【“在一起，师院人众志成城抗击疫情”征文选登（十四）】

Xinyang Normal University for the Spring Festival 2020   

DOSTER CHARLES SIMEON

I am a foreigner who came to China 18 years ago, so you might say China is my second home. For the last five years I have lived in Xinyang, (Henan Province, China, PRC) where I have held a teaching position at Xinyang Normal University.

The people of China are customarily very happy, harmonious and peaceful. The Spring Festival in 2020 approached, and the people of Xinyang Normal University were preparing to rejoice the coming of the traditional "Chinese lunar new year " as in previous years. It was the hope of the officials and staff of Xinyang Normal University to express their love and blessing of teachers, friends and students to herald-in, “the warmth of spring", and commemorate the traditional spring activities.

The Chinese Spring Festival is normally a celebration of family, friends and visitors with tenderness and feasting on Chinese dumplings. Unfortunately, we have had an unusual 2020 Spring Festival.

Sadly, the novel coronavirus epidemic is assaulting the gentle people of China and is taking its toll. In response the management, officials and staff of Xinyang Normal University (Where I live and work) Immediately became proactive to protect all the people including their guest and visitors. The novel coronavirus has proven to be a deadly health threat.  We are deeply saddened for those unfortunate people who have died and others who are at risk in this difficult time. We… myself and my colleagues, have experienced caring and warmth, extended to us by the school leaders every day. The Management and staff of Xinyang Normal University care for us foreigners as if we were their family members. The administrators and staff at Xinyang Normal University have sacrificed their own time to reunite and enjoy their families.  The administrators and staff, labor, work every day to be helpful, and assist members of the University, community, visitors and foreigners. It is as-if we all, are family.

The Chinese people have a tenacious an enterprising spirit. As the Chinese built the Great Wall so many centuries ago, they are capable of similar Iron-will determination today in the modern world. The high-risk areas for the novel coronavirus epidemic are amazingly well quarantined and anti-epidemic precautions have been established throughout China. Materials have been supplied without interruption by various entities and localities, demonstrating China's strength and spirit. It took only ten days for China to build two hospitals and put them into use immediately.

The Chinese have declared war on the novel coronavirus epidemic. In ancient times of war Chinese warriors wore robes. Today the heroes wear the white robes and lab coats of doctors, nurses, orderlies, and the common worker. The unity of the Chinese people is in their blood and deeply engraved in their spirit. "When troubles occur at one spot, help comes from all quarters."

 In January 21 of this year, I came down with an illness. The officials of Xinyang Normal University were very concerned as to my health. Of course, there were concerns that I may… be infected, with the coronavirus. So, due to the concern for my health and welfare my supervisor along with her superiors decided to have me sent to the hospital by ambulance. Well, it was proven that I did not have the coronavirus, and I recovered from my illness. Xinyang Normal University provided a car to take me to my apartment. Since then, I have been in my apartment under quarantine conditions. This is necessary for my protection. It’s not just me; all of us foreign and Chinese teachers come under the protection of this quarantine. Are students stay at home so they won’t be spreading any infection. We give our lessons via the Internet. I personally believe that these measures are necessary for everybody’s protection, for the purpose of stopping the spread of this potentially deadly disease.

Certain staff-members of Xinyang Normal University, have groceries delivered to my apartment, as well as medications and anything else I need. The university and my supervisors covered the expense of everything, I suspect that officials and staff have paid for everything, out of their own pockets. But I am not sure. I have only been told not to worry about the money right now. This goes to show the concern and caring of the people and staff with Xinyang Normal University.

I know that my own country has made efforts to evacuate foreign citizens from China. But I haven’t heard anything about other countries offering help to China in the handling of this pandemic health threat. I do know about the World news report concerning “the Wuhan nurses' plea for international medics to help fight the coronavirus”. I have heard some critical remarks from international news sources about China’s handling of this dangerous disease. Many people worry after watching the negative news reports, but I think that, there has not been enough help offered from the international community. The coronavirus could become a threat to everybody… internationally. I personally believe that, when your neighbor’s house is on fire, you don’t stand around and criticize the way he fights the fire. You join in the bucket brigade to help your neighbor put out the fire. I strongly suspect that misconceptions and/or havoc may occur due to irresponsible news media. I think it’s best, sometimes, to not believe everything you hear in the news.

I think it is good to pray that China will overcome the difficulties caused by this epidemic as soon as possible. I think that it is best and more importantly that the nations of the international community contribute, and be helpful in Chinas war against the novel coronavirus.

（作品采自“在一起，师院人众志成城抗击疫情”主题征文，作者系我校外籍教师）

信阳师范学院的2020年春节

    外籍教师DOSTER CHARLES SIMEON

我是一个18年前来到中国的外国人，所以中国是我的第二故乡。在过去的五年里，我一直住在中国河南省信阳市，我在信阳师范学院担任教职工作。

中国人民通常是非常幸福、和睦、和平的。2020年春节临近，信阳师范学院的师生朋友们像往年一样，准备喜迎传统的“中国农历新年”的到来。信阳师范学院的领导老师们希望借此机会表达对老师、朋友和学生的关爱和祝福，传颂“春天的温暖”，作为对传统节日的纪念。中国的春节通常是家人、朋友和来客的温情节日，大家一起品尝中国特色的饮食—饺子。遗憾的是，我们度过了一个不同寻常的2020年春节。

令人悲伤的是，新型冠状病毒疫情正在袭击温和善良的中国人民，并造成很多损失。面对新型冠状病毒疫情，信阳师范学院相关工作人员立即采取积极措施，保护所有的师生朋友，特别是我们这群外国朋友。新型冠状病毒已被证明是一种致命的威胁。我们对那些不幸去世的人和其他在这个困难时期处于危险中的人深感悲痛。但我和我的同事们感受到了学校每天给予我们的关怀和温暖。信阳师范学院就像对待他们的家人一样关爱着我们外国人。信阳师范学院的相关工作人员牺牲自己与家人团聚、享受家庭生活的时间，他们每天都在工作，为整个学校教职工、为社区、为来访者以及外国人提供各种帮助。仿佛我们就是一家人。

通过这次疫情，我感觉到，中国人民具有顽强进取的精神。 许多世纪前中国人修建了长城，在现代世界中他们一样具备钢铁般的意志。 新型冠状病毒流行的高风险地区以令人惊叹的方式得到有效隔离。全国各地都建立了防疫措施。各地方源源不断地提供物资，彰显了中国力量和精神。中国仅用了十天时间就建成了两家医院并立即投入使用。

中国人已经向新型冠状病毒疫情宣战。在古代战争中，中国勇士穿着长袍。今天，英雄们穿着白色长袍和防护服在坚强的抗战，直到最后一刻。“一方有难，八方支援”！中国人民的团结，流淌在他们的血液里，深深地铭刻在他们的精神里。

2020年1月26日，我得了一场病。信阳师范学院的领导老师非常关心我的健康。当然，他们也会担心我可能会感染了冠状病毒。因此，出于对我健康的考虑，我的主管老师和上级领导决定用救护车把我送到医院。最后事实证明我没有感染新型冠状病毒，我康复的时候，学校提供车把我安全送到我的公寓。从那时起，我就一直在我的公寓处于隔离状态，这种对我的保护是必要的。针对在家的大学生们，我们通过互联网授课。我个人认为，为了保护每个人，为了阻止这种潜在致命疾病的蔓延，这些措施是必要的。

疫情期间，信阳师范学院的一些工作人员会把我需要的食品、日常用品、药品以及其他所需送到我的公寓。外教管理工作人员帮我支付了所有的费用，我觉得他们是先垫付了我的费用。我只是被告知现在无需担心钱的问题。这让我感觉到信阳师范学院师生员工的关心和关爱。

我知道，我自己的国家（美国）已经努力从中国撤离美国公民。但我还没有听到其他国家为中国应对这一流行性健康威胁而提供帮助的消息。我也知道世界新闻报道“武汉护士请求国际医护人员帮助抗击冠状病毒”。我从国际新闻来源听到了一些关于中国处理这一危险疾病的批评言论。很多人在看到负面新闻后感到担忧，但我认为，国际社会没有提供足够的帮助。冠状病毒可能在国际间对每个人都构成威胁。我个人认为，当你邻居的房子着火时，你不能站在周围批评他救火的方式。你应该加入救火队来帮助你的邻居灭火。我强烈怀疑，不负责任的新闻媒体可能会引来误解或混乱。我认为，有时最好不要一切尽信您在新闻中听到的。

我衷心祝愿中国尽快克服这场疫情带来的困难，我们始终与您同在。

（此文系我校国际交流合作处教师王秋霞、雷思雨翻译）