Thank you so much for your interest in my life and experiences in Shanghai! I’m incredibly thankful for all of the messages I’ve received asking how I’m holding up during the coronavirus epidemic. If you haven’t seen my prior six posts, which discuss the current situation in Shanghai and China and how I’ve dealt with it, please check them out.
https://astronomerinshanghai.com/uncategorized/life-in-quarantine-week-1/
https://astronomerinshanghai.com/uncategorized/life-in-quarantine-week-2/
https://astronomerinshanghai.com/uncategorized/life-in-quarantine-week-3/
https://astronomerinshanghai.com/uncategorized/life-in-quarantine-week-4/
https://astronomerinshanghai.com/uncategorized/life-in-quarantine-week-5/
https://astronomerinshanghai.com/uncategorized/life-in-quarantine-week-6/
If you enjoy my blog, subscribe and let me know! To subscribe, enter your name and e-mail on the right side of the page. Once subscribed, you’ll receive an e-mail with each new post. If you have any questions about Shanghai or the current situation, don’t hesitate to ask. Instructions are on the “To Comment” page. Also, if you know anyone who needs reassurance that things will get better in the rest of the world as they have in Shanghai and China, please share this with them.
Life in Shanghai
To start this week’s entry, I want to begin by saying that I hope that all of you are doing well. I hope that your families and friends are all healthy and safe. Throughout the course of this past week, the tables have entirely turned. The situation is dramatically better here in China after 2 months of lockdown, while the situation in the US and the rest of the world, Italy in particular, has gotten worse. So, I want to reassure all of you that things will get better, eventually life will return to normal, even if that normal isn’t for a few months. More importantly, as I’ve documented here, in my opinion, the best approach is to turn lemons into lemonade and try to make the best out of what is clearly a difficult and anxiety inducing situation.
Based on my experiences in Shanghai, here are some tips, I recommend:
- Social distancing is important. Most importantly avoid large crowds. The reports that crowds under 1000 people are safe are utterly ridiculous. I would attempt to avoid crowds in general. This doesn’t mean you should lock yourself in, rather that you should avoid situations where you know there are large groups of people.
- Wash your hands!!! It’s paramount that everyone continue to wash their hands for at least 20 seconds, particularly after you’ve been outside. If possible, you can use hand sanitizer as well.
- Continue to eat healthy and exercise. Whether that’s going running or doing exercises in your home, it’s important to maintain healthy practices.
- Don’t completely isolate yourselves. For me, many of the highlights of my weeks have been using FaceTime with my family or getting together with one or two friends for coffee. So, even though you should avoid crowds, if you are still healthy, you can definitely get together in small groups (<10).
- Don’t read the sensationalist news. Follow sensible news sources and listen to actual trained professionals, not the. current administration.
I hope that these tips are helpful and can alleviate some of the nervousness and anxiety that I know you are feeling. I’m nervous for you all as I was and still remain for myself. I’m happy to offer my support to any of you reading this. If you need to know more about my experience or want to discuss any precautions I’ve taken, please reach out to me. Now that things are improving in China, I’m happy to offer any help and support that I can.
As I’ve said, things are definitely improving here in Shanghai. I continue to be healthy, safe, and happy! I again want to thank all of you who have continued to reach out and ask about how I’m doing. I’m incredibly appreciative of your messages and it comforts me to know that so many of you care about me.
In terms of Shanghai, the situation is greatly improving. In the past week, there have only been imported cases of the coronavirus to Shanghai. These are from people returning from either Italy, the United States, Iran, France, or Spain. China is now far more concerned about imported cases on the coronavirus. Currently, Shanghai has instituted a policy that anyone coming from Italy, the US, Iran, South Korea, Japan, France, Germany and Spain have to spend 14 days in self-quarantine upon arrival to Shanghai. In total there are currently 353 cases in Shanghai. Of those 324 have already recovered. A recovery rate of ~ 92%. For China, the recovery rate is at 83%. So, while I’m sure many of you are nervous about the number of new cases in the US, I believe that the recovery rate should be high outside of China as well.
In terms of my day-to-day life, things are also starting to return to normal. The majority of shops and restaurants are now back open for business. However we still have to. take our temperature when we enter. Additionally, some of the museums and parks are starting to open up again! Although, there are some restrictions being placed on the number of people allowed in at one time. Overall, it’s been great to see Shanghai beginning to revive and revitalize! Additionally, I’m still able to get groceries delivered. Most importantly, I’m able to run again! I went running on Wednesday and with temperatures warming to the 70s this week, I plan to go running at least 2-3 times!
For those of you wondering, SJTU, where I work, remains closed. You currently need to ask for permission to enter the campus. However, there is discussion that by mid April, the university will reopen. In terms of work, this week, we had the DESI (Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument) collaboration meeting on Zoom. Unfortunately for me, the meeting was set up to operate on Pacific Standard Time, so many of the talks were while I was asleep. However, I did listen to some very interesting talks about the cluster science that will be done with DESI. Additionally, I also had a DES clusters telecon. So, there was a lot of late night science on my part. In addition to that I had my now weekly telecons within the Zu group. In terms of research progress, I’m still working on the DES results. However, I’ve also gone back to writing as I’m in the process of revising two of my papers. I’m hoping to have those papers finished up and submitted for publication later this spring.
As I mentioned, things are definitely returning to normal here, which was best highlighted by some of the fun things I did this week. On Friday, a group of my friends from Moishe House got together for a Shabbat dinner. Then on Sunday, I got together with my friend Shimi and we visited the Jing’an Sculpture park. I previously visited the Jigan’an sculpture in the winter (https://astronomerinshanghai.com/uncategorized/vegan-hot-pot-and-the-shanghai-natural-history-museum/), so I was amazed to see the park covered in gorgeous flowers! Special thanks to Shimi for some of these amazing photos!
One of my favorite parts was that in the midst of the flower beds were statues. The ones of the giant bulls reminded me of the children’s story Ferdinand the Bull!
There were also some other very cool statues as well!
There was also beautiful. Cherry blossom trees! So, as you can see, as the impact of the virus is lessening, spring is here in Shanghai.
Additionally, thanks to Shimi, you can. see a ton of photos of me (both with and without a mask)!
We also even saw some cats in the park!
Food in Shanghai
For the first time in Shanghai I got vegan deserts! On Tuesday, Cinnamon Loafers, a pop-up vegan/gluten free bakery that I learned about via the vegans in Shanghai WeChat group was having a sale. So, I got a red velvet brownie, a birthday cake brownie, a rice crispie treat, and 2 zucchini chocolate chip cookies! All Vegan! This made me very happy!
On Friday, I went to an Indian restaurant for Shabbat and had another delicious meal. Unsurprisingly, the Indian food in China is really good!
Then on Sunday, Shimi and I got Falafel! Falafel in Shanghai is surprisingly good!
Jewish Life in Shanghai
As many of you know, this past week was Purim. To celebrate, Kehilat Shanghai did some virtual Zoom activities. Additionally, we’ve continued to have Zoom Shabbat. However, the Shabbat highlight this week was getting to join Temple Sinai (in Saratoga) for their Zoom Friday night Shabbat service (or Saturday morning for me).
Additionally, to celebrate Purim, Moishe House hosted a Purim Party! Special thanks to my friends Hannah Maia and Shimi for organizing a fun party, which also highlighted that life here is returning to normal (and for those of you in the US, it will return. to normal as well). Also, Hannah Maia made delicious raspberry, chocolate, and poppy seed filled hamentaschen!
For those of you wondering, I went as a hippie. Also, if any of you are observant, that is in fact the t-shirt that my brother and I gave out to people who attended our B’nai mitzvah!
Despite a 7th week of semi-self-imposed quarantine, this was an enjoyable, fun, and productive week. Things continue improving here. Hopefully that trend will continue and in a few weeks, that will begin to happen in the US.
I hope that this update about the coronavirus situation in Shanghai and how I am staying positive and dealing with situation is comforting and can provide reassurance that things will get better. Hopefully people will take social distancing seriously and the spread of the coronavirus will slow. I plan to continue working each day on my research from home as SJTU still remains closed. I look forward to updating you all about my life and adventures next week! If you have any questions/comments or concerns about Shanghai or my safety, let me know! Also, if you need advice for dealing with a more isolated life, don’t hesitate to reach out.
In peace,
Jesse
Hi Jesse, it’s very encouraging to see that you and the rest of the residents of Shanghai are starting to emerge from your quarantine slumber, especially as we all start ours. I’m definitely not too excited about the prospects of working from home for two weeks, but it’s encouraging to know that you made it work! It sounds like you had a very fun week! The pictures of the garden are beautiful! I really like that the statues are right in the flower beds and feel like they are coming out of the ground. I totally agree about the bull statue! Those are some great pictures that Shimi took of you! As per usual, all your food looks great! Especially the vegan treats! I’m glad you could celebrate Purim with hamentaschen and friends! It was great seeing you at Temple Sinai’s zoom service. I hope we both continue to be healthy and sane.
Love,
Emmet
Hi Emmet! I’m glad you found my pictures and post encouraging. I know that working from home can sometimes be difficult, but I think you’ll be able to make the most of it and get a lot of work done. Just set goals for each day. The gardens are beautiful. I look forward to visiting again (and visiting other gardens as well). Shimi took a lot of really nice photos! I also had fun participating in the zoom shabbat service!
Hi Jesse,
Love seeing the sculptures!!!
Especially liked the apple totem with crow on top!!!
Wonderful to see the the bulls amongst the flowers too!
Those bakery treats look delicious.,, what a nice discovery!
Glad to see you out and about with friends!
Have a good week!!
XoPam
Hi Aunt Pam! I thought you’ld like seeing the sculpture garden! Hope you’re doing well and staying safe/healthy!
Jesse, it was wonderful to wake up and read your blog this morning! I am so glad that things in Shanghai are improving and that you are now able to get out to run and see friends without your mask. I loved all of your pictures. You gave all of us a glimpse of what a beautiful and vibrant place Shanghai is! Continue to enjoy every day and stay well!
Peg
Jesse, it was wonderful to wake up this morning and read your blog! I am so glad to learn that you are now able to run outside and see friends without your mask! I loved all of your pictures. You’ve given us a glimpse of what a vibrant and beautiful city Shanghai is. I particularly enjoyed the pictures of the sculpture gardens and Purim. Your costume was great! Continue to enjoy life and stay well!
Peg
Hi Peg! I’m so glad that you enjoyed reading this entry! I’m glad that my pictures have helped highlight that things will eventually get better! I hope that you and Art continue to stay healthy and safe.
Thanks for the hard-earned wisdom, Jesse–much appreciated.
Thanks Mason! I hope that you continue to stay healthy and safe!
Hi Jesse! I remember those B’Nai Mitzvah T-shirts! So glad the cloud of quarantine is starting to lift for you. Thanks for the tips and the beautiful photos. It’s so nice to see you and Shanghai!
Warm regards, Robyn
Hi Robyn! It’s nice to see that someone other than my immediate family recognized those t-shirts. 🙂 I’m glad you enjoyed the pictures and found the tips helpful. I hope you and the rest of your family continue to stay healthy and safe!
Jesse, what a wonderful upbeat post. It is reassuring that as we begin our lockdown, life is returning to Shanghai. This post gives us all a light at the end of the social distancing tunnel, yes? Highlights of your post–in addition to your wise advice, as Mason notes–are the flowers which rival those I saw in Holland, the two beautiful cats, the fun Purim party, and your shout out to Ferdinand the Bull, which I recall fondly reading to you and your brother when you were young.
It was great to have our whole family participate in the Zoom Shabbat service on Friday night–we remain close even if separated by such a vast distance. I hold you always in my heart. Love, Mom
Hi Mom! I’m glad you found this post upbeat and reassuring! That was definitely my goal! I’m glad that you enjoyed the photos of the flowers! There are tons of parks here in Shanghai and I love visiting and seeing them! I also fondly recall Ferdinand the Bull, definitely a favorite. 🙂 I’m glad that you enjoyed seeing me on the Zoom service. It was fun seeing you, Dad, Emmet, and many other familiar faces!
Hi Jesse, it’s great to see that Shanghai is doing much better and you’re able to start enjoying some more typical weekday activities.
Michigan got shut down on Wednesday and is moving to remote teaching, which is quite interesting to deal with as a GSI…
I really hope it only takes about 6 weeks for the US to recover! I’m not sure if the response can be as effective in the US as it has been in China (one benefit of having a totalitarian government), but we’ll see!
Hi Ryan! I heard that Michigan got shut down. I hope that you’re staying safe and healthy in Ann Arbor. What kind of things are they suggesting for remote teaching of Astronomy labs. From my experience teaching, I think that would be really hard. I agree with you about the benefits of China’s government. I’m not sure the US has the power or willingness to implement all of the draconian and strict policies that are/were enforced here. However, it does look like sensible measures are being suggested.
Sounds very much as if the Covid-19 episode in Shanghai is winding down. Here in NYS, it seems to be ratcheting up, so for example. in Riverdale, in the Bronx, synagogues did not have services this shabbat, and the school where Lisa, my wife is a teacher is now providing the students with online classes. Next door in NJ (Teaneck) people have been asked to self quarantine for a couple of weeks but SUNY and CUNY are open although all classes (with the exception of labs) are to be offered online. Empire State is (as our President said) ahead of the game as we have been a major driver of online studies for SUNY.
Those beds of flowers look delightful – You are so way ahead of us in Saratoga (although I saw some crocuses peeping up in our yard the other day) but in NYC we have some cherry blossoms blossoming.
Loved the shots of those dishes. I wonder if felafel in Shanghai is made with chickpeas or with fava beans. Are you familiar with amba (a pickled mango sauce that was introduced to the West by Iraqui Jews in Israel). Easy to make, though it can take a few days for the mangoes to pickle (lacto pickling) and very delicious with falafel or bean burgers of all kinds.
Hi Bernard! Thanks for the update about the covid-19 situation in NY and NJ. I’m glad to hear that many of the precautions/policies that were enacted here have been implemented there. I hope that they’re able to be successful. I hope that you and Lisa and the rest of your family stays healthy and safe!
I’m glad that you enjoyed the pictures of the flowers! Shanghai’s much warmer than Saratoga (we didn’t really have a winter). I’m not familiar with amba, put that sounds really delicious. I’d love to have the recipe. In terms of the falafel, the owner is Israeli, so I assume that they use chickpeas.
Thanks so much for this upbeat update. Glad you were able to virtually join us “at” Temple Sinai for our Shabbat service.
Rabbi Jonathan
Hi Rabbi Jonathan! I’m glad you found the post upbeat! I had a wonderful time joining the Temple Sinai Zoom service. If you keep doing those the next few weeks, I’ll definitely plan to join! I hope that you, Rabbi Linda, and the rest of your family stay healthy and safe.
Jesse- Glad you are well. I am adding to the chorus of people here to thank you for this most recent uplifting post. It is just what we need to hear as we begin our own unwanted journey. I have been quietly following all your previous posts which have been very informative but this one is definitely the best!
Hi Cassie! Thank you so much for letting me know how much you enjoyed this post! I’m glad you found it uplifting. I hope that my example can show that there’s a light at the end of this tunnel. I hope that you, Harvey, and the rest of your family stay healthy and safe!
Hi Jesse,
I loved reading your upbeat remarks. So many here are either becoming paranoid or depressed. It is so refreshing to read about the experience of someone who is now on the other side of this trying situation. The pictures if garden are beautiful . It was fun to read about your Purim experiences. I hope your life is soon 100% back to normal. Most kind regards, Phyllis and Barry
Hi Phyllis and Barry! I’m so glad that you found my post upbeat and calming. I hope that I can continue to provide optimism that the situation can and will improve. I’m glad that you enjoyed the pictures of the garden and Purim! I hope that you both and the rest of your family continue to stay safe and healthy.
It’s so heartening to hear from you on the other side of this ordeal, just as we are entering it. No doubt you are thrilled to be emerging from it, as places open up and people begin to leave their homes. To springtime yet, with all those gorgeous flowers! Savor every moment.
Spring has come early to DC and the cherry blossoms are about to bloom, tho the big Cherry Blossom festival has been canceled. Global warming does have its bright spots, with the nicer weather. I’ve spent the weekend getting my practice prepared to move on line, as I engage in “physical distancing.”
In an international on line forum,
therapists have noted the importance of staying socially
connected (as you wisely note).
Because language matters, we hope this new term will help people feel less isolated, even if they’re physically separated.
Hope everyone continues to be healthy and that you enjoy your re-entry into Shanghai.
Hi Aunt Judy! I’m glad that you found this post reassuring. It’s definitely nice to be on the otherside of covid-19, especially since it’s nice to experience Shanghai in the spring! I’m glad that you’re able to get your practice up online. I staying socially connected, especially to keep everyones spirits up. I hope that you, Uncle Keren, Zack, and Jared are staying healthy and safe!
Hello, This is Renee Wheelock from Temple Sinai! So good to see you join on-line Friday for services all the way from Shanghai!!
I will pray for your continued health there and thank you for sharing your experience. It is so positive to hear, that after two months (as long as that must have felt like) that things are going in the right direct there. Also glad to hear how many people have recovered! Be well! Make the best of your “moments of the day” as much as you can!
Hi Renee. I’m glad that you enjoyed this post and found it uplifting. I hope that you stay healthy and safe.
Hi Jesse,
So good to read about what is going on where you are. Thank you for being so positive. It is such a gift to all of us who are hoping for the best in the midst of shutting down everything here at home.
I am grateful to know that you are well.
It was great to see you join us long distance on Shabbat. I loved it! Keep going with your papers and research. In spite of everything that is going on, there are opportunities for growth.
Sending you love and blessings,
Rabbi Anna
Hi Anna! It’s so nice to hear from you. I’m glad that you found my post positive and reassuring. It was great getting to join Temple Sinai for Shabbat! I hope that I can do that again this week. Thanks for the positive words of encouragement. I hope that you, Monte, and the rest of your family stays safe and healthy!
Hey Jesse,
It’s your Mom’s cousin Caren.
I wanted to let you know how much I have enjoyed and admired your postings from the war zone of Shanghai as the coronavirus has been swirling around China. Your ability to be productive in isolation, to enjoy the sights and food of your new home and stay upbeat and engaged with your friends is inspiring for us in the USA as we are heading into our own pandemic isolation challenges.
Glad you are seeing some light at the end of the tunnel for those in China and hope the US can follow the containment example to catch this spread of this deadly disease. My family is one of the luckier ones. We are in a large house with a big lawn and a practically empty street to walk on with three adults, (me, my husband Peter and our 25 year old daughter Akayla) who all like to cook. The 6 year old daughter/granddaughter could use some playmates, (Aaliyah is a very social kid), but with three adults to trade off we have been able to keep her active, entertained and doing educational projects either on line or in workbooks – so far.
Wishing everyone good health and the ability to keep their spirits UP!!
Hi Caren! It’s so nice to hear from you. I’m glad to hear that you found the post uplifting. Hopefully after a few months, the situation will return to normal in the US. I’m glad to hear that you, Peter, Akayla, and Aaliyah are all staying safe and healthy and I hope that. that continues!