Beijing Bunker: Dispatches From a Never-Ending Thai Holiday

As Beijing enters its nth 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.

When American expat Bill Weydig left Beijing for Bangkok in early February he was uncertain when he'd be able to return. He didn't, however, expect his departure to be the start of a months-long journey away from home, unsure of when he'd be able to get back to work and to care for his cat. Since then, he has traveled to the beaches of Phuket as well as to the mountainous northern Thailand, where he now spends his days teaching classes remotely in the day and exploring nearby areas by foot and scooter, splashing out on local records and books when he can. Like the many other Beijingers stuck in Thailand, he anxiously awaits the lifting of China's ban on foreigners so that he can return to his life here, feed his cat, and regain some semblance of normalcy. After all, holidays are only relaxing if there's an end in sight.

Can you first tell us a little bit about yourself and your background?
Bill Weydig from New York City. I’ve been in China now 10 1/2 years, Beijing almost five. Currently, I teach in the AP English Department affiliated with Renmin University.

Would you consider yourself safe, sane, safe and sane, or other? Why?
Both, relatively. Things seem mostly under control here in Chiang Mai. There's no formal quarantine, but every place is closed, so there’s no place to congregate in large numbers. People have been in soft self-isolation here for nearly two weeks as a result. At least movement hasn’t been restricted, so I often take long walks in the afternoon, exploring new parts of the city. I try to be methodical, mapping out the next day’s walk when I return in the evening. Some people might find it insane going for long walks in this situation, but I interact with almost no one and generally seek out fairly desolate destinations, so I don’t think I’m taking any risk. We’ll see if this can continue. Tonight (Apr 4) is the first night of a 10pm curfew, so things may start getting more restricted.

Has the virus disrupted your travel plans or those of your loved ones?
Besides my return to China? Well, I was planning to travel to New York at the start of May to see my family, but that’s unlikely to happen now.

How have you been spending your time since the outbreak? How has your life changed or not changed on account of the situation?
The walks, mostly – when I’m not teaching or reading. Taking photos, searching for street art and abandoned buildings. Exploring new places always helps to keep me sane. I think my life has been affected less than most, though I do feel stuck in limbo at the moment. I had only planned to be out of Beijing for two weeks; now it’s been more than two months with no end in sight. I’ve basically been living out of a book bag.

Has the situation affected your work or business? If so, how?
Yes, but again much less than most. We’ve had to adjust to online classes, which has been a bit challenging. That said, it’s been much smoother than I expected. At least we’re able to work with some modicum of normality. It’s a sobering thought when I walk past so many shuttered businesses every afternoon.

Have there been any unexpected “upsides” to this whole situation?
Discovering the used bookstores in Thailand, especially here in Chiang Mai. So many good ones for such a small place! They’ve kept me sane more than anything.

Which resources (online or real-life) have proved the most useful to you during this time?
The Thaiger website has been great for news about the situation all over Thailand. Also, the WeChat group Stuck in Thailand, particularly for visa news.

What's one thing that you've done that has saved you a lot of hassle/time/insanity?
That’s a weird question. Not having to commute 45 minutes each way to work? Not to mention morning prep time. Now, what prep? I wake 20 minutes before class on some mornings.

What do you most look forward to doing once all of this has blown over?  
Spending time with my cat and listening to records. Hanging out with friends. Going to a show at DDC. Grabbing a beer at El Nido (if I’m permitted).

READ: A TBJ Writer's Masterclass on Freelancing Through a Crisis

Image courtesy of Bill Weydig