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

intent on standing in solidarity with Wuhan. Jian Hui’s mother voiced her resolve to express her gratitude to the doctors, Tzu Chi volunteers and even their landlord in Wuhan who had been generously kind to the family. I reminded her that her sincere intention matters more than the amount contributed; the family eventually donated RMB100 (approximately RM60). My family unanimously agreed to cancel our reunion dinner gathering; we were entitled to a refund from the restaurant for the cancellation of our table reservation. It was unprecedented to see people waiting in line to collect their refunds from the restaurant. As the epidemic continues to spread, I avoided going outdoors. Although I longed to serve as a volunteer, I was limited by my advancing age and the scarcity of protective gear, as the elderly are especially vulnerable to the virus. Meanwhile, my husband continued to leave the house daily to care for his father, in addition to buying and delivering groceries to our relatives to spare them from the risk of being exposed to the virus. He captured photos of the deserted streets and roads emptied of vehicles, save for the rare cab or delivery bike. The Xunlimen Station – an interchange station between Line 1 and Line 2 of the Wuhan Metro – the Wuhan Union Hospital, supermarkets and other public spaces that usually come alive with crowds during the festive season were no longer congested. During the lockdown, the government dispatched 6,000 cabs across the city of Wuhan to provide delivery services to residents inconvenienced by the city coming to a standstill. Supermarkets are still operating to ensure minimal disruption to the lives of residents in need of essential supplies. Delivery riders are going about their rounds out of necessity as most of the city’s residents rely on them to deliver groceries. When the entire population of the city has been confined to our own homes, the period of inactivity has left us Wuhan-based volunteers on edge, consumed by the urge to do our part for our fellow compatriots. Nevertheless, we have been issuing calls through group chat messages to comply with the authorities and keep ourselves safe, reassuring each other that observing these measures is the best we could do in containing the spread of the virus. My suggestion to organize an online study group session was accepted by my fellow volunteers. We started with only a handful of participants, but time seemed to pass faster when we were reading, as it brought us joy and calmed our hearts. We also found solace in the insights gleaned from our readings, most of which reflected our current predicament. Our study group grew in number over time, attracting the participation of even elderly volunteers. I am grateful to have benefitted from a key takeaway from my involvement in Tzu Chi – even in times of uncertainty, it is imperative to remain steadfast in our belief in kindness and compassion and spread positive thoughts, instead of giving in to negativity. TZU CHI 120 13 Staying Safe in Combating Coronavirus