Reading a firsthand, uncensored information about the situation of things over there is quite refreshing. I have always known that this will have a political undertone. Please continue to update us and FYI, I will be sharing this on twitter.
And yes people seem quite eager to remove the political aspect of this but they are deeply intertwined and there's no way I can fully cover it, but I'll give my best for the small amount I know
We have a whole bunch more to worry about on top of that too... toilet flushing, fingerprint scanning at airports, dirty phones... cruise ships, you name it
wow how crazy is all that? I can't believe you were turned away for being from china.
Its great to read a 'real story' and first hand experience. It must be just as crazy seeing everywhere empty as seeing the dudes in the suits. Stay well. thanks for the post
Yeah a lot of kind of 'surreal' feelings, including why I'm in my dressing gown instead of at work which should have started last week... I'd say can't complain but with everything shut down I really just wanna get back to it!
My uncle is currently in NanJing, and he teaches in WuHan. He got out of the city before the quarantine. Last, he told me that he and his colleagues were required to teach via video or audio to people still locked down in the area.
He was reluctant to talk in detail about the situation over where he’s at on WeChat. I don’t blame him. This certainly offers the perspective I needed.
Good for your Uncle =) as a music teacher myself, the online teaching idea going around works pretty well in my favour, since my primary subjects are History & Composition. It kind of complements computer usage so I'm lucky in this regard.
However, for others, for example my friend running a business in education requires his staff to do online teaching to kids as young as 2, 3 years old and it's just... not working. But with no choice, its the destruction of the business. Pretty sad.
WeChat is always a concern yeah... that's why I have a nice blend of WeChat, Whatsapp, Discord and Telegram =)
That is a fascinating read and I hope that you and your cats remain safe and healthy. I am ethnically HK Chinese and live in Cambridge. I am curious as to why you think England is stuck in the 1990’s. I’d be interested to hear your perspective 🙏🏽
Thanks for reading! Well, it's mostly because I have been heavily spoilt in Shanghai for years.
My first thoughts come to public transport; buses that are infrequent, slow, constantly late and very expensive, trains that are the extreme version of what I just said. Heck, even the underground in london is constantly drowning in delays, which I fell victim to at least 4 or 5 times in the brief time I was there, and it's not like I was using it constantly. The subways have no ability to use phone data, they're tiny and slow, heavily polluted and overcrowded - and you have to pay 20x (literally) the price for the pleasure of it all compared to Shanghai!
Many other aspects apply to things outside of London; most places I've ever known are entirely unchanged since childhood, with the exception of one shop being replaced with some cafe here and there.
And for the most part, it doesn't feel like there are new, vibrant British people, they appear to be all the same people from 20 years or so ago, just older. I don't know where all the youngsters have gone but most of the UK seems to be aging drastically, with the exception of those immigrants coming in from around the world. If you go to 'white' areas, the average age seems to skyrocket to 85 or something!
Finally, I'm spoilt with the culture of WeChat and Alipay, which comes with mega-fast and convenient services the likes of which England will probably never enjoy, and I genuinely think I will have a difficult time adjusting without these things when I eventually go back to England...
All of this, of course, is just my perception in my current spoilt situation though. I'm sure England still has its wonders - and there are many amazing things the 90's has that the 20's doesn't anymore!
That’s really interesting. I think England and probably Western Europe does need regeneration. History shows that powers rise and fall and I’m sure the future is in Asia and Africa (again). I was in Shanghai for the 2000 new year celebrations and lived in the Shandong area teaching English for a year. I could have happily lived in Shanghai or HK but not the rest of China long term. Shanghai had an air of its colonial past, yet has modern transportation and is relatively cosmopolitan. I hope to hear more about your life there 🙏🏽
btw. I lived in HK in 1988 for 6 months. Being a Buddhist Indian I totally have an affinity for reading this exchange. @mobbs ! I admire people who deviate from their paths to experience something different, while the people they grow up continue on their regular cycled and routines. The perspectives can be so enriching. I'm so fascinated.
Glad its of value! I've spent my entire adult life in Asia, so I feel quite out of place going back to England as I'm never back long enough to allow me to adjust - Like a tourist in my own country... pretty interesting!
I would recommend it to anybody really, 'enriching' is accurate =)
And a perfect example for me of what Steem should be about.
My daughter begins studying Chinese at university in September.
Her course will include one or two years in China so we are keen to learn what 'real life' is like in China - particularly in this very difficult time.
I was particularly fascinated by the video of the trip to the supermarket. I hope you can make more of these.
Oh that's cool. I've been here long enough to know a little about a lot of stuff so feel free to ask me down the line for any advice or anything your daughter might need! Hopefully the Summer will spell the end of the crisis enough to go back to normal life for most people... =)
I'll put some more videos up if anything interesting happens for sure!
I have a friend visiting here (in the US) from China. He came here several months before the outbreak and was planning to go back in the middle of March. At this point, I guess he will have to stay here until the end of his 6 month VISA, but I'm wondering about what happens when that runs out (because of the lack of flights from US to China).
It seems like there will need to be some way for such people to extend their VISAs, if they can't go back to China. I mean, maybe he can go to some other country in the meantime, but that makes little-to-no-sense, and would be incredibly expensive as well (here he's staying with family).
The extreme circumstances may warrant emergency visa situations as has been the case for a few, but yeah for the most part it's a tricky situation. I'd have thought from the UK I could take any indirect flight, but with airlines around the world cutting China off, pretty much Russia was the only dependable one, and even that was only a single airline remaining (though they seemed comfortable that they weren't going to change these policies - Aeroflot).
It's rough. If I can somehow help from this side feel free to ask on their behalf =)
At this point, I don't think he wants to go back home yet. He lives about 1000 km from Hubei, but, even in his city, his friends have told him that most everything is closed, only 1 family member leaves the house for supplies, etc, so he'd just be incredibly bored there right now.
I'm just hoping that the US does something to extend VISAs for people in his situation. But given the current political climate here, I'm not sure I can expect a rational plan for such people.
Well, I congratulate every extra second they get to stay away for now! The news just came out that they 'revised' the definition of infected people and the numbers just skyrocketed... oopsey. Fingers crossed the US speaks sense on the matter then
Definitely very interesting to read @mobbs and a well-written, engaging account. Stay safe/sane & thanks for reporting to us of your experience from the ground.
Was speaking to a Chinese neighbor in our building in Florida @blocktrades & she gave me the impression that it was a total non-issue in China & her friends/family are flying back & forth, no problem.
Upon further reflection, I think much was lost in translation (her English was so-so).
Thanks a lot - Sanity is easier for me than it is some of my friends, it seems! Some haven't left their apartments in weeks... Eesh.
There is an argument for it being a non-issue, in that, as I say in my video, 300 infected in a city of 30 million, statistically it's not so dangerous; even if you catch it, chances are you'll just get a mild cough.
But this fails to understand the potential dangers. What if it breaks out in poor regions of Africa, India? What about those who you inadvertently pass on to with your mild cough that ends up killing them? What if this, unlike SARS, is here to stay (as some scientists are suggesting) and it becomes a new addition to seasonal flus popping up around the world for years to come?
So I guess it depends on how healthy you feel and how good your insurance is!
thank you so much for sharing true situation of china right now. and its an emergency for china peoples and they are fighting with corona bravely and also fighting to save the world
Thanks for sharing a firsthand experience and uncensored information about the situation of things over China is quite refreshing. Please continue to update us.
Reading a firsthand, uncensored information about the situation of things over there is quite refreshing. I have always known that this will have a political undertone. Please continue to update us and FYI, I will be sharing this on twitter.
Posted using Partiko Android
Thanks for sharing!
And yes people seem quite eager to remove the political aspect of this but they are deeply intertwined and there's no way I can fully cover it, but I'll give my best for the small amount I know
I salute all doctors, Medical people and other social workers for their support for suffering people.
I am the only once concerned about how would they dispose those millions of mouth masks circulating around the globe now.
We have a whole bunch more to worry about on top of that too... toilet flushing, fingerprint scanning at airports, dirty phones... cruise ships, you name it
I like the Steemit platform because we can see uncensored insight like this! Yes, please continue!
Here, here!
wow how crazy is all that? I can't believe you were turned away for being from china.
Its great to read a 'real story' and first hand experience. It must be just as crazy seeing everywhere empty as seeing the dudes in the suits. Stay well. thanks for the post
Yeah a lot of kind of 'surreal' feelings, including why I'm in my dressing gown instead of at work which should have started last week... I'd say can't complain but with everything shut down I really just wanna get back to it!
Cheers for reading =)
Thank you for sharing your personal experience.
My uncle is currently in NanJing, and he teaches in WuHan. He got out of the city before the quarantine. Last, he told me that he and his colleagues were required to teach via video or audio to people still locked down in the area.
He was reluctant to talk in detail about the situation over where he’s at on WeChat. I don’t blame him. This certainly offers the perspective I needed.
Good for your Uncle =) as a music teacher myself, the online teaching idea going around works pretty well in my favour, since my primary subjects are History & Composition. It kind of complements computer usage so I'm lucky in this regard.
However, for others, for example my friend running a business in education requires his staff to do online teaching to kids as young as 2, 3 years old and it's just... not working. But with no choice, its the destruction of the business. Pretty sad.
WeChat is always a concern yeah... that's why I have a nice blend of WeChat, Whatsapp, Discord and Telegram =)
The only times we can be candid about things is when we meet up in Taiwan.
That is a fascinating read and I hope that you and your cats remain safe and healthy. I am ethnically HK Chinese and live in Cambridge. I am curious as to why you think England is stuck in the 1990’s. I’d be interested to hear your perspective 🙏🏽
Thanks for reading! Well, it's mostly because I have been heavily spoilt in Shanghai for years.
My first thoughts come to public transport; buses that are infrequent, slow, constantly late and very expensive, trains that are the extreme version of what I just said. Heck, even the underground in london is constantly drowning in delays, which I fell victim to at least 4 or 5 times in the brief time I was there, and it's not like I was using it constantly. The subways have no ability to use phone data, they're tiny and slow, heavily polluted and overcrowded - and you have to pay 20x (literally) the price for the pleasure of it all compared to Shanghai!
Many other aspects apply to things outside of London; most places I've ever known are entirely unchanged since childhood, with the exception of one shop being replaced with some cafe here and there.
And for the most part, it doesn't feel like there are new, vibrant British people, they appear to be all the same people from 20 years or so ago, just older. I don't know where all the youngsters have gone but most of the UK seems to be aging drastically, with the exception of those immigrants coming in from around the world. If you go to 'white' areas, the average age seems to skyrocket to 85 or something!
Finally, I'm spoilt with the culture of WeChat and Alipay, which comes with mega-fast and convenient services the likes of which England will probably never enjoy, and I genuinely think I will have a difficult time adjusting without these things when I eventually go back to England...
All of this, of course, is just my perception in my current spoilt situation though. I'm sure England still has its wonders - and there are many amazing things the 90's has that the 20's doesn't anymore!
That’s really interesting. I think England and probably Western Europe does need regeneration. History shows that powers rise and fall and I’m sure the future is in Asia and Africa (again). I was in Shanghai for the 2000 new year celebrations and lived in the Shandong area teaching English for a year. I could have happily lived in Shanghai or HK but not the rest of China long term. Shanghai had an air of its colonial past, yet has modern transportation and is relatively cosmopolitan. I hope to hear more about your life there 🙏🏽
btw. I lived in HK in 1988 for 6 months. Being a Buddhist Indian I totally have an affinity for reading this exchange. @mobbs ! I admire people who deviate from their paths to experience something different, while the people they grow up continue on their regular cycled and routines. The perspectives can be so enriching. I'm so fascinated.
Glad its of value! I've spent my entire adult life in Asia, so I feel quite out of place going back to England as I'm never back long enough to allow me to adjust - Like a tourist in my own country... pretty interesting!
I would recommend it to anybody really, 'enriching' is accurate =)
Thank's for sharing your personal experience on-site. And good luck!
Thanks! Good luck to the whole world, really =)
Excellent information.
And a perfect example for me of what Steem should be about.
My daughter begins studying Chinese at university in September.
Her course will include one or two years in China so we are keen to learn what 'real life' is like in China - particularly in this very difficult time.
I was particularly fascinated by the video of the trip to the supermarket. I hope you can make more of these.
Thank you.
Oh that's cool. I've been here long enough to know a little about a lot of stuff so feel free to ask me down the line for any advice or anything your daughter might need! Hopefully the Summer will spell the end of the crisis enough to go back to normal life for most people... =)
I'll put some more videos up if anything interesting happens for sure!
Great thank you for the offer.
I think it is one of the universities in Beijing she will be going to. Hopefully everything will be back to normal by then.
I have a friend visiting here (in the US) from China. He came here several months before the outbreak and was planning to go back in the middle of March. At this point, I guess he will have to stay here until the end of his 6 month VISA, but I'm wondering about what happens when that runs out (because of the lack of flights from US to China).
It seems like there will need to be some way for such people to extend their VISAs, if they can't go back to China. I mean, maybe he can go to some other country in the meantime, but that makes little-to-no-sense, and would be incredibly expensive as well (here he's staying with family).
The extreme circumstances may warrant emergency visa situations as has been the case for a few, but yeah for the most part it's a tricky situation. I'd have thought from the UK I could take any indirect flight, but with airlines around the world cutting China off, pretty much Russia was the only dependable one, and even that was only a single airline remaining (though they seemed comfortable that they weren't going to change these policies - Aeroflot).
It's rough. If I can somehow help from this side feel free to ask on their behalf =)
At this point, I don't think he wants to go back home yet. He lives about 1000 km from Hubei, but, even in his city, his friends have told him that most everything is closed, only 1 family member leaves the house for supplies, etc, so he'd just be incredibly bored there right now.
I'm just hoping that the US does something to extend VISAs for people in his situation. But given the current political climate here, I'm not sure I can expect a rational plan for such people.
Well, I congratulate every extra second they get to stay away for now! The news just came out that they 'revised' the definition of infected people and the numbers just skyrocketed... oopsey. Fingers crossed the US speaks sense on the matter then
Definitely very interesting to read @mobbs and a well-written, engaging account. Stay safe/sane & thanks for reporting to us of your experience from the ground.
Was speaking to a Chinese neighbor in our building in Florida @blocktrades & she gave me the impression that it was a total non-issue in China & her friends/family are flying back & forth, no problem.
Upon further reflection, I think much was lost in translation (her English was so-so).
Thanks a lot - Sanity is easier for me than it is some of my friends, it seems! Some haven't left their apartments in weeks... Eesh.
There is an argument for it being a non-issue, in that, as I say in my video, 300 infected in a city of 30 million, statistically it's not so dangerous; even if you catch it, chances are you'll just get a mild cough.
But this fails to understand the potential dangers. What if it breaks out in poor regions of Africa, India? What about those who you inadvertently pass on to with your mild cough that ends up killing them? What if this, unlike SARS, is here to stay (as some scientists are suggesting) and it becomes a new addition to seasonal flus popping up around the world for years to come?
So I guess it depends on how healthy you feel and how good your insurance is!
Thank you @mobbs for your considerate & thoughtful reply.
I pray it is contained & that the less fortunate of the world are spared more suffering...
@blocktrades did the buyout mess up transfers? I transferred BTC into blocktrades a while ago and nothing has happened. Not even pending....
Apple warns China virus will cut iPhone production, sales
thank you so much for sharing true situation of china right now. and its an emergency for china peoples and they are fighting with corona bravely and also fighting to save the world
Yep, best of look to everyone in the country!
Thanks for sharing a firsthand experience and uncensored information about the situation of things over China is quite refreshing. Please continue to update us.
That's the plan! Thankfully nothing truly crazy is going on in Shanghai but I can get quite a bit of insight from locals =)