Today is World Happiness Day! Rejoice and be glad

Posted on March 21, 2020 by connieinasia
Hey, Folks!!
Let’s think of something other than doom and gloom in the world, and what better to lift our spirits than today, March 20, World Happiness Day?
I had to do some research on this interesting UN sanctioned day, which I was unfamiliar with until I came across it in a CNN news article today.
The Prime Minister of Bhutan was credited for having started this one in 2011.  Read below of what I learned.
About Bhutan
Bhutan is a tiny country of 700,000 located adjacent to China and Nepal.  It is touted as having a unique culture and traditions steeped in mysticism and spirituality.  One website lists 5 characterics of the people:  satisfied with how they live (not overly materialistic); not into modern devices (computers, cell phones, appliances); strong belief in Buddhism; no one smokes (a smoking ban has been in effect since “forever”);  the citizens live in a pollution -free environment, with the country tucked deep into the Himalayan Mountain range and the people living in untouched wilderness.
Tourists are said to regard Bhutanese as the friendliest people in the world.  Is it any wonder that Bhutan proposed a World Happiness Day to the United Nations in 2011, which brought international attention to happiness as a measurement of well-being.
In 2012, the United Nations General Assembly declared March 20 as World Happiness Day, which recognizes “the relevance of happiness and well-being as universal goals and aspirations in the lives of human beings around the world and the importance of their recognition in public policy objectives.”
If you’re wondering which countries, besides Bhutan, are listed as the happiest, take a look at what I found.
The Gallup World Poll yearly analyzes 156 countries and ranks according to happiness.  Here are the findings for 2020:

World’s happiest countries

1. Finland
2. Denmark
3. Switzerland
4. Iceland
5. Norway
6. Netherlands
7. Sweden
8. New Zealand
9. Austria
10. Luxembourg
On World Happiness Day:  Take Time to Do Something which brings you Happiness!
I realize that many of us at this time find little to be happy about.  Fear, anxiety and worry engulf us as dire doom-and-gloom announcements bombard us on a daily, hourly, even minutely basis.
Let’s try to pull ourselves away from the TV, disheartening newspaper articles, computer pandemic searches and listening to disconcerting radio reports.  We can use  this extraordinary, precious opportunity to spread some happiness, both in our lives and in others.  We can take extra time to:  be with family, read good books that have been put on hold for years due to busy-ness, watch a fun movie, dig through long-lost recipes and try out a few for upcoming meals, tidy up the house for a self-satisfying feeling of accomplishment, go through old photograph albums of nostalgic memories past and present, or mail cards and hand-written personal notes to relatives, friends and lonely neighbors in your community, or, for those who are religious, your faith-centered family.
I am sure if you sit down and think on it, you’ll come up with even better ones than I’ve listed.  Give it a go!
My Happiness Defined
Despite the indefinite delay in my return to China, a country I call home, and my full-filling work as an Amity Foundation English teacher there, I am very grateful and thankful for this time in Marshall with my mom.  It has been a Godsend in many ways, and continues to be so, as we spend our special time together reminiscing, discussing, advising, agreeing and disagreeing, getting on each other’s nerves (yes, it does happen!) and everything else that goes on between a close-knit mother and daughter pair.
Rest assured, I’m taking advantage of as much good as I can find from all this.  Hope you can, too.
From Illinois, here’s wishing you happiness for your March 20th, World Happiness Day.
Posted in A Visit Home to Marshall, China, coronavirus, Coronovirus Situation, Illinois | 2 Comments

Staying home: Smalltown USA in the virus crisis

Posted on March 20, 2020 by connieinasia

Perhaps some of you reading are from towns such as mine:  small population (4,000 or less), close-knit community where we know almost everyone by name, low crime rate, rural agricultural area (a majority of our surrounding residents are farmers with a high percentage of the students being bussed in for school), numerous faith-based Catholic and Protestant families and a strong sense of connection to one another.

It is quite interesting that the virus situation, at least for us here, is pulling folks together by pulling us apart. Social distancing is now the catch phrase that enters everyone’s vocabulary.

We unite in overcoming the virus by not uniting, or rather physically uniting. It is recommended at least 3-6 feet should be maintained between individuals who meet one another.  My mom and I do our best to follow these suggestions, although not between ourselves.

Marshall churches have canceled all activities, our schools have discontinued classes for 2 weeks (I see that as a very optimistic announcement), our nearby state park, Lincoln Trail, has closed as mandated by the Illinois state government, restaurants now only allow take-out orders, our public library is closed, local dental services are suspended except for emergency cases (call and our faithful Dr. Darlene Hildebrand, DMD, will arrive at her clinic to take care of you), and absolutely no visitors are admitted for our local nursing home residents at Burnsides and The Villas.

Marshall schools have suspended classes for 2 weeks, although I expect that will be longer.

Marshall First UMC, my denomination, has canceled all activities until further notice.

What is open?  Marshall’s Cork Medical Center, local banks, and grocery/supply sellers which are the Dollar Store and Walmart.

Local Marshall banks are doing more drive-up window actions than usual as people practice social distancing.

Of all the above, what has interested my students in China the most involves grocery items.

Supermarket restrictions in China during the virus

My students in China were asking me about my local supermarkets.   When the virus was rampaging throughout China, all city and smalltown groceries had strong restrictions in place:

  • Neighborhood supermarkets took turns opening on certain days for certain hours as stated by city government edicts.
  • Only 1 household member at a time could buy groceries.  That person could only patronize one supermarket.  ID cards had to be shown, stating neighborhood addresses and names, so households could be monitored to make sure grocery visiting rules were being followed.
  • Wearing a mask was mandatory to enter any grocery store, or even to walk the streets.

How about America?  What surprises my students the most?

Marshall’s nearby Walmart has no restrictions for shopping in the store.

For small-town Marshall, two stores are available for buying groceries and supplies:  The Dollar Store (limited items) and the Walmart (wide range).  While restrictions in China were very dramatic, entering either store in Marshall is a lax affair.  No masks are required, no restrictions on how many family members can enter or how many visits are taken to the store and no ID checks needed except if your credit card or written cheques are not already in the store system.

These non-restrictions astound those in China who so carefully adherred to the regulations with little hesitation, as well as little choice.

What we do have available upon store entry is hand sanitizer and also disinfectant wipes for the cart handles, all free of charge.  While people are not concerned so much by going out in public at the store, they are taking advantage of the free sanitizers, as did I on the most recent visit to the grocery.

What are people buying?

My students wondered about grocery items in stock.  They had heard reports that, in America, there were mass runs on grocery stores and our products were not available.

“Do you have enough vegetables? Can you get meat?  Fruit? Rice?” Yiyi asked in one of my postings.

I have to laugh a bit about that one.  Vegetables, fruits and rice are the one thing it seems Americans have plenty of because . . .  we don’t eat them.  Walmart’s shelves were packed full of fresh produce:  colorful displays of broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, lettuce, celery and full bins of fruit, including apples, oranges, tomatoes, strawberry and blueberry containers not to mention tubs of watermelons.

Americans are not big on healthy eating or preparing foods.  We are all about fast food consumption.

And plenty of coffee.  We all know how important our coffee is!

The biggest dents in supplies at the Walmart?  Toilet paper and tissues, the meat sections (fresh and frozen), milk, eggs, ice cream, bread and peanut butter.  Those aisles were either completely empty or in great need of restocking.

Also emptied out were the instant Chinese noodle packet shelves.  Nada!  Only a few lone survivors of the rush were left, enough for me to at least take a picture to send Yiyi so she could marvel over the tastes of Americans.  This also included instant iced tea bags, which I certainly didn’t expect.

Cross-country truck driver’s lament

Looking for toilet paper and tissues? Look again!

It was the above image that confronted itself before me and a visiting truck driver from North Carolina.  We had a short conversation about his search for toilet paper along his I-70 travels, the interstate being practically within a stone’s throw of our Walmart.

“This is the 12th stop I’ve made, both Walmart and Costco, and toilet paper is all sold out. ”

I commented that at least he has a job, which is going to be a great concern to others who are going to be laid off work in the next few days, weeks and months.

“Stay safe,” were my cheerful departing words.  He smiled wanly, obviously disappointed that a visit in Marshall hadn’t yielded what he so longed for and, most likely, was not going to find on any future stops.

Encouraging Reports from my Chinese home, Luzhou

While the virus is now getting its foothold in America, in China, it is waning.  There have been no more new cases in Wuhan, the epicenter, and in other cities that had been hard-hit.

In Luzhou, my city of 5 million,  the 25 cases there have long since been released from their hospital stay and returned home.  Residents are taking daily constitutionals  along the Yangtze River, pet owners are back to walking their doggies outside (restricted before), streetside sellers line the sidewalks once more, catering to neighborhood needs, and small restaurants are beginning to open their doors to customer regulars.

How nice that news from my Chinese home in Luzhou is so uplifting after such dire reports 8 weeks ago.

Feeling utterly overwhelmed

It is easy for us in America to become disheartened and feel helpless and hopeless.  The same situation met my Chinese friends, students and colleagues in mid-January and February and yet, they survived.

As my best friend, Li Xiaolian (whose English name is Cathy), has been telling me in her text messages: “Fight, fight, fight!  We in Luzhou have successfully conquered the virus.  You will, too.  Take heart.”

Thank you, Cathy!!  We in Marshall, and around the country, will do our best.

Posted in China, coronavirus, coronavirus situation in China, Coronovirus Situation, Illinois, Travel | 1 Comment

For My Methodist Supporters: For your church newsletters, bulletin boards or other means of announcing

Posted on March 15, 2020 by connieinasia

平安 (Ping Ahn),  Peace from here in Illinois!

As many know, I am still in America after having come for my Chinese New Year holidays on February 9.  I have not been able to return yet due to  the current situation concerning COVID-19, which at first was a huge concern in China but is now becoming a major concern here in America.

Sports events, schools, large gatherings or small (including church worship services and conferences) are being canceled. If I am on your visiting schedule for Illinois Great Rivers Conference (IGRC), just let me know if I should continue to come or not.

If you do happen to cancel, or you have not been on my visiting list, I encourage you to read or print out the below as hand-outs or postings in your worship services, bulletins, meetings,  announcement boards or monthly newsletters.

It’s a re-cap of what I’ve said before in these blog entries but condensed and easier to follow.

——————————————————————————————————–

From Amity Foundation Teacher in China, Connie: News of Amity and how we United Methodists are helping China fight the coronavirus

If I were to visit you today, I would tell you a few things about The Amity Foundation, or Amity for short, and our United Methodist Church.

Amity is a Chinese, Christian-founded organization in China and is one of our United Methodist Advance Specials.  I work in Amity’s education division as an English language teacher at the college level but let me tell you about the Amity division that is of particular importance at this moment.

Amity’s Emergency Relief Division in High Gear, with UMCOR support

The Amity Foundation’s emergency relief division has been very busy with the virus situation.

As of February 2,  the Amity Foundation has received a total of RMB 35.57 Million yuan donation, or  $5.3 million, from companies, organizations, online fundraising and individuals.  More generous giving is still coming in.   Our UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) has already committed $10,000 to this effort.

The Amity volunteers, division staff and organizers have been transporting much needed supplies to hard-hit areas in the country, including:

  • 470 tons of various disinfectants
  • 15,000 coveralls
  • 18,000 isolation gowns
  • 50 patient monitors
  • 60 oximeters
  • 31,700 medical protective screens
  • 730 air-purifying respirators
  • 31, 855 protective facemasks
  • 2,240 goggles
  • 1,100 blankets
  • 10,000 virus sampling kits
  • 18,000 KN9 masks
  • 8,400 packets of instant food (noodles, rice, oatmeal) for hospital health workers.

The supplies were delivered to more than 300 hospitals, medical centers, and more than 100 communities and township-level organizations in 14 cities in Hubei and Jiangsu Province, 1 autonomous prefecture and 3 counties. Furthermore, Amity prepared supplies to 7 medical aid teams from Jiangsu, before they departed to Hubei Province.

Christians in China are supporting Amity’s emergency relief operations as well. Chinese churches have raised more than $150,000 US dollars to support Amity’s relief efforts in containing the coronavirus.

Current Situation for the Country and Local Churches

At present, China has done a remarkable job in taking care of the spread of this illness and looking after the needs of the people as best as it can.  The virus is now being controlled and daily life is slowly, cautiously returning to normal.

Despite optimism and relief, Chinese schools, music concerts, movie cinemas, some shopping malls, fitness centers, temples, mosques and churches are still not operating in full swing.

All churches in China have still suspended services but are now connected via online services. A special worship app on your phone can be downloaded and Christians can hear and see their local pastors giving the message, as well as sing hymns and read scripture together while at home.  The app also allows for sharing among churches from different areas of the country so participating in other church services is easily done.

What a wonderful way for Christians across the country to connect and support one another.

My Students

My college students are doing online classes at the moment. Although I was not asked to teach them, the English majors and I have a cell phone support group where we share thoughts and feelings through messaging.

I leave you with one of our more interesting posts by some of my brightest students:

Chen:  I am bored.

Yiyi:  Me, too.

Chen:  Bored from head to toe.

Yiyi:  Ha, ha.

Chen:  Even my nails.  They’re screaming I AM BORED!

YiYi:  You can find something fun to do.

Chen:  Yes.  Cut my nails and shut them up.  Then I’ll be happy.

Please pray for my students, my college faculty and leaders, our world leaders and  those who are in need of healing hands at this time.

Peace and Love,

Connie in Illinois

If you have power point ability and would like visuals, see the below.

The Amity Foundation in Action

My English Education Majors (Class 4, sophomores)

Posted in A Visit Home to America, China, coronavirus, coronavirus situation in China, Luzhou, Luzhou Vocational and Technical College, Travel, Wuhan coronavirus | Leave a comment

Virus rumors abound, and not just in China

Posted on March 11, 2020 by connieinasia

As with any panic situation, it’s just human nature that hearsay abounds.

Concerning the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the rumors listed below have been rampant throughout China.

  1. Masks will protect you 100% 

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This is not exactly true according to our CDC (Center for Disease Control) experts.  Masks that are meant to keep you safe need to be custom fitted, and changed on a daily basis, in order to do any good.  For the average person, washing hands regularly and thoroughly is recommended as a better option.  On the other hand, mask-wearing by healthcare workers is essential to keep them safe from patients who are sick and to keep those doctors and nurses who feel ill from passing on germs to others.

2) The virus disintegrates at 20 degrees C (68 degrees Fahrenheit) so keep your homes hot. “Do not to worry about the amount of electricity used to heat your home,” one Chinese website reported. “Keep your temperatures high and you’ll be safe.”  While it is true viruses do thrive better in cooler temperatures, they can still easily survive in warm environments as well.

3) Pets can carry the virus and need to be euthanized if in contact with a virus-diagnosed owner.

This one is particularly sad. Despite the research that pets are safe from the virus, the Chinese are still overly wary.  There has been an increase of abandoned pets around the epicenter, Wuhan, and throughout Hubei Province within the hardest hit cities.  The worst stories are of residents who contracted the virus.  Many were hospitalized or quarantined at home, then later forced by local authorities to have their pets immediately put to sleep “just in case.”

4) Strong liquor kills the virus; the more you drink, the less likely you are to get it.  

In other words, staying intoxicated during this entire outbreak will perhaps save your life.

These are just a few that have been adamantly defended as being accurate by Chinese locals, even though Chinese medical professionals have said again and again to ignore such ridiculous announcements.

The last, drinking the virus away, was targeted directly at Luzhou, my city of 5 million.  Luzhou is considered the liquor capital of the world, being famous for Luzhou Laojiao (泸州老窖) , a potent whiskey.  When the “consume more liquor” was announced on social media in late January, the whiskey shelves began to empty in many supermarkets and mom-and-pop stores across the city.  I’m guessing some clever shop owner in the Luzhou whiskey business started the rumor as he foresaw the mandatory closure of all public businesses, including his liquor store.  Smart move as I’m sure he sold out in a flash, giving him an edge over his competitors before all shops were closed by government edicts and no one was able to sell wares. (Businesses are now beginning to re-open but many still remain closed as concerned residents continue to stay at home and not patron local stores.)

When it comes to the virus, untruths, half-truths and just plain cockamamy nonsense cloud judgements.

And it’s not just in China. Here in America, it is starting as well.

We all know of bubble-wrap:  Those special packaging plastic bubble sheets full of air that protect and cushion fragile merchandise from breaking.

         Well, according to the latest USA rumor, don’t dare pop those little guys because, as we all know, bubble wrap comes from China and the virus might be contained in any one of those small pockets of air.  It could very well be your Amazon order, straight from the warehouse and carefully engulfed in bubble wrap, might carry with it a more sinister danger than you thought.

Educated folks scoff, “A virus clear from China surviving in an air bubble?   With the sheets most likely produced weeks, maybe months, before the virus was even an issue? Preposterous!”

I totally agree. Preposterous, indeed!

And that’s exactly what I’m thinking as I gingerly, cautiously pull out all the bubble wrap I’ve been using to pack up my mom’s dishes for her house move and placing it (unbroken) in the recycling bin … just in case.

Here’s wishing you 平安 (ping ahn), peace, for your day … and virus-free bubble wrap.

 

Posted in A Visit Home to Marshall, China, coronavirus, coronavirus, Illinois, Luzhou Vocational and Technical College, Tales of China, Travel | Leave a comment

From America, the daily English prayer still continues

Posted on March 7, 2020 by connieinasia

 

Photo taken last year:  The Everlasting Love Choir at the Luzhou Protestant Church: My steadfast church family! Can you find me? Hard to miss the blond hair!

Below is an excerpt from my 2019 Winter newsletter.  

My Chinese Church Choir:  United in Prayer                    

In the last newsletter, I mentioned joining the church’s 35-strong Everlasting Love adult choir.  

       Our main means of communication is via phone text messaging.  When I became a choir member, I joined two chat groups:  Women’s Voices (altos and sopranos) and Daily Scripture Readings.  The former announces choir rehearsal information, worship reminders and special prayer requests. The latter lists scriptures for the day, which we are to read and reply to as having done so.  Because the scripture readings are all in Chinese, a difficult challenge for me, one of the sopranos was concerned.  

         To make me feel more integrated with the messaging group, she suggested we add an English chat group, where others could join and learn English Christian vocabulary.  Scriptures in English and Chinese could be posted and I could give a daily prayer, which I would record for everyone to listen to, practice and repeat on their own.

        Since we began our English Christian group, we’ve had several congregation members outside of the choir who have also joined us. Every morning, the first thing I do is post our daily prayer and read it aloud as a voice message. Throughout the day, others also record the daily prayer and read it aloud to the group.  While I do pray every day, I must say that praying for and with these special Chinese brothers and sisters in Christ has made me feel more connected to the Christian faith than at any other time in my life.

End of newsletter excerpt

Current Circumstances:  Daily English Prayer Continues

As already reported, all public gatherings have been canceled across the country and this suggested policy by local governments is still in effect.  This includes religious places of worship, whether that be temples, mosques or churches.  Luzhou’s Protestant church has turned to online worship services on Sunday, which can be watched on a downloaded App.  You can hear and see our pastors taking turns to give the message, and sing along with taped music and words flowing across your cellphone or computer screen.

Although the choir is not meeting for practices or worship, we continue to keep in contact and I still post our daily English prayer.

One individual is in charge of posting our scripture readings.  These are in Chinese, with a majority of Christian cellphone users having the Bible app installed on their phones.   They can meditate on the full Bible at any time, anywhere, easily looking up verses and enlarging them for easier reading.   The Bible app also has the ability to translate into any language.  I can easily highlight any Chinese scripture and move to “translate” for a full English version. How convenient for me!

As for the English prayer, that is my responsibility and I take it very seriously.  No matter where I am, I make sure to post our group prayer.  Because of the world time changes, with China 13 hours ahead of me in Illinois, I usually post the prayer in the evening for my choir members to read as their day begins.

A Precious Document

In January, one of our choir members decided to compile into one document all prayers and scripture readings we had posted for 2019.  This document she made available to all of us who were interested.  Of course, my 365 prayers were included, along with the dates posted.

So much devotion, care, concern and love is found in that compiled document.  It is something that I treasure and we choir members take comfort in, especially in this unbelievable situation (that of the virus) that we find ourselves in.

I leave you with my message this evening, just posted for tomorrow’s new day in China:

Today’s Prayer:  Dear Lord, As each day ends, help me reflect upon changes I must make to better serve you.  As each new day begins, lead me to become a better friend, a better family member, a better person and a better Christian.  In your name I pray, Amen.

From Illinois, here’s wishing you 平安 (ping an), peace, for your day.

 

Posted in A Visit Home to America, China, coronavirus, Luzhou: Yangtze Rivertown Stories, Travel | 1 Comment

March 2: Luzhou Vocational and Technical College Begins Online Teaching

Posted on March 4, 2020 by connieinasia

Luzhou Vocational and Technical College is still empty of students and most teachers. Only leaders and administrators are making regular visits at this time.

It’s March 3, and my college in China was scheduled to begin their online teaching program yesterday.

During the past week, I have been in touch with Danli, one of my Chinese colleagues who was to share duties among others in taking over my conversation courses with the freshmen, Lesson Design with the sophomores and then Lindsey’s conversation courses with the sophomores.  In total, that made 32 extra hours per week  of teaching for someone, thus the decision to dole out our workload to other teachers.

As reported previously, teachers were waiting for confirmation of starting online courses and it seems that came through last week.  Danli is my source and she had news last week.  Here is what she told me:

— Online teaching will begin for the month of March.  All teachers were required to send in a teaching plan for 1 month to their departments, which in turn would send to the office in charge of teaching affairs at the college.

–Teachers have not been allowed to return to the campus since January 26. However, because they will need their teaching materials for online classes, it was decided that a rotating system will be in effect.  Teachers will pick up name badges at the front gates which will allow them to enter the college  in staggered time slots.  They can go to their assigned offices to get textbooks or download what’s needed from office computers before returning home.  Administrators will continue to come and go as needed. (See pictures below of limited staff coming to the school as of today:  Temperature checks are done as each person enters.)

— My conversation classes and Lindsey’s have been canceled.  Only core courses for the English majors will be taught.

My Musings

While only a month’s lesson plans were requested, I am guessing this will be extended month by month until the central government deems it appropriate for students to return to school.

At present, from what I understand, schools are still not in session with a majority turning to online teaching so students can continue with their studies.  My greatest hope is that I can return to China in mid-May, although by then, it might be that the virus has spread throughout the States and China won’t want me back! There might be concern of re-contamination, which could very likely be the case.  You never know.

From Illinois, here’s wishing you 平安 (ping an) for your day.

 

 

 

 

Posted in A Visit Home to Marshall, China, coronavirus, From Along the Yangtze, Luzhou Vocational and Technical College, Travel, Visit To The States, Wuhan coronavirus | 2 Comments

An Interview with my EIU alma mater

Posted on February 28, 2020 by connieinasia

Posted in A Visit Home to America, China, coronavirus, Luzhou Vocational and Technical College, Tales of China, Travel | Leave a comment

The Coronavirus: Rays of Hope!

Posted on February 26, 2020 by connieinasia

The Before:  Concern, Worry, Preparation for Online Teaching

10 days ago, I was sent this text message on WeChat:  “Hi, Connie! I received all the lesson plans you sent me but, unfortunately, I don’t have your book.   Can you tell me how to get your textbook?  I maybe will teach some of your conversation classes.”

Danli, at my home for Christmas.

That was Danli, one of my department’s novice English teachers who has been assigned to teach my freshmen conversation course.  She lives off campus with her parents and was unable to come across town due to travel restrictions in the city and at the college, both of which were limiting access to our school except for administrators and necessary personnel.  Basically, the message for all was: “Stay at home unless allowed.”

At that time, I had coordinated with “Bruce” Lu (who lives below me in the same apartment building and has my apartment key) to enter my home, get the book needed and arrange for a Didi (a private taxi service, comparable to Uber) to pick up the book and deliver it to her across town.

“Bruce” Lu, to the far right, at an English Center meeting with students.

My back-up plan, if she never received it, was to send  photographed pages from the textbook itself, which I just happen to have an older version of sitting here in my Marshall home.

Although not updated, the older version of my textbook from 2010 (here at my USA home) still contains tried-and-true lessons which currently are included in my 2019-2020 version.

As the days progressed, Danli still hadn’t arranged for the textbook’s arrival, nor had the school set up their online teaching system quite yet.

Administrators and school leaders, I heard, have been working around the clock addressing government city and provincial edicts, announcements, reports and required health initiatives for the campus grounds.  This includes constant disinfectant spraying (dubious as to why or if that helps), checking up on workers who are taking turns in the cafeteria for those on campus needing fed (leaders, administrators, teachers or students still housed at the school) and monitoring the South Africans who are still stuck in their dormitories.  Every day, early morning, they are visited for temperature checks by whoever is in charge and those temperatures are recorded for health officials.

This has been ongoing for the past 10 days.

And now? The country’s cases are beginning  to level off.

Rays of Hope

CNN reported the following today:

“Dr. Bruce Aylward, team leader for the World Health Organization-China joint mission on coronavirus, ……. and a team of 25 people visited several areas in China, including Wuhan, went to see how China was addressing the virus. Aylward said China is using basic public health tools and applying them with rigor and innovation on a scale never seen in history.

“It’s the unanimous assessment of the team that they have changed the course of this outbreak. What was a rapidly escalating outbreak has plateaued and then come down faster than one would have expected,” Aylward said, adding hundreds of thousands of people in China did not get this because of this response.”

Effects of Positivity

Danli’s texts and voice mails today gave far more upbeat news than before.

Next week, teachers will be able  to come to the campus in staggered entries to go to their offices, pick up materials and other important documents.   Special ID cards will be given to all teachers which will allow them to enter the school as sanctioned faculty.  Everyone, however,  must still wear a mask.

Online teaching at my college has not yet begun but is expected to begin in the next few weeks, after a system has been installed.  I imagine detailed instructions are needed for both teachers and students involved: how to log on, when to log on, how attendance will be taken, interaction policies (homework collections, assignment sharing, etc) and what will be eventually set up for final exam testing.

My guess is that  testing will take place when students are allowed to return to the campus.  That would make sense and give validity to crediting students for having completed mandatory courses for their graduation certificates.

My foreign language-teaching Friends:  Online instruction has already begun

I have heard from several of my friends who have already started online teaching.

Ian Groves, a former Amity Foundation teacher, returned to Britain in early January due to the death of his mother.  He has been teaching for numerous years in a Hong Kong junior high school.  He arrived in England just before the virus had been announced a problem.  His school immediately set up their online teaching program and he has been doing from early February while in Britain. He was required to return by Feb. 17, to attend meetings and continue with in-school duties, but I have not heard if his school gave permission for him to delay his arrival.

A current Amity teacher, Karin, is from Germany.  This is to be her last semester in China before retiring in full from her many years working for Amity.   She returned to her home country for the Chinese New Year and over a week ago, had plans of being back at her school in Baotou (located in China’s province, Inner Mongolia), despite the fact students were not to return yet.    That was before her university said they would enforce her to participate in a 2-week quarantine in her campus apartment with no ability to go out .  Daily temperature checks would be required and her meals would be delivered until that 14-day confinement ended.

She was also informed by Lufthansa, her airline, that it would be mid-March before a return to China was an option.  At present, all flights have been canceled with only tentative start-up dates given.  Like with my US airlines, adjustments will be made according to the progression of the virus.

Like me, Karin is stuck where she is.

Karin’s school has already started with their online courses.  Devoted teacher that she is, Karin told me she has already coordinated with her students’ monitors (class leaders) when to log on to WeChat for group classes.

Good for her!  You go, girl!

My Situation: Helper, Presenter and House-mover

As for me,  my college didn’t ask me to move to online teaching from America but merely assigned my classes to someone else.  I will be working with those needing help as much as I can.

And, as mentioned before, I will be itinerating (traveling) in my state of Illinois and also in Georgia and South Carolina to give presentations on the Amity Foundation and my experiences in China as a teacher and a Christian.

Plus, strangely enough, this extra time in America is proving to be a blessing in disguise. My mom is downsizing, moving to a smaller home, and this is giving me plenty of time to weed out my stuff from hers, package need-to-keep things  into storage bins, haul  off give-aways to the Goodwill, clean out drawers and tackle all else that needs done for a full house move.

Yesterday’s Adventure:  A Visit to the Attic

This is the after picture of the attic clean-out

Yesterday was the attic, which no one had visited in 37 years.  That had me dragging boxes down and piling into my old bedroom for a go-through.  My mom and I will be tackling that room this week.

Here it is, folks!

What treasures will we be finding?  I’ve already pulled out her 1950’s hats, her wedding dress hoop-skirt and petticoat, clothes she sewed herself (she was a master seamstress!) along with her hat collection,

 

my comic book collection (300 +),

not to mention piles of detailed journals from junior high, a 2-week archaeological dig in Tunisia (high school), college years, and Japan.

Goodness!  So much stuff, and so many memories.

Wish us luck, folks.  We’ll need it.  Here’s wishing you 平安 (ping an, peace) for your day.

 

Posted in A Visit Home to Marshall, China, coronavirus, Luzhou Vocational and Technical College, Luzhou: Yangtze Rivertown, Tales from The Yangtze River, Travel | Leave a comment

My friend, Australian Geoff, gives Weekly Luzhou Updates

Posted on February 24, 2020 by connieinasia
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Geoff and Snow in Luzhou, along the Yangtze

The story of Australian Geoff and his Chinese wife (a Luzhou native), English teacher “Snow” Xue, is a long one. Let me give you as brief a history as I can muster.  I might have missed a few important facts but I think I’ve gotten the best bits.

Geoff, An Australian on Walk-about Who Lands in China

Geoff is a history teacher out of Australia who left his country to teach in Africa for a number of years.  A divorcee, he adopted a young African girl as his daughter. She later was schooled in Australia, graduated from University and now has a wonderful job working in a public relations company in Australia.

Geoff’s strong ties to Africa ended when he decided to try teaching in China.  He landed in Luzhou, my city, where he taught English at several schools and at different grade levels:  college, junior high and high school.  One of those schools employed English teacher Ms. Xue, whose English name was Snow.  She was also divorced with a teenage daughter at that time who was being raised by Snow’s mother-in-law.

Snow was a vibrant, energetic, warm-hearted woman in her 40s whose personality drew everyone into her presence.  Even the grumpiest, nastiest of people melted under her charms.  She was always a bright spot in the day of whoever met her, an endearing soul whom we all admired, loved, respected and adored.

Wherever she went, she gathered people around her of all ages.  She organized school outings, parties for the foreigners in Luzhou, and gatherings in her apartment for any and all who wanted to visit.  She was constantly on-the-go, even teaching for free (or with a small fee) night English classes or special weekend English classes to children, their parents and even the very wealthy (and not-so-wealthy) of Luzhou.  (See my blog entry “The Ladies who Lunch”, June 30, 2016)

Her enthusiastic helpfulness and friendliness were fully extended to Geoff, a newcomer to China, who was having difficulty adjusting to a country which was very unlike Africa.  The language, the culture, the customs, the mind-thought of the Chinese, the bureaucracy of the system — all of these were taking a toll on Geoff’s sanity until Snow stepped in to advise, aid, guide and gently introduce him to her beloved China.

Their Time in Africa as English Teachers

Over the next few years, a special relationship developed between the two:  that of romance. Then, surprise! The two were married.  After the marriage, Snow applied for  a 2-year leave of absence from her school to travel with Geoff to Africa where they enrolled in the Australian version of the Peace Corps. They both taught English in Uganda.

After their 2-year commitment ended, they returned to China with Geoff coming and going throughout the next few years (Australia, China, Africa) while Snow continued to teach English at her junior high school.  The plan was for Snow to reach the age of 55 (retirement age in China for women) so she could then receive her pension.  After that, she and Geoff planned to travel the world, perhaps even settling down in Uganda for a few years.

The Devastating Stroke

3 years ago, when Snow was 51 years old, the Chinese New Year holidays arrived.   Geoff and Snow decided to spend their vacation time in Uganda to re-connect with old friends and students they had taught those many years ago as volunteers.  The trip was  about 5 weeks and included many countryside outings, hiking and once again being reunited with  the people they had come to love.

A few days before they were to return to China, they landed in Kampala, where they were to fly out of, to rest up a bit before the long trip back to Luzhou.  It was there, in the hostel, that Snow had a massive stroke while in the room where they were staying.  Geoff just happened to walk in the door as she suddenly stumbled out of the bathroom, saying, “Geoff, I think I’m having a heart attack.”  After that, she fell into his arms.

It was pure luck that Geoff was able to immediately rush her by taxi to the Kampala hospital, a few blocks away, where the best neurosurgeon in the country happened to be visiting.  She was in a coma for 10 days.  No one knew if she would wake up or not.  No one knew what brain damage had been done: Would she be able to talk, to move, to know what was going on around her, to function at all, or have any true quality of life?  It was a very difficult, emotionally draining time for Geoff as he visited the hospital, day after day, remaining by her side and praying, hoping for the best.

Those of us who were their friends received daily updates via emails from Geoff about her progress.  These updates began from her stay in Africa to her eventual move to an Australian nursing home for over a year and now, her return to Luzhou.

Her recovery was, needless to say, incredible, verging on miraculous, although she still has limitations.  She is confined to a wheelchair most of the time but has managed to walk a bit with unaided help. Through all these difficulties and challenges, Geoff has been by her side, reporting on a regular basis about his life with Snow.

Luzhou on Lockdown:  Geoff’s Musings and Stories   

I am in touch with many in Luzhou but those are Chinese, who have limited vocabulary to fully express what is happening and whose opinions are not fully voiced.

Geoff, on the other hand, has a lot of insight and gives a very different update that I receive from Chinese nationals.  His weekly updates can be found at:  snows.site123.me

Here are a few excerpts:

February 16:  Geoff Reports

By mid-week it was apparent that bio-security measures were becoming even more rigorous with recreational areas being cordoned off to further discourage people from going out – the whole riverside promenade on which I normally run 2 or 3 mornings a week is now a no go; no swimming, kite flying, jogging, strolling, etc. See the photo of the deserted area – we were passing by as it was being roped off. Also, the extensive park near the downtown area now completely closed as well small alleyways blocked off. 

For the first time on Thursday I saw workers dressed in full white bio-security suites with goggles walking the streets as well as the first evidence of army medics being deployed, with a PLA medical vehicle stationed outside a hospital.

Yesterday saw the roll out of the harshest Wuhan-like restrictions across the city by the municipal authorities – each household must register with the housing complex manager to get pass outs which allow only 1 person from the household to leave the complex for 2 hours every 2nd day to buy food. (However, we were told that we would be allowed to go together because we are a special case.)

Exits will be recorded – the complex managers being responsible for the system’s administration. People will have their passes checked at the entry to supermarkets before being allowed in. 

February 21st, Friday:  Geoff Reports

The 3 year mark (since Snow’s stroke) passed a little after midnight this morning here. For some reason I stayed up last night until 12, which is very unusual for me, so I was just drifting off to sleep with Snow when the time slipped by. To sustain the level of care required, I’ve had to adopt a strict daily regimen of sleeping 11 to 7, getting Snow up at 7.30, giving her breakfast and toileting her before I get myself out to exercise by 9 every other day to maintain my fitness. This week, because of the restrictions on going out, I’ve been doing circuits of the stairwell – 17 floors x 4 times (run up; lift down) followed by jogging around the courtyard (100m) 10 times, about the best I can do in considering the circumstances.

However, things did start to relax mid-week. Apparently an instruction had been issued from Beijing on Thursday a week ago after a meeting of senior leaders to call for all areas to adopt measures similar to Wuhan. This led to the frantic activity on Friday to implement such stringent procedures which took effect on Saturday. But it would seem that some municipalities, including Luzhou, were over–zealous in their interpretation of the edict and it was wound back after a few days – apparently local governments were notified during the week from Beijing that they could now take steps appropriate to their situation and as there had been no new cases in Luzhou in the 6 days up to Wednesday the draconian measures were lifted. We can now go out whenever we want but are still encouraged to do so only when necessary – however people from other housing complexes are still barred from entering and temperature screening is continuing at entrances to all housing complexes, as well as at the entry to shops.

By yesterday some of the temporary barriers that had been erected to funnel people passed screening posts were being removed and a sprinkling of businesses beginning to re-open.

– a few mobile phone stores, a copy shop, a couple of clothing shops, a small hardware store, some hairdressing salons and a motor repair garage, an essential service to maintain considering the spluttering bus that passed by us the other day. Nevertheless, business must be very slow as there are still relatively few people out and about but I expect that things may pick up tomorrow as the prefecture government has given the green light for most businesses to re-open, the exception being anything to do with entertainment – restaurants, bars, KTV, tea houses and the like – any place where people might congregate in groups. For that reason, schools and colleges will remain closed for longer. Photos – Snow outside our local mini-market with a motor workshop open next door; a women’s clothing store readying their display; a hardware shop with a disinfectant sprayer about to mount his motor bike.

Taking a walk along the river yesterday afternoon it was pretty much back to normal, with the winter swimmers again bracing the icy conditions and the kite flyers back at it as well as numerous people out for a stroll.

A Return to Normalcy on the Verge?

I would say that last report from Geoff  seems to indicate that Luzhou is starting to open up a bit more. That is some relief.  I hope as the weeks progress, more news of a return to normalcy will emerge.

Here I leave you with a couple of pictures of Geoff, Snow and myself after their return to Luzhou.

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In the Luzhou Protestant Church.  The two arrived to enjoy a special church program rehearsal

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Geoff and Snow came for my college’s 117th year anniversary gala performance.  Yes, I was in full gala attire for a poetry reading performance with my Chinese colleagues.

 

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It’s my greatest joy to schedule Christmas Open Houses in my home for students, colleagues and friends.  This was my night for friends, with Geoff bringing Snow.

 

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Love you, Snow!!

Posted in China, coronavirus, From Along the Yangtze, Luzhou, Luzhou Vocational and Technical College, Luzhou: Yangtze Rivertown, Travel, Visit To The States | 1 Comment

Newsletter Recipients, Take Notice! Itineration changes — March 1 – April 13

Posted on February 19, 2020 by connieinasia

This posting regards my most recent newsletter, which was sent out today.

For those who are not aware of my snail-mail updates, I send out 2 newsletters a year:  Winter and Spring.  This newsletter is formatted, run off, stuffed and sealed by my hometown church and helpers, then mailed out to (currently) 877 on my newsletter list.  I have my own NGO mailing code so the cost of mailing is very reasonable, a total of $163 this time around.  Paper, envelopes, colored ink costs add about $225 for a total of around $400 per mailing.  This is paid for by many of you who donate to my newsletter fund and also by  funding from the United Methodist GBGM.

The Current Newsletter

When I landed on Jan. 9, I immediately began the process of getting this out to everyone.  I hate waiting until the last minute and wanted the news to get to people ASAP.

Within 8 days, my newsletter was ready to go and about to be mailed.  However, all the preparation work involved was before the virus was truly problematic.  I had 877 newsletters with updates that appeared all of China was normal and I would be returning on time to begin the school year as always.

A Late Mailing; Changes in Updates

Also reported in that newsletter was my itineration (visiting) dates in the summer to do presentations and talks about Amity and China.  I do this every 3 years as a part of my contract before it is renewed.  Little did I know that I would be immediately “stuck” in the States for at least 2 or 3 months, even longer, until US flights began to return to China.

Rather than throw away 877 sealed newsletters to change the dates, and give virus news,  I left the updates as-is and held off mailing hem until today.

The General Board of Global Ministries, and the Amity Foundation, have all approved of a different plan:  I am now itineration from March 1 – April 13, maybe even further onward.

The contact person is the same but the dates are not so those of you who are on the newsletter list, and happen to check this website, be aware of this.

Want A Visit? March 1 – April 13 —  Who to Contact

My contact person is the same person in the newsletter.  Only the dates have changed.

If you want to be on my itineration schedule, please contact:   Carolyn Yockey at CLPY508@aol.com; Telephone 309-452-3936.   Address:  508 Normal Avenue, Normal IL  61761. 

A Few Other Notes

I’ve had several people ask me where Wuhan, the virus epicenter, is located compared to my city, Luzhou,  in Sichuan Province.  See below:  Wuhan first photo; Luzhou (near Zigong), second photo

The two are 700 miles apart but at present, all cities are on lockdown with no one going in or out of city limits.  Self-Quarantine is necessary if you are going from city to city for any reason. In many cases, national highway police will not allow private cars on toll roads unless necessary.  Trucks, long distance buses, and emergency vehicles  are all fine with signed, proper paperwork allowing them road use..

Closing Things Off

It’s been years since I’ve been home for Valentine’s Day so February 14th became a fun event in my home.  My mom and I prepared our Valentines for one another with goodies, chocolates and cards.

Bridget’s First Valentine’s Day in America

Who came away on top? It was Miss B, Little Bridget!  Our Chinese rescue had her very first Valentine’s Day celebration in her adopted country, complete with a Valentine’s Day  bear gift (Dollar Store, so great!) ………

and plenty of lovin’.

Now there is one very lucky, spoiled little Chinese immigrant.

From Illinois, here’s wishing you Peace (平安), ping an, for your day.

Posted in A Visit Home to America, A Visit Home to Marshall, China, coronavirus, coronavirus situation in China, From Along the Yangtze, Illinois, Luzhou, Smalltown American Life, Travel | Tagged | Leave a comment