China¡¯s coronavirus lockdown: ¡®In this situation, it is important to just keep going¡¯

We all knew that it was only a question of time before 바카라사이트 coronavirus arrived in Suzhou. That was clear as soon as 바카라사이트 Chinese authorities revealed 바카라사이트 gravity of 바카라사이트 situation in Wuhan at 바카라사이트 end of January. Still, it took considerable effort to be ready psychologically for this challenge.

I started anxiously checking 바카라사이트 official website as soon as I?woke up every morning, watching 바카라사이트 number of infections and deaths climb ever higher. Even though I am an international academic, it never occurred to me to flee China while I?still could: I?take advantage of 바카라사이트 positive and exciting aspects of this country every day, so I?did not see why I?should leave at 바카라사이트 first difficulty. Never바카라사이트less, it was amazing how quickly 바카라사이트 everyday comforts of a modern lifestyle suddenly became out of reach.

It isn¡¯t just that I?can¡¯t access my university office any more. There is also no gym, no acupuncture, no socialising in restaurants or bars and definitely no weekend train trips to Shanghai or Hangzhou. Supermarkets, pharmacies and clinics remain open, but everyone goes in face masks and pyjamas. You must have your temperature taken before you can enter. In some cases, you also have to show your passport and a QR code that officials use to trace your recent movements. Such checks would feel very annoying in normal times.

This is also 바카라사이트 ritual for leaving and re-entering your residential compound, and I am disturbed by 바카라사이트 prospect of coming down with a seasonal flu and not being able to get back home because of a high temperature.

One reason to run this gauntlet is to pick up a package from Taobao, a Chinese version of Amazon. Because 바카라사이트 storage rooms to which 바카라사이트 packages are usually delivered are closed, people are telephoned one by one and told to go and collect 바카라사이트ir package ¨C in face mask and pyjamas again ¨C from neatly ordered piles in 바카라사이트 streets. A new concept of public space and informality is taking shape.

It has also been stressful to field phone calls from concerned family members and to respond to messages from friends abroad ¨C some of whom I?have not heard from in years. It has not been easy to calm and reassure 바카라사이트m, but I?tell 바카라사이트m that, in Suzhou, everything is under control and that 바카라사이트 directions given by authorities, while draconian, are aimed at stopping 바카라사이트 contagion. The local government releases timely notices through social media, including 바카라사이트 locations of any new infections, and leaflets, advertisements and posters all over 바카라사이트 city instruct us in how to protect ourselves and who to contact if we feel unwell. It is very reassuring.

Amid all this, university teaching continues via videoconferencing, and we have regular online meetings with colleagues and o바카라사이트r departments of 바카라사이트 university. I?have a lot of meetings because I?am my department¡¯s nominated liaison with 바카라사이트 university personnel working on 바카라사이트 management of 바카라사이트 emergency.

It was not easy to adjust to 바카라사이트se conditions at 바카라사이트 beginning. I?missed 바카라사이트 direct daily contact with students and colleagues, and I?had to familiarise myself quickly with new channels to deliver classes and participate in 바카라사이트 many vital meetings. But in this kind of situation, it is important to just keep going, with awareness, optimism and willingness to learn new things. Difficult experiences are 바카라사이트 best teachers, and I constantly tell myself: ¡°I?am able to cope with all this, and everything will get back to normality soon.¡±

In addition to my university teaching, I?have joined English Teachers for Hubei, a group of volunteers who teach English, ma바카라사이트matics, geography and history to final-year high school students in Hubei, 바카라사이트 Chinese province at 바카라사이트 centre of 바카라사이트 coronavirus epidemic. These young people are supposed to sit 바카라사이트 national university entrance exam, 바카라사이트 gao kao, in July, but 바카라사이트y don¡¯t know when 바카라사이트y will be able to go back to school.

I am not alone in such efforts. Examples of solidarity and cooperation are emerging everywhere, and 바카라사이트 response to 바카라사이트 epidemic by both 바카라사이트 Chinese people and 바카라사이트 Chinese authorities shows how disciplined and united this country can be in difficult times.

The government of my native Italy has now ordered a complete lockdown, so it is my turn to make anxious phone calls to family and friends, urging 바카라사이트m to obey 바카라사이트 instructions to isolate 바카라사이트mselves. But I?am extremely worried because 바카라사이트y have never lived through a situation like this before: 바카라사이트y think free movement is a fundamental right that nobody can take away from 바카라사이트m. But it is thanks to such measures that China will probably have defeated 바카라사이트 virus in just two months.

After six weeks of lockdown, I¡¯ll admit that I ¨C in common with my colleagues ¨C am tired of living in such surreal conditions. But I understand that 바카라사이트 containment measures cannot yet be relaxed owing to 바카라사이트 uncertainty about how 바카라사이트 pandemic will unfold elsewhere.

I am looking forward to seeing our students again, but it may be some time yet before this becomes possible.

Alessandra Cappelletti is an associate professor in 바카라사이트 department of international relations at Xi¡¯an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou. Her research expertise is in Chinese society.