From the end of 2019, coronavirus has affected people in all countries and all walks of life. My story is just like a drop of water in the ocean. When it drops in the ocean, it will not be caused by waves. Yes, because of the epidemic，for other people who have suffered, lost their jobs, and even experienced life-threatening lives, I’m doing pretty well. The story I want to tell is a long, continuous story. During this period, I truly understood people’s fragility and their inability to face the new virus.
The story started in fall 2019 when I flew in the air for 14 hours, and then I returned to my country. I enjoyed the happy time in the first two weeks because I spent time with my family and friends, and the time flies quickly, and every day is full. I know that all the happy and beautiful time will pass, but I did not expect this wonderful experience to go so fast. In the third week, after I returned to China, coronavirus broke out in Wuhan, China. At first, the virus only spread in Wuhan. However, following the inaction of the Wuhan government, the epidemic quickly spread to cities around Wuhan. The central government is very concerned about this matter. In order to prevent the spread of the virus, they closed all the highways in Wuhan, and malls stopped operating. Since the Wuhan outbreak, the whole country has become nervous, but I have not panicked about it. The first reason is that I live very far from Wuhan. I believe the government can control the spread of the epidemic. Second The reason is that I was about to leave China and return to the United States. I don’t know if this experience is compared to a football game, the first half is over, and my second half has just begun.
When I was preparing for my return journey, I continued to pay attention to the development of the epidemic. Wuhan did not have so many hospitals and medical equipment to support the huge number of patients in the beginning. The Chinese government organized the workforce and materials to build a short time hospital. As the first patient with coronavirus was successfully cured, the Wuhan crisis is slowly being lifted, and the epidemic is brought under control like a forest fire. China has passed a difficult period and entered a plateau, and I have returned to the United States. During the first month after returning to the United States, there was no large-scale outbreak in the United States, but suspected cases of the new coronavirus have appeared worldwide. One day in March, I was suddenly told that all the courses I had conducted were transferred to online classes. There is nothing wrong with online classes. It saves me the time to travel to and from school every day. At the same time, I can watch videos sent by professors repeatedly. In my spare time, I pay attention to the epidemic in the United States every day. Some people have spread viral conspiracy theories. I found that discrimination against Asians frequently occurs across the United States, and what I worry about the most is still there.
Just like Martin Niemöller ‘s “First they came… ” I have never spoken out or protested against all kinds of discrimination against Asians. Now discrimination has happened to me. I didn’t get help from my neighbors, nor did I pray that I would get help. All I hope is that as a Chinese, I can get along with the locals in peace under this unique situation. Discrimination occurred on a Saturday afternoon. When I was going to a supermarket called 99 Ranch, a few young people came to me. They spit on the way I came and looked at me with evil eyes. Then they say something terrible. After I explained that I was not sick and wearing a mask, they still didn’t mean to stop. I was nervous at the time, but fortunately, the worst did not happen. They left after I left, this incident has a great impact on me. The new coronavirus first broke out in Wuhan, China, but this incident has developed into a global disease. I think people should not just discriminate against Asians but think about how. To solve the new coronavirus.
This is my unforgettable experience during this period of time. Everything I experienced during this period is worthy of recollection. I did not complain to people who discriminated against me. I live here as a foreigner. These experiences have taught me how to respect others.
Submitted by Shaoyu Wang, San Diego County – San Diego.