Stirred, Not Shaken: “I Just Want to Be Around People Again”

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As the COVID-19 Saga continues to draw out, families and teachers have committed to staying safe and infection-free, much to the detriment of their social and professional lives. Fortunately, Beijing expats are a tough bunch. In this series, we asked folks to share their stories of being stirred, but ultimately not shaken, by current events.

Through the eyes of Charlie L. and her family, Beijing is an old friend. Living in Beijing since 2008, she is an avid sports player, and has grown used to the sights and sounds of the place she calls home. But with COVID-19 now in full flight, she and her family are confined to the walls of their home. Although the development of the Coronavirus has prompted her to remain at home, she longs to be able to socialize with society again.

Charlie L.

Are you a Beijing Oldie or Newbie?

I am a Beijing Oldie. I’m originally from Hong Kong, and I have lived here since 2008.

What do you do in Beijing?

I attend school here in Beijing, I occasionally visit famous sites and landmarks. I kind of just live like a normal citizen in Beijing.

When you first heard about the outbreak, did you take it seriously or did you take it with a grain of salt?

I didn’t really take it seriously at first, but my parents did, since they experienced a similar situation during their childhood, so I was forced to take extra precautions.

Would you say that you have cabin fever? If so, how has it manifested itself?

I do not have cabin fever. The place I feel safest in is my apartment, I don’t mind staying inside my home since I have a lot of things to do in my apartment. E-learning has taken up a lot of time, and during my free time, I write songs among other things.

How has this outbreak changed your school-life daily routine?

Because of e-Learning, all my work and classes are on my computer, school is now attended at home and I no longer need to get dressed in my uniform and wake up two hours before 8am. I just need to wake up and walk to my desk.

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What do you most miss about Beijing BC (Before Coronavirus)?

I miss being able to be around other people, I miss playing volleyball or badminton, being able to go to cafes and shops without worrying about being infected. But what I miss most is being able to go out without wearing masks, using hand sanitizer every hour and doing other precautions.

A few scenes from Charlie L.’s life in quarantine

What have you discovered about yourself during this time? Have you discovered new things that bother you or phobias that you never knew you had?

I discovered that I hate having an untidy room, especially my workspace. I have always been fairly organized with my room, but now that I’m constantly in it, I start to notice small details like dust on the floor, random hair ties lying around, and it annoys me so I put it back to where it’s supposed to be. I guess you could say that I have become hyperaware of my surroundings.

Once all this is over, what do you plan on doing? What do you most look forward to going back to?

When this is over, I really look forward to socializing again, whether that’s being in a classroom with classmates and teachers, or going out with friends for lunch, I just want to be around people again.

Gabriel Low is a year 7 student from Yew Chung International School Beijing (YCIS Beijing). Originally from Singapore, he has lived in Beijing since 2015. He enjoys playing football, watching movies, and listening to music. He is currently contributing to beijingkids as a student correspondent.

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Photos: Courtesy of Charlie L., Gabriel Low

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