If you are one of the many foreign expats who find yourself barred from returning to China due to the outbreak then I am certain that besides you probably feeling frustrated and levels of uncertainty you may also be anxious and disappointed. The ban is nearing the two-month mark and there is no confirmed report on when it will be lifted. Being someone who is always constantly anxious my current life predicament is not helping by any means. I am still fortunate to continue my job as a teacher through the online medium. I am very lucky since my school is one which has made preparations for the students to return, albeit with some restrictions. Since many functions of the school have resumed and I am also not present there is the feeling in the back of my mind that my employment will cease at any time. (cue anxious feelings).
Now unfortunately there isn’t much to be done in regards to what the Chinese government will decide to do in regards to its borders. It could be a fast or slow process and one never really knows what the government will decide when it decides. I am fully aware of this but again (cue my anxiety). Hopefully, your not as strung out as I am aside from this there are some things we can do to keep ourselves busy and from going insane with worry.
Online Work/Teaching
Now everyone may not be as fortunate as I am to be able to continue my job online. Some schools in China have resumed sending their students back to school so this may not be feasible for some. I myself know several teachers who have lost their jobs due to being locked out and not being able to return to their school or place of employment. With the current climate and many students still not being able to return school yet teaching online can still be an option. This virus has also taught us that many jobs can be performed online. There is the option of doing other online work.
Stay connected
I routinely try to stay connected (and low key stalk) my friends overseas as well as my WeChat groups/communities. This is in part of hoping to get any gleam of new information of any changes in regards to the border situation, but also to still feel apart of a community that I have and surely you have probably grown very attached to. Its also nice to see how my friends are handling the pandemic overseas and seeing how life is functioning through the pandemic with implementing new guidelines and new practices, which will definitely carry on in the future. It’s a bit of a snippet of what will most likely be the new normal.
Have a Plan B
It is important to keep in mind that this could go on for an extended period. You may have had to give up your job and apartment and that once valid visa may expire. Though we may have an intent to return to our lives that has been disrupted that may not be feasible for some time. It will be good to figure out a plan of action in the meantime. Weigh all your options, try to look at this as a chance to reflect on your overall plans and goals for your future. Of course, this is easier said than done. Try to reflect and redirect can be difficult but it can also be an opportunity for clarity and personal growth.
As an optimist, I hope for the return of some normalcy to our former way of life foreign expat or not. This virus has added stress and uncertainty, and though we become a bit more knowledgeable about the virus more questions and problems are raised. Mass unemployment, economies shrinking. How do we begin to move forward with everyday life while trying to be conscious of public health and safety? Though these times are trying and challenging. I hope that this situation is taken as a learning opportunity around the world for a better future.
My Green Ribbon 