In early February when the virus flared up in China forcing schools to close, I held my breath and wondered how long online school would last. How long would I last?
What would my new role be? Cheerleader? Truant officer? Hall monitor? Janitor? Lunch lady? Would I have to wear a hairnet? I tried not to panic.
Eighteen weeks later, as I vacuum up crumbs from under the breakfast counter, a wave of sadness sneaks over me. Western Academy Beijing (WAB) opened to high school students again on Monday.

Entering campus under the “new normal”

Entering campus when school started last August
Instead of feeling relief, I’m replaying the 90 weekdays my sons and I shared without the harried early mornings and traffic-snarled evenings slicing into our days.
I can’t say this loudly enough: I’m so proud of how they’ve handled this challenge. They got up, got to work and never complained. From math assignments to indoor P.E. classes to filming art and cooking projects, they’ve completed everything asked of them.
No one ended up in detention and as far as I can tell we’re all still speaking to each other (at least as much as we were before this whole mess. Some days, more).

Taking a break from school. I love these guys.
I’m not saying it was easy for any of us. For me, these were some of the loneliest days of our time in China, as I tried to figure out how to support two teenagers who spent the better part of the day behind their bedroom doors doing school work alone.
And for them? They left their friends behind, moved to a strange land where they were just starting to make new friends and then their lives were up ended by a deadly virus. Many of their classmates won’t be returning. I can’t even imagine.
These past four months haven’t been what any of us expected, but like I mentioned in my last post, every cloud has a silver lining (You can read about it here Silver Linings)
Instead of nervously watching the clock every morning, I made blueberry pancakes or breakfast sandwiches.

We even grew our own micro greens.
Often the boys cooked for themselves and actually had time to eat.
Who knew having them home would increase our food consumption so drastically? I found a grocery store that delivered American-style bagels, milk, avocados, orange juice and bananas within an hour with free delivery. I ordered so often they started bringing me free gifts, like a dozen eggs or a frozen fish.

We are spoiled with fast, free delivery.
What mom can say she had lunch with her teenagers everyday for 90 days? Some days it was lunch at home, with fried rice and dumplings or barbecue pork sandwiches.
Other days, when restaurants opened again, we took advantage of the extra time to treat ourselves to Red Lobster (sadly, the cheddar biscuits just aren’t the same), or kebabs from the Turkish restaurant near the park.

Lunch anyone ?
As the days turned into weeks, I pressed the boys into kitchen duty at dinnertime. Unhindered by the usual “get dinner on the table as quickly as possible” time constraints, we discovered that homemade enchilada sauce is so much better than canned, a proper roux is worth the effort for a satisfying gumbo, and that shepherd’s pie is one of our new favorites, even without Worcestershire sauce which we can’t find here.
Online school meant freedom to travel (we made a trip to Seattle to see family and friends before the virus hit the US), go to the gym or take a Starbucks break for a Black Tea Latte.
Laptops were propped up on bedroom pillows instead school desks, eliminating the hour-long commute. I’m happy to say that showering and getting dressed remained part of the routine.
Returning to school after the pandemic requires almost as much paper work as enrolling in the first place. The Beijing Education Committee has a strict protocol in place for returning to campus, and inspects every aspect of the school, from air flow in the class rooms to social distancing markers.

Directional arrows on campus.

New hand washing stations
Students are required to keep a daily temperature log for 14 days prior to returning, and complete a survey listing the date and flight number of any trips made outside of China since January 23rd. We have to sign a “Letter of Commitment” verifying that we haven’t been to Wuhan recently or left Beijing in the last three weeks (there goes the impromptu trip to Shanghai Disney). Failure to comply would require proof of a negative virus test.

Lots of paper work to return to school.
Then there’s proof we have the “Health Kit App” which records our travel history and health status by tracking information on our cell phones (yes, Big Brother is watching) just in case we decided to sneak off for a quick meet-and-greet with Mickey Mouse or paid a visit to the fever clinic without reporting it.

This app tracks our travels, health status and ID. It’s required for entry into most public spaces.
I turned in the paperwork, prepared a supply of masks (mandatory for students and teachers), verified funds in the lunch account, checked the revised bus schedule, re-read the six pages of “back to school” instructions and laid down for a nap. I’ll have two weeks to recover before school is out for the summer.
“How was school today?” I asked my soon-to-be junior when he came home after Day 1.
“It was OK,” Daniel said. “But I don’t think I really want to go back tomorrow. We didn’t really do anything except work on our online assessments.”
Going back to school isn’t all it’s cracked up to be when you’re met by a guy in a hazmat suit, have your temperature taken three times and spend an hour commuting to do what you could do at home in your pajamas. Except you’re not in your pajamas.
To avoid crowding students stay in the same classroom all day and have to sign up for a designated lunch spot and choose free-time activities in advance.
“They’re really strict about enforcing the social distancing and making us keep our masks on,” my son told me. “Apparently the government can show up anytime to check and they can also ask to see the security tapes.”
With the high-surveillance atmosphere and the fact that over half of the students and teachers are still outside China, it’s easy to understand why some kids are less than enthusiastic about returning.
While the opportunities at school are still limited, we’re grateful that the campus re-opened. It’s a sign of hope, that at least for the time being, the virus is under control in Beijing.
Paula Kasnitz
June 2, 2020 at 3:01 pm
Like everything else, you handled the time at home with style and grace.
Continue to enjoy the adventure.
Jeannie
June 3, 2020 at 1:36 pm
Thank you for the update. I love reading your posts. I agree with Paula, you handle everything with style and grace (and a good sense of humor).
Matthew Telch
February 14, 2022 at 4:38 am
I was more than happy to find this site. I wanted to thank you for your time for this fantastic read!! I definitely liked every little bit of it and i also have you book-marked to see new information in your website.
AurliepaEn
July 8, 2022 at 4:23 am
wind creek casino free play online
shaved models slots
free games slots
AurliepaEn
July 8, 2022 at 1:09 pm
online slots bonus
slot games
video slot machines realmoneyonlyhr
ShaynapaEn
July 14, 2022 at 5:16 am
define dissertation
dissertation help service quality
dissertation research
JoetepaEn
July 15, 2022 at 5:44 pm
mathematics dissertation help
proposal and dissertation help plan
dissertation writing services uk
JoetepaEn
July 18, 2022 at 5:13 pm
custom dissertation writing help
getting help online
dissertation writing memes
ChandapaEn
July 20, 2022 at 1:01 pm
rfp writing services
dissertation writers
proposal writing company
AvivapaEn
July 21, 2022 at 7:07 am
how do i write a dissertation
dissertation uk help
do my dissertation
DortheapaEn
July 22, 2022 at 2:39 am
custom dissertation writing service 2019
dissertation writing process
masters dissertation
VerieepaEn
July 22, 2022 at 10:10 pm
writing your dissertation proposal
mba dissertation writing services
dissertation defense questions
GlynnispaEn
July 23, 2022 at 5:37 pm
help tutor
help with dissertation topic
best dissertation writing
SuzannpaEn
July 24, 2022 at 12:02 pm
writing a proposal for your dissertation
dissertation structure
doctoral dissertation help your
SallipaEn
July 25, 2022 at 6:44 am
writing your dissertation proposal
writing a dissertation methodology
dissertation proposal writing
TandipaEn
July 25, 2022 at 4:07 pm
online usa casino
mobile casino real money
no deposit casino online
DarsiepaEn
July 26, 2022 at 3:52 am
buy a dissertation online help
what is dissertation
uk dissertation writing help quotes
TandipaEn
July 26, 2022 at 5:01 pm
online us casinos
no deposit casino bonuses
best casinos online
MabellepaEn
July 27, 2022 at 2:03 am
dissertation definition
dissertation writing tutor
writing a dissertation prospectus
AbagaelpaEn
July 27, 2022 at 6:12 pm
online casino with free signup bonus real money usa
casino games win real money
best no deposit bonus online casino
JenneepaEn
July 27, 2022 at 11:17 pm
help me
dissertation acknowledgement sample
writing dissertation and grant proposals
ShaylapaEn
July 28, 2022 at 5:49 pm
mobile casino sites
online casinos with no deposit bonus
best usa casinos
HerminapaEn
July 28, 2022 at 7:24 pm
proquest dissertations
dissertation writing grants
ucl dissertation help
AudrepaEn
July 29, 2022 at 3:14 pm
how to write a dissertation
dissertation paper writing service
writing my dissertation
VerenapaEn
July 29, 2022 at 4:48 pm
real money casino online
usa casino online
usa casinos online
DixiepaEn
July 30, 2022 at 3:22 pm
online casino usa
real money casino
online casino best bonus
LaureenpaEn
July 31, 2022 at 1:11 pm
kasino bonus
usa casinos on line
best usa casinos
FrannipaEn
August 1, 2022 at 1:51 pm
best no deposit bonus
welcome bonus casino
no deposit casino real money
PearlpaEn
August 2, 2022 at 12:12 pm
online casino signup bonus no deposit
online casinos free money
best online casinos for us players
BobbiepaEn
August 3, 2022 at 10:35 am
no deposit welcome bonus
casino bonuses online
free slots for mac
LesliepaEn
August 4, 2022 at 9:03 am
play mobile casino
online gambling sites no deposit
welcome bonus no deposit
TrudiepaEn
August 7, 2022 at 8:47 am
no deposit slots for real money
sign up bonus casino no deposit
play mobile casino
HonorpaEn
August 8, 2022 at 4:22 am
free vpn to change location
hide me vpn free
best vpn canada
JaynellpaEn
August 8, 2022 at 8:01 am
mobile casino
online casino free bonus
casino signup bonus
TeddiepaEn
August 9, 2022 at 1:07 am
cyber ghost vpn
best vpn for roobet
free vpn germany
DulceapaEn
August 9, 2022 at 3:38 pm
no deposit casino bonuses
free sign up bonus no deposit casino
no deposit on line casinos
JenneepaEn
August 10, 2022 at 9:23 am
top vpn rated services
best vpn multiple devices
best free vpn for chrome
CarolanpaEn
August 10, 2022 at 4:04 pm
no deposit welcome bonus casino
online casino signup bonus no deposit
us casino
JenneepaEn
August 11, 2022 at 5:25 am
vpn
vpn for kodi
how to set up a vpn
FanyapaEn
August 11, 2022 at 3:22 pm
online casino with free signup bonus real money usa
best online casino deposit bonuses
best casino bonuses
AshleighpaEn
August 12, 2022 at 2:18 am
best vpn services 2018
best windows vpn 2018
free vpn unlimited
CarolinpaEn
August 12, 2022 at 3:22 pm
real online casino
online casino games for real money
best online casino for us players
KelseypaEn
August 13, 2022 at 12:25 am
where to buy vpn
vpn for firefox
best vpn avast
FifinepaEn
August 13, 2022 at 3:38 pm
wild casino online
mobile casino games for real money
usa casinos online
LaurellapaEn
August 13, 2022 at 7:02 pm
best vpn for chromebook
best vpn reddit 2022
download free vpn
FifinepaEn
August 14, 2022 at 10:13 am
mobile casino sites
bonus online casino
win money online
FifinepaEn
August 15, 2022 at 6:22 am
no deposit slots for real money
best casino reviews
online real casino
SheelaghpaEn
August 15, 2022 at 11:13 pm
best vpn 2018
apple vpn free
what is the best vpn service
GwenorepaEn
August 16, 2022 at 5:34 am
online casinos for real money
casino real money
best no deposit bonus online casino