Anonymous 2m 560 #covid19
The views of this article are the perspective of the author and may not be reflective of Confessions of the Professions.
Amid COVID-19, I have been staying at home these days, from February to May, even now people return to their office, junior school and senior school students are back to the classrooms. That is, it’s okay if you go out with a mask on. But still I choose to stay at home, for there are still some imported cases. My university has announced that except postgraduates, other students needn’t to go back to the campus, and all we need to do is staying at home and having online class given by our teachers every weekday. So do most of universities in my city, here in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province.
Frankly speaking, there aren’t many differences before and after the pandemic the way I work. I am still doing part-time job on the internet, basically doing some translation as a freelancer. And none of my friends or families lost their jobs…(Maybe they have made abundant preparation? Haha I have no idea) But in this downward trend of economy, everyone are suffering from the pressure. More or less. Let’s take an example. People’s wallets are tightened up. Go out travelling VS stay at home? Stay at home. Eat out VS eat at home? Do it on their own. Buy VS not buy? If the item is not necessary, they prefer saving the money. Not only those employees, but also the employers. Some unlucky employers have no way but to close their company, dismiss their employees, because it’s hard for them to move on any more. And for all the postgraduate, it’s the hardest year to find jobs to make a living. It’s a tough year, even now the economy is becoming greater, step by step. Government is also doing its effort. It reduces the tax, gives subsidies to those in need, provides ways for citizens to buy masks or else necessary. Those who are infected, they will be sent to the hospital as soon as possible, and are free to get treatment until they get well. It’s not a easy year, but everyone in my country is making effort.
For us middle class, there are two main changes
First, people are spending less and earning less because of the upset economy. Second, their plans are inevitably interrupted by the pandemic, especially students and the middle-age. Gaokao, the national universities entrance exam, has been delayed for a month. It should begin at June, now July. So do other important tests. Now students are back to school, adjusting the new timeline and waiting for the exams.
At this time last year, I was staying at my dorm’ and preparing for the final exams, also the CET4, and making a plan for summer vacation. And at weekends I would hang out with my friends. During the pandemic, all of my family stayed at home and reduce the times we went out. We bought foods for several days each time so that we could avoid the risk of being infected. We chose to chat with our friends online instead of face-to-face, and people voluntarily prefer staying at home. This month I met my friends two times, and we ate out in those restaurants without much customer, or café. Some youngster will choose to go on a picnic, with foods and drinks and take a lot of pictures.
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