Welcome to Astronomer in Shanghai! Thank you for following my blog and for your interest in my life and adventures in Shanghai! As covid-19 persists in the US and around the world, and you are (hopefully) continuing to wear masks when you go outside (even if you’re vaccinated), avoiding large gatherings, and social distancing, I hope that you are all staying safe and healthy and that my blog highlights what the world can look like once the road to recovery begins. Once things improve, I hope you enjoy small gatherings with friends and family. I’m sure you’ll find these interactions meaningful and enjoyable as I have.
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Life in Shanghai
Hi Everyone! I hope that you are all continuing to stay safe and healthy. As the vaccine roll out continues in the US, and the situation appears to be improving, I hope that you all stay cautious and continue to follow social distancing guidelines and are wearing masks. Moreover, as the winter appears to be turning into spring (it’s already Spring in Shanghai), I hope that you have been able to go outside a bit more, even if it’s just for walks or runs.
I won’t be spending too much time on politics in this post. However, I am happy that the covid-19 relief bill was passed. I hope that this bill provides financial relief and assistance to the people and small businesses that have been suffering over the past year. Additionally, for those of you who are New York residents, you may have noticed that I have been avoiding mentioning the Andrew Cuomo situation. I have done so mostly because I haven’t been reading all of the articles on the situation. That being said, the behavior towards women is disgusting and he and all other public officials (including the former president) should be held to a higher standard when it comes to how they treat people.
As those of you in the US reached 1 year of covid-19 life, I was very excited to hear that President Biden believes that all Americans will be able to have access to the covid-19 vaccine as of May 1st. I hope that this will allow all of you to be vaccinated soon. On the vaccine front for me, I do have an update. SJTU (by way of the Shanghai goverment) is doing a second round of vaccines. This time, I was able to sign up and let the university know that I want to be vaccinated. I don’t know yet when I will be vaccinated, but I believe it should be in the next month or so, which is promising. When I have information or experiences to share, I’ll definitely update you all on that.
In terms of statistics, I’m glad to see that in the US, the number of people being vaccinated is greatly outpacing the number of new infections. In China, the situation has remained stable and entirely under control. In total, in Shanghai, there are currently 41 cases, 2 of which are local (though not new) and the recovery rate is at 97.38%. In Beijing, there are just 6 cases and the recovery rate is at 98.57%. For China as a whole, there are only 533 active cases (316 of those are in Hong Kong) and the recovery rate for the country is at 94.74%. So, it’s important to continue to stay vigilant and wear a mask regardless of what your state policy is and whether you have been vaccinated.
In terms of Astronomy, this was a productive week. I resubmitted my DES paper on the Stellar Mass – Halo Mass relation to the two internal reviewers, so hopefully this will lead to a collaboration wide review later this month/beginning of next month. Additionally, I made significant progress on my mock galaxy catalog and nailed down both the positions and brightnesses that need to be generated for each galaxy. The only thing left to do is to figure out how to turn the simulation box into a light cone (i.e., make it more like an observable universe). So, that’s the goal for this week. Additionally, I spent a bit of time going back to some of the DESI research that I had done on the completeness of Brightest Central Galaxies being targeted and observed as part of DESI to determine whether any of the proposed brightness cuts resulted in a significant number of BCGs not being observed. So, overall, I was able to get a lot done this week!
Additionally, it looks like the University is putting some sort of dome on top of our building? So, maybe we’re getting a small observatory, like what we had on top of Barus & Holley at Brown and on top of Angel Hall at Michigan?
Even though I was able to get so much work done, I still made time to go for 4 runs this week! It’s warming up here now (upper 50s – low 60s), so most days I’m just running in shorts (or short tights) and a shirt! Here are some of the things I saw on my runs and walks around Shanghai this week! There are so many flowers in bloom, which makes it really nice to be outside!
In terms of social activities, this was another quieter week, which really allowed me to get a lot of work done. However, I did want to share some highlights as well.
On Saturday, one of my friends organized a film screening of the Golden Globes winning film, Minari, to raise money to support organizations that support stopping the rising tide of violence against Asian Americans that has been happening throughout the US this past year. Minari was a really interesting movie and presents a perspective of the difficulties that many immigrants (particularly those who are not coming over to work in STEM fields) face living in the US. It’s currently available on Amazon Prime, so I recommend watching it if you have that platform. After the movie, there was an interesting discussion touching on topics including aspects of what was portrayed in the film, what it’s like to grow up as an Asian American in the US today, and also the role that Christianity plays in Korean American society (a key part of the film). Below you can see some cool stickers I bought to support the cause.
I also want to comment on the recent attacks of Asian Americans in the US. First, if anyone that you know refers to covid-19 as an name insulting people who are Chinese or Asian, and insinuating that they are responsible for covid-19, you need to call them out for being racist. This behavior was normalized by the racist Trump administration and is not okay and normalizes the othering of Asian Americans that has long persisted in the US. Secondly, It’s very troubling that these attacks have mostly been carried out against the elderly, who are already more vulnerable. Whether it’s just awareness, donating, or protesting, I hope that all of you recognize the importance of putting a stop to hate speech. Whether it’s racist attacks on Asian Americans, police violence and systemic racism against Blacks in the US, or anti-Semitism this kind of hateful rhetoric and thought must be called out, especially when used casually (for example by NBA player Meyers Leonard last week) because this kind of behavior must not be normalized. The only way for us as a society to improve is if we all strive to be understanding and better human beings.
Food in Shanghai
A few weeks ago, one of the organizers of the Vegans in Shanghai WeChat group started a take-out restaurant for lunch on the Weekdays. So, on Friday, I decided to give it a try!
I enjoyed a noodle bowl with buckwheat noodles, tempeh, and vegetables, as well as a side order of tofu, and a side of roasted vegetables! It was a really good lunch and it’s nice to know that when I don’t want to cook there are some more options for me to get healthy vegan food in Shanghai!
Jewish Life in Shanghai
On Friday, I joined with other members of the Kehilat Shanghai community for a lovely Family Shabbat! I’ve been going to these since the end of last summer and even though I’m one of the few people who comes without having a small child in tow, I’ve become friends with many of the parents and really feel like part of the community. 🙂 These kind of Shabbat dinners always bring back fond memories of dinners with my cousin Margaret and her family from when I was living in Ann Arbor.
This was a lovely Shabbat dinner with discussions ranging from the upcoming Kehilat Passover Seder and future Kehilat events, to covid-19 vaccines and favorite science fiction books. We also had some delicious food. There was a fantastic homemade challah and I also brought some delicious vegan carrot cake sandwich cookies! They were a big hit and one my the community members told me that her son woke up the next morning telling her about how much he enjoyed them! 🙂
Overall, this was a very productive and work filled week, with some fun activities interspersed. This upcoming week should be similar, so hopefully I’ll make more research progress! Additionally, if any of you are interested in the Saratoga Jewish Community Arts discussion that I’ll be taking part in on Sunday at 7pm (EST), which is Monday at 7am (China time), see the e-mail I sent out in the middle of last week.
I hope that you enjoyed hearing about my week and seeing more of Shanghai in bloom! If you have any questions about life in Shanghai, please let me know!
In peace,
Jesse
It is so lovely to wake up to Shanghai in bloom, Jesse! The flowers make your area look so inviting. And I did appreciate seeing a ginger cat 🐱 enjoying the sunny weather mixed in with those colorful pictures of blooming flowers.
Your progress on your work is excellent. I, too, hope the internal reviewers will speedily respond to your revisions, so the paper can move to the larger internal review and then out to ApJ for review! And great work on your mock catalog, too.
This week the weather was warmer and sunny, so we were able to have some lunches on the back screened in porch. My classes are going well, though I still miss my late student, Sam. I nominated her for an award, which I would have done were she living, and it felt comforting to do so. I am continuing making sourdough bread and improving, and I am still delivering jam to friends near and far to sweeten this pandemic year.
I am not sure if you heard Biden’s address, but it was very reassuring and hopeful. He also called out the racist behavior to Asian Americans. This was such a breath of fresh air after the awful years of Trump. Here is to better days ahead for all.
I realize that it is coming up on 1 1/2 years since I have seen you. I miss you and love you and am so proud of all you have accomplished!
xoxo
Mom
Hi Mom! I’m so glad that you enjoy seeing the photos of the flowers! The ginger cat (and a few other cats) live in my neighborhood, so I seem them often!
I’ll definitely keep you updated on the DES paper. Though I’ll take advantage of the time off to make real headway on my research with Ying.
I’m glad to hear that it’s starting to feel like Spring in Saratoga. That’s very thoughtful of you to nominate your student.
I heard parts of Biden’s address. It is very comforting to have someone who cares back in the White House. I’m glad to hear that he denounced the racism towards Asian Americans. I also hope that there will be better days ahead.
It has been almost 1.5 years since I’ve seen you, Dad, and Emmet. I miss you all and hope to see you soon.
Hi Jesse,
I’m glad to hear that you had a good week and that you were able to get signed up to be vaccinated! I’m cautiously optimistic about the increased vaccine roll out here, though I’m still concerned that the levels are very high and we still seem to be reopening things as if the pandemic is over. I’m glad to hear Minari was good! I’d seen the trailers for it, and thought it looked interesting, so I’ll definitely check it out. I also agree about your sentiments on the violence against Asian Americans. Trump normalized the hatred of the other and then turned that attention squarely on people of East Asian descent with his covid rhetoric. I really think it’s important to correct people and call them out for their bigotry. I also agree that it is time for Cuomo to go, but I have a feeling he’s going to ride this out for a while. I’m glad to hear the astronomy is progressing nicely. Out of curiosity, what kind of star formation history are you modeling for your galaxies? I was chatting with Brian and he raised that as an issue with making a more realistic model. I’m glad to hear that you resubmitted your paper! Hopefully the internal reviewers like it and you can submit it! That’d be awesome if they were putting a dome on the roof. Does the sky in downtown Shanghai actually get dark enough to see stars? I’m glad to see that you have such a nice community and that the carrot cake cookies were a bit! I’m going to try to make those this week. The vegan lunch you got also looks great! I’m definitely a bit envious of all of the flowers, though it got into the 50s here this week, which was nice. I’m looking forward to your discussion of Shanghai ghetto tonight! Have a productive week! Stay safe and healthy!
Love,
Emmet
Thanks Emmet! I agree with you that the pre-mature reopening in many states is very concerning. I hope that there is no more massive outbreaks in the US. I’m glad to hear that you’re planning to see Minari. I hope you find it interesting.
Trump normalized hatred of every non-white christian male, but definitely over the past years he and his cronies have gone out of the way to demonize China and those of Asian descent.
For the LF, we don’t actually assume a SF history, it’s just a model (based on observations) or the number of galaxies with a certain luminosity.
The sky in downtown Shanghai is far too bright to see anything. However, in Minhang, you can see the moon, not sure I’ve ever seen stars though.
Let me know how the carrot cake cookies come out. I loved them! I hope you enjoyed the discussion of Shanghai Ghetto and that you also enjoy the warmer weather and have a productive week!
Sounds like you had a very productive week, Jesse. I write this quite envious that you are so surrounded by such gorgeous flowers. We are having flurries of snow and yesterday, Lisa and I saw that a couple of crocuses had burst through in our front yard and about a half dozen daffodils were about 1 inch or so above the soil. Spring is on its way … but the way is long… and I am not putting away the snow blower just yet, though interestingly, when I lived in London, we used to have picnics in the parks during Passover, and even in Glasgow, as kids, we would go on matza rambles (tiyulim, in Hebrew); the weather being mild enough. But here in Saratoga …brrrrrr.
If what they say about Cuomo is even half true he should resign, immediately. That men in positions of power can behave in that way is unconscionable, is unbelievable.
Regarding the racist trope that this is a Chinese virus is I think (thank G-d) far from normalized. That the failed orange haired racist crook who ran the last administration used that term for this corona virus did not make that expression a common use for most people in the US but clearly his racist dog whistles can still be heard and still act like Pavlovian bells to his rabid followers who have no hesitation beating up older Asian women and men because they can and because they think they have complete impunity. They don’t.
Curious that so many people can attend the kehila’s events in person. Are people not more cautious about gathering with people who are not within their pods or bubbles? That said, it must have made you feel really good to get that kind of compliment on your carrot cookies.
Lisa and I are about to watch Shanghai Ghetto on Youtube. For some reason I don’t think we have rights to watch it on Amazon Prime (go figure) and we intend to attend this evening’s discussion.
Stay well and stay safe.
Hi Bernard. Thanks! The flowers are one of my favorite parts of Shanghai. It’s a nice way to make the city very appealing. I can’t remember too many Passovers that were warm enough for picnics. Maybe in some of the years that it’s in the end of April.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on Cuomo and the racism towards Asian Americans. That’s a good point about the racist dog whistles persisting as opposed to the racist terminology.
The situation of pods was handled very differently in China. Following the outbreak, everything was shut down, including apartment complexes and neighborhoods, so only residents were allowed in to people’s homes. This practice persisted for a few months (until last April) and essentially stopped the spread of the virus. Since then, there have been almost no locally transmitted cases in the city, so that has allowed the Kehilat community to have events be open to more people within the community.
It was great seeing you both at the discussion! Thanks for joining!