I don't think there's any huge problem with covid policies, but the xenophobia and descrimination are off the charts. For example, the kids in my community run away and cry to their grandparents "waiguoren". Actually scared. What are these parents and schools and media teaching these kids. And actually what are they teaching the general population? Also, some of the people in my building refuse to enter the building while I'm waiting at the elevator. They wait until I go up. When I walk to work people go way around me. Like they are walking on the sidewalk and they see me coming, so they walk way into the road to get around me. And I've been living in that community for 5 years. Probably longer than most of those people have been in Beijing. I have been to the convenient store across the street from where I live literally thousands of times, and they still talk about me as if I can't understand them. blablabla..waijiao. I don't even want to go out in public anymore. Now I'm just making an escape plan to get out of this nightmare. And most people I know are planning the same.
No, Covid Rules Don't Single Out Foreigners
Have you ever felt like you're getting picked on as a foreigner? Do you sometimes think that Chinese people are getting preferential treatment and experience less discrimination at public spaces, restaurants, bars and parks? Well, as a Beijingren, let me tell you my side of the story.
The other day as I was making my way down a path at one of my favorite parks in Tongzhou, trying to set up my gears to fly a kite, a 保安 baoan came up to me and told me that it wasn't allowed: “Hey, you cannot fly a kite here,” he commanded.
Seeing that there was no one else in sight and that my surroundings were completely empty, I asked him: “Am I spreading COVID in any way?” He sensed my anger and soon backed away saying: “Alright. It is fine. You go ahead and fly your kite.” I did not understand why the baoan chose to pick on me, but he certainly didn't treat me any differently just because I am a local here.
But how about those people that constantly yell at foreigners and tell them to wear masks? Well, I can tell you that from my personal experience you are not the only one being told to wear a mask!
A few weeks ago, when I was at Universal Studios, I saw a young Chinese couple cuddling up to each other while waiting in line for their next rollercoaster ride, however the staff interrupted them saying: “Put your mask on!” As awkward as it seemed, the couple had no better choice but to follow orders.
Even people in the subway have been social distancing from anyone who appears to be suspicious. I have minor allergies to the annoying catkins that have been flying around everywhere in Beijing’s skies. Sometimes they get caught in my throat and cause me to cough until I feel better. Once I had clearly inhaled some catkins before I entered the train and started coughing violently to clear out my throat, the next thing I knew, a guy who was sitting next to me looked at me anxiously then immediately moved away.
I'm sure all of you haven been woken up by the loud megaphone shouting the repeated chant that everyone should get up and go take their COVID test in the morning. I, for one, am not exempt from such demands. In fact, just a few days ago when I was strolling in my community, a woman whom I have never talked to before was looking me up and down and then said: “Please get a COVID test soon!" I nodded and smiled back at her, wondering what makes me so special that she decided to single me out and remind me. Then it hit me, it probably has nothing to do with what your nationality is, but rather, with people's fears of COVID and feeling responsible for keeping you, or perhaps themselves, safe.
You may still have your complaints and instances where you feel you are being unfairly treated as a foreigner, but just remember that locals here also have to comply with the strict COVID rules that at times make us feel a little uneasy. If there is one thing I can tell you, it's that, whether you are a foreigner or Chinese, COVID does not discriminate.
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Images: Irene Li, Weibo