I wrote a long time ago, in some other reality(It was March 2020), about how every day is unprecedented now. It’s still true, even though people have spent time and money to undo every last day of the global slowdown that we all have been enduring in 2020. Today, for those who care, is day…
I didn’t remember to mark 100 days
Since daily routines have barely changed since 29 January in meaningful ways, I suppose that we are still under a form of coronavirus confinement. The biggest change was at least a month back (I honestly can’t remember) when the grocery delivery guy knocked on our door and I jumped a mile high, since no one…
I’ve started talking to my mint plant
I’m having dreams about talking with people. About sitting in beer halls and talking about normal things. About meeting people for dinner. About speaking to people in English and in Italian and Spanish. I desperately try to find a seat, but there are so many people all together that it’s standing room only. And I…
Every Day is Unprecedented
We’ve just been living in a way that convinced us it wasn’t. This slow passage of time here in this apartment has made me think about time entirely differently. I still have our Chinese New Year decorations up. So does our city, for the most part. It doesn’t feel right to take them down, not…
Straw Clutching
35 days. We’ve been indoors for 35 days. (NOTE: I started this a week ago at 35 days but now it’s 42). I’m pointlessly looking at ways to emigrate to Canada. It’s not going to come in time. There’s a feeling, when you see things tipping over the edge. It’s a combination of fear and…
This is hard
I’m really, really bad at writing anything about my own life these days. I looked back and realised I’ve posted less than ten pictures of myself in more than two years on social media. It’s like I’m trying to delete myself from the world. I’m not, I don’t think. But I’m not the wild-eyed traveller…
Why are you here, then?
“We had those things that are famous in Shanghai.” “Xiao Long Bao?” “No, they were these little things filled with meat and stuff…” “Dumplings?” “No, they were these little things like rolled up with stuff inside. They’re really famous and typical of Shanghai.” I lived in Shanghai for a little more than a year, and…
Movement
We’re NOT moving, for the first time in several years. But the clouds are going fast in Fuzhou. Our entire office seems to be turning over, with three new teachers in one month and several people moving to new positions at other places in the same company. But we’re staying for another year, and I…
Again Begin 