makes a huge difference in who can receive their visa and who can’t. International schools and well-known universities have a bit more influence with local government offices than my 3-year vocational college.

I have heard, however, that with our US Covid numbers under control and so many of us having received the vaccine, China is re-evaluating the restrictions. New measures will be put into place for us to register for a Vaccine Passport, with our certified vaccination records and test results uploaded onto a required phone health App. Once that takes place, we can apply for our visas and hopefully be accepted for entry into the country. We might still have that 2-3 week quarantine in the designated airport hotel but as long as we can finally be released into the public, I’ll be happy to oblige. Nothing has been fully explained yet but the rumor was this procedure will be rolling out from June to October.

So, folks, I might very well be on my way to start up the new semester in September or October! Cross your fingers and send lots of good thoughts my way.

In the meantime, I leave you this note: To all the mothers out there, or those who are like mothers to someone, here’s wishing you a belated Happy Mother’s Day.