SHANGHAI LOCKDOWN CHAT - JADE
- haibox
- Apr 18, 2022
- 4 min read
1.
Q:
First of all, can you briefly introduce yourself? (Like, where are you from? How long have you been in Shanghai? Which district are you living? What do you do in Shanghai? ,etc.）
A:
My name is Jade, I am a French based in Shanghai for more than two years now, I am a Strategic Planner for a communication agency. I am living on Yuyuan Road, part of Changning district, center of the city.
2.
Q:
How long have you been in this home quarantine? What's the situation of your area or building? How do you manage to solve the basic grocery problem? Do you have enough supplies at the moment?
A:
Well, it actually started middle March when my compound already had 48h extended to another 48h of lockdown, and then since the 1st of April following Puxi complete lockdown. In my lane, we have several positive cases, including one in my building. When that happened, I could not leave my apartment and I did not even received any notice, just my neighbors told me we have a “sheep”(how they call poor positive people) in our building so stay home. So far to be honest, we have an important lack of communication about the “rules” of the lockdown, if we can walk or being strictly home. For the basic grocery, the first week was very stressful because I could not order anything, and I was not in any of the “compound buying groups”so I managed with Epermarket (an expat food website). I spent hours trying to get an order on Eleme and Meituan without any success, I was hopeless and angry. Right now, I have enough thanks to buying groups and Epermarket (my saviors).
3.
Q:
Has this lockdown changes your working mode? Is it very different from going to work in the company? What is a typical work day and weekend day for you, during this quarantine?
A:
This lockdown changed completely my working mode, I find It very difficult to focus on work while you need to manage covid test, food supply but most of all the sadness and desperation of the situation. My typical working day would start around 9am, after taking my breakfast and shower and then work all day, do my sport session with FitFam online and then call a few friends and head to bed. It is hard to separate working days with weekends.
4.
Q:
What are the warmest AND the most disappointing social newsyou saw, during this lockdown?
A:
The warmest would be the solidarity between people for food and pet rescue. The most disappointing: The lies. The lies about the situation to the rest of china, the rest of the world. The propaganda on a subject that is a“One Man Ego” situation rather than a “Sanitary” problem. And another one that upset me the most is the poor Corgi being killed by those angry cosmonauts or kids being separate from their parents. This is something I cannot stand, are we living a war or something?
5.
Q:
We saw so much chaotic news every day, has this changed your impression about Shanghai? From 1-10, how much do you score for Shanghai’s lockdown solutions? Any suggestions to improve?
A:
Unfortunately, it did. Shanghai is one of the most cosmopolite and open-minded city in the world but we forget who is at the head of it… And when something tragic happens, extreme decisions are taken, putting people in depression, depraved from their basic human rights. Shanghai is my home, but it starts to feel empty and uncertain to be longer my home, I want to believe in it, but I am a bit traumatized of those measures. 0, this situation is a 0 solution, there is no logic behind this, I just hope this ends soon and we will be able to co-exist all together. I am not a doctor neither a politician, so giving suggestions to improve would be hopeless.
6.
Q:
How do you manage to keep your mind relatively stable during this special period? Have you found some good ways of releasing stress or depression?
A:
It is hard to say I am stable during this period, my head is out of sort, like an emotional rollercoaster, where anxiety and overthinking has taken the lead. I am wondering every day what are my next steps in this city, if I should leave and start somewhere else, what do I do with my dog ect… But so far, one of my good friends suggested me those FitFam classes at night and it helped a lot, doing sport with a contact (its online live session) makes you have a certain social link + you remind yourself summer is coming soon so better to move your body ahah. Otherwise, I have an amazing circle of friends here in Shanghai and my family in France that are an everyday support, very grateful for that. And of course, my dog Pippa helps me, I think she is such an emotional support even if I am always worry about what can happen if I am tested positive.
7.
Q:
From the lockdown, are there any positive lessons or messages that you want to share with other people?
A:
Even if the government showed THEIR lack of humanity, I want to highlight the huge amount of humanity and solidarity between people during this time. During this lockdown I ran out of products, all my neighbors ALWAYS helped me, lots of friends showed me lots of support when I was stressed out about Pippa, some friends send foods to each other’s, we cheer each other up. And it gives hope for humanity in a sad world those days. And also, those hard social workers, working days and nights, while they are the victims of this covid war. So, thank you Dabai (even if I am afraid of you like hell).
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