When I told you about my solo trip to China, I mentioned we researched other people’s experiences. We listened to their stories and watched their videos. We joined group chats of people involved in various stages of immigration: some were preparing like me, some were just landing in Shanghai. Others just started quarantine life while others were about to finish and go home, free souls.
Where will I fall in this spectrum?
I took all the experiences I saw and averaged them together and hoped my situation would be similar or better. I saw a few people’s bathrooms had actual bathtubs, a rare luxury in China. Would I really take a bath every day? No but the option is nice. Even I like to feel fancy sometimes. I saw standard Chinese food like stir fried bok choy and lettuce but I also saw ghetto bologna-ish stuff thrown across iceberg. I hoped to land somewhere in the middle of that. Some people’s hotel rooms overlooked pretty nice cityscapes while others’ looked like drab prison yards. Just like the flow of traffic at the airport, I picked up my feet and floated on top of this quarantine river like a leaf in autumn. I would end up where I needed to be for this two weeks.
After about an hour, our bus from the Shanghai airport stopped in front of several shorter, gray buildings. I couldn’t see any hotel names – unfortunately, no Shanghai Four Seasons sign greeted me – but I did see one building marked “Q-Lab.” While I tested negative in Chiang Mai, I didn’t yet know the results of my airport test. Surely they weren’t available…or was I staying at a lab?
It wasn’t until I had my welcome packet in hand that I saw where I was, at a Holiday Inn Express. I know I’ve stayed at this chain before but I couldn’t recall any negative experience under normal circumstances. Soon I would find out how quarantine can override anything.
My palace awaits…
There is a moment of excitement and maybe a little apprehension when you arrive at your hotel room. You’re outside the door, getting your key out while your imagination runs wild with the fully stocked minibar and plush bath robes that await for you on the other side. Or maybe the sheets are dirty and the toilet is stained. You never really know your fate until you scan that card. The light turns green and… you heave a sigh of relief. Usually.
I’m happy to report a relieved sigh from Shanghai! The first thing I noticed was the thick, cushy carpet. I knew I’d be padding around this room for 14 days and the thought of nice carpet made my feet happy. If my feet could think. You know what I mean.
Then I saw the bed that would make Kim ecstatic if she were here. There are JUST enough pillows for HER: four. But they’re all MINE! And like the big, fluffy comforter, they are full of down. I LOVE down pillows!
I had seen a room like this in one of our research videos so the fantasy of having a bathtub evaporated fast but the water pressure in the shower I would take later…BLEW ME AWAY. This is literally the best shower I’ve had in a long time. I may live here after quarantine based on this aspect alone. Note the bottle attached to the wall. It’s shampoo/body wash. Kim packed me soap, shampoo and conditioner but it’s a relief to know I can save those things for real life after quarantine and just use the hotel’s. There is also a liquid hand soap dispenser at the sink.
Three squares a day, literally.
Meals are included in the daily rate I will pay but I don’t have choices or any influence over what I’m served. I know I’m one in a crowd of hundreds in this hotel and I don’t have any dietary restrictions. While I prefer some things over others, I don’t need anything special. I would prefer stir fried bok choy over the bologna/iceberg special, but you have to play the hand you’re dealt, right?
Listen closely and you’ll hear another Shanghai sigh of relief: lunch came and was great. Dinner followed suit. No complaints about the food. In case I don’t like what is served, the hotel did give me a the largest bowl of instant ramen and four packets of crackers in a bag with extra tissues and toilet paper.
A variety of ways to eat my feelings
Courtesy of Kim’s research materials, we knew I should pack some snacks. We went to two grocery stores and I pushed the cart while Kim ran around and grabbed things, occasionally asking me, “Do you want one or two of these?” “What about that?” “Go pick out something.” We hit the bulk section of a store so I could get a bag or two of ramen. We cruised past the baking aisle for some nuts. Coffee is life, even quarantine life, so we bought two of those, one for me and one for her. We don’t eat keto any more and have been eating oatmeal and proatmeal (oatmeal + protein powder or yogurt) so we got a bag of dried oats. I felt pretty well stocked.
Getting settled in
The next necessity was WiFi. Again, I understand my place in this world. If Ms. Reddinger’s WiFi isn’t yet available but the staff members need to finish everyone’s temperature checks, I will wait for help. WiFi is not the priority here. It did not work when I tried to log in a couple hours after I unpacked, but by dinner time Friday, November 6th, I was connected. Shout out to Mr. Front Desk Man Who put on a full body suit to come up and help me.
Overall, my experience so far has been positive and I am in good spirits. Today is day 3 of my quarantine life. Stay tuned for more updates of what I’m doing to keep from going crazy!
Oh my lord, quarantining in China must have been tough!! I actually moved away from China in November 2019, JUST before the pandemic really kicked in! Fortunately I moved to Taiwan and avoided any lockdown! Wonderful writing and glad you came through it to the other side!
Hey PJ! Yeah, quarantine proved to be a bit of a struggle at times and we are definitely grateful to be past it. Thanks for your kind words.
Where are you in Taiwan?!?