Beijing Bunker: Being Stuck in the States as the Coronavirus Unfolds

As Beijing enters its third week in self-quarantine, the stories of how people have been dealing with the coronavirus outbreak – by staying, leaving, or watching on from afar – are many and varied. In Beijing Bunker, we quiz Beijingers on what approach they've been taking to stay safe and sane through the ordeal.

For American expat Tim Allan, the outbreak of the coronavirus didn't condemn him to days stuck in his Beijing apartment, but rather, like many people who were out of the country as the situation unfolded, it indefinitely delayed his plans to return. Now at the end of his second week marooned back in the United States, he tells us about how he's divided his time between working from afar and catching up with old friends and family.

Can you first tell us a little bit about yourself and your background?
I came to China from California almost six years ago and have stayed with the same training school ever since. Life on an English teacher’s salary is much more sustainable here than back home, and I’m reminded by it every time I visit the states. 

Would you consider yourself safe, sane, safe and sane, or other? Why?
During these past 25 days (has it really been that long?) I have flip-flopped on my decision of when to go back at least five times. Trying to make that decision based off information on the local news, personal experiences from friends in China, family and friends in the US telling me to stay the hell away, various YouTube channels full of alarmists and naysayers, and of course news from you guys, has been a juggling act, to say the least. Overall, I consider where I am is the smartest and sanest place to be for me, for now. 

Has the virus disrupted your travel plans or those of your loved ones?
I originally had my vacation planned to visit family first in California, hop on over to Chicago, and then back to China. The day I left China, Monday, Jan 20, was when there were just a few reported cases in Wuhan and one south of Beijing. I had no idea it would blow up to be this big and that I would be held up in Chicago indefinitely. Side note, the few hours I was on the plane from California to Chicago was when news about Kobe broke out. Planes and bad news come hand in hand recently. I am currently 13 days overdue on my return to China. 

How have you been spending your time since the outbreak? How has your life changed on account of the situation?
Besides the obligatory family and friend visits when an expat goes home, I have found time to see my previous boss who left the company last year, who conveniently lives 30 minutes away. I also took a three-day trip over to NYC to see an ex-co-worker (ex-expat if you will) as well as a current co-worker who lives in NYC, who is in the same stranded situation as me. Working and living in China seems to make the world a smaller place. 

Has the situation affected your work or business? If so, how?
As with most on-site jobs in Beijing, our work has been migrated to an online forum. While still in the works, I get to talk to and send teaching videos to my students. The young ones are puzzled at why they are saying “good morning” to me when it’s nighttime where they are, but overall it’s keeping both the kids (and the teacher) sane and cabin fever-free. 

Have there been any unexpected upsides?
During my normal Beijing life routine, I had almost no time or energy for mundane things that I have put off for years. The good news, I have finally eliminated my old AOL email inbox from over 900 to a mere 50! And, of course, I did my taxes on time. 

Additionally, I had time to drive out five hours to Michigan to see relatives who are on their last legs. As most long-time expats know, being abroad for long periods of time often means that our loved ones pass without us nearby. It’s important for us to treasure them when and while we still have the chance. 

Which resources (online or real-life) have proved the most useful to you during this time?
The friends and co-workers still in Beijing have been priceless to me to get a sense of what it’s really like versus what the six o’clock news would have you believe. There are so many viral videos and personal stories that will drive you insane if you let them. Human beings are notorious for their inability to properly judge risk. See: fear of flying in airplanes but no fear of driving in cars. 

What's one thing that you've done that has saved you a lot of hassle/time/insanity?
My new laptop, which I initially bought for teaching online, has kept me busy and enabled me to power through e-mails, play some games and listen to music. Also, the ability to get in a car and drive around the neighborhood, or walk outside without a mask in the fresh air is something I should appreciate while I can. 

What do you most look forward to doing once all of this has blown over?
Normalcy. In the days coming up to this Spring Festival, I remember really needing this vacation. Well, I got what I wished for and more. Don’t forget to appreciate the boring or bland life, because excitement isn’t always fun!

Want to share your story? Send an email to editor@thebeijinger.com.

READ: "If I Can Help in Any Way, I Will"

Images courtesy of Tim Allan