中国打上半场，欧美打下半场，海外华人打全场 – this saying recently went viral on Chinese social media. It roughly translates to: if the COVID-19 was a soccer game, China played the first half, whereas the US and Europe are currently playing the second half. Overseas Chinese, sadly, have been on the field throughout the game with no respite. Chinese expats were first battered by concerns over the health of their loved ones back home and now dealing with the deteriorating situation in their adopted countries.
As comical as this allegory was intended to be, it actually has much truth in it.
As the number of confirmed cases is skyrocketing day by day in the US, especially in New York City, some Chinese nationals have left for China despite the exorbitant plane tickets. Those who remain are coping with the closure of non-essential businesses in many cities, empty shelves at grocery stores and growing anti-Asian racism.
Trapped at home with limited access to restaurants and Chinese grocery, how are overseas Chinese in the US dealing with self-isolation and anti-Asian racism?
As an oversees Chinese myself, and as someone who recently returned to New York, I wanted to share my thoughts. They are a collection of specific things that my Chinese friends across the country are doing to make self-quarantine easier without stepping outside our tiny apartments.
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