Random Post 1

COVID19: The Quest Back Home

Do you know those memories that randomly pop up before you go to bed? Well, this story is one that my brain likes to keep reminding me about, and (hopefully) not something I will need to experience again. So here it goes, my treacherous journey back home amidst a global pandemic.

The Backstory 

Even though I was living in China when the pandemic erupted, I never thought it would put the whole world on lockdown. When my high school announced that winter break would be extended till further notice, my friends and I were ecstatic. It was like Santa listened to my wishes all these years. My friends and I joked about how bad this “virus” could be, expecting it to resemble the flu. Little did I know that this would be my last seeing them until four years later.

The Outburst 

There had been rumors of a deadly virus going around town. Although there were no official announcements from the health department, people were scared. My high school kept postponing its start date, furthering my anxiety. Then, everyone’s suspicions were confirmed. The widespread coronavirus was discovered in Wuhan, China, in November 2019. It was only a matter of time before Wuhan’s borders would be shut down. Many Wuhan residents tried “fleeing” to Shanghai, which worried many residents, including my family.

We knew it wouldn’t be long until Shanghai was put on severe lockdown. China was deep into ambitious quarantine, with at least 760 million people mainly confined to their homes (the New Yorker). The once-bustling Shanghai had become a ghost town, and it was terrifying. Before things got any worse, my family and I temporarily stayed with my grandparents in California. Within days, we were out of the country.

(plane ride from Shanghai to LAX)

A Race Against Time 

Whether in China or the United States, I felt like I was constantly racing against time. In China, I was scrambling to leave before COVID-19 got worse. When things got better in China and started to worsen in California, I was again on the move. Except this time, I wasn’t so lucky. When things started getting better in Shanghai, my parents returned to work. I wanted to stay longer in California, so I booked the flight back a week later (March 26, 2020).

A Turning Point

Life is a box of chocolates, and you don’t know what you will get next. This is how I felt about March 26, 2020. In the morning, I received notification that all non-Chinese citizens would not be allowed back into China. I was not a Chinese citizen, and I was devasted. No one knew when the government would lift the rule; all I could do was wait. It felt like I was staying without a purpose and helpless. As a vulnerable 17-year-old, I have never felt so much stress and anxiety, not knowing when I’ll see my parents again.

On a happier note, I got my USC acceptance email on March 26, 2020. Here I am now, in my senior year, reflecting on this story that happened four years ago! Wow, time really flies.

The Golden Ticket  

As a non-Chinese citizen, it was nearly impossible to get into China. Luckily, I could get a rare humanitarian visa, which would allow me to return. However, getting a plane ticket took more work. Since airlines cut down on flights back to China, there were practically no tickets. Some extreme people were even renting out private jets or paying up to $9000 for an economy ticket. I was neither of those people. My mom would call travel agencies daily to see if they had an extra ticket. After months, I finally got a ticket to return to China in May 2020.

The Quest Back  

I was sweating the entire 14-hour flight home (12 hours from LAX to Korea and 2 hours from Korea to Xiamen). My grandma insisted I wear two layers of masks, multiple layers of clothing, AND surgical gloves to prevent any way of the virus from entering my body. Oh, and there were goggles, too. It sounds absurd now, but virtually everyone on that plane was in thick layers or wearing lab coveralls. Everyone’s temperatures were measured before boarding. You would not be let on the plane if your body heat was above 38 degrees Celsius. I saw this man aggressively trying to cool down in the Seoul airport, fearing being denied access to the plane.

When you touch down in China, you’re greeted by officials in masks armed with thermometers and swabs. It’s like a scene for a sci-fi movie, except instead of battling aliens, you’re fighting COVID-19. When I say they swabbed my nose, they virtually shoved the q tip down it. 10/10 would not recommend.

After completing more paperwork, I was sent to a room where they would assign me a quarantine hotel. Luckily, I got a nice hotel facing the ocean. After a few more hours, I was finally transported to my accommodation. This journey took over twenty hours, and I wore my mask the entire time. 

                                                        

The Quarantine 

Staying at an ocean-view hotel may sound nice, but it is the ultimate test of patience when you’re locked in for two weeks. You’re not allowed to leave your room as it is guarded by people and cameras. All my meals were delivered to my door at a set hour. They also come to take your body temperature twice a day. It honestly felt like a glorified prison.

Whether it’s working out or karaoke-ing on blast, I found ways to occupy myself. However, after a week of quarantine, I started to lose it. I felt so distant from reality and craved human interaction more than anything. When you’re alone with your thoughts for too long, it gets a little scary. I managed to stay strong.

Breaking Free 

On the last day of my quarantine, my high school organized a mini-graduation for everyone in Shanghai. Since I was still in quarantine with 1 day left to go, I couldn’t participate. I attended my high school graduation alone over Zoom. At the same time, I saw all my friends post their in-person experiences on social media. The next day, I was released from quarantine.

Stepping foot outside after 2 weeks of lockdown felt surreal. It took some time for me to adjust, but I eventually got accustomed. I met up with my parents at the Xiamen airport, and we flew back to Shanghai together.

I’m incredibly proud of myself for going through this experience. It’s definitely not for the faint of heart. This period of my life was one of the most challenging times for my mental health, and I’m glad I had my family to guide me through it. But hey, everything worked out in the end (I suppose).

Citations: 

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/03/30/life-on-lockdown-in-china