The Dirty Chinese Disease
Where do I live?
Everybody is wearing masks, sometimes you can even see people in protective space suits and goggles; the streets are filled with smoke from incense (incense is rumored to have power to kill the virus). The restaurants and bars are closed; public transport is impossible because it's considered too dangerous; entire office buildings have been evacuated; the schools have shut down; the hospitals are over-crowded and are running out of supplies; people are collapsing in the streets; the diplomats and their families are leaving the country, embassies are thinking of closing down; thousands of people are blocking the streets in their attempt to flee the city; the long-distance bus stations and the train station are completely jammed -- all the tickets are sold out; the airport is about to close down, no more flights in or out; the police force has been concentrated around the city along the highways to control everybody who tries to get in or out - most people are sent back to where they came from, so now people are walking out of town with their entire households on their backs; food and water shortages are increasing because nobody dares to deliver food to the city; I tried to buy some instant noodles at my local supermarket yesterday - the entire shelves were empty!!!! and last but not least: in an attempt to kill the virus, the government is spraying "harmless poison" all over the city. as a consequence, lots of rats are running out from the sewage and from wherever they use to live and die in the streets (as a reminder: the municipality has claimed for years to be completely rat-free)...summer has just started and the smell is lovely.
So, this is the $1 million question: "where do i live?"
a) Sarajevo 1999
b) Bagdhad April 2003
c) Beijing April 2003
First prize: one-way ticket to one of the destinations mentioned above.
This is the best one yet: yesterday, 4 of our embassy's staff had to be sent to hospital with Typhoid fever. Yes, TYPHOID FEVER! I thought the last case of typhoid fever was recorded in the dark ages!!! How the hell do we get Typhoid fever at the swiss embassy????? Of course, no preventive measures have been taken as of yet.. for "lack of money." (WHAT???)
I suggested to our administration that we might want to ask the ayi to desinfect the offices of the concerned staff members. This suggestion was turned down, as we do not have disinfectants (supposedly, they're too expensive). In turn, the ayi will now lock the offices of those 4 staff members "so the virus can't get out". Ah, at least those in charge are taking decisive action.
Another classic example of the open-mindedness of our little yellow friends......and an extra bonus point for optimism!
Headline in English: Why HIV continues to spread in Africa
"The infection rate for HIV among Africans is 100 times higher than among people in the US. African adults often have close relationships, sometimes involving sex, with a group people. If one of the group contracts HIV, the others will not survive.
Beijing News (Xin Jing Bao) Feb. 27
