【“在一起，师院人众志成城抗击疫情”征文选登（十三）】
Our Experience in China over the COVID-19
Taryn Murugan and Karun Murugan
While there are many outside perceptions &differing reports daily, on many issues surrounding the COVID-19, I’m sharing our personal experiences.
BACKGROUND
My husband Karun & I are South Africans, who have been living in China for 5 years. We spent the last 3.5years in Xinyang, Henan Province. So, when we share our experiences, it’s in line with our personal interactions, discoveries and conclusions, as we undoubtedly consider China as our second home.
Unlike the generalisation by many of the Chinese, we have seen, heard & felt ONLY warmth, generosity & camaraderie by All of The People Of China. This has been even more strongly felt and displayed by ALL of the Chinese people, especially, during this very trying time in China with the battle of the COVID-19 coming to surface.
CHINESE NEW YEAR
We teach at Xinyang Normal University. Traditionally, the University Staff and students arrange very flamboyant gala events, recitals with song & dance, extravagant dinners with elaborate gifts. This year was no different!
The Department Heads, Deans, CCP Leaders, Assistants, and general staff of Xinyang Normal University pulled out all the stops. Students shared their holiday plans with so much enthusiasm. Some of them had not seen their families in 4 months or more, and this reunion was going to be absolutely spectacular. You could feel the thrill & excitement in their voices. After all, Chinese Spring Festival is a time of festivities, migration of individuals from all parts of China to their homes, meeting of families over extravagant meals, lots of laughter, giving & receiving of Red Packets (Cash in Envelopes) and dressing up in their finest.
This year, Chinese New Year fell on Saturday 25th January 2020. About a week earlier, the spread of Corona Virus was detected in Wuhan.
The outbreak became so rapid that Xinyang went into lockdown from 25th January 2020 - On that fateful day the entire Nation was deprived of a joyous New Year celebration. All modes of transportations were affected: flights cancelled, trains, buses, public & private taxis stopped their services. All businesses closed their doors, street vendors were nowhere in sight.
That day we went downtown, it was painful!
The streets were desolate, businesses were closed, shelves still fully stocked, loads of unsold Chinese New Year Decorations & the few people we can across were subdued and sombre, this broke our hearts! Xinyang was reduced to a ghost town. Very sad indeed and it remains like that. Understandably, these are all the necessary steps in containing the contamination.
PRECAUTIONS
Now, at the onset of the Outbreak in Wuhan, the overly concerned University Staff made several personal calls to check on all their teachers and our Individual wellbeing. Lots of precautionary measures were shared. We were immediately notified to:
Remain Indoors
Avoid Crowds
Report on our movements
Advise them if we have any special needs
Wear Masks, SHOULD we step out the apartment (only by prior arrangements)
To maintain our safety, that travel plans be either Changed or Cancelled
Practice the necessary hygienic routines of not rubbing our eyes & washing our hands
Use the main entrance, where our temperatures are taken when we depart the University, &again upon re-entry.
Face Masks were hand delivered for use (Only required when outdoors)
While all of this maybe restrictive, personally we’re quite comfortable and respect that these are the necessary steps for our safety, in curtailing unnecessary infections.
INDOORS
Being homebound has given us the time to speak more often to the families back home. We correct the misconceptions and havoc that the foreign media has caused.
Our mums are 92 & 86 years old respectively, they worry about everything; now, more than anything else, as there are constant negative news in the headlines. We’ve asked that they, and hoards of our friends& family, to stop watching the News & not believe everything that the media presents.
We are comfortable, happy & safe and that’s all that matters! They seek comfort from hearing that in our voices & can see us on the many video calls that we share.
Daily, we receive updated reports via WeChat, tons of motivational videos, local & international developments, flight movements & the government sharing frequent new rules & regulations, all of this information has just kept us believing just how strong this Chinese Nation is.
INNOVATION &DEVELOPMENTS
The Chinese Dream – Step aside COVID-19
CHINA IS JUST GETTING STARTED!
1.2 hospitals being built in over 10 days
2.5G Robotsbeing used to supply medication to patients
3.Transportation of medical supplies using Robotic Vehicles
4.Online platform - Working from home or wherever people travelled during Spring Festival
5.Alibaba offering free communication tool to 10 million businesses, encouraging E-Commerce
6.A court trial taking place online via a group video call (Shandong Province)
7.Mask making business resuming production during the Spring Festival, when staff were supposed to be on leave
8.Simple & ordinary individuals handing over wards of cash, anonymously towards this cause
9.Tons of Food dropped off at the steps of the hospital
10.A coffee shop supplying hundreds of cups of coffee, daily, free of charge to the doctors and nurses
11.Robot detecting body temperature & whether a mask is being worn from 5 meters away (Guangzhou)
12.3D Printing of Masks
13.Meituan Home Deliveries – fewer cars on the roads
14.Chinese Dama(Dancing Ladies) who have been hospitalised,using dance to keep activeand lift the spirits high, amongst patients, doctors and nurses.
15.Foreigners – Some return to China during the Lockdown to Volunteer, while others make music videos, paint posters, keep online feeds updated & spread the Positivity
16.19 additional make shift hospitals are being erected
17.Convention Centres & Gyms are being converted to accommodate the infected
18.Cruise liners have offered for the use of their cabins free of charge, for overnight stay to the many doctors and nursing crew, who have volunteered their services
These are just some of the things that we recall; each aspect stirs up an excitement of witnessing The Power of The People to move mountains. Itsin action, here in China.
” WOW, That’s Exciting, never knew that was possible with innovative & interesting time ahead.”
World - Watch the Space!”
CONCLUSION
While all this may sound bleak, there’s just a constant positive reminder that even after the long Winter, the Sun WILL always shine Brightly.
Your warmth, strength& unity of the great Chinese Nation will definitely ride this storm, and we await your victorious return.
We Love China & Stand Strong with You All the Way.
（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）
疫情期间我们在中国的经历
外籍教师Taryn Murugan&Karun Murugan
鉴于外界对中国的新型冠状病毒有很多不同的看法和报道，在此我想跟大家分享一些我在中国的亲身经历。我和我的丈夫Karun是南非人，我们已经在中国生活了五年，过去的三年半，我们在河南的信阳师范学院度过，我们分享的经历与个人互动、发现及结论相一致，因为我们将中国视为自己的第二故乡。
在中国的日子，我们看到、听到、感受到了中国人民特有的温暖、慷慨和友爱，而所有的中国人对这些特质的感受和体现，随着抗疫的出现，尤其是在当今这个艰难的时期里，展现地更加强烈。在中国的新年总是特别热闹。一般到了年底，按照以往传统，学校都会为全体师生准备庆典活动，有歌舞表演的独奏会，还有带着精美礼物的晚餐，今年也不例外。学校的领导、老师和同学们都非常高兴地分享了他们对即将到来的寒假的计划。他们中的一部分学生已经长达四个月或更久没有回过家了。春节对中国人来说是个喜庆的日子，每个中国人从遥远的外地长途跋涉赶回老家，与父母、亲戚吃上一顿团圆饭，给长辈或小朋友发红包，穿上新衣服把自己打扮得漂漂亮亮，这些都是中国人的传统习俗。
但是今年和往年不同的是，大约在过年前的一周左右，武汉发现了冠状病毒的传播。疫情爆发得迅猛突然、来势汹汹，信阳从2020年1月25日开始封锁全城，整个国家也取消了欢乐的新年庆祝活动。至此，所有运输方式均受到不同程度的影响：部分航班和火车取消，公共汽车、公共和私人出租车停止服务。所有企业停止营业，街头小贩不见影踪。繁华的街道空无一人，店铺大门紧闭，超市货架上存满大量未售出的农历新年装饰品，这些场景让我心碎。这一天起，信阳沦为空城，实在令人难过，而且这种状况一直在持续。但是我们完全可以理解，因为这些是一个城市决心控制传染病必经的阶段。
在武汉疫情爆发后，学校的负责老师曾多次打电话询问我们的个人健康状况，还跟我们分享了许多有用的防护措施。比如：少出门，避免人群接触；出门必须配戴口罩；勤洗手，不要用手揉眼睛；如有特殊需要，请告知；为安全起见，改变或取消旅行计划；只能从学校正门进出，并进行体温监测等等。尽管我们的日常生活受到了一定程度的限制，但我们尊重并理解这些必不可少的安全措施。
宅在家里让我们有更多的时间与家人交流，我们纠正外国媒体引发的误解和混乱。我的妈妈和Karun的妈妈现在分别是92岁和86岁，她们看到新闻上的负面消息后非常担心我们在中国的处境。我们已经告知我们的所有亲朋好友停止观看疫情负面新闻，不要尽信媒体所讲。重要的是我们舒适、快乐和安全，我们的家人也通过与我们的视频和通话得到极大安慰！我们通过微信接收新闻、国内外疫情动态、航班动向以及中国政府发布的应对疫情的新政策，这些信息都使我们坚信中国一定能够平安度过此次困难。
疫情期间，通过网络我们也得知了许多振奋人心的消息，这让我们更有理由相信中国人民离他们的中国梦更近了！10天建成2座医院；使用5G机器人向患者提供药物；网络平台-春节期间，在家或旅行所至的任意地点办公；运输医疗用品；阿里巴巴为1000万企业提供免费交流平台，鼓励电子商务；通过视频通话在线进行法庭审判（山东省）；春节期间，口罩生产企业恢复生产，而员工本应休假；普通民众为疫情匿名捐款；市民自发在医院的台阶上捐助大量的食物；咖啡馆每日向医生和护士免费提供数百杯咖啡；在广州，机器人5米之外检测体温以及是否佩戴口罩；3D口罩打印等等。这些只是我随手列举的一小部分，每一件事都见证了中国人愚公移山的精神。这太令人激动了，从来不曾想，随着创新和有趣的时代的到来，我竟然能见证这些，世界仰望太空！
尽管中国疫情的现状还是不容乐观，但我不断提醒自己，在漫长的冬季过后太阳定会光照大地，伟大的中国人民定会用他们的热情、力量和团结战胜这场风暴！我们在这里等待着胜利到来的那一刻。
我们热爱中国，我们始终与你同在。
（此文系我校国际交流合作处教师王秋霞、雷思雨翻译）