The world of Tzu Chi March 2020(Vol.120)

eature mask on the shelves, with no confirmation as to when stocks would be replenished. Fortunately, we had previously saved a pack of disposable facemasks at home, whilemy husbandmanaged to bring home an additional three packs from Shenzhen. We were content with the limited supplies in our possession and had no intention of stockpiling more. One day, I received a message from Gui Fang, who is currently pursuing her postgraduate studies under a Tzu Chi scholarship, informing me of her wish to donate her tresses to Tzu Chi Hospital to be made into wigs for cancer patients. Before returning to her hometown in Huanggang City,Hubei Province, she joinedus for a gathering at a fellow volunteer’s house and handed me a lock of her hair. We chatted merrily as we wrapped vegetable dumplings – those were the final moments of happiness I could recall since the beginning of the epidemic. All remaining traces of joy seemed to have slipped away since, replaced by feelings of nerve-racking anxiety and uncertainty. I also became prone to mood swings, fluctuating from emotional to irritable and even tearful. At the same time, I tried to give myself frequent pep talks in the midst of my inner turmoil. Fenced in On January 20, an authoritative figure on virus-related diseases announced on the news that the coronavirus disease is spreading amongst humans. The government proceeded to urge Wuhan residents to refrain from leaving the city unless absolutely necessary and cautioned outsiders against entering Wuhan. I started deliberating whether to carry on with my plan to return to my hometown; I was reminded of warnings by the authorities to stay home and wondered if I should comply. Although I have bought sufficient groceries to last through the festive break, I made my way to the supermarket once again and returned with plenty of vegetables enough to fill my refrigerator and pantry to capacity. In fact, I was prepared to spend the festive season in Wuhan, despite yearning to return home to my parents. We isolated ourselves at home from January 22 onwards. I decided against returning home and phoned my father, who was buying groceries at the wet market at the time of my call. I reminded him to steer clear of live poultry and fish and adopt a vegetarian diet instead. I received a phone call from my grandmother, who finally acknowledged the benefits of vegetarianism in defending against the transmission of animal-borne viruses. I hesitated to cancel my train ticket home, my gaze hovering over the ticket-booking app on the screen before me. Deep inside, I was silently hoping for advanced medical technology to work wonders and make a miraculous turn of events for the better possible. On January 23, the Wuhan government issued a statement ordering the city-wide suspension of Volunteer Zhou Li Yan participated in an online study group session with fellow volunteers. 2020 • 03 10