战疫故事 | 德英乐在沪外籍教师：期待恢复工作，非常想念学生们

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Chinese New Year is an incredibly important and special time throughout China for innumerable reasons, and after living in Shanghai for nearly a decade, this particular holiday has become one of my personal favorite times of each year. Whether one takes the chance to travel abroad and explore other Asian countries and cultures, or simply stays in town to enjoy bonding times with family and friends while immersing oneself into holiday culture, cuisine, and traditions that span hundreds, if not thousands, of years, it is truly a joy to join this celebration each year. Unfortunately, both Chinese citizens and expatriates throughout this country have experienced a starkly different Spring Festival in 2020, as we have all shared in witnessing the surreal and frightening experience of the outbreak of Coronavirus.

Luckily, Shanghai has managed to avoid the worst of this epidemic, but it has certainly created a sense of unrest and paranoia amongst the local population nonetheless. I feel badly for all of those affected by these trying circumstances, especially the people of Hubei Province, and sincerely hope for a speedy end to the suffering caused by this problem. While these observations may seem sad or pessimistic, my family and I have actually managed to find many areas of inspiration and positivity during these trying times in China. The resiliency of Chinese people is absolutely remarkable, and the tireless efforts of the masses to help those most in need has been staggering and awe-inspiring. I'm especially amazed by the empathy and resolve displayed by those in the medical community in China, as they have dedicated themselves tirelessly not only to contain the disease from spreading further, but also to putting themselves in harm's way to help save the lives of as many people as possible.

On a personal level, the biggest challenge of the past month has been living basically in isolation for weeks on end, but my wife and I make sure to remind each other every day how fortunate we are to still have electricity, hot water, and plenty of food to eat thanks to Shanghai's incredible supermarket delivery services. It could certainly be much worse for us, and there are people suffering far more than we are, so we remain steadfast in our resolve to get through this time as a family with optimism. We are greatly looking forward to resuming our usual work routine, seeing our students whom we miss very much, and enjoying the simple things in life, such as going to watch a new movie and grabbing dinner downtown. I suppose the lesson I, and many others I'm sure, will try to take from this is to never take the simple things in life for granted, and cherish all days as if they may be our last. "Jia You!" Wuhan, Hubei Province, and all of China! We can all make it to brighter days ahead by standing strong together and making the best of this tough situation!

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